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Sanatana Dharma has many activities associated with every stage of life intricately woven with nature and divinity. One such is the system of education and timing with nature. With the onset of rains, since the life style was primarily agrarian, people were engaged in activities of farming. Maintaining cows both for havya and kavya (offerings to devatas and forefathers) was considered a sacred requirement. Every season had its significant events and worship associated with it. The months of Sravana and Bhadrapada (usually around August and September) fall into the rainy season during which time students return to their annual study session. In the [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|Gurukula]] system where the students remain in their teacher's households also refreshed their course material during this time.   

Sanatana Dharma has many activities associated with every stage of life intricately woven with nature and divinity. One such is the system of education and timing with nature. With the onset of rains, since the life style was primarily agrarian, people were engaged in activities of farming. Maintaining cows both for havya and kavya (offerings to devatas and forefathers) was considered a sacred requirement. Every season had its significant events and worship associated with it. The months of Sravana and Bhadrapada (usually around August and September) fall into the rainy season during which time students return to their annual study session. In the [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|Gurukula]] system where the students remain in their teacher's households also refreshed their course material during this time.   

=== छान्दसाम् उपाकर्म ॥ Chhandasam Upakarma ===

== छान्दसाम् उपाकर्म ॥ Chhandasam Upakarma ==

In pre-historic times the annual session of education began soon after the commencement of the rainy season when the sowing operations were over and crops had began to sprout. By the full moon of month of Shravana (August) the sowing activity would be over and the ritual of Chhandasam Upakarma (छान्दसाम् उपाकर्म), i.e., gathering the vedic knowledge, was performed on that day. The full moon days of Ashadha, Sravana and Bhadrapada are mentioned by different authorities as appropriate days for Upakarma. The older Grhyasutras (belonging to the Vedanga Kalpa) declare the vidhis for this activity and later day texts such as Dharmasindhu have put them together.

In pre-historic times the annual session of education began soon after the commencement of the rainy season when the sowing operations were over and crops had began to sprout. By the full moon of month of Shravana (August) the sowing activity would be over and the ritual of Chhandasam Upakarma (छान्दसाम् उपाकर्म), i.e., gathering the vedic knowledge, was performed on that day. The full moon days of Ashadha, Sravana and Bhadrapada are mentioned by different authorities as appropriate days for Upakarma. The older Grhyasutras (belonging to the Vedanga Kalpa) declare the vidhis for this activity and later day texts such as Dharmasindhu have put them together.

The timing of the Upakarma is different for different veda shakas, for example yajurvedins conduct it on Shravana Purnima (full moon day of Shravana month) whereas Rigvedins perform it in Bhadrapada month. <blockquote>हुतानुकृतिरुपाकर्म ।१। श्रावण्यां पौर्णमास्यां क्रियेतापि वा आषाढ्याम्।२। (Bau. Grhy. 3.1.1-2)<ref>Baudhayana Grhyasutra ([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 3 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>अथात उपाकरणोत्सर्जने व्याख्यास्यामः १ श्रवणापक्ष ओषधीषु जातासु हस्तेन पौर्णमास्यां वाध्यायोपाकर्म २ (Hira. Grhy. 8.2)<ref>Hiranyakeshi Grhyasutra ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%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 Patala 8])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>प्रौष्ठपदीं हस्तेनाध्यायानुपाकुर्युः १४ श्रावणीमित्येके १५ (Khad. Grhy. 3.2.14-15)<ref>Khadira Grhyasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%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 See Patala 3 Khanda 2])</ref></blockquote>In later times, Upakarma came to be called as Shravani. It is the beginning of the college session to the students of vedas and vedangas.  

