Changes

'''Manufacturing the''' '''Yajñopavītam''': The Yajñopavīta should have three threads of nine strands (tantus) well twisted for each thread. A Brahmacārī has to wear a single Yajñopavītam whereas a householder should wear two or three.

'''Manufacturing the''' '''Yajñopavītam''': The Yajñopavīta should have three threads of nine strands (tantus) well twisted for each thread. A Brahmacārī has to wear a single Yajñopavītam whereas a householder should wear two or three.

'''Women had Yajñopavītam''': Saṃskāraprakāśa (pp. 402, 403) quotes Yama –<blockquote>पुरा कल्पे कुमारीणां मौञ्जीबन्धनमिष्यते।</blockquote><blockquote>अध्यापनं च वेदानां सावित्रीवचनं तथा॥</blockquote><blockquote>purā kalpe kumārīṇāṃ mauñjībandhanamiṣyate।</blockquote><blockquote>adhyāpanaṃ ca vedānāṃ sāvitrīvacanaṃ tathā॥</blockquote>During former ages, tying of girdle of muñja (i.e. Upanayana) was desired in the case of maidens, they were taught Vedas and made to recite Sāvitrī, i.e. Gāyatrīmantra.

'''Women had Yajñopavītam''': Saṃskāraprakāśa (pp. 402, 403) quotes Yama –<blockquote>पुरा कल्पे कुमारीणां मौञ्जीबन्धनमिष्यते। अध्यापनं च वेदानां सावित्रीवचनं तथा॥

 

purā kalpe kumārīṇāṃ mauñjībandhanamiṣyate। adhyāpanaṃ ca vedānāṃ sāvitrīvacanaṃ tathā॥</blockquote>During former ages, tying of girdle of muñja (i.e. Upanayana) was desired in the case of maidens, they were taught Vedas and made to recite Sāvitrī, i.e. Gāyatrīmantra.  

Commentators are of the opinion that this practice belongs to earlier Yuga.

Commentators are of the opinion that this practice belongs to earlier Yuga.

== उपनयनप्रयोजनम् ॥ Purpose of Upanayana ==

== उपनयनप्रयोजनम् ॥ Purpose of Upanayana ==

Apastamba Dharmasutra clearly states the purpose of Upanayana samskara as follows<blockquote>उपनयनं विद्यार्थस्य श्रुतितः संस्कारः ९ (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.9)</blockquote><blockquote>विद्यया अर्थः प्रयोजनं यस्य स विद्यार्थः । तस्यायं श्रुतिविहितस्संस्कारः । उपनयनं नाम विद्यार्थस्येति वचनान्मूकादेर्न भवति। तथा च शङ्खलिखितौ नोन्मत्तमूकान्त्संस्कुर्यात्... (Haradatta Mishra Bhashya for Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.9)<ref>Apastamba Dharmasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Patala 1])</ref></blockquote>One who wants to benefit from Vidya (education) is a Vidyartha. Shruti ordained samskara to such a Vidyartha is Upanayana. Shankalikhita (sutras) says "It is not performed for dumb and mentally ill" (mainly because study of Vedas require a person to utter the sounds appropriately which is not possible for a dumb person and the mentally sick).(Page 23 of Reference <ref name=":0">Mahadeva Sastri, A. and Rangacharya, K. (1898) ''Apastamba Dharmasutra with Haradatta's Ujjvala Commentary.'' Mysore:Government Branch Press Bibliotheca Sanskrita Series No 15 </ref>)  

Apastamba Dharmasutra clearly states the purpose of Upanayana samskara as follows<blockquote>उपनयनं विद्यार्थस्य श्रुतितः संस्कारः ९ (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.9)</blockquote><blockquote>विद्यया अर्थः प्रयोजनं यस्य स विद्यार्थः । तस्यायं श्रुतिविहितस्संस्कारः । उपनयनं नाम विद्यार्थस्येति वचनान्मूकादेर्न भवति। तथा च शङ्खलिखितौ नोन्मत्तमूकान्त्संस्कुर्यात्... (Haradatta Mishra Bhashya for Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.9)<ref>Apastamba Dharmasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Patala 1])</ref></blockquote>One who wants to benefit from Vidya (education) is a Vidyartha. Shruti ordained samskara to such a Vidyartha is Upanayana. Shankalikhita (sutras) says "It is not performed for dumb and mentally ill" (mainly because study of Vedas require a person to utter the sounds appropriately which is not possible for a dumb person and the mentally sick).(Page 23 of Reference <ref name=":0">Mahadeva Sastri, A. and Rangacharya, K. (1898) ''Apastamba Dharmasutra with Haradatta's Ujjvala Commentary.'' Mysore:Government Branch Press Bibliotheca Sanskrita Series No 15 </ref>) The study of Trayi (all the 3 Vedas, not just one Veda) follows from the Gayatri mantra adhyayana as said in Brahmanas (texts). For learning Atharva Veda one has to perform Upanayana separately.(Page 23 of Reference <ref name=":0" />)<blockquote>सर्वेभ्यो वै वेदेभ्यस्सावित्र्यनूच्यत इति हि ब्राह्मणम् । (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.10)</blockquote>Manu says in his Manusmrti thus<blockquote>त्रिभ्य एव तु वेदेभ्यः पादं पादं अदूदुहत् । तदित्यृचोऽस्याः सावित्र्याः परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिः ॥ (Manu. Smrt. 2.77)<ref>Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : Prajapati Brahma milked the three vedas and compiled the 3 padas of the Gayatri Mantra. Hence the adhikara (eligibility) to study of the three vedas comes from upadesa of Gayatri Mantra which is the purpose of Upanayana samskara.

 

The study of Trayi (all the 3 Vedas, not just one Veda) follows from the Gayatri mantra adhyayana as said in Brahmanas (texts). For learning Atharva Veda one has to perform Upanayana separately.(Page 23 of Reference <ref name=":0" />)<blockquote>सर्वेभ्यो वै वेदेभ्यस्सावित्र्यनूच्यत इति हि ब्राह्मणम् । (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.10)</blockquote>Manu says in his Manusmrti thus<blockquote>त्रिभ्य एव तु वेदेभ्यः पादं पादं अदूदुहत् । तदित्यृचोऽस्याः सावित्र्याः परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिः ॥ (Manu. Smrt. 2.77)<ref>Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : Prajapati Brahma milked the three vedas and compiled the 3 padas of the Gayatri Mantra. Hence the adhikara (eligibility) to study of the three vedas comes from upadesa of Gayatri Mantra which is the purpose of Upanayana samskara.

== Sandhyavandana ==

== Sandhyavandana ==

== उपनयनम् || Upanayanam ==

== उपनयनम् || Upanayanam ==

The terms Yagnopavitham or Upakarman are also used for this ceremony.  

The terms Yagnopavitham or Upakarman are also used for this ceremony. Yagna, besides worship, also denotes commitment to a focused act. So committed, that one sacrifices everything else to ensure this act is accomplished. Pavitham means to cleanse. Yagnopavitham means to cleanse, purify one’s mind as well as intention behind the Yagna, act of commitment – studying in the case of a student. Upakarman denotes preparation or that activity that aides the start, execution of any mission, it comes from Upa, beside and karman meaning activity.

Yagna, besides worship, sacrifice, also denotes commitment to a focused act. So committed, that one sacrifices everything else to ensure this act is accomplished. Pavitham means to cleanse. Yagnopavitham means to cleanse, purify one’s mind as well as intention behind the Yagna, act of commitment – studying in the case of a student.

Upakarman denotes preparation or that activity that aides the start, execution of any mission, it comes from Upa, beside and karman meaning activity.

== Is this protection only for Brahmin boys? ==

== Is this protection only for Brahmin boys? ==

No, in older times every child, irrespective of varna/jati (loosely translated as caste in present times) at the start of schooling underwent this ceremony and went to Gurukula to study basic Veda and other subjects in line with their family profession or aptitude. So this particular investiture is meant for all, not just Brahmins.

No, in older times every child, irrespective of varna/jati (loosely translated as caste in present times) at the start of schooling underwent this ceremony and went to Gurukula to study basic Veda and other subjects in line with their family profession or aptitude. So this particular investiture is meant for all, not just Brahmins.

== Did girls go through the Upanayanam ceremony? ==

== Upanayana for Girls ==

Yes, girls too underwent such a ceremony. But post foreign invasion after the 12th century, when Bharat came under onslaughts, girls being physically vulnerable, were kept away from schools to protect them from the invaders. With that maybe the number of girls going to Gurukula reduced, thereby reducing the practice.

Upanayana ritual was obligatory for girls, and this must have ensured the imparting of a certain amount of Vedic and literary education to the girls of all varnas. Girls were initiated into Vedic studies by performing Upanayana similar to boys, but with certain regulations. They were to wear the yajnopaveeta but not the Ajina (deer skin and bark garments) and the matted locks. They were to undergo vedic study imparted by the father or brother and take bhiksha within the household (among relatives). Scholarly ladies were called [[Brahmavadini (ब्रह्मवादिनी)|Brahmavadinis]]. Female education received a great setback around the beginning of the Christian era primarily owing to the deterioration of the religious status of women. Upanayana began to be gradually prohibited to girls. By about 500 B. C. it had already become a mere formality, not followed by any serious course of Vedic education.  Manusmrti declares that girls' Upanayana should be performed without the recitation of Vedic mantras. And marriage ritual itself corresponds to the Upanayana samskara. Smrtikaras further prohibited Upanayana for girls.  The discontinuance of Upanayana was disastrous to the religious status of women; they were declared to be of the same status as that of the Shudras and unfit to recite Vedic Mantras. Post foreign invasion after the 12th century, when Bharat came under onslaughts, girls being physically vulnerable, were kept away from schools to protect them from the invaders. With that maybe the number of girls going to Gurukula reduced, thereby reducing the practice of Upanayana even further.<ref name=":02">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</ref>

== Why do we need two sets of thread! ==

== Why do we need two sets of thread! ==