Kayastha Sanskar - Educational Sanskar

by Chitragupt Pariwar (Hum Kayasth) on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 3:24pm

Educational Sanskar
Akshararambha or Vidya arambha ( Introducting the child to alphabets )

‘Akshara’ literally means one not liable to depletion or depreciation and as such becomes a medium through which if knowledge is transferred it becomes immortal. To introduce the child to these ‘Aksharas’ (alphabets) is therefore an important Sanskar.

After worshipping Lord Ganesha, Guru, Sarswati and family deity the child is introduced to alpha-bets. The Guru (teacher or preceptor) sits facing the east and the child sits facing the west. Ultimately Guru is presented with clothes and such other articles and he blesses the child.

Nakshatras: All short nakshatras ( Hasta,, Aswini , Pushya , and Abhijit). Swati, Punarvasu, Shravana, Reviti, Chitra, Anuradha and Jyestha nakshatras are considered auspicious.

Tithis : 2/3/5/6/10/11/12 tithis.

Days : Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Lagnas: Lagnas of 2/3/6/9/12 rashis (i.e. lagnas of benefics leaving movable rashis ) with benefics strongly placed in 7th or 10th house and 8th house not having any planet.

Proper Chandra and Tara Shuddhi is an important requirement

Upanayana Sanskar or Thread Ceremony

It is also called “Yagyopavita Sanskar” . In this Sanskar the bachelor is given “Gayatri Updesh” (a mantra which is considered one of the most auspicious, mantras for individual ) by the Acharya (preceptor) and the Guru or Acharya teaches the bechelor about ‘Vedas’ and also about the behavioural code of conduct and disciplinesof “Bhramacharya-Ashrama” (bachelorhood). After Upnayana the person is called ‘Dwija’ or reborn. He is said to taken rebirth from the womb of Acharya as a responsible and disciplined member of the society. After this Sanskar the person wears a sacred thread . It contains three threads reminding the person that he has to pay his three debits i.e.

(1) Pitri Rina (debt of parents)

(2) Rishi Rina (debt of those who gave him knowledge )

(3) Deva Rina (debt of God)

Three more threads are contained which show the ‘pravaras’ relating to a particular ‘Kula’ or family. This Sanskar also signifies a new phase of life as student.

Time: Counting the age from birth from conception, the age prescribed is 5th or 8th year for Brahmins; 6th or 11th year for Kayashtas and 8th or 12th for ‘Vaishyas’. The maximum age limit is 16 year for Brahmins, 22 years for Kayasthas and 24 years for Vaishyas.

Solar months of Makara, Kumbha, Meena, Mesha, Vrishbha and Mithuna avoidingb Harishayana (i.e. the period from Ashada Shukla 11 to Kartika Shukla 11 ) are considered good. Upanayana of eldest son should not be done when Sun is in Tarus. Sun in Gemini is good only for Kayashtas and Vaishyas. Solar month of chitra (sun in Pices ) is very auspicious in Upnayana.

Nakshatra : All fixed nakshatras (i.e. Uttaraphalguni, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadrapad and Rohini ) all friendly nakshatras (i.e. Hastha, Ashwini, Pushya and Abhijit ) and all movable nakshatras (i.e. Swati, Punarvasu, Shravana, Dhanistha and Shatbhisha ) are considered auspicious. Punarvasu is not considered favorable for Brahmins.

Naksatras for various Veda branches or Shakhas :

For ‘Rig-vedis’ Mrigshira, Ardra, Aslesha, Hasta, Poorvafalguni, Poorvashada and Poorvabhadrapad are auspicious.

For ‘Yajur-vedis’ Revati, Hastha,Anuradha, Pushya, Mirgshira, Punarvasu, Uttaraphalguni, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadrapad and Rohini are considered auspicious.

For ‘Saam-vadis Ashwini, Dhanistha, Hastha, Uttaraphalguni, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadrapad, Ardra and Shravana are considered auspicious.

For ‘Atharva-vadis’ Mrigshira,Revati, Hasta, Ashwini, Pushya, Anuradha,Dhanishta and Punarvasu nakshatras are considered considered auspicious.

Tithis: 2/3/5/10/11/12 tithis of bright half and 2/3/5 tithis of dark half are considered auspicious for Upnayana Sanskar. Avoid Ashada Shukla-10, Jyestha Shukla-2,Pausa Shukla 11, Magha Shukla 12 and samkranti day. All Rikta tithis (4/9/14) and Galgraha tithis (13/14/15/30/1/4/7/8/9 ) are avoided.

Days : All days except Tuesday and Saturday are good. For Saamvedis even Tuesday is auspicious.

Part of the day : Divide the length of the day in three parts. Upnayana is considered auspicious in first part of the day and inauspicious in third part of the day.

