AvaNi Avittam Related Queries !

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends : There have been queries on why we do

it and what is the sankalpam for the KaamOkArsheeth-

manyurakArsheeth manthra Japam on Monday , August 18

and Gayathri Japam on Tuesday , August 19 . The July 1989

issue of Nrusimha PriyA and the Ahnika Grantham of

the current Jeeyar , H.H. Sri NaarAyana Yathi srEshtar

has discussed in detail all the saasthric details as

coded by our purvALs .

 

There have been requests for sankalpam and the meaning of

the UpAkarmA and Japam . I have sent copies of

sankalpam to those , who requested by Fax or mail . Perhaps ,

there is merit to post it on the net to reach a wider set of

interested members . If there is a wider need for sankalpam ,

I will post it .Others knowledgable in this area are

requested to complete any missing details in the observances .

 

Like the annual pavithrOthsavam performed in the Temples to

make amends to lapses in the proper way of worship prescribed by

the aagamAs and to restore the saanidhyam of the Lord in

ArchA murthys , we perform AvaNi avittam KaamOkaarsheeth

japam and tarpaNam( khaanda Rishi tarpaNam ) for

not performing Adhyayanam in the proper way and

for other lapses in VedAdhyayanam iniitated after

the sacred thread ceremony to qualify one

to be initiated in VedAdhyanam under the proper

achAryA . In the old days , the BrahmachAris spent

7 to 8 years to learn the Vedam of one saakhA ,

gave the vidhyA dhAnam to the AchAryA , did avabrutha

snAnam , returned home to start grahasthAsramam .

 

The manthra japam appears to be a prAyascchittham

for lapses and prayer to the khAnda Rishis . Khaandam

here refers to a particular khAndam of the Vedam as

indicated by the Taittireeya AraNyakam . There are rishis

for each of the nine khAndams . They are known as

KhAnda rishis and we pray to them for

forgivance against lapses and mistakes and aim to

please them ( tarpayAmi , Trupyatha --) . We explain to them

the two basic reasons , why such lapses happened and

identify them as the preventive factors that interfered (viz).,

Kaamam and manyu (anger ) . By this japam , we imply

that we will be mindful of these two obstacles during the

coming year regarding VedAdhyananam in the established

manner . The sankalpam specifically states ,

" adhyAyOthsarjanAkaraNa prAyascchitthArtham -- " .

 

We have three kinds of debts , Deva-Rishi-Pithru RuNams.

By performing YaagAs , the debt to the DevAs are paid up .

By VedAdhyayanam , the debt to the Rishis is covered .

By AmAvAsyai TarpaNam , Maasa Pirappu TarpaNam

and Ahnika SrArdham , the debts to Pithrus (manes )

are discharged . The AvaNi avitta UpAkarmA is for the

Rishhis , KhAnda Rishis . The nine KhAnda Rishis

invoked in this upAkarmam are :

 

PrajApathi , Soman , Agni , VisvAn DevA ,

Saamhitheer DevathA ( Upanishadam ) ,

Yaj~neekirdevathA ( upanishadam ) ,

VaaruNeerdevatha ( Upanishadam ) ,

BrahmANam svayambhu and sathasaspathi .

 

Gayathri Japam (1, 008 times ) is performed next day

as PrAyascchittham for being involved with untruth

( opposite of sathyam )and other sins that are prohibited

by the SaasthrAs . The sankalpam again specifically

states " MithyAthitha prAyascchitthArtham --" . This japam(1,008)

beyond the 108 per day or 10 is done for aathma Suddhi .

My maternal grand father used to do 1,008 gayathri japam

every day before sunrise at NaatAru bank in Oppiliappan Koil .

 

There is a special Gayathri with four Paadhams ( quarters)

which are recited by very few . This is the most sacred one.

One needs to wear a third sacred thread for GrahasthAs to

have the adhikAram to perform this sacred chathur Paadha Gayathri .

One needs to be initiated by a proper AchAryA for this anushtAnam.

The Gayathri manthram in vogue is known as tripAdha GAyathri

and starts with "Tath savithur --" as the first of the three paadhams .

That is what is recited 1,008 times by most of us . The turIya GAyathri

is recited one tenth of the amount of the other and has a fourth paadham

beyond ---PrachOdhayath and starts with " parO rajasE ---" .

 

The sacred meaning of Gayathri manthram has been revealed to

us by Parasara Bhattar in Sri RangarAjasthavam and by Swami

Desikan in Satha DhUshaNi ..

 

V.Sadagopan