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== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

While Upanayana marks the beginning of the vedic study, Samavartana marks the end of the Brahmacharya period in a student's life. <blockquote>तत्र समावर्तनं नाम वेदाध्ययनानन्तरं गुरुकुलात् स्वगृहागमनम् । </blockquote>After finishing Vedic study and taking the permission of the teacher the student takes the ceremonial bath. Snana is another term used for Samavartanam by some Sutrakaras (Manusmṛti, 3.4) because ceremonial bathing formed the most prominent item this samskara. In modern times it is called Snatakavrata or Convocation (held in Universities).

While Upanayana marks the beginning of the vedic study, Samavartana marks the end of the Brahmacharya period in a student's life. <blockquote>तत्र समावर्तनं नाम वेदाध्ययनानन्तरं गुरुकुलात् स्वगृहागमनम् । </blockquote>After finishing Vedic study and taking the permission of the teacher the student takes the ceremonial bath. Snana is another term used for Samavartana by some Sutrakaras (Manusmṛti, 3.4) because ceremonial bathing formed the most prominent item this samskara. In modern times it is called Snatakavrata or Convocation (held in Universities).

Classified as the Ahuta yajnas (one of the seven Pakayajnas) in Baudhayana Grhyasutras, Upanayana and Samavartana are samskaras where after making Ahutis (offerings) in Agni, and giving danas to Brahmanas, one receives presents from others.<ref name=":1" />

Classified as the Ahuta yajnas (one of the seven Pakayajnas) in Baudhayana Grhyasutras, Upanayana and Samavartana are samskaras where after making Ahutis (offerings) in Agni, and giving danas to Brahmanas, one receives presents from others.<ref name=":1" />

== Samavartana in Ancient Days ==

== Samavartana in Ancient Days ==

In early times it was performed when the education of the youth was over; marriage usually followed, but it was not necessarily immediate. Various grhyasutras elaborate about this occasion and the necessary rituals to be followed which included primarily a ceremonial bath given to the student, following which he is called [[Snataka (स्नातकः)|Snataka]].<blockquote>वेदमधीत्य स्नास्यन् . . .। आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम्, १२.१॥ </blockquote><blockquote>vedamadhītya snāsyan . . ॥ Āpastambagṛhyasūtram, 12.1॥</blockquote>Having completed the study of Veda, Vedāṅgas, Mīmāṃsā etc., while going to have the ceremonial bath . . .

In early times it was performed when the education of the youth was over; marriage usually followed, but it was not necessarily immediate. Various grhyasutras elaborate about this occasion and the necessary rituals to be followed which included primarily a ceremonial bath given to the student, following which he is called [[Snataka (स्नातकः)|Snataka]].<blockquote>वेदमधीत्य स्नास्यन् . . .। vedamadhītya snāsyan . . (Apas. Grhy. Sutr. 5.12.1)<ref>Apastamba Grhyasutras ([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%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#%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5 Patala 5 Khanda 12])</ref> </blockquote>Having completed the study of Veda, Vedāṅgas, Mīmāṃsā etc., while going to have the ceremonial bath . . .<blockquote>वेदमधीत्य स्नात्यन्नित्युक्तं समावर्तनम्।१। (Baud. Grhy. Sutr. 2.6.1)<ref>Baudhayana Grhyasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A7%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/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4% Prashna 2])</ref></blockquote>

=== Eligibility ===

=== Eligibility ===

Those who simply memorized the texts of Vedas, without understanding the meaning and without following the rules of conduct prescribed for a Brahmachari, were excluded from the right of performance.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>अन्यो वेदपाठी न तस्य स्नानम्। (M.G.S. 1.2.3)</blockquote>However, according to Vishnu, some people were compulsorily required to lead the life of a Brahmachari on physical grounds. They were the hump-backed, the blind by birth, the impotent, the lame and the diseased. <blockquote>कुब्जवामनजात्यन्धक्लीबपङग्वार्तरोगिणाम्। व्रतचय भवेत्तेषां यावज्जीवमानशतः।</blockquote>They did not perform their Samavartana because Vivaha was not possible in their case.<ref name=":1" />

Those who simply memorized the texts of Vedas, without understanding the meaning and without following the rules of conduct prescribed for a Brahmachari, were excluded from the right of performance.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>अन्यो वेदपाठी न तस्य स्नानम्। (M.G.S. 1.2.3)</blockquote>However, according to Vishnu, some people were compulsorily required to lead the life of a Brahmachari on physical grounds. They were the hump-backed, the blind by birth, the impotent, the lame and the diseased. <blockquote>कुब्जवामनजात्यन्धक्लीबपङग्वार्तरोगिणाम्। व्रतचय भवेत्तेषां यावज्जीवमानशतः।</blockquote>They did not perform their Samavartana because Vivaha was not possible in their case.<ref name=":1" />

Thus in the beginning only those who passed their educational course were admitted to the samavartana and those who finished their education were allowed to take their ceremonial bath.  

Thus in the beginning only those who passed their educational course were admitted to the samavartana and those who finished their education were allowed to take their ceremonial bath.

