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Avani Avittam

Yajur Vedi Avani Avittam
Compilation and Translation by P. R. Ramachander

The duty of all Brahmins is to learn Vedas and preserve it by constant recitation. But this is not being done due to the very fact that in this competitive world, they are forced to earn a living. As redemption all Brahmins are supposed to observe Upakarma every year. This is also called Avani avittam. This is the only festival which is 100% male centric for a Tamil Brahmin. I am giving below the list of rituals to be performed during Upakarma, the manthras to be used as well as the meaning of such manthras. Being not an expert on rituals or the Vedic Sanskrit, I have depended totally on the Tamil translation of the Upakarma (in Sandhya Vandana Bhashya) done by the great Brahma Sri Anna and published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. As a token of my great respect to this great person, I dedicate this English translation to Brahma Sri Anna. The rituals for Rig Vedhis are almost similar but are very different for Sama Vedis.

I am giving below the religious rules to be followed for doing Upakarma as given in the book Samkshepa Dharma Sasthra, published from Madras as per the desire of late Paramacharya of Kanchi:

Upakarma (Annual redemption Ceremony):
This has to be observed both by Brahmacharis and family men. It consists of two parts. Upakarma (Redemption) and Uthsarjana (learning of Vedas). These help the already learnt Vedic chants shine with great vigour. Any actions done with such strengthened Vedic chants, would give good and better results. Due to our using Vedic chants for various purposes as well as our not being in a position to follow all the rules, make such chanting of Vedas very weak. So it is necessary to do Upakarma and Uthsarjana every year.

I. Kathyayana:
By the annual performance of Upakarma and Uthsarjana by the Brahmins, The power of the already learnt Vedic chants will increase.

II. Gargya:
Krishna Yajur Vedis should do it in the Pournamasya of the month of Sravana (avani in Tamil and Chingam in Malayalam. It occurs during august September), Rig Vedis in the Sravana Nakshatra of Sravana Masa. The day should not be the beginning of the month or eclipse. Upakarma should not be done if it is eclipse or first day of the month (Solar month)

III. Gobhila:
Krishna Yajur Vedis, who have learned the Taithreeya branch of the Krishna Yajurveda should do Upakarma on the full moon day of the month of Sravana. Rig Vedis should do it in Sravana (Thiruonam) star and Sama Vedis should do it in Hastha star. For Krishna Yajur vedis, the pournami Thithi should be there from the morning till noon. This is called Oudhayakhi.

IV. Smruthyanthara:
If Pournami and Prathama join after 12 nazhigai after sun rise (called Sangha kala - 4 hours 48 minutes) and before noon, that is the proper day for annual chant of Gayathri (Gayathri Japam). If it joins before this time then previous day is Upakarma and next day Gayathri Samitha Dhanam.

V. Thithi Darpanam:
Rig vedis should do Upakarma on the day when during sun rise Sravana star is there.

Yajur vedis should do when Pournami extends beyond 4 hours 48 minutes.

Sama Vedis should do it when Hastha Nakshatra extends beyond this time in month of Bhaadrapada (Purattasi/Kanni/September-October). If the Simha Bhadrapada is not holy due to Moudya, then they (Sama Vedis) should do it in Kanya month during Krishna Paksha (waxing period of moon).

For Rik Vedis the lord of the Shaka (branch) is Guru, For Yajur vedis it is Shukra, for Sama Vedis it is Angaraka and for Atharva Vedis it is Bhudha. So they should do upakarma when the Lord of their Shakha is powerful. If these planets are in Moudya (powerless) or when there is eclipse or when there is month beginning, Upakarma should not be performed on that day.

For Yajur Vedis, Pournami in Sravana month is important. If it is bad then they can do in Pournami of Aashada (AAdi/karkidaka/july-august) month. If that also is bad, then they should do in the Pournami of Sravana month after carrying out redemption rituals.

Rik Vedis should do Upakarma in Sravana star in the month of Sravana. If there is dosha during that period, they can do it instead on a day in the same month when Hastha star and Panchami Thithi is together.

