7. Customs (2): Upanayana and Samāvarttana Saṃskāra

[Full title: 7. Sacraments (religious practices) (2): Upanayana and Samāvarttana Saṃskāra]

The word upanayana is derived from upa nīyate anena iti upanayanam, which implies that aim of upanayana saṃskāra is to establish a close relationship between the child and the teacher to the maximum extent. Bāṇa describes about upanayana^[1] and samāvarttana^[2] ceremonies were performed in his own case. When a brāhmaṇa child reached 8 years of old, upanayana saṃskāra^[3] was performed. According to the rules related to brāhmin students, Bāṇa himself had been sent to gurugṛha by his father after performing the upanayana saṃskāra^[4] before the age of 14. The child was taken to the gurugṛha after his upanayana performed. The child was presented a sacred thread to wear around his neck and was taught the laws of brahmacarya. Bāṇa’s upanayanasaṃskāra was held by his father^[5] in proper time. The person after finishing his studies and observing all the rules of brahmacarya, returned to the family fold and had to undergo the rituals of the samāvarttana saṃskāra. At this stage he was exposed for the first time in his life and was allowed to lead the normal domestic life. Again, Bāṇa informs about his entering in to the familial life which proved that convocation,^[6] (i.e., samāvarttana was performed at that time). The samāvarttana saṃskāra had a great importance at that time. About the importance this saṃskāra, we find a brief description in Taittiriyopaniṣad,^[7] which states that people had to be aware of what he should or should not do for the society. Vivid picture, of a brahmacārī is found in the description of Sārasvata^[8] in the Harṣacarita.