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This samskara is called Brahmopadesha because the child is given the upadesha of Gayatri mantra which prepares him for the study of vedas, or in more modern terms the child enters the schooling phase of life ([[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]]). It is also called Yajnopavita samskara as the initiate is invested with the sacred thread that marks a Dvija.
This samskara is called Brahmopadesha because the child is given the upadesha of Gayatri mantra which prepares him for the study of vedas, or in more modern terms the child enters the schooling phase of life ([[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]]). It is also called Yajnopavita samskara as the initiate is invested with the sacred thread that marks a Dvija.
[[File:23. Upanayana (Sikha version) Repurposed.png|thumb|733x733px|'''<big>Upanayana Samskara</big>''']]
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
The Upanayana, unlike other Saṁskāras was the popular one which is widely referred in the sources of ancient Indian history. It aims at the transformation of an individual from an animalistic state into a responsible human being. Children at birth are a bundle of needs and wants, where the mind, intellect, personality and individuality are not developed in them. A child is unaware of its responsibility towards the family, community, society, and the nation. As the child reaches fifth year of age, it develops a self-awareness and identity in the society. At this juncture if proper guidance is given to mold the child's intellect by impressing it with values of life, it learns to relate itself in a healthy way to family, community and society at large. It is a point which also heralds the arrival of youth so an occasion to mark the event by solemn ceremonies. Education starts with the impartment of such values in a child and his educational career is filled with observation of certain sets of rites and rituals grouped under the name of Upanayana Samskara.<ref name=":1">Murthy, Narasimha. H. V. (1997) ''A Critical Study of Upanayana Samskara''. Mangalore: Canara College.</ref>
The Upanayana, unlike other Saṁskāras was the popular one which is widely referred in the sources of ancient Indian history. It aims at the transformation of an individual from an animalistic state into a responsible human being. Children at birth are a bundle of needs and wants, where the mind, intellect, personality and individuality are not developed in them. A child is unaware of its responsibility towards the family, community, society, and the nation. As the child reaches fifth year of age, it develops a self-awareness and identity in the society. At this juncture if proper guidance is given to mold the child's intellect by impressing it with values of life, it learns to relate itself in a healthy way to family, community and society at large. It is a point which also heralds the arrival of youth so an occasion to mark the event by solemn ceremonies. Education starts with the impartment of such values in a child and his educational career is filled with observation of certain sets of rites and rituals grouped under the name of Upanayana Samskara.<ref name=":1">Murthy, Narasimha. H. V. (1997) ''A Critical Study of Upanayana Samskara''. Mangalore: Canara College.</ref>
Many scholars as well as common people who follow the principles of Santana Dharma observe Upanayana samskara to be of hoary antiquity.
Many scholars as well as common people who follow the principles of Santana Dharma observe Upanayana samskara to be of hoary antiquity.
=== अधिकारी ॥ Adhikari ===
=== अधिकारः ॥ Adhikara ===
Every male child belonging to the Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya varnas started his education career with Upanayana samskara. The ritual was originally performed when a student commenced his Vedic education under the supervision of a teacher, with whom he usually lived. It was not an obligatory ritual initially and many exceptions were noted; if a student was unfit by character or calibre to receive the Vedic education, he was not admitted to its privilege. Evidence in Dharmasutras pointed to some families in society where it was not performed for a generation or two. If, on the other hand, during the course of his education, he had to go to a different teacher, the ritual had to be repeated. In course of time, it was felt necessary by the community to preserve the Vedic literature thus making Upanayana and Vedic studies obligatory for all.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":02" />
Every male child belonging to the Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya varnas started his education career with Upanayana samskara. The ritual was originally performed when a student commenced his Vedic education under the supervision of a teacher, with whom he usually lived. It was not an obligatory ritual initially and many exceptions were noted; if a student was unfit by character or calibre to receive the Vedic education, he was not admitted to its privilege. Evidence in Dharmasutras pointed to some families in society where it was not performed for a generation or two. If, on the other hand, during the course of his education, he had to go to a different teacher, the ritual had to be repeated. In course of time, it was felt necessary by the community to preserve the Vedic literature thus making Upanayana and Vedic studies obligatory for all.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":02" />
