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svapne siktvā brahmacārī dvijaḥ śukraṁ akāmataḥ । snātvārkaṁ arcayitvā triḥ punarmāṁ ityr̥caṁ japet । । 2.181 । । </blockquote>

svapne siktvā brahmacārī dvijaḥ śukraṁ akāmataḥ । snātvārkaṁ arcayitvā triḥ punarmāṁ ityr̥caṁ japet । । 2.181 । । </blockquote>

== The Period of Studentship ==

== ब्रह्मचर्यकालः ॥ Period of Studentship ==

The Yajnavalkya Smrti says,

The period of studentship begins with the Upanaya Samskara and continues until the student, completing in due order, the study of the three Vedas, or two, or one, without transgressing the vow of brahmacharya, enters the grhasthashrama.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>वेदानधीत्य वेदौ वा वेदं वापि यथाक्रमम् । अविप्लुतब्रह्मचर्यो गृहस्थाश्रमं आवसेत् । । ३.२ । ।<ref name=":2" />

प्रतिवेदं ब्रह्मचर्यं द्वादशाब्दानि पञ्च वा । ग्रहणान्तिकं इत्येके केशान्तश्चैव षोडशे । । १.३६ । ।<ref name=":9" />

vedānadhītya vedau vā vedaṁ vāpi yathākramam । aviplutabrahmacaryo gr̥hasthāśramaṁ āvaset । । 3.2 । ।</blockquote>According to Manusmrti (2.36 and 2.38)<ref name=":1" /> and Yajnavalkya Smrti (1.14 and 1.37),<ref name=":9" /> the Upanayana Samskara should be performed in the 8th year of conception or birth for brahmanas, 11th year for the kshatriyas and 12th year for the Vaishyas or according to one's family custom. And the maximum age to perform the Upanaya for brahmanas, kshatriyas and Vaishyas are 16, 22 and 24 years respectively.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":8" />

Meaning: For each Veda, the brahmacharya should be 12 years or 5. Some say it should be till they are completely acquired. The shaving of the hair should take place in the 16th year.

The Manusmrti also adds that the Upanayana of brahmanas desirous of attaining brahmavarchas, the splendour of which is beyond the study of Vedas and its meaning, should be performed in the 5th year, of kshatriyas desirous of strength in the 6th year and of Vaishyas desirous of prosperity in the 8th year.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>ब्रह्मवर्चसकामस्य कार्यो विप्रस्य पञ्चमे । राज्ञो बलार्थिनः षष्ठे वैश्यस्येहार्थिनोऽष्टमे । । २.३७ । ।<ref name=":1" />

The commentary Mitakshara clarifies that when marriage is not possible (due to poverty, etc) then for each Veda separately, the above mentioned brahmacharya must be performed for 12 yrs. In case of inability 5 years for each Veda is stated.

brahmavarcasakāmasya kāryo viprasya pañcame । rājño balārthinaḥ ṣaṣṭhe vaiśyasyehārthino'ṣṭame । । 2.37 । ।</blockquote>As for the term of Vedadhyaya, the Yajnavalkya Smrti says,<blockquote>प्रतिवेदं ब्रह्मचर्यं द्वादशाब्दानि पञ्च वा । ग्रहणान्तिकं इत्येके केशान्तश्चैव षोडशे । । १.३६ । ।<ref name=":9" />

This very much corelates with the Manusmrti quote that, the vow of studying the 3 Vedas under a teacher must be kept for 36 years, or for half that time (18years), or for a quarter (9 years), or until the student has perfectly learnt them.<ref name=":8" />

prativedaṁ brahmacaryaṁ dvādaśābdāni pañca vā । grahaṇāntikaṁ ityeke keśāntaścaiva ṣoḍaśe । । 1.36 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: For each Veda, the brahmacharya should be 12 years or 5. Some say it should be till they are completely acquired. The shaving of the hair should take place in the 16th year.

The commentary Mitakshara clarifies that when marriage is not possible (due to poverty, etc) then for each Veda separately, the above mentioned brahmacharya must be performed for 12 yrs. In case of inability 5 years for each Veda is stated.

 

 

 

The Manusmrti further states that the ceremony called keshanta (clipping the hair) is ordained for a brahmana in the 16th year from conception, for kshatriya in the 22nd , and for a Vaishya 2 years later than that.<ref name=":8" />

 

 

According to the Yajnavalkya smrti, these ie. 16, 22 and 24 are the maximum periods of Upanayana for the brahmanas, kshatriyas and Vaishyas respectively.<ref name=":8" />

 

आषोडशादाद्वाविंशाच्चतुर्विंशाच्च वत्सरात् । ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां कालौपनायनिकः परः । । १.३७ । ।<ref name=":9" />

The same is quoted in the Manusmrti as well.

This very much corelates with the Manusmrti quote that, the vow of studying the 3 Vedas under a teacher must be kept for 36 years, or for half that time (18years), or for a quarter (9 years), or until the student has perfectly learnt them.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>षट्त्रिंशदाब्दिकं चर्यं गुरौ त्रैवेदिकं व्रतम् । तदर्धिकं पादिकं वा ग्रहणान्तिकं एव वा । । ३.१ । ।<ref name=":2" />

आ षोदशाद्ब्राह्मणस्य सावित्री नातिवर्तते । आ द्वाविंशात्क्षत्रबन्धोरा चतुर्विंशतेर्विशः । । २.३८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

ṣaṭtriṁśadābdikaṁ caryaṁ gurau traivedikaṁ vratam । tadardhikaṁ pādikaṁ vā grahaṇāntikaṁ eva vā । । 3.1 । ।</blockquote>

== समावर्तनं गुरुदक्षिणा च ॥ Samavartana and Gurudakshina ==

== समावर्तनं गुरुदक्षिणा च ॥ Samavartana and Gurudakshina ==