Upanayan Sanskaara

Introduction

Upanayan Sanskaara is critical to Vedic culture. It is the first of two sanskaaras dedicated to the entry to education for a child. The Upnayana and the Vedarambha sanskaaras can be done on the same day. Upanayana refers to bringing someone close to voluntarily accepting discipline in pursuing education.

Vedic Dharma views education as of utmost importance. Regardless of one’s economic or social background, every child has a natural right to education. The upanayana sanskaara introduces a child to education and facilitates the embrace of vows by the child for discipline in the pursuit of education. In this sanskaara, an Acharya is formally recognized. The Acharya is like a “god-father” but more aligned with the physical as well as mental development of the child. 

In this Sanskaara, the child is gifted formal garments to wear, symbolizing the shift from infancy and baby stage to a young school-attending child. The child takes vows to focus on studies and is given a sacred thread (Janeu) to wear as a reminder of these vows. The sanskaara signifies the second birth (into education) for an individual, being twice-born.

The Upanayana sanskaara precedes the Vedarambha sanskaara, which latter sanskaara takes the initiate from regular education toward the wisdom of the rishis.

Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s Sanskaara Vidhi identifies the timing of this sanskaara for every child and even allows for various timings based on social, economic, geographical, or other situations. 

Time for upanayana Sanskaara

Based on the combination of factors indicated in the Sanskaara Vidhi and what has become a worldwide acceptance of the importance of education, we embrace the eight or ninth birthday as the recommended time for this sanskaara. Please read the following references and practicalities:

Swami Dayanand quotes the Manusmriti and the Grihyasutra for the timing of Sanskaaras.

ब्रह्मवर्चसकामस्य कार्यं विप्रस्य पञ्चमे ।
राज्ञो बलार्थिनः षष्ठे वैश्यस्येहार्थिनोऽष्टमे ॥¹

अष्टमे वर्षे ब्राह्मणमुपनयेत् ॥१॥
गर्भाष्टमे वा ॥२॥
एकादशे क्षत्रियम् ॥३॥
द्वादशे वैश्यम् ॥४॥
आषोडशाद् ब्राह्मणस्यानतीतः कालः ॥५॥
आद्वाविंशात् क्षत्रियस्य, आचतुर्विंशाद् वैश्यस्य, अत ऊर्ध्वं पतितसावित्रीका भवन्ति ॥६॥²

The Manusmriti allows for the latest acceptable timing for initiation in the 8th year by directing us to the fact that the earlier years, that is, the 5th year, are best suited as the commencement for Brahmavarchase, or the wisdom of god. The 6th and 8th years are also acceptable as the latest dates possible if we are to develop our child’s mental acuity towards physical discipline, a healthy body, and knowledge of business and the arts.

These backgrounds are:
Braahmana (priesthood, visionaries, scientists, philosophers, etc.): 
Kshatriyas (defense personnel, politicians, administrators, public servants, judges, etc), 
Vaishya (business persons, producers, marketing, management etc) and 
Shudra (those who chose not to go through education systems). 

All children must be initiated into the vows of education – even those whose parents did not get formal education. Notably, the Sanskaara Vidhi provides that every child should be educated, making education the primary aim of everyone. 

In these modern times, most countries have a basic school entrance age for all children, regardless of background—the minimum entry is the kindergarten education programs. While social status, job, and other peculiarities of the parents would influence what school the child attends, the basic norm is kindergarten leaning to elementary.

For example, the normal age to enter schools in the USA is elementary school at 5 years, Junior High at 11 years, and senior high at 14 years.

By the 7th and 9th years, the child can better grasp the seriousness of work and discipline required for success at exams. This timing suits both the child’s development and the practicalities of the school systems in various countries.

Therefore, we should endeavor to ensure that the upanayana sanskaara is completed at least by the 9th year of the child or, at the earliest, by the 7th birthday.

Procedure:

Fasting is recommended for children who are undertaking the sanskaara. The fasting choices are 1) Use of milk only, 2) Use of milk and grains, or 3) Dahi or a specially prepared yogurt-based food.

The child sits on the west (facing east) side of the Havan Kunda.