Upanayana ceremony is performed at a time when the person moves from early childhood to later childhood. Psychologists describe the childhood in two stages viz., early childhood, from the age of 3 to 6 years and later childhood, from the age of 7 to 12 years. A child develops mentally and physically in these stages rapidly. As a child grows, both quantitative and qualitative changes are taking place within him. The beginnings of good study habits can and should be learned at this stage. This age is the time when vision and hearing as well as any speech difficulties become evident if present. These senses develop rapidly and are put to use by the child in these later years; the training of the senses starts at this age with the Upanayana ceremony. Psychologists also mention that the thinking and reasoning capacity in a child grows manifold between the ages of eight to eleven.<ref name=":1" />
Upanayana ceremony is performed at a time when the person moves from early childhood to later childhood. Psychologists describe the childhood in two stages viz., early childhood, from the age of 3 to 6 years and later childhood, from the age of 7 to 12 years. A child develops mentally and physically in these stages rapidly. As a child grows, both quantitative and qualitative changes are taking place within him. The beginnings of good study habits can and should be learned at this stage. This age is the time when vision and hearing as well as any speech difficulties become evident if present. These senses develop rapidly and are put to use by the child in these later years; the training of the senses starts at this age with the Upanayana ceremony. Psychologists also mention that the thinking and reasoning capacity in a child grows manifold between the ages of eight to eleven.<ref name=":1" />
During this time perceptual powers increase in keenness and accuracy. Environmental influence has a great role in such development of perception. Before Upanayana home and members of the family are the most important factors influencing the child. Chaturvarnya system was the foundation of the society in Bharatavarsha. As [[Brahmana Dharma (ब्राह्मणधर्मः)|Brahmana]] household was filled with Veda mantras and recitation, it was quite natural that a child born there starts to learn them early on just by hearing, as early as, by the age of five. Some grhyasutras prescribe Upanayana samskara for the Brahmins by the age of five. So their thinking and reasoning capacities develop early on based on their environment. Consider the household of a Kshatriya. A child born there needs a little more time to strengthen himself physically. The [[Kshatriya Dharma (क्षत्रियधर्मः)|kshatriya dharma]] entails that they be trained more strictly to a harder discipline working on the natural qualities of heroism, leadership, resourcefulness and generosity etc. Hence they can undergo the Upanayana samskara at a much later age than the Brahmin boys as they have to focus more on their physical strength. Coming to the [[Vaishya Dharma (वैश्यधर्मः)|Vaishyas]], their strengths lie in understanding the principles of agriculture and business handed down from their forefathers. Thus Upanayana at different age levels for the different varnas have been fixed by the Smritis and this was based on the psychology and developmental stages of a human being. Thus educational system was totally framed around grooming the child in his future occupation as well as transmitting the knowledge to the next generation.<ref name=":1" />
During this time perceptual powers increase in keenness and accuracy. Environmental influence has a great role in such development of perception. Before Upanayana home and members of the family are the most important factors influencing the child. Chaturvarnya system was the foundation of the society in Bharatavarsha. As [[Brahmana Dharma (ब्राह्मणधर्मः)|Brahmana]] household was filled with Veda mantras and recitation, it was quite natural that a child born there starts to learn them early on just by hearing, as early as, by the age of five. Some grhyasutras prescribe Upanayana samskara for the Brahmins by the age of five. So their thinking and reasoning capacities develop early on based on their environment. Consider the household of a Kshatriya. A child born there needs a little more time to strengthen himself physically. The [[Kshatriya Dharma (क्षत्रियधर्मः)|kshatriya dharma]] entails that they be trained more strictly to a harder discipline working on the natural qualities of heroism, leadership, resourcefulness and generosity etc. Hence they can undergo the Upanayana samskara at a much later age than the Brahmin boys as they have to focus more on their physical strength. Coming to the [[Vaishya Dharma (वैश्यधर्मः)|Vaishyas]], their strengths lie in understanding the principles of agriculture and business handed down from their forefathers. Thus Upanayana at different age levels for the different varnas have been fixed by the Smritis and this was based on the psychology and developmental stages of a human being in relation to his role in the society. Thus educational system was totally framed around grooming the child in his future occupation as well as transmitting the knowledge to the next generation.<ref name=":1" />
