Two Mails
Yazur Vedis Avani Avittam 2016 is on August 18 Thursday
Upakramam means the beginning. On this day the Yajurvedis begin to read Yajur Veda for next six months. The day is auspicious because as per Indian mythology Lord Vishnu was incarnated as Lord Hayagriva,the lord of knowledge, the one who restored the Vedas to Brahma.
Avani Avittam also known as 'Upakramam' is a significant ritual for Brahmin community in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is observed on the 'Shravan Purnima' (full moon day) of the traditional Hindu calendar, which is the also the day of Raksha Bandhan. The word 'Avani' implies the 'Tamil month' and 'Avittam' is 'one among the 27 Nakshatras'. Brahmins community in all corners of the world observe the Avani Avittam ritual with full dedication and devotion. The Yajur Vedic Brahmins begin reading Yajur Veda on this day for next six months. On Avani Avittam Brahmins are bestowed with a holy thread and it is believed that the third eye (eye of wisdom) opens up. Avani Avittam is celebrated with immense zeal in Orissa, Maharashtra and southern states of India and is also known as 'Janeyu Purnima' or 'Jandhyala Purnima'.
Avani Avittam is an important ritual associated with the Brahmin community in the world. The day is of great significance to Rig, Yajur, Sama Vedic Brahmins. On the next day, Gayatri Japa Sankalmpam is observed. In other parts of South India, the observance is known as Upakarma.
On the day of Avani Avittam, the sacred thread worn is changed and it is usually a community observance and takes place on the banks of a pond or river. Avani is the name of the Tamil month and Avittam is one of the 27 nakshatras or stars. On this day, a Mahasankalpam or a vow is taken for atonement of all our sins in the past year. The Brahmins take a holy dip and wear a new holy thread called Yajnopavit or Janeyu.
The first step is a 'prayashchita' A prayer to atone the sins. It says, "For the removal of all my sins and thereby to secure a divine blessing and for qualifing myself to perform the essential duties of Brahmanas as prescribed in the vedas and smritis and adopted by the really good in their conduct I put on this Yagnopavita". When the thread is worn another mantra is recited which means -"I put on the sacred thread which is highly pure, is inseparable from God, is capable of prolonging life and is the foremost in the accomplishment of a Brahmana. May such pure Yagnopavita bring strength and dignity.
While removing the old thread, the mantra means -"I throw away the broken dirty old thread, may the new one bring on long life and Brahmana's brilliance.
Significance of Avani Avittam:
The festival of Avani Avittam signifies a new beginning of learning Veda. In the Hindu mythology, this day is considered very auspicious as Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Hayagriva, the God of knowledge, on this day. Lord Hayagriva was the one who reinstated the Vedas to Lord Brahma. This day is also celebrated as 'Hayagriva Jayanti'. Avani Avittam holds immense importance to Yajur, Sama and Rig Vedic Brahmins. Avani Avittam is also celebrated as the day to express gratitude towards the Rishis for the spiritual knowledge and ancestors for their existence. The day after Avani Avittam is celebrated as 'Gayatri Japam'. In some regions of southern India, this day is known as 'Upakarma'.
Rituals during Avani Avittam:
On the day of Avani Avittam a sacred vow or 'Mahasankalpam' is taken for compensation of the sins committed in the past year. Sacred mantras are chanted during this time. Brahmins get up at sunrise and take a holy dip. On Avani Avittam Brahmins wear a new sacred thread called as 'Janeyu' or 'Yajnopavit'. It is the most important ritual on Avani Avittam and Vedic mantras are chanted during this time. It is usually a community observance that is performed on the banks of a river or pond. After wearing the new thread or Janeyu, the older one is discarded to signify a new beginning.
Poonal-How it is given shape?:
We are all aware that the adornment of the Yajnopaveeta or the sacred thread is one of important parts of the Upanayana. It is interesting to see how the yajnopaveeta, the sacred thread, is given shape. The basic material for the yajnopaveeta, also known as poonal in Tamil, is cotton thread woven by persons who are qualified to preach Vedas. Married women including widows are also qualified to do this job. A Brahmin then takes the woven material, sits in a clean place, and spins the thread around his fingers in such a way that each loop is 4". He makes 96 such loops, folds the total length 3 times and presses the shortened length till it achieves the desired stiffness. Next he makes this into three circular loops. The edges are knotted twice to make the final product – a circular thread with two knots. While doing so a particular mantra is chanted silently by the person who ties the knot, known as Brahma-mudichchu.
Not below the navel: The poonal is worn across the body, from the left shoulder to the right hip. It should not go below the navel: and if it does (this can happen to shorter persons), the extra length should be folded and knotted again, to reduce the length.
The number: A Brahmachari wears one(with 3 strands) . A Grahasta two (with 6 strands).
One important and interesting point to note is that a grahasta should never be without a tritiya vastram or a third garment over the top of his body in addition to the regular veshti and uttariya. It may happen that he finds himself without a tritiya vastra at times, and so some grahastas wear a third poonal, just so that their niyamas are not disturbed. This is an extra role played by the poonal.
N Jambunathan Iyer-Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
Subject: Gayathri Jabam - 19th Aug 2016
Power and greatness of Gayatri
Right from Brahma, the creator of this world down to the present era all the Rsis, saints, innumerable persons have realised and experienced the power of Gayatri. No other mantra has been worshipped and practiced so much as this mantra. Gayatri is praised as Maha Mantra Palapradhayai which means she helps to realise the effectiveness of any mantra. To realise the benefits of any ritual or practice of any mantra the Gayatri Japam is a must to be performed. A person who does the Gayatri Japam regularly is able to realise the benefit of any studies or use of any mantra. Gayatri Mantra is the first mantra to be taught in schools in the olden days as it enabled the students attain righteous and far sighted wisdom and energized them to absorb the onerous studies ahead of them.
