UPANAYANA

INTRODUCTION
Upanayana is one of the Hindu rituals and the
wearing of the sacred thread by the boy from the
Vedic Guru, and to recite the Vedic mantras from
thereinafter. In ancient times, young boys in the
age of 7 would wear the sacred thread by
conducting a simple ceremony, and they used to
regularly perform Sandyavanthanam. But
nowadays, some people are performing the
Upanayam ceremony just before their marriage, or
during the time of death of their father or mother.
Nowadays the Upanayam function is performed in
a grand manner, by arranging a big marriage hall,
and calling lot of friends and relatives for the
function. Some people used to spend even lakhs
of rupees, in order to maintain their dignity and to
get more respect from their friends and relatives
circle.
Most of the people after wearing the sacred
thread, are not reciting the Vedic mantras, which is
prescribed in the Shastras, and they are wearing
the sacred thread only for name sake. The reason
which they are telling is “I DON’T HAVE TIME.
WHAT CAN I DO?”
But that is not correct. Apart from Brahmins,
sacred thread is also worn by the Kshatriyas and
Vaishyas. Whoever wears the sacred thread, must
have to regularly take bath in the morning and in
the evening, and must chant the Divine Vedic
Mantras with full of devotion in their mind.
Upanayana in simple language means "the act of
leading to the path of enlightenment, and the act of
initiating our selfless bhakti on the almighty by
reciting the powerful mantras”. The details about
Upanayana ceremony were mentioned in ancient
Hindu texts, and the importance in wearing the
sacred thread is also mentioned. It is believed that
those who wear sacred thread, and performs the
Vedic recitations regularly can free themselves
from the birth cycle. After their death, they are
allowed to live their life in their chosen divine
worlds, and can get the everlasting bliss. But most
of the people are not thinking about this, and
simply they are ignoring or postponing the
performance of Sandhyavandanam and the
recitation of Gayatri Mantra due to their
negligence.
“OM”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR