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| मेखलाजिनवासांसि जटादण्डकमण्डलून् । बिभृयादुपवीतं च दर्भपाणिर्यथोदितम् ॥ ४॥<ref name=":4" /> | | मेखलाजिनवासांसि जटादण्डकमण्डलून् । बिभृयादुपवीतं च दर्भपाणिर्यथोदितम् ॥ ४॥<ref name=":4" /> |
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− | ''mekhalājinavāsāṁsi jaṭādaṇḍakamaṇḍalūn । bibhr̥yādupavītaṁ ca darbhapāṇiryathoditam ॥ 4॥''</blockquote>The Yajnavalkya smrti also mentions the staff, skin, sacred thread and the girdle as important possessions of a brahmachari.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>दण्डाजिनोपवीतानि मेखलां चैव धारयेत् ।<ref name=":9" /> daṇḍājinopavītāni mekhalāṁ caiva dhārayet ।</blockquote>The Grhyasutras, Smrti shastras as well as the Puranas describe various specifications pertaining to these four elements of a brahmachari's attire ie. the Mekhala, Vastra, Danda and Upavita. According to the Agni Purana, the maunjya (the girdle to be worn after the Upanayana) is known to be made of munja (grass) or bark. While the sticks are said to be from the parna (palasha), pippala (fig) and bilva tree. And the hides of deer, tiger or goat is prescribed to be worn by those in the student life.<ref name=":10" /><blockquote>मुञ्जानां वल्कलानान्तु क्रमान्मौज्ज्याः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥१५३.८ मार्गवैयाध्रवास्तानि चर्माणि व्रतचारिणां । पर्णपिप्पलविल्वानां क्रमाद्दण्डाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥१५३.९<ref name=":11" /> | + | ''mekhalājinavāsāṁsi jaṭādaṇḍakamaṇḍalūn । bibhr̥yādupavītaṁ ca darbhapāṇiryathoditam ॥ 4॥''</blockquote>The Yajnavalkya smrti also mentions the staff, skin, sacred thread and the girdle as important possessions of a brahmachari.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>दण्डाजिनोपवीतानि मेखलां चैव धारयेत् ।<ref name=":9" /> daṇḍājinopavītāni mekhalāṁ caiva dhārayet ।</blockquote>Infact, the Grhyasutras, Smrti shastras as well as the Puranas describe various specifications pertaining to these four elements of a brahmachari's attire ie. the Mekhala, Vastra, Danda and Upavita. According to the Agni Purana, the maunjya (the girdle to be worn after the Upanayana) is known to be made of munja (grass) or bark. While the sticks are said to be from the parna (palasha), pippala (fig) and bilva tree. And the hides of deer, tiger or goat is prescribed to be worn by those in the student life.<ref name=":10" /><blockquote>मुञ्जानां वल्कलानान्तु क्रमान्मौज्ज्याः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥१५३.८ मार्गवैयाध्रवास्तानि चर्माणि व्रतचारिणां । पर्णपिप्पलविल्वानां क्रमाद्दण्डाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥१५३.९<ref name=":11" /> |
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| muñjānāṁ valkalānāntu kramānmaujjyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ॥153.8 | | muñjānāṁ valkalānāntu kramānmaujjyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ॥153.8 |
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− | mārgavaiyādhravāstāni carmāṇi vratacāriṇāṁ । parṇapippalavilvānāṁ kramāddaṇḍāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ॥153.9</blockquote>In fact, the specifications correspond to the Varna of the student. | + | mārgavaiyādhravāstāni carmāṇi vratacāriṇāṁ । parṇapippalavilvānāṁ kramāddaṇḍāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ॥153.9</blockquote>The shastra texts also enumerate specifications of the attire worn by the brahmanas, kshatriyas and Vaishyas as brahmancharis after the Upanayana Samskara ie. during their studenthood. |
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− | And according to the shastras, a brahmana student should carry a staff of Palasha tree, a kshatriya of Bilva tree and a Vaishya of the Audumbara (Indian fig) tree.<ref name=":3" />
| + | Manusmrti says, <blockquote>कार्ष्णरौरवबास्तानि चर्माणि ब्रह्मचारिणः । वसीरन्नानुपूर्व्येण शाणक्षौमाविकानि च । । २.४१ । ।<ref name=":1" /> |
