PART IV – CLOSING PRAYERS BY GRADUATE
With the fire ablaze in the havan kunda the initiate focuses on the fire with this mantra1, the child says:
ओम् अग्नि सुश्रवः सुश्रवसं मा कुरु।
ओं यथा त्वमग्ने सुश्रवः सौश्रवसं कुरु।
ओं यथा त्वमग्ने देवानां यज्ञस्य निधिपा असि।
ओम् एवमहं मनुष्याणां वेदस्य निधिपो भूयासम्॥
Om agne sushravah sushravasam maa kuru.
Om yathaa tvamagne sushravah sushravasam kuru.
Om yathaa tvamagne devaanaam yagyasya nidhipaa asi.
Om evamaham manuṣhyaaṇaam vedasya nidhipo bhooyaasam. 2
May the Almighty Lord be gracious and bless me so that I remain worthy to receive wisdom. May you, my teacher, find me worthy of your teaching and wisdom. May the wise ones who are the guardians of the treasure of the Vedas bless this yajna with success and bless me with wisdom. May the wise and elevated souls who are repositories of Divine Grace bless me with wisdom
अग्नि Almighty, fire, Ever-present God सुश्रवः worthy सुश्रवसं gracious मा me कुरु king, priest, holy यथा than, for instance त्वम् you अग्ने fire देवानां wise persons, those blessed with wisdom यज्ञ yagya, sacrifice अस्य this निधिपा guardian of treasurehouse असि it is एवम् thus, really अहम् I, me मनुष्य human वेदस्य of veda, of wisdom निधिपो guardian of treasure भूयासम् once more, again
Samidhaadaan
The graduate now offers three samidhaa into the fire:
ओम अग्नये समिधमाहार्षं बृहते जातवेदसे।
यथा त्वमग्ने समिधा समिध्यसेमहमायुषा मेधया वर्चसा प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन
समिन्धे जीवपुत्रो ममाचार्यो मेधाव्यहमसान्यनिराकरिष्णुर्यशस्वी तेजस्वी ब्रह्मवर्चस्यन्नादो भूयासँ स्वाहा ॥
Om agnaye samidha-maaharṣham brihate jaatavedase.
Yathaa tvamagne samidhaa
samidhyasa-eham-aham-aayuṣhaa
medhayaa varchasaa prajayaa pashoobhir-brahma-varchasena
samindhe jeevaputro mamaachaaryo
medhaa-vyaham-asaanya-aniraakariṣhnur-yashasvee
tejasvee brahmavarchasi-anaado bhooyaasam svaahaa.3
I make this offering with the delightful knowledge that the Almighty God is the Purifier of our thoughts and Giver of wisdom. May the wisdom I gain be like this fire, purifying everything and shining everywhere. Please bless me with a long life, wisdom, familial continuity, and strength. May my wisdom preserve all good and truth and allow me to repudiate any untruths and doubts.
Please bless me with mental superiority, O Supreme, all-pervading Lord. Bless my teacher and his family and other students. And, O Divine Light, please bless me over and over again.
अग्नये fire procedure समिधा good fuel, material used for offering हर्ष pleasure, delight, happy बृहते reservoir जातवेद the one who owns it all, fire, purifier यथा than, for instance त्वम् you अग्ने fire समिध्यस be kindled अहम् I, me आयुष duration of life मेधया wisdom वर्चसा glory, light, splendor, vigor प्रजया victory, noble offspring पशुभिः animals ब्रह्मवर्चसे with splendor/godly wisdom समिन्धे set alight, light up जीवपुत्रो living children मम my आचार्य acharya मेधा mental acuity व्यहम doubt, misconception, suspicion सनि gain, bestow निराकरिष्णु repudiate, reject, object यशस्वी illustrious, splendid, celebrated तेजस्वी splendid, vibrant, noble, shining, luminous ब्रह्मवर्चस supreme, sanctity, divine glory अनादि incessant, eternal, perpetual भूयासँ again, once more
पूर्णाहुत्याः – Poorṇa-ahuti
Final Offering: Chant this mantra three times and make the three final oblations
ओं सर्वं वै पूर्णं स्वाहा।
Om sarvam vai poorṇam svaahaa.4
Sanctification
The initiate warms the palms of both hands at the havan fire, then touches water and blesses himself:
ओं तनूपा अग्नेऽसि तन्वं मे पाहि ॥
ओम आयुर्दा अग्नेऽस्यायुर्मे देहि ॥
ओं वर्चोदा अग्नेऽसि वर्चो में देहि ॥
ओम अग्ने यन्मे तन्वाऽऊनं तन्म आपृण ॥
ओं मेधां मे देवः सविता आदधातु ॥
ओं मेधां मे देवि सरस्वति आदधातु ॥
ओं मेधां मे अश्विनौ देवावाधत्तां पुष्करस्रजौ ॥
Om tanupaa agne’si tantrum me paahi.
Om aayurdaa agne’si aayur-me dehi.
Om varchodaa agne’si varcho me dehi.
Om agne yanme tanvaa’oonam tanma aapriṇa.5
Om medhaam me devaah savitaa aadadhaatu.
Om medhaam me devi sarasvatee aadadhaatu.
Om medhaam me ashvinau devaavaadhattaam puṣhkara-srajau.6
O Almighty God, Protector of all, please save my body from illness and pain. You are the benevolent giver of vital breath and life; please grant me a long and healthy life. You are Glorious, the source of all power; bless me so that I am never deficient of anything, and endow me with strength and power. O Illustrious Lord, please fulfill my desire to be blessed with wisdom. May honor, glory and fame be like lotus flowers all around me.
तनूपा protection of person अग्ने Almighty God असि breath तन्वं own body मे my पाहि save, protect आयुर्दा giving long life अग्ने Almighty God असि giver, breath आयुस् life, longevity देहि protect, body वर्चोदा granting power वर्चो splendor, glory यन्मे तन्व own body ऊनं deficient, short, less तन्म my body आपृण satiate, fulfill, fill मेधां wisdom देवः God, creator सविता ever-present आदधातु effect, accept, receive, supply देवि creative power of the world सरस्वति knowledge अश्विनौ skillful person blessed by God देवावा god-like, by divine influence धत्तां give पुष्करस्रज garland of lotus, lotus-like
The initiate now touches the relevant parts of the body:
ओं वाक् च म आप्यायताम्।
Om Vaak cha ma aapyaayataam. (mouth)
May my speech be eloquent and powerful.
ओं प्राणश्च म आप्यायताम्।
Om praaṇashcha ma aapyaayataam. (nostrils)
May my breath be healthy and powerful
ओं चक्षुश्च म आप्यायताम्।
Om chakshushcha ma aapyaayataam. (eyes)
May my sight be healthy and constant
ओं श्रोतञ्च म आप्यायताम्।
Om shrotramcha ma aapyaayataam. (ears)
May my hearing be strong and effective.
ओं यशो बलं च म आप्यायताम्।
Om yasho balam cha ma aapyaayataam. (shoulders/arms)
May my arms and entire body be strong, leading me to fame and fortune.
वाक् speech च and म my आप्यायताम् strenghten, well-developed, powerful प्राण breath चक्षु eyes श्रोत ears यश fame, honor, power बलं strengthen
Vow by Graduate
The graduate now declares:
ओं ये अप्स्वन्तरग्नयः प्रविष्टा गोह्य उपगोह्यो मयूषो मनोहास्खलो
विरुजस्तनूदुषुरिन्द्रियहा तान् विजहामि यो रोचनस्तमिह गृह्णामि।
Om ye apsvantar-agnayah praviṣhṭaa
gohyaa upagohyo mayuṣho manohaaskhalo
virujastanoo-duṣhurindriyahaa
taan vijahaami yo sechanastamiha grihṇaami.7
I hereby undertake to live in a positive and healthy manner and to reject and stay away from the negative influences in life. May my body be healthy, may my breath be even and strong, may my blood always be healthy and pure, may my internal systems be healthy and well coordinated, may my mind be in my control, and, may my sight and other senses be strong and in control. May I be blessed to never lose control of my mind and to never allow destruction and pain to be caused to anyone. I undertake to abide by these words for all of my life.