The timing of the Upakarma is different for different veda shakas, for example yajurvedins conduct it on Shravana Purnima (full moon day of Shravana month) whereas Rigvedins perform it in Bhadrapada month. <blockquote>हुतानुकृतिरुपाकर्म ।१। श्रावण्यां पौर्णमास्यां क्रियेतापि वा आषाढ्याम्।२। (Bau. Grhy. 3.1.1-2)<ref>Baudhayana Grhyasutra ([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 3 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>अथात उपाकरणोत्सर्जने व्याख्यास्यामः १ श्रवणापक्ष ओषधीषु जातासु हस्तेन पौर्णमास्यां वाध्यायोपाकर्म २ (Hira. Grhy. 8.2)<ref>Hiranyakeshi Grhyasutra ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%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 Patala 8])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>प्रौष्ठपदीं हस्तेनाध्यायानुपाकुर्युः १४ श्रावणीमित्येके १५ (Khad. Grhy. 3.2.14-15)<ref>Khadira Grhyasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%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 See Patala 3 Khanda 2])</ref></blockquote>In later times, Upakarma came to be called as Shravani. It is the beginning of the college session to the students of vedas and vedangas.  

=== छान्दसाम् उत्सर्जनम् ॥ Chhandasam Utsarjana ===

== छान्दसाम् उत्सर्जनम् ॥ Chhandasam Utsarjana ==

The ritual of cessation of vedic studies, after a period of five or six months from Sravana masa is prescribed in the grhyasutras, as Chhandasam Utsarjana (छान्दसाम् उत्सर्जनम्). Utsarjana was therefore performed on the fullmoon day of Pausha (Pushya masa) or Magha masa (February - March). In the present days Utsarjana is not performed.<ref name=":0">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</ref>

The ritual of cessation of vedic studies, after a period of five or six months from Sravana masa is prescribed in the grhyasutras, as Chhandasam Utsarjana (छान्दसाम् उत्सर्जनम्). Utsarjana was therefore performed on the fullmoon day of Pausha (Pushya masa) or Magha masa (February - March). In the present days Utsarjana is not performed.<ref name=":0">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</ref>

===Significance===

==Significance==

Upakarma is associated with the annual replacement of the yajnopaveeta, in the present day. However, in earlier days it was to be performed only by the teacher along with his students when they had reassembled at the beginning of the session (Asv. Grh. 8.4.10) and Baud Gr. Sutr. 3.1.8. Upakarma Prakarana of Apastamba Grhyasutras<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%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4% Patala 4 Khanda 11])</ref>

Upakarma is associated with the annual replacement of the yajnopaveeta, in the present day. However, in earlier days it was to be performed only by the teacher along with his students when they had reassembled at the beginning of the session (Asv. Grh. 8.4.10) and Baud Gr. Sutr. 3.1.8. Upakarma Prakarana of Apastamba Grhyasutras<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%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4% Patala 4 Khanda 11])</ref>

*motivate students to perform with vigour by remembering and following the glorious examples of rshis

*motivate students to perform with vigour by remembering and following the glorious examples of rshis

*remind the grhasthas of their duty to study their own vaidika shakas

*remind the grhasthas of their duty to study their own vaidika shakas

===विधिः ॥ Vidhi===

==विधिः ॥ Vidhi==

Although the procedures of Upakarma differed with different vaidika shakas they have a few common principles. The activities common to all followers of different shakas include - on the opening day, offering of tarpanas (oblations) to deities of yajnas and vedas, propitiating the presiding deities of intellect, memory and creativity (ex., Sarasvati devi, Hayagriva) and pay reverence to the rshis (ex., Panini) who have enriched the literature. Apart from these dvijas change their yajnopaveeta and perform Gayatri mantra japa on the following day.

Although the procedures of Upakarma differed with different vaidika shakas they have a few common principles. The activities common to all followers of different shakas include - on the opening day, offering of tarpanas (oblations) to deities of yajnas and vedas, propitiating the presiding deities of intellect, memory and creativity (ex., Sarasvati devi, Hayagriva) and pay reverence to the rshis (ex., Panini) who have enriched the literature. Apart from these dvijas change their yajnopaveeta and perform Gayatri mantra japa on the following day.

*Rigveda shaka followers used to recite the opening and concluding mantras of each of the ten mandalas of their vedas.

*Rigveda shaka followers used to recite the opening and concluding mantras of each of the ten mandalas of their vedas.