Shukla Yajur Vedis should do Upakarma on the full moon day of Sravana month. If that has dosha they can do it on Sravana star of the same month or on the day when star Hastha and Panchami thithi are together in the same month and if even that is unsuitable they can do it on the day when Hastha star is there in the Sravana month. They can also do it in the full moon day of the Bhadhra pada month. The decision has to be made based on the family custom.

Brahmacharis should do Upakarma after hair cutting. Yajur Vedis should start learning Vedas (Uthsarjanam) on a full moon day of the Pushya month. If this is not suitable they can do it in Magha (Maasi/Kumbha/ February-march) month also.

VI. Sandilya:
Upakarma should not be performed with wet cloths. If it is done, it is termed as Rakshasa. During Upakarma, a new sacred thread should be worn, That is Upakarma should be done with new cloths and new sacred thread by every one and in case of Brahmachari they should wear in addition a new belt, new deer�s skin and new staff.

The ritual of Upakarma consists of 7 parts on the Avani Avittam (Upakarma day) followed by Chanting of Gayathri Manthra, the next day. What is given below is in the order that it has to be performed:

1. Yagnopa Veetha Dharana Manthra (Manthra for wearing Poonal - Sacred Thread):

a. Perform Aachamanam.

b. Repeat:
Shuklaam Baradharam Vishnum,
Shashi Varnam Chaturbuhjam,
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaaye,
Sarva Vighno Pashaantaye.

c. Hold both Nostrils with Thumb and the little and third finger of the hands and recite the following Manthra:
Om Bhoo
Om Bhuva
Ogum Suva
Om Maha
Om Jana
Om Thapa
Ogum Sathyam
Om Tat savitur varenyam, Bhargo devasya dhimahi, Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.
Om Apa
Jyothi rasa
Amrutham brahma
Bhoorbuvasuvarom
Touch the ears three times saying
Om, Om, Om!

d. Mamo partha samastha duritha kshaya dwara sri parameshwara preethyartham
Sroutha smartha vihitha sadachara nithya karmaanushtanaa yogyatha sidhyartham brahma teja abhivrudyartham yagnopaveetha dharanam karishye.
For getting rid of all difficulties and to please lord Parameshwara and also to increase the power that comes when one is a Brahmin, I am wearing this new sacred thread.

e. Yagnopaveetha dharana maha manthrasya
Parabrahma rishi (Touch forehead) The sage is Parabrahma
Trushtup chanda (touch below nose) The meter is Trushtup
Paramathma devatha (touch heart) The god addressed to is Paramathma

f. Yagnopaveetha dharane viniyoga
Wear Poonal one by one by reciting (poonal should be held by both hands, the tie in the poonal being held above by the right hand facing upwards):

Yagnopaveetham paramam pavithram praja pathe,
Yat sahajam purasthad aayushyam
Agriyam prathi muncha shubram yagnopaveetham balamasthu theja.
This sacred thread is very holy and was created along with Lord Brahma and is capable of giving long life and primacy, it is pure white in colour and would grant me strength as well as splendour

g. After wearing all poonals one by one do Aachamanam

h. Remove the old poonals and break them to pieces by reciting:
Upaveetham bhinna thanthum jeernam kasmala dooshitham, visrujami jale punarbrahman varcho deergayurasthu me.
I am removing the old sacred thread which is broken, weak and dirty. Oh God grant me long life and light of wisdom.

i. Do aachamanam.

