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Line 23: − + − + + + − At noon the student came out of his room, cleansed his mouth and shaved his head and beard. He then relinquishes his mekhala (girdle) and ajina (deer skin) which were the insignia of the student's order. It marks the end of the period of strict discipline and the teacher himself, who previously sternly refused him the use of luxurious things, now offers them to the student. He gives him a bath in fragrant water followed by an offer of new clothes.+ − Ornaments, garlands, collyrium, tuban, umbrella, and shoes, and other necessities and conforts of a householder, the use of which was forbidden to him in the Brahmacharya ashrama were now to be formally and officially offered to him by his teacher with the recitation of proper mantras.<ref name=":0">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</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 ceremonial 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.+ + +
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== 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 . . .। 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>
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 name=":3">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%83_%E0%A5%A8 Prashna 2])</ref></blockquote>
=== Eligibility ===
=== Eligibility ===
A majority of students followed the normal course of life and took up the life of a grhastha, a very few preferred the Naistika Brahmacharya.
A majority of students followed the normal course of life and took up the life of a grhastha, a very few preferred the Naistika Brahmacharya.
== Procedure ==
== समावर्तनविधिः ॥ Ceremonies at Samavartana ==
A simple yet significant ceremony, an auspicious day was selected and the student was required to shut himself up in a room throughout the morning.
A simple yet significant ceremony, an auspicious day was selected and the student was required to shut himself up in a room throughout the morning. According to Bharadvaja Grhyasutra, it was done, so that the sun may not be insulted by the superior lustre of a Snataka.
=== स्नानम् ॥ Snana ===
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 ceremonial 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.
As regards the bathing procedure, eight vessels of water are kept (representing the eight quarters of the earth) and the student draws the water with appropriate mantras. The body of the student heated by the fire of austerity and penance now requires to be cooled, which is symbolized by bathing (Paraskara Grhyasutras 2.6.8-10)<ref name=":02">Paraskara [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 Grhyasutras]</ref>
=== स्नानम् ॥ Snana ===
=== Postbath Ceremonies ===
After the ceremonial bath, relinquishes his mekhala (girdle) and ajina (deer skin) which were the insignia of the student's order and puts on a loin cloth. The student having eaten curd and sesame, cleans his mouth and shaves his beard, removes the lock of hair, and nails. He then touches his guru's feet and offers the samidhas in agni, It marks the end of the period of strict discipline and the teacher himself, who previously sternly refused him the use of luxurious things, now offers them to the student. He gives him a bath in fragrant water followed by an offer of new clothes.
Ornaments, garlands, collyrium, tuban, umbrella, mirror, and shoes, and other necessities and comforts of a householder, the use of which was forbidden to him in the Brahmacharya ashrama were now to be formally and officially offered to him by his teacher with the recitation of proper mantras (Paraskara Grhyasutras 2.6.12-13). A bamboo staff was given to the scholar. The teacher offers Madhuparka (combination of honey and ghee) to the student, indicating a great respect for it is reserved for a few (king, a teacher, a son-in-law and snataka).<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":0">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</ref><ref name=":1" />
=== गुरुवनुज्ञा ॥ Permission of Guru ===
=== गुरुवनुज्ञा ॥ Permission of Guru ===
Dressed in his new attires, the snataka proceeds to the nearest assembly of the learned in a chariot or an elephant. There he was introduced as a competent scholar by his teacher. According to the Baudhayana Grhyasutras, the Brahman student performs a homa with the blessing that the snataka would get plenty of students to teach.<ref name=":3" />
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.
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.