Dharma Saastram : VarNAsrama Dharma KaaNDam : Part IV

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16. Upanayanam ( Contd. )

 

16.2.1 After 16 years , Upanayanam is not to be done even with any kind of

prAyascchittam . If it is between 8 and 16 , PrAyascchittham ( Mukhya Kaala

akaraNEna yO dhOshah ----) has to be done to nullify the dhOsham .

 

16.2.2 : If one does not get Upanayanam performed before the age of 16, he loses

his BrAhmaNyam . He will not be eligible for adhyayanam ( learning the VedAs) or

for Vaidhika KarmAs and becomes unfit for recieving dhAnam .

 

16.3: Who is eligible for spinning the sacred thread?

 

Sumangali , Kannikai or the widow . They should use cotton for spinning the

thread .

 

16.4: Method for making the YajnOpaveetham

 

16.4.1: Sitting in a clean place , holding the four fingers of the right hand

together, one winds a three strand set of threads 96 times around the

circumference of those four stretched out fingers . This is known as

shaNNavathi .

 

16.4.2: Sprinkle the shaNNavathi with water for suddhi and twist the three

strands ( muRukkuthal) to gain tension and then let it relax. A saram with 9

dhanthus will result .

 

16.4.3: Fold that into three circles and tie it in the right hand manner into a

knot ( Valampuri muducchu).

 

16.4.4 : Thus made sacred thread should extend down to the belly button. If it

is shorter , the reduced life will result .If it descends below the navel , the

Vaidhika karmas will lose their power .

 

16.5.1: A married man ( Gruhasthan) should wear a third vasthram besides the 2

vastrams ( Upper and lower : Iduppu Veshti , PatthARu or 9X5 , mEl

Veshti/Utthareeyam) .In place of the third vasthram , gruhasthan can wear a

third PooNal. Without the third vasthram or the third PooNal , he will skip down

to the place of the fourth varNam and in the next birth be born as a svAnam (

dog).

 

16.5.2: If one cuts ones' sacred thread due to anger , one should perform 3

krichrams ( to be explained later) and wear a new sacred thread right away .

 

16.5.3 : If the sacred thread gets tangled with

body hair , the hair should be removed , GAyathri should be recited 10 times and

the sacred thread should be cleansed with water for suddhi .

 

16.5.4: When tying the knot ( Brahma Muducchu) for the sacred thread , one

should say : My namaskArams to Hari ,Haran and Brahmaa .

 

16.5.5: The unit of one thread circled around the four fingers should be

approximately 4 inches in length .

 

16.6 : Mantram for wearing Yajn~Opaveetham

 

16.6.1:Yajn~Opaveetham Paramam pavithram

PrajApathE: yath sahajam purasthath

Aayushyam agriyam prathimuncha

Subram Yajn~Opaveetham Balamasthu tEja:

 

16.6.2: Mantram for casting aside worn down sacred thread

 

upaveetham bhinnatanthum jeerNam kaSmala-dhUshitham

visrujAmi jalE Brahma-varcha: dheergAyurasthu mE

 

16.7: DhaNDam ( Staff) for BrahmachAris

 

Bilvam , Purasu , Udhumbharam , asvattham (araSu) staffupto the height of the

head should be used .

 

16.8: ajinam

 

BrshmachAris should tie the deer ( KrishNa Mrugam) or cow's skin in their sacred

thread .

 

16.9: Mounji ( belt)

 

BrahmachAris should tie a belt made of Mounchi grass or dharbham . There should

be three rounds of that belt going around that waist . This belt should not be

used for

tying loin cloth or the lower garment .

 

16.10: Upanayana Kaala Niyamam

 

Before upanayana muhoortham , BrahmachAri

should wear silk and during Upanayanam , new

cotton ( white )vastram and white loin cloth.

Colored garments are forbidden for use by BrahmachAris. On the fourth day after

upanayanam , the BrahmachAri has to cast the dress worn earlier and the loin

cloth and wear a new loin cloth . He should never be without loin cloth (

koupeenam).

 

16.11: Gruhasthan has also kaDee Soothram ( araNAkkayiru or arai Jn~ANN kayiru)

to tie around the waist . Vaidhika karmAs done without it is useless

(nishprayOjanam . Without the waist rope ( KayiRu) , he is considered nagnan(

nirvANam state ) .

 

16.12: Recieving alms ( Bikshai) during Upanayanam

 

One should Bikshai in the followign order: Mother , married sister, sisters of

the Mother , Brothers of the Father and anna-paana Bandhus. One should not ask

Bikshai from

widows and pregnant woman .

 

16.13: Anna BikshAcharaNa niyamam

 

Those giving Bikshai should not shout at or display anger at the BrahmachAri.

Latter should not ask for more than what is needed. If some thing is left over ,

it should be buried

in ground or dissolved in water . He should not seek bikshai from Guru , his

daayAthis , one's own daayAthis and Bandhus like ammAn . The bikshai giver

should give pickles , kootu ,

cooked vegetables from seperate vessels . They should not use to transfer them

directly with one's hand .

 

16.14: Brahma Yaj~nam

 

From upanayanam day and onward Brahma Yajn~am has to be done regularly like

SandhyA vandhanam .

 

16.15: SamidhA dhAnam

 

BrahmachAri should perform samidhA dhAnam during both the sandhyAs .

 

16.16.1: KaalAdheetha PrAyschittham

 

Every karma should be done during the prescribed times. If one exceeds the time

prescribed , Prayschittham should be performed , Karma is done and then move on

to the next karmaa.

 

16.16.2: During chowLam , 50 Brahmins should be fed ,100 during Upanayanam , as

many according to ability during VivAham , 100 during aadhAnam , 10 to 12

during

ruthu saanthi and 2 after garbhA dhAnam .

 

17. If the wife is rajaswalai ( Bahishtai/Maatha Vilakku) , Naandhi should not

be performed .

 

18: Prohibited times for performing ChowLam et al:

 

When mother has the monthly periods ( Bahishtai) or pregnant beyond 5 months ,

ChowLam , Upanayanam and VivAham functions should not be performed .

 

19. Who is adhikAri to perform Upanayanam ?

 

The Father, grandfather , brother, Jn~Athis ,

sama Pravara sagOthrAs ( having the same gOthram and PrAvaram) are eligible .

Sva SooktrakArs ( say Apasthambha Sutra folowers ) and near male realtives can

perform BrahmOpadEsam .The one who has lost his wife is not eligible.

 

20. YamaLOthbavaa: ( Twins) and their karmAs:

 

For a twin from the same Mother , the same AchAryan ( Bruhaspathy) should

perform the Vaidhika KarmAs from JaathakarmA to Upanayanam at the same lagnam

in the same vEdhi ( fire pit) . Whether they are two boys or a boy and girl ,

until upanayanam , the above requirements for Vaidhika KarmAs have to be

observed .

 

P.S : Please contact Sriman DeevaLUr N.SrinivAsAcchAr for Vaideekam related

questions tied to the above content .

 

NamO Veda PurushAya ,

Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan