Changes

Upanayana ceremony is compared to a yajnadiksha making it a miniature of the diksha or initiation ceremony in the shrauta tradition. The vapana (shaving of head), wearing a new garment, wearing a cover of ajina, a mekhala made of munja grass, committing the student to the deities, bestowing the danda etc are simply reproduced from the procedures of the yajna. Many of these are said to be a symbolic representation of the state of a foetus.<ref name=":3" />

Upanayana ceremony is compared to a yajnadiksha making it a miniature of the diksha or initiation ceremony in the shrauta tradition. The vapana (shaving of head), wearing a new garment, wearing a cover of ajina, a mekhala made of munja grass, committing the student to the deities, bestowing the danda etc are simply reproduced from the procedures of the yajna. Many of these are said to be a symbolic representation of the state of a foetus.<ref name=":3" />

=== Medhajanana (मेधाजननम्) ===

=== मेधाजननम् '''॥''' Medhajanana ===

After three days’ observance of the Savitri Vrata, the ceremony of Upanayana is ended by the performance of the Medhadjanana rite whereby the gods are invoked for the development of the Brahmachari’s mental powers [Bharadvaja Gr. S., i, 10]. Then onwards [https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Brahmacharyashrama_(%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83) Brahmacharya] or studentship formally begins under prescribed conditions governing the life and studies of the pupil dwelling in his teacher’s house.<ref name=":13">Mookerji. Radha Kumud, (1947) Ancient Indian Education (Brahminical and Buddhist) London: MacMillan And Co., Ltd. (Page 182-190)</ref>

After three days’ observance of the Savitri Vrata, the ceremony of Upanayana is ended by the performance of the Medhadjanana rite. The preceptor performed the ritual for sharpening the memory, intellect and grasping power, i.e., the total development of the Brahmachari’s mental powers [Bharadvaja Gr. S., i, 10]. Prayer was offered that the student should be favoured with an intelligence as attractive as cows, as vigorous as studs and as brilliant as the solar rays; it should be equally effective in mechanical, material, and spiritual spheres. Then onwards [https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Brahmacharyashrama_(%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83) Brahmacharya] or studentship formally begins under prescribed conditions governing the life and studies of the pupil dwelling in his teacher’s house.<ref name=":13">Mookerji. Radha Kumud, (1947) Ancient Indian Education (Brahminical and Buddhist) London: MacMillan And Co., Ltd. (Page 182-190)</ref><ref name=":02" />

=== सन्ध्यावन्दनम् Sandhyavandana ===

=== सन्ध्यावन्दनम् '''॥''' Sandhyavandana ===

This is the basic regular rite to be performed by all Dvijas. Those who ignore are not eligible to perform any (Vedic) rite. It is called Nityakarma (a regular rite). One has to perform this rite three times a day. Sandhyā means twilight. The rite performed during twilight is also called Sandhyā or Sandhyāvandanam (salute of Sandhyā). All the Dvijas (i.e. who have undergone Upanayanam) have to perform Sandhyā. For Śūdras and ladies the sight of rising and setting Sun itself is considered as Sandhyāvandanam.

This is the basic regular rite to be performed by all Dvijas. Those who ignore are not eligible to perform any (Vedic) rite. It is called Nityakarma (a regular rite). One has to perform this rite three times a day. Sandhyā means twilight. The rite performed during twilight is also called Sandhyā or Sandhyāvandanam (salute of Sandhyā). All the Dvijas (i.e. who have undergone Upanayanam) have to perform Sandhyā. For Śūdras and ladies the sight of rising and setting Sun itself is considered as Sandhyāvandanam.