UPANAYANAM - THE SACRED THREAD CEREMONY
What is a sacred Thread Ceremony?
Though the children of today enter the school at a very tender age, yet the full functioning of the brain starts only from the age of five.
In order to prove to the family and near and dear ones, that a child has developed well in intelligence and to gain a further expansion of the brain, a very special function is conducted religiously, ritualistically and in a grand manner for a male child. This function is called Upanayanam - A Sacred Thread Ceremony is celebrated.
In other words in order to develop a child in an intellectual manner his proximity to God and Religion is developed by the sacred thread ceremony.
The Age For The Ceremony
Thread ceremony can be conducted at the age of five. Usually our actions can be divided into Excellent, very Good and Good.
If a child is interested in Religion and God from a very young age in an extraordinary manner then, The Sacred Thread Ceremony conducted at the age of 7, 9, 11 can be considered as Excellent, Very good and Good.
Ceremony conducted at the age of 7, is considered as Excellent(Uthamam), at the age of 9 is considered as Not good(Madhyamam), and at the age of 11 is considered as Good(Adhama) and above the age of 18 as okay(Adhamam). These minute details are given in Shasthras.
The age of 7-11 years for Sacred Thread ceremony is considered Excellent-Uthamam, 12-16years as Medium-Madhyamam. The age of 16-18years as Adhama and above 18 as Adhamam.
If a boy crosses the age of 11 then the rule of celebrating the ceremony only at the age single digit which is not applicable. Then till the age of 18 any age can be chosen to conduct the ceremony.
If a boy crosses the age of 16 then even the auspicious days and dates are not necessary. If the proper age of 7 onwards is not followed then the ceremony can be conducted on any given day.
Hindu Dharma and Its Justice
Hindu Dharma is not a religion alone. It is a way of life, lived in a right manner. Number Four has a very strong significance in Hindu Dharma. The 4 vedas - Rig veda, Yajur veda, Sama veda and Atharvana veda.
A man's life is divided into 4 parts.
1. Brahamacharyam
An age for acquiring your knowledge, expanding
your intellectual ability through a Guru.
2. Grihastashramam
A man gets married in this part of his life, strives
hard to earn money, take care of the family,
understand of the requirements,
bring up the children in the right
manner and ensure for their future.
All this is done with the help of a wife.
3.Vanaprasthashramam
This depicts the life of a couple after their 60th
birthday. They prepare to renounce the world and
strive for money and day today work and turn the
thoughts turn towards God and Religion.
4.Sanyasam
This is at the age when a man renounces
everything and turns his thoughts
in-wards completely keeping himself away from the world.
Similarly the people are divided in 4 categories called varnashramam and they are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Harijans.
BRAHMINS
These section of people are called - parpanas in Tamil. A parpan is the one who has 2 births. An example of a chicken is often quoted. A chicken gets its first birth in a egg form and then gets its second birth at the time of breaking out of its shell. Similarly a Brahmin gets his first birth at the time of his birth from mother’s womb and then at the times of the sacred thread cermony he gets the second birth. From this statement we can evaluate the importance, of the sacred thread ceremony. The sole duties of Brahmins according to Dharma is conducting and participating in Poojas, Japas, Yagas and Yagnas. In order to qualify to perform these duties a sacred thread ceremony at the age of 7 is performed.
KSHATRIYAS
People belonging to this section are the ruling class. As rulers Kings and Emperors are appreciated for their valour, justice and management capacity. These people perform the sacred Thread ceremony at the age of 10.
VAISHYAS
People of this section are the business people. They deal with buying, selling and money matters in a very intelligent manner. They are considered as soft spoken, highly intelligent and sincere in there business dealings. These people perform the ceremony at the age of 11.
HARIJANS
Though initially they were mentioned as Shudras, Gandhiji changed it to Harijans depicting them as, The children of Hari - Lord Naryana, these people are the agriculturists, who are hardworking, sturdy with great physical strength. They are never shy of hard work in a field.
Thus according to Hindu religion all the above four divisions are the 4 pillars of the religion on which Hindu Dharma stands tall and strong.
WHY ONLY BOYS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE SACRED THREAD CEREMONY?
There is an interesting story to explain the above significance. According to the legend Guru Brahaspathi or Devas had a son named Dveshta. He had a few Rakshasas as his friends.
One day Guru Brahaspathi was in a bad health. He sent his son Dveshta to Conduct yagnas.
As Dveshta informed this to his friends the Rakshasas, they in turn asked him to include their names in the yagna Puja in which offerings are given to various Gods called Ahuthi.
Dveshta agreed to this and went to Indraloka. There he performed the yagna, he gave the Ahuthi for his Rakshasa friends also.
