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Educational Samskaras (विद्याभ्याससंस्काराः) (view source)
Revision as of 15:10, 19 June 2022
, 15:10, 19 June 2022added content
[[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]] or the ceremony of initiation was though recognised as the most important education rite, education instead began little earlier with other less known rite called Vidyāraṁbha Saṁskāra. Upanayana marked the beginning of the first significant phase of life or the entry into the [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]], the Vidyāraṁbha marked the entry into the system of education, to make him familiar with the basic of learning or education or even the language.<ref name=":5" />
[[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]] or the ceremony of initiation was though recognised as the most important education rite, education instead began little earlier with other less known rite called Vidyāraṁbha Saṁskāra. Upanayana marked the beginning of the first significant phase of life or the entry into the [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]], the Vidyāraṁbha marked the entry into the system of education, to make him familiar with the basic of learning or education or even the language.<ref name=":5" />
Ultimate goal of education was regarded as moksha.
Ultimate goal of education was regarded as the study of Vedas and life long Brahmacharya led to moksha.
== Special Vratas for Special Subjects of Study ==
== Special Vratas for Special Subjects of Study ==
'''Shukriya Vrata (शुक्रियव्रतम्)''' refers to duties of holiness and is to be observed for three days, or twelve days or one year or any other time period according to the Acharya's discretion. <blockquote>यां वान्यां भप्रशस्तां मन्येत तस्यां शुक्रिये ब्रह्मचर्यमादिशेत् ९ त्रिरात्रं ब्रह्मचर्यं चरेद्द्वादशरात्रं संवत्सरं वा यावद्वा गुरुर्मन्येत १० (Sank. Grhy. Sutr. 2.2.10)<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Shankhayana Grhyasutra] </ref></blockquote>By this Vrata, the student is enabled to study the main portion of the Veda.
'''Shukriya Vrata (शुक्रियव्रतम्)''' refers to duties of holiness and is to be observed for three days, or twelve days or one year or any other time period according to the Acharya's discretion. <blockquote>यां वान्यां भप्रशस्तां मन्येत तस्यां शुक्रिये ब्रह्मचर्यमादिशेत् ९ त्रिरात्रं ब्रह्मचर्यं चरेद्द्वादशरात्रं संवत्सरं वा यावद्वा गुरुर्मन्येत १० (Sank. Grhy. Sutr. 2.2.10)<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Shankhayana Grhyasutra] </ref></blockquote>By this Vrata, the student is enabled to study the main portion of the Veda.
Next follows the '''Anuvaachana (अनुवाचन)''', or the way of studying the Veda, which can be done only after the Shukriya Vrata has been enjoined on the student. Before that nothing but the Savitri can be taught to him. Finally, the student has to undertake '''Shakvara (शक्वर), Vraatika (व्रातिक) and Aupanishada (औपनिषद)''' vratas, each of which is to last for one year, referring to the different parts of the Aranyakas. These three are special Vratas connected with the character of mystical secrecy or "rahasya" attributed to the Aranyaka. After the lapse of the year through which the Vrata is kept, a ceremony is performed called '''Uddeekshanika (उद्दीक्षणिक)''', i.e. the giving up of the Diksha or preparatory observance for the study of the Aranyaka texts. This vrata consists chiefly in the teacher’s ascertaining whether the student has fulfilled the duties involved in the Vrata after which the Aranyaka texts are taught to the student in the prescribed way. In this way, we find special observances to undertake study of different parts of the Vedas and Vaidika vangmaya. And these vratas vary with different different Vedas studied by the students.<ref name=":1" />
Next follows the '''Anuvaachana (अनुवाचन)''', or the way of studying the Veda, which can be done only after the Shukriya Vrata has been enjoined on the student. Before that nothing but the Savitri can be taught to him. Finally, the student has to undertake '''Shakvara (शक्वर), Vraatika (व्रातिक) and Aupanishada (औपनिषद)''' vratas, each of which is to last for one year, referring to the different parts of the Aranyakas. These three are special Vratas connected with the character of mystical secrecy or "rahasya" attributed to the Aranyaka. After the lapse of the year through which the Vrata is kept, a ceremony is performed called '''Uddeekshanika (उद्दीक्षणिक)''', i.e. the giving up of the Diksha or preparatory observance for the study of the Aranyaka texts. This vrata consists chiefly in the teacher’s ascertaining whether the student has fulfilled the duties involved in the Vrata after which the Aranyaka texts are taught to the student in the prescribed way. In this way, we find special observances to undertake study of different parts of the Vedas and [[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|Vaidika vangmaya]]. And these vratas vary with different different Vedas studied by the students.<ref name=":1" />
==Related Terminology==
One of the important Samskaras, Upanayana signifies the transition of a child to a student. One who undergoes Upanayana is called Upaneeta and one who conducts the samskara is called Upanetr (father or Guru).
'''Brahmacārī''': The boy who underwent this Saṃskāra is called Brahmacārī (Brahma means Veda, one who learns Veda is called Brahmacārī). A Brahmacārī would get eligibility to perform any Vedic rite.
'''[https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Brahmana_Dharma_(%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83) Dvija]''': Upanayanam is a Saṃskāra to be performed on the boys belonging to the Traivarnas, i.e. Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya and Vaiśya. People belonging to the above three varnas are called Dvijas, which literally means twice-born - one a natural birth and second a symbolic birth caused by the Upanayana ritual. The first birth is given by father and mother whereas, since Gāyatrī Devi (whose Mantra is preached to the boy during Upanayanam) and the Ācārya (the teacher who performs the Upanayanam) are considered as mother and father during Upanayanam, the Upanayanasaṃskāra is considered as another birth. Thus the people of the first three varnas are called Dvijas after the Upanayana samskara. Yajnavalkya smrti clearly mentions that<blockquote>मातुर्यदग्रे जायन्ते द्वितीयं मौञ्जिबन्धनात् । ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशस्तस्मादेते द्विजाः स्मृताः । । १.३९ । । (Yajn. Smrt. 1.39)<ref>Yajnavalkya Smrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Achara Adhyaya Brahmachari Prakarana])</ref></blockquote>But how does the Upanayana ritual cause a new birth? The passage in Shatapatha Brahmana explains this as follows.<ref name=":32">''The Upanayana ritual in the Satapathabrahmana'' by Dr. N. K. Sundareswaran, University of Calicut</ref><blockquote>तदपि श्लोकं गायन्ति। आचार्यो गर्भी भवति हस्तमाधाय दक्षिणम्। तृतीयस्यां स जायते सावित्र्या सह ब्राह्मण इति। (Shat. Brah. 11.5.4)<ref>Shatapatha Brahamana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AA Kanda 11 Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote>Meaning: When the preceptor places his hand on the student, he (the preceptor) puts the student within himself as if in a garbha (womb). On the third day the student is "delivered" or "born" and at that time the speech or Savitri Mantra should be imparted immediately to the Brahmin at once.<ref name=":32" />
The Acharya placing his right hand upon the head of the pupil symbolizes the imparting of the very core of his own personality to the student. The Acharya bears this "garbha" transforming the pupil by his inner splendour and he is "delivered" as a Brahmana. Soon after the Brahmana or Vatu is given the Savitri Mantra by the pupil's father or Acharya.<ref name=":12">Murthy, Narasimha. H. V. (1997) ''A Critical Study of Upanayana Samskara''. Mangalore: Canara College (Pages 64 - )</ref>
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Samskaras]]
[[Category:Samskaras]]
<references />
<references />
[[Category:Education Series]]
[[Category:Education Series]]