2. Kamo karshet Japam (Vedic Chant to get rid of sins committed due to passion, anger and avarice):

a. Perform Aachamanam.

b. Repeat:
Shuklaam Baradharam Vishnum,
Shashi Varnam Chaturbuhjam,
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaaye,
Sarva Vighno Pashaantaye.

c. Hold both Nostrils with Thumb and the little and third finger of the hands and recite the following Manthra:
Om Bhoo
Om Bhuva
Ogum Suva
Om Maha
Om Jana
Om Thapa
Ogum Sathyam
Om Tat savitur varenyam, Bhargo devasya dhimahi, Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.
Om Apa
Jyothi rasa
Amrutham brahma
Bhoorbuvasuvarom
Touch the ears three times saying
Om, Om, Om!

d. Mamo partha samastha duritha kshaya dwara parameswara Preethyartham
For getting rid of all difficulties and to please lord Parameshwara

Tadeva lagnam sudhinam tadaiva, tharaa balam chandra balam thadaiva, vidhya balam daiva balam tadaiva, Sri Lakshmi pathe aangriyugam smaramaami
For getting the proper holy time, for getting strength of stars, for getting the strength of moon, for getting strength of knowledge, for getting support from God, I again and again meditate on Vishnu who is the consort of Goddess Lakshmi.

Apavithra pavithro vaa sarvaavasthaam gathopi vaa, ya smareth pundari kaksham, sabahyanthara suchi, manasam vaachikam paapam, karmanaa
Samuparjitham, sri Rama smaranenaiva vyopahathi na samsaya.Sree rama Rama
For making the unholy, holy in case of all situations, I meditate on the lotus eyed God and for getting external and internal cleanliness from the sins committed by the mind as well as word and the sins which were earned in performance of duties, there is no doubt the only way is to remember the name of the God Rama-Rama, Rama

Tidhir Vishnu, Tatha vaara, nakshatram Vishnu reva cha
Yogascha karanam chaiva sarvam Vishnu mayam Jagat,
Sri Govinda, Govinda, Govinda
Today the thithi is Vishnu, and so is the day and star, By yoga as well as performance of action the whole universe is filled by Vishnu. Govinda, Govinda, Govinda

Aadhya sri bagavatha mahaa purushasya Vishnor Agnaya, Pravarthamanasya, Aadhya brhmana, dweethiya parardhe, swetha varaha kalpe,, Vaivaswatha manvanthare, ashta vimsathi thame, kali yuge, prathame padhe, Jamboo dweepe, Bharatha varshe, Bharatha kande, Mero dakshine parswe. Asmin varthamane, vyavaharike prabhavaadheenam sashti samvatsaranaam madhye,
In the beginning due to the wish of Lord Vishnu, the world started functioning and the first Brahma was created. In the second division in the age of the white boar, during the rule of Vaivaswatha Manu, in he 28th part Kali Yuga, in the first division, in the Island of Jambu (Jamun) fruit, in the continent of India, in the country of India, to the south of the mountain Meru, in the middle of the 60 year cycle of years starting from Prabhava

------ nama samvatsare, Dakshinaayane, Greeshma rithou, kataka mase, shukla pakshe, aadhya pournamasyam shubha thidou, ------- vasara yukthayam, --------- nakshatra yukthayam, shubhayoga, shubha karana evam guna, viseshana visishtaayam, asyam pournamaasyam shubha thithou, taishyaam pournamaasyam adhyot sarjana akarana praayaschithartham, samvatsara praayaschithartham, cha ashtothara sahasra samkhyaa "kamo karsheth manyura karsheth" ithi maha manthra japam karishye.

e. Then chant "Kamo karsheth manyura karsheth namo nama" 1008 times

in the ------ year, in the southern solastice, in the Greeshma season (August-september), in the waning period of the moon on the good Pournamasi (full moon) thithi, on ------- day, on ---------- nakshatra, in the good yoga, in the good karana, and in the good thithi of pournamasi which has all the good qualities described, for performing the annual redemption for not doing the prescribed rituals and for doing the annual redemption, I chant "Kamokarsheth manyura Karsheth (pardon for the lapses committed out of anger, passion and avarice)", 1008 times

f. Afterwards perform Aachamana and say
Kama manyu upastham karishye, Om tat sat brahmaarpanam asthu.
I am ending this kama Manyu Japa, I am dedicating this to Brahma.

After wards perform Madhyahneekam (the ritual of the noon).

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