Antiquity of Upanayana Samskara

Upanayana or Maunjibandhana as it is called is an important Grhya samskara among the sixteen samskaras. This ancient process of investiture of the yajnopaveeta is found mentioned in some of the world's oldest recorded texts. While Vidyarambha is a more recently evolved samskara where writing the alphabet is done for the first time by a child, Upanayana has a hoary antiquity. Originally performed when a student commenced his Vedic studies, this samskara is said to have significantly contributed towards the maintenance of the oral tradition handed down through the ages.

While samskaras are generally purificatory in purpose, Upanayana is a unique samskara to bring about mental or intellectual purification and thus shaping the child's virtues and character.

In this context we trace the origin and development of this educational samskara through the various ancient Indian texts. Starting from the oldest text Rigveda we find references to Upanayana in the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, Kalpa Vedangas, and later on extensively in the Dharmashastras. As to the origin of Grhyasamskaras, scholars generally opine that these might have originated even before the Vedic texts were compiled and edited as we see them today. The mantras of the Samhitas and the Brahmanas that are chanted during the vivaha and antyeshti samskaras can be explained only in the context of the Grhyasamskaras.

In Atharvaveda Samhita

The Atharvaveda samhita has a sukta (11.5) devoted to brahmacharin, and his activities.

In Shatapatha Brahmana

The Shatapatha Brahmana (Madhyandina shaka) has two brahmanas dealing entirely with the Upanayana and are named as उपनयनधर्माभिधायकं ब्राह्मणम्।Upanayana-dharmaabhidayaka brahmana(11.5.4) and brahmachari-dharma-nirupaka brahmana (11.3.3) in some edited texts.

In the brahmana 11.5.4, we find details about the process of Upanayana, where the incumbent student expresses his desire to enter into Brahmacharya to the preceptor. The preceptor holds the hand of the student uttering the prescribed mantra. The text then explains the significance of this utterance. We find the narration of action with the utterances to be accompanied and their significance. This ritual is described in the context of a debate between Prachinayogya and Uddalaka Aruni regarding Agnihotra. Unaware of some details Prachinayogya seeks to be instructed on it by Uddalaka Aruni. He accepts him as his student.

In Dharmasutras

Apastamba mentions that Upanayana is an initiation sacrament enjoined by the Vedas.

उपनयनं विद्यार्थस्य श्रुतितः संस्कारः ९ सर्वेभ्यो वेदेभ्यः सावित्र् यनूच्यत इति हि ब्राह्मणम् १० (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 1.1.1.9,10)