Intelligence is required for a person of any varna. The ancients believed that the chief goal of Upanayana samskara centered around the development of intelligence along with the child's sensory equipment. The study of Vedas was considered as a higher level of study. Vedic study included what intelligence tests now measure - efficient problem solving abilities, the power of understanding and processing multiple things, ability to think abstractly and memory power to name a few. The sankalpas made during Upanayana aimed to increase medha (intelligence), [[Shraddha (श्रद्धा)|shraddha]] (concentration and focus), Prajna (discrimination, judgement) required for Vedic study. The [[Vedapatha Paddhati (वेदपाठपद्धतिः)|Vedapatha paddhati]], the system of chanting the mantras, in eight types- Jata patha, Mala patha, Shikha patha, Rekha patha, Dhvaja patha, Danda patha, Ratha patha and Ghanapatha are the standard IQs of those days. This type of recitation improves memory as well as sustained attention as evidenced in [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228494221_Effect_of_Vedic_chanting_on_memory_and_sustained_attention one such modern research study]. During Upanayana the child is taught the Gayatri mantra on which he is asked to focus and meditate. Even though at such a young age the child is unaware of the effects, he is trained to sit and meditate on the mantra under guidance. Thus this samskara is the starting point of disciplining the mind, and developing a habit of doing so.<ref name=":1" />
Recent studies on the [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347947464_Beneficial_effects_of_Gayatri_mantra effect of Gayatri mantra] on today's youth point to an improvement in the cognitive and cardiovascular parameters when the mantra was chanted. Mantra chanting, specifically Gayatri Mantra has become one of the modern tools to achieve "mindfulness or calmness". A preliminary investigation of this approach to use ancient methods in improving quality of life has shown promising results as evidenced by the [https://pediatrics.medresearch.in/index.php/ijpr/article/view/366/730 pilot research study in school children in Kerala]. Studies on brain using imaging techniques (such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are underway in many laboratories around the world to prove the positive effects of chanting mantras in people in different areas of life such as students, the elderly, [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342704865_Effect_of_Gayatri_Mantra_Chanting_on_Attention_Memory_Anxiety_and_Mental_State_in_Young_Athletes_A_Prospective_Study?_sg=dsVSa18th46wVPN_3vYbnpk-OPFH5KqpXN71XWIQUlZ6M9A6XrF1qFQsg4s8WU2oYkWzZ0bZiawpy38 athletes], office goers so on and so forth.
Problems related to behaviour and sexuality manifest at the onset of teenages. Affection, guidance and role models such as of the teachers along with the practices mentioned in the sacraments help in handling sensitive behavioural issues in children. Budding sexuality, hormonal imbalances, sensual attraction towards opposite sex, homosexuality and other such aspects arise in young children in their teens. Anger, rage, peer pressure, and other severe psychological disorders are a cause of school drop outs. It is important at this point in children, that they are guided into a meaningful course of life better able to handle emotional and psychological pressures. Instructions from teachers as those given at the Shamsana ritual, practices of samidadhana, meditation on the Gayatri mantra, and Brahmacharya life in the Gurukula was once effective in handling such emotional and psychological aspects of children. Sadly in the modern education system the one-on-one attention given to the student by the teacher and the respect that students had for the teacher are rarely observed. The [[Special Attire of a Student during Upanayana (उपनयने विशेष-परिधानम्)|special attire that students had]], the instructions they had to follow, the rules of [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyaashrama]], the [[Karma (कर्म)|nityakarma]], all these aided to control the sense organs and thus develop good character. A student should be away from dice, glamour, lies, women, intoxicatong drinks, pleasures, all of which excite the young mind. He should sleep alone and wake up early in the morning. He should serve the teacher and take him as a model for his future. Idle mind is a devils workshop is a saying in the present times; the essence of which was well known to the ancient seers long ago. Acharyas followed the [[Principles of Education (शिक्षणसिद्धान्ताः)|principles of education]] and devised many ways to keep a student mentally and physically fit. Along with the routine duties they were given chores and activities to challenge themselves and excel in not just bookish knowledge but in many areas of life itself. Attitudes are never static, they change with experiences. They become a part of the behaviour of an individual. Imitation and suggestions are psychological tools to mend the attitudes. Students imitate their seniors, [[Acharya (आचार्यः)|Acharyas]] and [[Guru (गुरुः)|Gurus]], and those were the times when they were the role models not just for their students but also the common man.<ref name=":1" />
Games and physical activity was equally important along with learning the life skills such as pottery, self defense, carpentry, agricultural techniques to name a few. Psychological training was intertwined in the activities leading him gradually to perception of self. As the child grows older he learns to turn his mind on self realization.
Modern science has thrown light on the development of brain and neurological pathways. It is well known that transmission of messages across two neurons is a biochemical reaction. '''Our brains form neural pathways–connections between neurons – that get stronger the more often we perform a task'''. And when we perform a task enough times, we no longer have to think about how it's done. This is when it becomes a habit.<ref>[https://magazine.scienceconnected.org/2018/09/how-habits-are-formed/#:~:text=Our%20brains%20form%20neural%20pathways,when%20it%20becomes%20a%20habit. How are habits formed?]</ref> Repetitive good actions lead to good habits, good ways of thinking and eventually a good citizen which is the important [[Aims of Gurukula System (गुरुकुलव्यवस्थायाः लक्ष्याणि)|aim of the Gurukula system of education]].
== Upanayana for Girls ==
== Upanayana for Girls ==