Avaniavittam@ River sideCome Aavani and the Hindu Brahmin community of India will be busy with preparations for the important festival, Aavani Avittam. Popularly known thus, the festival is called "Upaakarmam" in Sanskrit.
According to Hindu tradition, a boy has to be introduced to the rites of religion by means of the poonool (thread) ceremony or "Upanayanam" when he turns 7. His first Veda classes would start on the auspicious day of Sravana Pournami and continue till the first pournami of Thai Maasam. The lad cannot learn fresh Vedas till the next Sravana Pournami and has to practice all that he has been taught so far. This is known as vedarambam or vedosthsarjanam.
According to Hindu scriptures, as this could be done only during certain junctures, the upakarma has to be performed every year. Thus, every year on Aavani Avittam, the poonool or sacred thread is changed anew, along with the chanting of mantras. This ceremony can be performed not just by Brahmins but also by the Kshatriya and Vaisya communities.
Aavani Avittam isn't just a ceremony to change the sacred thread (poonool) alone. The rituals of Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, Gaandarishi Tharpanam and Gayathri Japam are very important as well. To perform the Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, one has to chant the mantra "Kaamokaarsheen, Manyu rakaar sheeth", 1,008 times. By chanting this, one begs forgiveness from the Lord by saying "I have succumbed to lust and anger and have slipped from my duties".
The three vedas of Rig, Yajur and Sama and their subsects have many acharyas who follow these Vedas. They are known as Gaandarishis. The ritual that is done to pay obeisance to them is only Gaandarishi tharpanam. The gayathri mantra is chanted 108 times to wash away the sins committed by a person, if any mistakes have been committed during his veda induction.
Living in this fast paced world, many have forgotten the reasons behind these rituals and Aavani Avittam has become just a duty to be carried out. Many of our people seem to forgotten the significance behind these ceremonies. According to the Vedas, the upanayanam is applicable to Kshatriyas and Vaisyas also and not just Brahmins. The word "upanayanam" means "take closer". By teaching a lad the gayathri mantra and putting on him the sacred thread of yagnyopaveedham, one is actually taking him close to Brahman. From that day on, he is deemed fit to learn the vedas and practice vedic rites.
The poonool thread yagnyopaveetham means "brahma soothram". The ritual of upanayanam, actually begins with the gayathri mantra. These two are inseparable. The 3 stages as chanted in the Gayathri "thatsa vithurvarenyam,bargo devasya dhee mahidiyo yonah prachodayath",denote the three strands of thread of the poonool. Similarly, the gayathri starts with the pranava mantra "Om" and continues as "bhoor bhuva suvaha". This is called "Vyahruthi". To denote these, the poonool has three knots, brahma granthi, vishnu granti and rudra granti.
Brahmacharis (bachelors) are made to wear the poonool thread with three strands. After marriage, the number of strands are increased.
According to the Gayathri, the nine strands of the poonool signify1. Knowledge about the Aathma2. Procurement of skills3. Achieving individual greatness4. Purity5. A divine mind6. Honesty7. Wisdom8. Humility9. Service
According to Hindu tradition, a boy has to be introduced to the rites of religion by means of the poonool (thread) ceremony or "Upanayanam" when he turns 7. His first Veda classes would start on the auspicious day of Sravana Pournami and continue till the first pournami of Thai Maasam. The lad cannot learn fresh Vedas till the next Sravana Pournami and has to practice all that he has been taught so far. This is known as vedarambam or vedosthsarjanam.
According to Hindu scriptures, as this could be done only during certain junctures, the upakarma has to be performed every year. Thus, every year on Aavani Avittam, the poonool or sacred thread is changed anew, along with the chanting of mantras. This ceremony can be performed not just by Brahmins but also by the Kshatriya and Vaisya communities.
Aavani Avittam isn't just a ceremony to change the sacred thread (poonool) alone. The rituals of Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, Gaandarishi Tharpanam and Gayathri Japam are very important as well. To perform the Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, one has to chant the mantra "Kaamokaarsheen, Manyu rakaar sheeth", 1,008 times. By chanting this, one begs forgiveness from the Lord by saying "I have succumbed to lust and anger and have slipped from my duties".
The three vedas of Rig, Yajur and Sama and their subsects have many acharyas who follow these Vedas. They are known as Gaandarishis. The ritual that is done to pay obeisance to them is only Gaandarishi tharpanam. The gayathri mantra is chanted 108 times to wash away the sins committed by a person, if any mistakes have been committed during his veda induction.
Living in this fast paced world, many have forgotten the reasons behind these rituals and Aavani Avittam has become just a duty to be carried out. Many of our people seem to forgotten the significance behind these ceremonies. According to the Vedas, the upanayanam is applicable to Kshatriyas and Vaisyas also and not just Brahmins. The word "upanayanam" means "take closer". By teaching a lad the gayathri mantra and putting on him the sacred thread of yagnyopaveedham, one is actually taking him close to Brahman. From that day on, he is deemed fit to learn the vedas and practice vedic rites.
The poonool thread yagnyopaveetham means "brahma soothram". The ritual of upanayanam, actually begins with the gayathri mantra. These two are inseparable. The 3 stages as chanted in the Gayathri "thatsa vithurvarenyam,bargo devasya dhee mahidiyo yonah prachodayath",denote the three strands of thread of the poonool. Similarly, the gayathri starts with the pranava mantra "Om" and continues as "bhoor bhuva suvaha". This is called "Vyahruthi". To denote these, the poonool has three knots, brahma granthi, vishnu granti and rudra granti.
Brahmacharis (bachelors) are made to wear the poonool thread with three strands. After marriage, the number of strands are increased.
According to the Gayathri, the nine strands of the poonool signify1. Knowledge about the Aathma2. Procurement of skills3. Achieving individual greatness4. Purity5. A divine mind6. Honesty7. Wisdom8. Humility9. Service
We shall post the significance of Sandhya vandanam and Abhivadeye. In these posting we shall also post the true brahmin not necessarily he should be a born one.
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