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− | They should be (long enough to reach) upto the hair, forehead and face respectively (for the three classes). All the sticks should be having the barks and should not be having bends or be burnt ones. The sacred thread (should be made of) cotton, silk or wool respectively (for the three classes).<ref name=":10" />
| + | kārṣṇarauravabāstāni carmāṇi brahmacāriṇaḥ । vasīrannānupūrvyeṇa śāṇakṣaumāvikāni ca । । 2.41 । । </blockquote>Meaning: |
| + | {| class="wikitable" |
| + | !Charma |
| + | !Brahmanas |
| + | !Kshatriyas |
| + | !Vaishyas |
| + | |- |
| + | |Upper garment |
| + | |Skin of black antelope |
| + | |Skin of spotted deer |
| + | |Skin of he-goat |
| + | |- |
| + | |Lower garment |
| + | |Made of hemp |
| + | |Made of flax |
| + | |Made of wool |
| + | |} |
| + | The Paraskara grhyasutras also reiterate the same and add further that if the prescribed sort of garment is not to be found, a cow's hide (that is optionally prescribed for a Vaishya) should be worn by all.<ref name=":8" /> <blockquote>ऐणेयमजिनमुत्तरीयं ब्राह्मणस्य १७ रौरवं राजन्यस्य १८ आजं गव्यं वा वैश्यस्य १९ सर्वेषां वा गव्यमसति प्रधानत्वात् २०<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%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 Paraskara Grhyasutra] (Refer 2.5)</ref> |
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− | केशदेशललाटास्यतुल्याः प्रोक्ताः क्रमेण तु । अवक्राः सत्वचः सर्वे नाविप्लुष्टास्तु दण्डकाः ॥१५३.१०
| + | aiṇeyamajinamuttarīyaṁ brāhmaṇasya 17 rauravaṁ rājanyasya 18 ājaṁ gavyaṁ vā vaiśyasya 19 sarveṣāṁ vā gavyamasati pradhānatvāt 20</blockquote>As for the Danda, Manusmrti says,<blockquote>ब्राह्मणो बैल्वपालाशौ क्षत्रियो वाटखादिरौ । पैलवाउदुम्बरौ वैश्यो दण्डानर्हन्ति धर्मतः । । २.४५ । । |
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− | वासोपवीते कार्पासक्षौमोर्णानां यथाक्रमं ।१५३.११<ref name=":11" />
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− | Mekhala
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− | Vastra
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− | As regards the skin, Manu says, | |
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− | कार्ष्णरौरवबास्तानि चर्माणि ब्रह्मचारिणः । वसीरन्नानुपूर्व्येण शाणक्षौमाविकानि च । । २.४१ । ।<ref name=":1" />
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− | Let students, according to the order of their castes, wear as upper dresses the skins of black antelopes, spotted deer, and he-goats, and lower garments made of hemp, flax or wool.
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− | The Paraskara grhyasutras also mention that the upper garment of brahmana should be an antelope skin; that of a kshatriya the skin of a spotted deer; of a Vaishya a goat's or a cow's skin. Or if the prescribed sort of garment is not to be had, a cow's hide should be worn by all.<ref name=":8" />
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− | ऐणेयमजिनमुत्तरीयं ब्राह्मणस्य १७ रौरवं राजन्यस्य १८ आजं गव्यं वा वैश्यस्य १९ सर्वेषां वा गव्यमसति प्रधानत्वात् २०<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%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 Paraskara Grhyasutra]</ref>
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− | Danda
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− | Balambatta's glossary on the Yajnavalkya smrti quotes the specifications of the staff enumerated in the Manusmrti.<ref name=":8" />
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− | ब्राह्मणो बैल्वपालाशौ क्षत्रियो वाटखादिरौ । पैलवाउदुम्बरौ वैश्यो दण्डानर्हन्ति धर्मतः । । २.४५ । । | |
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| केशान्तिको ब्राह्मणस्य दण्डः कार्यः प्रमाणतः । ललाटसम्मितो राज्ञः स्यात्तु नासान्तिको विशः । । २.४६ । ।<ref name=":1" /> | | केशान्तिको ब्राह्मणस्य दण्डः कार्यः प्रमाणतः । ललाटसम्मितो राज्ञः स्यात्तु नासान्तिको विशः । । २.४६ । ।<ref name=":1" /> |
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− | A brahmana shall carry, according to the sacred law, a staff of Bilva or Palasha; a kshatriya of Vata or Khadira and a Vaishya of Pippala or Udumbara.
| + | brāhmaṇo bailvapālāśau kṣatriyo vāṭakhādirau । pailavāudumbarau vaiśyo daṇḍānarhanti dharmataḥ । । 2.45 । । |
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− | The staff of a brahmana shall be made of such length as to reach the end of his hair; that of a kshatriya to reach his forehead; and that of a Vaishya, to reach the tip of his nose.<ref name=":8" />
| + | keśāntiko brāhmaṇasya daṇḍaḥ kāryaḥ pramāṇataḥ । lalāṭasammito rājñaḥ syāttu nāsāntiko viśaḥ । । 2.46 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: |
− | | + | {| class="wikitable" |
− | Upavita | + | !Danda<ref name=":8" /> |
| + | !Brahmanas |
| + | !Kshatriyas |
| + | !Vaishyas |
| + | |- |
| + | |Made of |
| + | |Bilva or Palasha |
| + | |Vata or Khadira |
| + | |Pippala or Udumbara |
| + | |- |
| + | |Length |
| + | |Should reach the end of his hair |
| + | |Should reach his forehead |
| + | |Should reach the tip of his nose |
| + | |} |
| + | The Agni Purana further mentions that all the sticks should be having barks, should not have bends or be burnt ones.<ref name=":10" /><blockquote>अवक्राः सत्वचः सर्वे नाविप्लुष्टास्तु दण्डकाः ॥१५३.१०<ref name=":11" /> avakrāḥ satvacaḥ sarve nāvipluṣṭāstu daṇḍakāḥ ॥153.10 </blockquote>Upavita |
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| Balambatta's glossary quotes Manu as follows: | | Balambatta's glossary quotes Manu as follows: |
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| कौशं सौत्रं वा त्रिस्-त्रिवृद् यज्ञोपवीतम् ॥ आ नाभेः ॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF Baudhayana Dharmasutras]</ref> | | कौशं सौत्रं वा त्रिस्-त्रिवृद् यज्ञोपवीतम् ॥ आ नाभेः ॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF Baudhayana Dharmasutras]</ref> |
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| + | The sacred thread (should be made of) cotton, silk or wool respectively (for the three classes).<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | वासोपवीते कार्पासक्षौमोर्णानां यथाक्रमं ।१५३.११<ref name=":11" /> |
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| The Manusmrti mentions that when these ie. his girdle, skin which serves as his upper garment, his staff, his sacrificial thread and his waterpot become damaged, he must throw into the water and take others reciting mantras.<ref name=":8" /> | | The Manusmrti mentions that when these ie. his girdle, skin which serves as his upper garment, his staff, his sacrificial thread and his waterpot become damaged, he must throw into the water and take others reciting mantras.<ref name=":8" /> |
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| The same is iterated by the Agni Purana as well (Adhyaya 153, verse 16).<ref name=":10" /> | | The same is iterated by the Agni Purana as well (Adhyaya 153, verse 16).<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | Balambatta's glossary on the Yajnavalkya smrti quotes the specifications of the staff enumerated in the Manusmrti.<ref name=":8" /> |
| == ब्रह्मचर्यधर्मः || Brahmacharya Dharma == | | == ब्रह्मचर्यधर्मः || Brahmacharya Dharma == |
| A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with a chief goal of veda adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them. Many texts such as Grhyasutras, Dharmasutras, Puranas and Itihasas describe the ashrama dharmas. For example, | | A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with a chief goal of veda adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them. Many texts such as Grhyasutras, Dharmasutras, Puranas and Itihasas describe the ashrama dharmas. For example, |