Avani Avittam

An article by Sri S. Kannan :

The purpose of this blog is to share something on the annual thread changing ceremony that we brahmins assidously perform wherever we are, that is, assuming that we still have the faith.  Upa-Karma is the name for this event and it occurs on the Pournima day in the month of Avani (Tamil) / Sravanam (Samskrit) for the Yajur vedhis and on the day of the ascendancy of the Star Sravana for the Rig vedhis.  Those who belong to the Sama vedha celebrate Upakarma on the day of the Hastha star in the month of Badrapadha which will fall close to Vinayaka Chartuthi.

While the ritualistic changing of the sacred thread is considered to be the core of this event as one would proudly display the sacred thread on this day at least and there would be enquires like " Yenna pudu poonal mathindaachaa?".  However the significance of this ritual is more than mere changing of the sacred thread.

We Brahmins are supposed to do the vedha adhyayana faithfully and diligently and have the duty to preserve the vedhas which today we have safely left in the hands of a few pundits whose numbers are fast dwindling.  Starting from the pournami day of the month of Sravana, the learning of the vedhas will go on until Pournami day of Thai (Makara), thereafter since we would be busy with agriculture (krishi) and other activities (not now,of course), we are required to daily chant the verses and practice the rituals propounded therein (Adhyaya - Utsarjana) for the next six months till the pournami day in Avani (Sravana) and continue with our learing of the scriptures for the next six months.  The timing is perfect in the sense that monsoon would have set in by then and krishi and other work would be put off for some time allowing us to concentrate on the study of the vedhas.

The rituals on the Upa karma day begin with performance of the Kamo - Karsheed japam to atone for our failure to do the Adhyaya and Utsarjana kriyas.  Lord Krishna says that the down fall of humans are caused by Lust (Kama) and anger (Krodha).  Kama is desire and unfulfilled desires lead to Krodha - frustration and anger.  As the self is never tainted by anything, the above aspects are deified as responsible for causing kama and krodha in us.  The propitiation is for clearing the stage for the beginning of the new learning by wiping out the latent tendencies left in our minds by our acts of kama and krodha during the previous six months. If we can chant the full mantra given below then we will realise the import of this mantra and how we condition our mind to distance itself from the guilt feeling of having failed in our endeavours being distracted by these two forces.  This is a distinct departure from other religious beliefs that we are sinners and there is redemption only in the hands of the messaiah.  Here we are provided the means to redeem ourselves, but we should also refrain from falling a prey to the forces in future !!

Kamo karsheen Manyurakarsheen Namo Namaha

Kamo Karsheen Kama karothi Naaham karothi Kama karthah Naaham kartha

Kama kaarayitaah Naaham kaarayitaah

Esha te kama kamaaya swaha

Manurakarsheen Manyuh karothi Naaham karothi Manyuh kartha Naaham kartha

Manyuh kaarayitaah Naaham kaarayitaah

Esha te Manyo manyave swaha

After the Kamokarsheeth japam the rituals of the upa karma begins.  Brahmacharis do the worhip of fire god through samidha dhanam and grihastas perform aupasanam (which is a nithya karma like sandhya vandanam). 

The next item is Brahma Yagnam that is offering of water to the Gods, Rishis and the Pitrs.  This again is a ritual to be performed daily, but we seldom do the same.  Pitrs gave us this birth, the Rishis showed us the way to uplift ourselves to the divine status and Devas bless us with what we require to live a full life on this earth.   This is sort of thanks giving to all the three.  There is a doubt whether a person who has his father and/or mother alive should do the Pitr tharpanam part of the Brahma yagnam.  My view is YES as the propitiation is for the Pitrs in general, that is to our forefathers, unlike normal tarpanam offered to ones father, grand father and his father and so on.  However it is a matter of belief and how one views this sentimentally.

We then start off with Maha Sankalpam where one takes a ceremonial bath to rid one of the various heinous sins perpetrated knowingly or unknowingly.  If only one carefully goes through list of pathkas - upa pathakas and sama pathakas listed out in the Maha sankalpam it would help us understand the regimen that a brahmin is supposed to follow - in Manasa (mind) Vaacha (Speech) Karmana (Action). Normally the entire event will be organised in the river bank or near the temple tanks so that the ceremonial bath could be taken in the river or the temple pond.  Now mostly this is done through prokshanam or symbolic bath which is prescribed only for the aged and infirm.  How pliable we have made our sastras?

Now comes the ritual of changing the sacred thread.  The sacred thread is supposed to give us the propriety to perform our daily (nithya) karmas and increase our brahma tejas (we are called brahmins because of this brahma tejas only). So we need to treat it with all due respect (and not use it for scratching our back!!) Brahmacharis wear a single piece of three threads each made of nine filaments of cotton. Grahastas wear two or three such pieces.  Brahmacharis further are given a small piece of deer skin to tie to their sacred thread which denotes that they have to perform austerities while learning the vedhas.

Then follows the Kanda Rishi homam which is performed by the guru (sastrigal) on behalf of his disciples and Kanda Rishi tharpanam which is performed by us offering water, rice and sesame seeds through the side of the hand with the thumb held upwards wearing the sacred thread around the neck (Nivithi).  The vedhas are divided into various Kandas and each rishi is propitiated for giving and preserving those kandas for the posterity.  Avahanti mantra which occurs in the Taitriya upanishad is used in the homam.

The Guru then initiates his disciples into the chanting of the vedhas starting from the saka of the person performing the ritual and going to the other vedhas.  The chanting includes mantras from the various parts of the vedhas like brahmanas, katakas and aranyakas.

The ritual concludes with mangala harathi performed by the sumangalis present and Guru dakshina is offered.  Today most of us go through the rituals in our houses with the help of books and CDs.  Nevertheless it would be expedient if we understand the rituals and also put away some guru dakshina to be given when we next meet our family Purohit or when he calls on us to give us the Nombu saradu and the new Poonal.

The next day is Gayatri japam day when we propitiate the Vedha Matha Gayatri by chanting the Gayatri mantra 1008 times.  We can also perform Gayatri homam on this day. Vedhas being ancient need to be kept fresh in our minds and preserved in their pristine form.  Gayatri devi is propitiated to bless us with keen and sharp intellect in this endeavour (Diyo Yo na Prachodayaat).

I tried to be brief, but had to follow the flow. Thanks for your patience again to read through this long blog.  Happy Avani Avittam to you all.