=== Importance ===

=== Importance ===

This samskara is also called Snana because bathing is an important aspect here. According to some anthropologists, bathing was meant for washing away divinity from the student. During his Brahmacharya period, he was living in contact with the deities and he also develops a divine influence around him. So before returning to the ordinary world, he had to remove the divine influence which would be otherwise polluted and thereby incurring divine displeasure. Also the Brahmacharya period is regarded as a long yajna, so just as for any yajna where an Avabhrta bath is taken, so also a ceremonial bath marks the end of Brahmacharya period.<ref name=":1">Pandey, Rajbali. (2002 Reprint) ''Hindu Samskaras : Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.</ref>

This samskara is also called Snana because bathing is an important aspect here. According to some anthropologists, bathing was meant for washing away divinity from the student. During his Brahmacharya period, he was living in contact with the deities and he also develops a divine influence around him. So before returning to the ordinary world, he had to remove the divine influence which would be otherwise polluted and thereby incurring divine displeasure. Also the Brahmacharya period is regarded as a long yajna, so just as for any yajna where an Avabhrta bath is taken, so also a ceremonial bath marks the end of Brahmacharya period.<ref name=":1">Pandey, Rajbali. (2002 Reprint) ''Hindu Samskaras : Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.</ref>

It is a ritual bath because it symbolises the crossing of the ocean of literature learning by the student - hence Vidyasnataka and Vratasnataka - meaning one who has bathed in the ocean of learning and one who has bathed in vows respectively. In Sanskrit literature, learning is compared to an ocean. Before the bath, the student has to obtain permission from the acharya to end his studentship and give him guru-dakshina - tuition fees as explained below.<blockquote>गुरवे तु वरं दत्त्वा स्नायीत तदनुज्ञया । वेदव्रतनि वा पारं नीत्वा ह्युभयमेव वा ॥  '''पराशरस्मृतिः - आचारकाण्डः'''</blockquote>

It is a ritual bath because it symbolises the crossing of the ocean of literature learning by the student - hence Vidyasnataka and Vratasnataka - meaning one who has bathed in the ocean of learning and one who has bathed in vows respectively. In Sanskrit literature, learning is compared to an ocean.

=== समावर्तनम् (स्नातकम्) and  विवाहः - व्यवहित or अव्यवहित ॥ Snataka and Marriage - Paused or Contiguous Events ===

=== Permission of Guru ===

A lot of confusion prevails as to the conduct of Samavartana and Marriage.  

The permission of the teacher is essential and has been prescribed for the student to enter the next ashrama. The convocation speech emphasizes that the student continues the lineage.<blockquote>आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः (तैतिरीयोपनिषत् - शिक्षावल्ली)</blockquote>Having offered गुरुदक्षिणा, get married and see that you won't cut off the chain of progeny.

Before the ceremonial bath, the student has to obtain permission from the acharya to end his studentship and give him guru-dakshina - tuition fees as explained below in Parashara Smrti. <blockquote>गुरवे तु वरं दत्त्वा स्नायीत तदनुज्ञया । वेदव्रतनि वा पारं नीत्वा ह्युभयमेव वा ॥  '''पराशरस्मृतिः - आचारकाण्डः'''</blockquote>In similar lines the Yajnavalkya smrti also expresses the similar idea<blockquote>गुरवे तु वरं दत्त्वा स्नायाद्वा तदनुज्ञया । वेदं व्रतानि वा पारं नीत्वा ह्युभयं एव वा । । १.५१ । । (Yajn. Smrt. 1.51)<ref>Yajnavalkya Smrti (Acharaadhyaya [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%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Vivahaprakarana]) </ref></blockquote>

आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः -- '''तैतिरीयोपनिषत् - शिक्षावल्ली'''

Having offered गुरुदक्षिणा , get married and see that you won't cut off the chain of progeny .

 

A lot of confusion prevails as to the conduct of Samavartana and Marriage whether they should be conducted as contiguous events or not. Later when Upanayana lost its educational significance, it became more of a bodily samskara, more of a license for marriage. But because marriage could not take place before the Samavartana, it must be performed some time before marriage. In the present situations, in majority of cases Upanayana is performed followed by Samavartana immediately and all this has become symbolic. Unfortunately, it portrays that education of the person is completed even before it commenced.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>वेदानधीत्य वेदौ वा वेदं वापि यथाक्रमम् । अविप्लुतब्रह्मचर्यो गृहस्थाश्रममावसेत् ॥  (Manu. Smrt. 5.2)</blockquote>अधीत्य चाधिगम्यार्थं ततः स्नायात्  ।

 

 

वेदानधीत्य वेदौ वा वेदं वापि यथाक्रमम्  

 

अविप्लुतब्रह्मचर्यो गृहस्थाश्रममावसेत् ॥  -- '''मनुस्मृतिः , 3-2'''

 

अधीत्य चाधिगम्यार्थं ततः स्नायात्  ।

जायमानो ह वै ब्राह्मणः त्रिभिः ऋणवान् जायते ब्रह्मचर्येण ऋषिभ्यः यज्ञेन देवेभ्यः प्रजया पित्रुभ्यः -- '''तैत्तिरीयसंहिता ।'''

जायमानो ह वै ब्राह्मणः त्रिभिः ऋणवान् जायते ब्रह्मचर्येण ऋषिभ्यः यज्ञेन देवेभ्यः प्रजया पित्रुभ्यः -- '''तैत्तिरीयसंहिता ।'''