As, Indira the leader of the Devas heard this he got very angry. In his anger, he went to the extreme step of chopping off Dveshtas head.
Since he committed the crime of killing his Guru’s son he had the Brahmahathi Dosham(A life long malady which continues birth after birth).
Brahmahathi Dosham has no other second opinion except the death of the sinner.
Alas, if Indra dies the world will come to an end. Poor Indira, he was at wit's end not knowing what to do.
In order to reduce the malific effects of Brahmahathi Dosha the sin was divided into four parts,
· Agni - The Fire
· Jalam - The Water
· Vriksha - The Trees
· Sthree - The women
Thus Indra's sin slowly lost its malific effects.
THE FIRE
Yagas, yagnas these are conducted with the help of Agni. These should be conducted according to the rules laid in the Shasthras. Otherwise the malefic effects gets double fold.
WATER
Floods, the overflowing water of the heavy rains all these are not suitable for bathing by humans. The Shastras insist that for 3 days these waters have severe malefic effects. Hence if bathed, the health detoriates and poisonous effects take place.
THE TREES
Many a times a huge trees and trunks split and a hole is formed. Through this hole Asofotia and Gums leak through. Such things should not be used by us during auspicious days. According to Shasthras malefic effects surround us if we do so.
WOMEN
The monthly cycle of periods are the sole bane or boon of women. Women are forbidden to do pujas during those 3 days. They should not enter temples in those 3 days.
Though last but not the least are the women discussed in Sashtras. As they can not perform pujas etc in those 3 days, they cannot be allowed to have The Sacred Thread Ceremony.
The Sacred Thread Ceremony
A father conducts the ceremony to his son. The young boy is shown the path towards God under the Blessings of his Guru. During the ceremony a Guru blesses his devotee in the following way:
· Let your goal be achieved in a honest and sincere way. If anyone tries to stop your growth let your strength allow you to face it honestly and sincerely.
· It is not Japa(chanting) alone even day to-day piousness must be followed strictly and correctly.
· Be sensitive to everything around you
· your only goal should be to earn money!
The Sacred Thread Ceremony is conducted for 5 days.
· The womens day - pendugal
· samaradhanai
· poorvangam
· upanayanam
· Dhandineer
THE FIRST DAY CEREMONY - Pendugal
This is celebrated in the memory of generations of married women, long dead, in a family. These women are remembered and a puja is conducted by women of the family to seek their blessings.
THE SECOND DAY CELEBRATIONS
A puja is performed for the family deity or the village diety is followed on the second day. The learned priests who are proficient in vedas are invited to perform the pujas. All the invitiees are given a feast by the hosts.
THE THIRD DAY CELEBRATIONS-Poorvangam
It is also called Udhaga Shanthi - the meaning of Udhagam is water. This puja is performed for the God of water - Varuna Bhagawan.
The puja and consequent prayers are conducted in the following manner.
· All the sins should go away
· All the evil forces surrounding the boy should go away
· The longetivity of life for the boy
· The increase of money, gold and all the luxuries in life.
The important manthras of every Veda is chanted and the subsequent vibration is considered to be entering into the Kalasa(A brass pot with water and other things and decorated with mango leaves). This water is used to pour on the child (Abhishekam) before the ceremony.
Angoorarpanam
The sprouted pulses are stuffed inside specially designed mud pots called palaigai.
Then these sacred pulses are given as offerings to Indira, Devas and the Devas guarding the eight directions of Mother Earth (Ashtadhik Palakas).
The sprouted pulses also signify the growth. Just as a seed grows step by step into a tree and flourishes, similarly the boy child will flourish and grow with Gods Blessings. He will be gifted with all luxuries at the appropriate age.
Prathichara Bhandham
From the day the sacred thread ceremony starts till the day it ends the child should be safe physically and mentally. In order to achieve this goal, Nagaraja Devatha's (The snake God) Blessings are evoked.
Naandi
This puja is performed to evoke the Blessings of the ancestors. The 3 generations of elders of the father and mother are remembered and their blessings are evoked, prayed and their Blessings are sought.
9 brahmins who are well versed in Vedas are invited. Once they are seated on a wooden plank called Manai, their feet are washed. They are given a gift of clothes, Brass vessel called Pancha Pathira Utharani. Money is also given as an offering.
Then they are given a feast and are taken care of very well. They are sent off with utmost respect.
THE FOURTH DAY CEREMONY
Upasamepe Nayathi is upanayanam. A child is asked to sit near the Guru to be a student. Then lots of pujas are conducted, all the relatives are invited and under the guidance of the Chief Priest the ceremonies are conducted.
Both the parents conduct the function with the help of near and dear ones.
The fourth day function, though is a religious one yet it is conducted with happiness, gaiety and fun.
Vigneswara puja: All the foremost Lord Vinayaga is worshipped.