अप् air, water, blood अन्तरग्नयः internal energy, internal fire, bodily heat प्रविष्टा engaged in, occupied with गोह्य powerful energies and forces उपगोह्यो hidden/obscure energies मयूषो light (sight of the eyes), luster, flame, brightness, rays of the sun मनोहास्खलो loss of control of mind विरुज destroy, break, cause pain दुषुरिन्द्रियहा corrupts/destroys the body, organs, and senses तान् of the body विजहामि give up, abandon, renounce यो these रोचनस्तमिह positive energies, abiding in the great light, existing great energy गृह्णामि yes I take, I accept
Giving up of the Staff and the Sacred thread
With the vows of celibacy and studies now ended, the staff and sacred thread given at the Upanayana and Vedaarambha Sanskaaras can now be relinquished with this mantra:
ओम् उदुत्तमं वरुण पाशमस्मदवाधमं
वि मध्यमं श्रथाय।
अथा वयमादित्य व्रते तवानागसो
आदितये स्याम।
Om udut-tamam varuṇa
paasham-asmad-avaa-dhamam
vi madhyamam shrathaaya.
Athaa vayam-aaditya vrate
tavaa-naagaso aaditaye syaama.8
O Revered Lord, please protect me. Please demolish any dangers whether they come from above and even the highest points above us or below and the lowest places below – or even from in-between (the middle). O Eternal Omnipresent Lord, may my vows that I have upheld lead me to desist from sins and bondage.
उत loosen from atop उत्तमम् highest, top, peak वरुण Revered one, God पाशम् bondage अस्मत् from us अव loosen from below अधमम् lowest point वि from mid-point मध्यमम् at the middle श्रथाय eradicate, demolish अथा Omnipresent वयं we आदित्य eternal व्रते in discipline, vow, promise तव your अनागसः sinless आदितये freedom from bondage स्याम may we be स्वाहा adoration, homage इदम् this वरुणा Omnipresent, revered One आदिते sun आदित्य eternal च and इदम् this नः not मम mine, my
Soorya Darshan
The graduate now stands in the sunlight and recites
ओम् उद्यन् भ्राजभृष्णुरिन्द्रो मरुद्भिरस्थात् प्रातर्यावभिरस्थाद्दशसनिरसि दशसनिं मा कुर्वाविदन् मा गमय ।
उद्यन् भ्राजभृष्णुरिन्द्रो मरुद्भिरस्थाद्दिवा यावभिरस्थाच्छतसनिरसि शतसनिं मा कुर्वाविदन् मा गमय ।
उद्यन् भ्राजभृष्णुरिन्द्रोमरुद्भिरस्थात् सायं यावभिरस्थात् सहस्रसनिरसि सहस्त्रसनिं मा कुर्वाविदन् मा गमय ॥
Om udyan bhraaja-bhriṣhṇur-indro
marud-bhirasthaat praatar-yaava-bhirasthaad-dashasanirasi
dashasanim maa kurvaavidan maa gamaya.
Udyan bhraaja-bhriṣhṇur-indro
marud-bhirasthaad-divaa yavaa-bhirasthaach-chhata-sanirasi
maa kurvaavidan maa gamaya.
