Thread by @calacrownblithe

#AvaniAvittam
#Upakarma

Om Om Om

An Insightful article on the significance of Avani Avittam (received over the much derided WA University)

Significance of Avani Avittam (technically called shrAvanam/upAkarmam - as it generally occurs in the month of shrAvanam - AAvani maasam in thamizh. Some times it does occur in the month of AAdi also), when Pournami Tithi and Shravishta (Avittam) Nakshtram coincides.

First off we all need to understand this is a Pan Indian festival and for all Hindus not just Brahmins. The one and only purpose of this festival is the start date of studying Vedam (we can call it as academic year start) .. aka, Veda Adhyayana Aarambham.

Rest of the rituals as performed today for the occasion such as changing yagnopaveetham (changing poonal), Kandarishi Tarpanam, Kamo KArisheet Japam and Aavahanthi Homam are done as an additional set of rituals to mark this important occasion of start of studying Vedam.

The shrAvanam festial has references in vedam/shAstram clearly signifying that this practice all over this country had been performed by all Hindus for thousands of years.

As I said Veda Arambham (as in start of an academic year is possibly the only significance to this festival) and in those days (many many years back), students studied Vedam till dakshinAyanam and then learnt Veda Anghas (such as Jyothisam, mEmAmsam and other shAstrams etc) ..

.. once the UtharAyanam starts and goes on till this particular day.

Now on some explanations about the rituals themselves...

1. Changing Poonal (Janeu, Yagnopaveetam) is something Sanatanis do for many ocassions and it is not just today that the change occurs.

Example:

When a Hindu who wears janeu goes to a cremation ground, he is supposed to change his janeu the following day.

When a barber ends up touching a Hindu's janeu, he is supposed to change his janeu that day itself.

When a child snaps the janeu, the Hindu is expected to change his janeu that day itself.

Likewise there are hundreds of occasions when a Sanatani changes his janeu. Therefore changing poonal (or janeu) has no significance for this day.

2. All Hindus, on a daily basis, should & are expected to observe Pancha (Five) Maha Yagyams

(2-i) Brahma Yagnam (Brahma means Vedas and those rishis who showed us the Vedas - ritual to respect them)

(2-ii) Deva Yagnam (Deva means not the Devas, but the Ishta Deivam, that a family does pooja on a daily basis to)

(2-iii) Rishi Yagnam (this is the Kandarishi Tarpanam that was mentioned above)

(2-iv) Bhoota Yagnam (a ritual such as Vaishvadevam that should be performed by all Hindus for the welfare of all animals in this world) and finally

(2-v) Manushya Yagnam (homage to human beings, aka, Pitru Yagnam).

We have all lost practising this great Pancha Maha Yagnam.

Every Sanatani must practise these PMYs and so some of these rituals that are done today with reference to Pancha Maha Yagnam are not something special to this day.

As I said, the most special occasion for this day is that all over India students start the Veda Adhyayanam (as in chanting vedas) as start of academic year .

Again from a pan-India & pan-Hindu perspective, this occasion is meant for NOT just the Brahmins but all Sanatanis.

And the Pancha Maha Yagnam too are for ALL Sanatanis.

I received this over WA & edited for clarity, brevity (?) and errors. Even after that, if some persist or catch your eye, the mistakes are mine & hence, apologies.

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा ।
बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतिस्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै ।
नारायणयेति समर्पयामि ॥

AUM .... Om Tat Sat!

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