Samavartana (समावर्तनम्)

Samavartana (Samskrit : समावर्तनम्) literally means "return from teacher's house to one's house". This Saṃskāra is not needed if the student learns under his own father or if the student does not want to get married. This Saṃskāra is not an Aṅga (part) of marriage.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

While Upanayana marks the beginning of the vedic study, Samavartana marks the end of the Brahmacharya period in a student's life.

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). In modern times it is called Snatakavrata or Convocation (held in Universities).

वेदमधीत्य स्नास्यन् . . .। आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम्, १२.१॥

vedamadhītya snāsyan . . ॥ Āpastambagṛhyasūtram, 12.1॥

Having completed the study of Veda, Vedāṅgas, Mīmāṃsā etc., while going to have the ceremonial bath . . .

Taittriya Upanishad Shikshavalli is referred to as a classic example of how a student is addressed at the end of his studies and the fundamental principles that he should remember for life. Samavartana is equated to convocation ceremony of the present day.

The famous samavartana speech in the Taittriyopanishad starts with Speak the Truth, Practice Dharma, Make no mistake about the study of the Veda..

वेदमनूच्याचार्योऽन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति - सत्यं वद , धर्मं चर, स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।... ... (Tait. Upan. Shiks. 11.1)

Having taught the Vedas to the student, the preceptor Acharya imparts the Samavartana or end of education instructions to disciples (Antevasi). It is implied that a disciple who has studied the Veda, should not leave his Acharya's house without inquiring into the scriptural duties. (Page 265-266 of Reference ).