Udyan bhraaja-bhriṣhṇur-indro-
marud-bhirasthaat saayam yaava-bhirasthaat
sahasra-sanirasi sahasra-sanim maa kurvaavidan maa gamaya.9
O Almighty Lord, you are like the sunlight that always shines, whether in the morning or evening or even reflected by the moon at night. Lord, you are omnipresent, always, and permanent in all of creation. In any direction that I face (front, back, left, right, top, bottom) and any direction of the world (east, west, north, and south) – you are present, and your glory is seen emanating everywhere. Please grant your blessing to me so that I can be blessed to serve you wherever I go.
उद्यन् motive, purpose भ्राज shine, gleaming भृष् much, frequent, greatly इन्द्रो powerful like the sun मरुद्भि rays of the sun, shining glory अस्तात् in front प्रातर् morning, dawn यवाभिः as soon as, while अस्तात् in front दशसनि in 10 directions आसीत् it, he, she दशसनिं of 10 directions मा me कुर्व do आविदन aware, permanent गमय strive to obtain, wish to bring, impart दिवा day सायम् evening
Final Instructions
Traditionally, we have had two final acts in Graduation Sanskaaras. These are not in the Sanskaara Vidhi but have been inserted here for those who have come up in the traditional graduation in Guyana in the 1970s through the 1990s.
The Acharya gives final instructions to the departing Graduate. This is a set of instructions that Gurus generally impart to departing graduates:
वेदमनूच्याचार्योऽन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति।
सत्यं वद।
धर्मं चर।
स्वाध्यायान्माप्रमदः।
आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः।
सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम्।
स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम्।
Vedam-anoochya-acharyo-antevaasinam-anushaasti.
Satyam Vada.
Dharma chara.
Svaadhyaayaanmaa-pramadah.
Aachaaryaaya priyam dhanam-aahritya
prajaatantum maa vyavach-chhetseeh.
Satyaanna pramaditavyam.
Dharmaanna pramaditavyam.
Kushalaanna pramaditavyam.
Bhootyai na pramaditavyam.
Svaadhyaaya-pravachanaa-bhyaam na pramaditavyam.Taittreeya Upanishad, Shikshavalli 1
Having gifted the Vedas, the Master (the One who gives the Veda) instructs us as follows:
– Speak the Truth
– Live righteously
– Always remember (and refer to) the (teaching of the) Vedas
– Let your children be noble and let that nobility be the gift to God and along with your children/family:
– Always be mindful of the truth
– Always remember your righteous duty
– Be prosperous
– Be progressive
– Follow the wisdom of the Vedas in everything you do.
वेदम् अनुच्य having given the Vedas आचार्यः the Teacher/Master (expounder/giver of the Vedas), अन्तेवसिनम् to the disciples, students अनुशास्ति imparts, instructs, commands (as follows) सत्यं वद speak truth धर्मं चर walk the righteous path स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः never neglect the study of the Vedas आचार्याय for the Master/teacher प्रियं धनमाहृत्य give the desired gift of प्रजातन्तुं noble progeny मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः without distinction or separation (always united) सत्यात् न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent of truth धर्मात् न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent of your duty कुशलात् न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent of your own progress and welfare भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent toward your own prosperity and upliftment स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् never neglect the study and teaching of the Vedas.
Guru Dakshina
The tradition has been to follow the example of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, who, at the time of departure from his Guru’s Ashram, had no personal possession that could have been gifted to his Guru, Maharishi Swami Virjananad. So, Maharishi Dayanand gave three cloves to his Guru as a symbolic gesture of appreciation.
The Graduate gives a thank-you gift to his Acharya: the presentation of three cloves at the Acharya’s feet.
The graduate is now at home with his family.
—End of Sanskaara—
- the fire is brought to the center of the kunda with this mantra
- Paaraskara Grihyasutra 2.4.2
- Paaraskara Grihyasutra 2.4.3
- Yajur Veda 36.3
- Yajur Veda 3.17
- Paraskar Grihyasutra 2.4.8
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.10
- Yajur Veda 12.2, Rig Veda 1.24.15
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.6.16
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