Lagnas: In Upnayana lagna benefic placed in Kendras and Trikonas and Malfics placed in 3/6/11 houses are considered good.

Avoid Jupiter, Venus, Moon and Lagna Lord in 6th or 8th house, avoid Venus and Moon in 12th house and avoid malfics in 5th or 8th house.

Full Moon, exalted or in its own house is considered very auspicious in lagna.

Upnayana Lagna and Moon should be in the navamasha of mercury, Jupiter or Venus. Moon in its own navamasha is not considered auspicious except in 4th quarter of Shravana or Punarvasu nakshatras.

Importance of ‘Varna Swami’ and ‘Shakha Swami’
Varna swami are ; Jupiter and Venus for Brahmins; Sun and Mars for Kayashtas; Moon for Vaishya; Mercury for Shudras and Saturn for out-caste. In Upnayana, days and lagnas belonging to the Varna-Swami are considered auspicious. Moreover strength of Varna Swami should also be ensured. Like for Brahmins- Thursday and Friday ; Lagnas of 2 / 7 / 9 / 12 rashis are good as these belong to Varna Swamis and similarly strength of Jupiter and Venus at the time of Upnayana is necessary.

Shakha-Swami are : For Rig-vedis Jupiter ; For Yajurvedis Venus ; For Saamvedis Mars and For Atharva-vedis – Murcury. Strong ‘Shakha-Swami’ , days of ‘Shakha-Swami’ and lagna of ‘Shakha-Swami’ are considered auspicious in Punayana. Moreover the ‘Shakha-Swami’ should be strong in transit at the time of Upnayana. Like for ‘Yajur Vedis’ strong Venus in transit. Friday and lagnas of 2/7/ rashis are considered auspicious in Upnayana.

Strength of Moon and Jupiter :

From natal moon Jupiter placed in 2/5/7/9/11 houses is considered strong and Jupiter placed in 4/8/12 houses is considered weak. Other positions are medium. Strength of Jupiter is an important consideration in Upnayana. Strength by way of placement in exaltation, own sign, friend’s sign and strength in navamasa should also be considered. If Jupiter is strong in Ashtakvarga, It will remove many of its weakness.

Moon is considered strong when it placed in 3/6/10/11/1/7 houses from natal moon position. It is worse if places from natal moon. Strength by way of placement in own sign, exaltation, friend’s sign, exaltation or own navamasha and strength in Aashtakvarga should also be considered. Proper Chandra and Guru ‘Shuddhi’ as explained above is a necessary requirement in Upnayana.

Special : Solar Chitra (i.e. Sun in places) and Junma Nakshatra (i.e. birth constellation ) are specially considered auspicious in Upnayana.

Vedarambha (Starting learning Vedas)

This sanskar is performed when a person starts learning Vedas. It can be performed with Upnayana or separately depending upon the age at which Upnayana Sanskar is performed.

Nakshatras : All fixed nakshatras (i.e. uttaraphalguni, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadrapad and Rohini ), all movable nakshatras (i.e. Swati,Punarvasu, Shravarna, Dhanistha and Abhijit), all friendly nakshatras (i.e. Mrigshira, Revati, Chitra and Anuradha ) and Ardra are considered auspicious.

Moreover for learning specific veda the nakshatra recommended for Upnayana of that specific vedic branch or ‘Shakha’ are considered auspicious.

Tithis: 2/3/5/6/10/11/12 tithis.

Days: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Lagna: Lagna should havebenefics in Kendras and Trikonas and malefics in 3/6/11 houses. 8th house should not havee any planet.

Proper Chandra and Tara Shuddhi is an important requirement

Keshanta Sanskar or first shaving
This Sanskar as also called Godaan (donating a cow). This sanskar is performed at age of sixteen years an is indicative of entry in to adulthood. After shaving, the hair are disposed off in the same manner in which it is done at the time of Chudakaran sanskar. On this occasion a cow is donated to the Guru (preceptor).

Keshantha sanskar can be performed in the same nakshatra, tithis,days and lagans as are recommended for Chudakaran sanskars.

Samavartan sanskar or returning home after completing education

Samavartan means return of student to his home from ‘Gurukula’ (Guru’s place) after completing education. This sanskar is indicative of completion of education and bachelorhood and is like a ‘No-objection certificate’ for marriage. In this sanskar the student after taking bath and giving ‘Guru-Dakshina’ (preceptor’s fees) is introduced to all materialistic articles, and all the symbols of brahmacharya (bachelorhood) are disposed off in water.

Now a day people do not performed these sanskar at proper time and in proper manner prescribed. Even where these sanskars are performed it is done just to complete the formality without understanding the real meaning and purpose behind the sanskar (like performing Upnayan just a day before marriage.