Many Rsis and learned persons have praised the Gayatri mantra and we produce here an extract of such statement.
Rsis Visvamitra says there is no other mantra like Gayatri in all the four Vedas. All the Vedas, yagna, charity and tap are not equivalent even to a small portion of Gayatri Mantra.
Yogeeswara Yagnavalkya says Gayatri and all the Vedas were weighted in a balance, Gayatri gained an upper hand. Upanisads are the essence of Vedas and Gayatri along with its Viyahritis has been regarded as the essence of Upanisads. Gayatri is the mother of Vedas, it destroys the sins as there is no other purifier than Gayatri on this earth or in the heaven. There is no better place of pilgrimage than Ganga and none can excel the lord Keas. So also there is no mantra superior to Gayatri mantra. One who knows Gayatri becomes a master of all knowledge and becomes shroutriya. A dwij who is not devoted to Gayatri is like a shoodra, all though he may be well versed in Vedas and all his labour is futile. He who does not know Gayatri gets deprived of his brahmanatva and becomes sinful.
In this context we have to recall the statement of Great Paramacharya Sri Chandrasekerendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, who has said that if Gayatri is not practiced by three generation of Brahmins the Brahmin ceases to be a Brahmin.
Manu says that Gayatri mantra having three phases was formed by Brahma as the essence of three Vedas. There is no greater purifier mantra than Gayatri mantra. Any person engaged in doing Gayatri tap regularly for three years realises God. A dwij who meditates on Gayatri mantra in the morning and evening twilights gets the benefit of reading Vedas. Such a person can attain divine powers (siddhis) by Gayatri japa alone. Those who perform the japa thousand times daily get rid of sins just as a snake casts off its slough. A dwij who does not worship Gayatri deserves to be condemned.
According to Parashar, Of all the sukthas and Veda mantras, Gayatri mantra is most superior. As between the Vedas and Gayatri, the latter has an upper hand . One who performs Gayatri japa with devotion becomes pure and gets liberated. A person devoid of Gayatri cannot be considered to be a Brahmin, although he might have read Vedas, sastras and puranas.
Shanka Rsi is of the view that Gayatri alone extends a helping hand and saves a person falling in the ocean of hell. There is nothing superior to it on earth as well as in the heaven. Undoubtedly, a person who knows Gayatri attains svarga, the heaven.
According to Shounak Rsi, a dwij may or may not do other kinds of worship. He gets liberated by doing Gayatri japa alone and attains all material and spiritual pleasures. Performance of ten thousand japa averts calamity in the hour of crisis.
Attri Rsi, says Gayatri completely purifies the soul. By the glorious power of Gayatri deep-rooted defects and vices are cleansed. Nothing else remains to be enjoyed in this world by one who fully understands the substance of Gayatri.
Maharishi Vyasa says Just as honey is the essence of flower, ghee of milk, in the same way Gayatri is the essence of all the Vedas. Gayatri is like kamadhenu for one who has acquired proficiency in it. Ganga purifies the sins committed by physical body but Gayatri, the Brahma Ganga purifies the soul. A person resorting to systems of worship other than Gayatri is like a fool who leaves delicious delicacies and indulges in begging food. There is nothing superior to achieving desired success and developing the power of devout austerity.
Bharadwaj Rsi says that Even God like Brahma performs Gayatri japa. It leads to god realisation. A vicious man gets rid of his vices by performing Gayatri japa. A person devoid of Gayatri is worse than a shoodra.
Charak Rsi says A person who worships Gayatri observing the vow of brahmacharya and consumes fresh fruits of anwala (emblic myrobalan tree) attains longevity
Rsi Vasista says persons who are dull, wayward and fickle minded reach a high position by Gayatri influence and their salvation is certain. Those who worship Gayatri firmly with piousness realise the self.
Adi Sankara Baghavadpadha has said It is beyond human competence to describe the glory of Gayatri. Nothing is so important in the world as to have wisdom. This wisdom by which self realisation is attained through divine insight is inspired by Gayatri. Gayatri is the initial mantra. It is an incarnation to destroy sins and promote virtues.
Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa has said I tell people that it is not necessary to get engaged in prolonged sadhnas. Perform simple Gayatri Sadhana and see the result. Great siddhis are attained by Gayatri sadhana. This mantra is small, no doubt, but it is extremely powerful.
Swami Vivekananda has said Gayatri is a mantra of righteous wisdom and therefore, it has been called a be-jeweled crown of all the mantras.
Mahamana Madanmohan Malviya has said Gayatri is the most precious gem which has been given to us by Rsis. It purifies the intellect and the soul is enlightened with the light of God. Countless souls have been liberated from worldly bond by this enlightenment. Gayatri has the power to inculcate feeling of dedication to God and removes scarcity of worldly requirements. Gayatri sadhana is extremely necessary for Brahmins. A person who does not perform Gayatri japa is guilty of neglecting his duties.
Devi Bhagavatam states Sadhana of Gayatri mantra is the essence of Vedas. Even God like Brahma meditates on and performs Gayatri japa at the time of twilight. A Brahmin who performs only Gayatri japa regularly attains salvation. Daily worship of Gayatri has been described in all the Vedas. A Brahmin devoid of Gayatri is doomed in all respects. A Brahmin who gives up Gayatri goes to hell although he may worship Vishnu or Shiva.
N Jambunathan Iyer-Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
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Posted by: prasannam n <iampresanam@yahoo.co.in>
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