Sangalpam: This could be mentioned as an oath taking ceremony. Yes an oath is taken to commemorate the Sacred thread ceremony.
Punniyagavasanan: The cleaning of the brass vessels used during puja is called Punniyavasanam.
Navagriha Preethi: The 9 planets – Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupitar, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Kethu are worshipped in this puja.
Homam: The physical body of a human being is converted into a sacred and Godly body. This is called Samaskaram. There are totally 40 types of Samaskarams. In this 10th Samaskara is Upanayanam. Samaskaram can also be considered as Puja.
Almost all the Samaskarams have Homam as a main puja. The celestial Devathas are worshipped and Annam is given as Ahuthi in five to pray is part of the ritual.
The wearing of the Sacred Thread
To read Vedas, to learn Puranas, to know and understand the different aspects of Vedas, to conduct the daily pujas, to follow the religious rules, a strict regime in the intake of food, to beget a healthier, physical body and mind the Sacred Thread Ceremony is conducted.
Brahmopadesam
A bunch of Sacred tiny wooden sticks of many trees are collected. The tiny sticks are called as Samithu. This is used in Homams conducted during Upanayanam.
This is called samitha Dhanam. As a part of this ceremony, the boy goes around to the elders starting with his mother. He says “Bhavathi Bhikshasam Devi” (Give me food) three times and gets the Blessings of the elders.
THE FIFTH DAY FUNCTION: Dhandineer Bhalasha Karma.
On the 4th day from the date of wearing the Sacred Thread, this function is celebrated.
The boy whose Upanayanam is celebrated prays to God, seeking His Blessings for Pranavam Shraddha Medha Blessings.
Pranavam means The Mantras.
Shraddha – To foucs ones mind and heart
Medha_ Intelligence and Gyana – Self Knowledge.
This puja called Dhandi Neer is performed to focus one’s mind while Chanting Gayathri Manthra daily. Only then, it is believed that knowledge gained while chanting Gayathri Manthra will give the full Blessings. This should be the basic requirement of the boy while praying to God.
The daily routine after Upanayanam
The young boy, whose Sacred Thread Ceremony is completed should perform a special ritual called Sandhya Vandanam 3 times a day. Sameetha Dhanam should be performed daily morning and evening.
The value of Gayathri Manthra
Hindu Religion has 7 crores of Manthras and Gayathri Manthram is considered to be the foremost.
A few sacred words in Sanskrit when chanted again and again in the same information produce excellent vibrations.
These vibrations turn into a forceful power which safeguards the Physical body and the life of the person who chants them.
This is the basic reason for chanting Manthras.
The foremost and the most powerful Manthra is the Gayathri Manthra. When chanted continuously and correctly with the right information, it gives a good health and wealth.
It is also proven that no harm comes in their way.
The Gayathri Manthra removes the sin for the heart of the seeker and the person gets the self knowledge easily.
The ultimate goal of Self Knowledge is Brahmam. Thus the teaching of Gayathri Manthram during the Sacred Thread Ceremony iscalled Bhramopadesam.
Sage Vishwamithra gave the Gayathri Manthram to the humans of the Earth. He used his body to light the world through the most powerful manthra Gayathri Manthram.
Through this manthram he visualized Gayathri Matha and attained lots of power. He was conferred the title “ Brahmma Rishi”
The Gayathri Manthra given by Sage Viswamithra for the man kind of this would is in Sanskrit.
Om Bhur Bhva Bhuvasuvaha
Thatt Savithu Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahe
Dhiyo yona Prasodhayath.
Sage Thirumoolar has given a deep explanation for Gayathri Manthram in Tamil.
Sage Thirumoolar says “We should pray for the Switha Deva’s Power of Concentration”
This Manthra has 24 alphabets. If chanted separately by each alphabet then 24 powers from Goddess are easily received by the Bhaktha.
Goddess Gayathri is the highest of all the Gods. This is verified when ever we seek her with our heart full of Bhakthi. As soon as we seek Her, she showers Her Blessings in us instantaneously.
The Scientific Explanation of the benefits of Gayathri Manthram
Veda defines the age of a human being as hundred years. Jyothish Sashtra –Astrology says it is 120 years.
Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sashtra says that the longetivitity of a human being is directly linked to the depth of the inhaling of oxygen and exhaling of the carbon-di-oxide.
This observation of inhaling and exhausting of air is a part of Gayathri Manthram.
Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sashtra says that the longetivitity of a human being is directly linked to the depth of the inhaling of oxygen and exhaling of the carbon-di-oxide.
This observation of inhaling and exhausting of air is a part of Gayathri Manthram.
Thus people who chant Gayathri Manthram in the Proper way have a longetivity of life, as it increases the memory power due to focused Chanting.
