Initiation with Gayatri mantra
Initiate sits in front of Acharya (on the northern side of Havan Kunda), keeping his face east.
Initiate says:
अधीहि भूः सावित्री भो अनुब्रूहि।
Adheehi bhooh saavitree bho anubroohi.
Dear Acharya, please teach me anubroohi adheehi the first sounds to memorize. Then please give me my first mantra, the Gayatri Mantra.
The Acharya stretches a piece of cloth/shawl from his shoulder to the shoulder of the initiate. He then holds the fingers of the initiate and teaches the initiate to repeat after him as follows
First time
ओं भूर्भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम्।
Om bhoor bhuvah svah. Tat savitur vareṇyam.
Second time
ओं भूर्भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
Om bhoor bhuvah svah. Tat savitur vareṇyam bhargo devasya dheemahi.
Third time
ओं भूर्भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om bhoor bhuvah svah. Tat savitur vareṇyam bhargo devasya dheemahi. Dhiyo yo nah prachodayaat.
For meaning of the Gayatri mantra, please click here
Solemn vow between Aacharya and Initiate
Both the Acharya and Child says the following with their hand over heart.
ओं मम व्रते ते हृदयं दधामि मम चित्तमनुचित्तं ते अस्तु।
मम वाचमेकमना जुषस्व प्रजापतिष्ठव नियुनक्तु मह्यम् ॥
Om mama vrate te hridayam dadhaami
mama chittam-anuchittam te astu.
Mama vaacham-ekamanaa juṡhasva
prajaapatiṡh-ṭvaa niyunaktu mahayam.1
May our promises and vows be maintained as we undertake them intentionally, from the heart. May our emotions, thoughts, and words synchronize as we enter this honorable stage of life with the grace and blessings of the Almighty.
मम my व्रत vow, promise ते to you हृदयम् heart, of heart, with heart दधामि hold, support, cherish, nourish चित्तम् mind, thought अनु like, similarly ते you, your अस्तु be so वाचम् speech, word, promise एकम one, single जुषस्व enter, reason, choose प्रजापति God, Creator त्वम् you नियुनक्तु put together, enjoin मह्यम् high honor
Self-control and protection
A gift for self-control
Here, the acharya ties a belt or symbolic string around the waist of the child with the mantra. This thread/belt is a symbolic gird that prepares the initiate to be taught and to practice self-control and modesty.
ओम इयं दुरुक्तं परिबाधमाना वर्णम पवित्रं पुनती माँ आगात्।
प्राणापानाभ्यां बलमादधाना स्वसा देवी सुभगा मेखलेयम् ॥
Om iyam duruktam paribaadha-maanaa
varṇam pavitram punatee ma aagaat.
Praaṇa-apaanaabhyaam balamaadadhaataa
svasaa devee subhagaa mekhaleyam.2
This belt is given with reverence. May you always be covered and respectable. May all evil, injury, or uncleanliness be kept away. May you, like your very inbreaths and outbreaths, be disciplined as your strength grows. May fame and fortune be yours.
इयं covered दुरुक्तं injurious परिबाधमाना ward off, keep off defend against वर्णम cover, caste पवित्रं sacred, purifying पुनती clean मा not आगात् arrive, come प्राणापान inhalation and exhalation अभ्या discipline, habit बलमादधाना receive strenght स्वसा living, respiration देवी reverence सुभगा suitable, fortunate, prosperous मेखलेयम् this belt or girdle
A gift of attire
With the following mantra, the Acharya gives to the initiate the relevant clothes to be worn for studies. This act gives the initiate the knowledge of a uniform mode of dressing that is sensible, practical, and non-distracting. The modern world is rife with opportunities for young students to be inappropriately dressed, which creates self-doubt, self-infatuation, and distraction. This act of giving clothes tells the initiate what type of clothing is most appropriate for this stage of life.
युवा सुवासाः परिवीत आगात्स उ श्रेयान्भवति जायमानः ।
तं धीरासः कवय उन्नयन्ति स्वाध्यो मनसा देवयन्तः ॥
Om yuvaa suvaasaah pariveeta aagaat sa u shreyaan bhavati jaayamaanah.3
This young initiate is well-adorned and ready for this stage of life, transforming his/her life into one of wisdom and fame. May our child be victorious in these endeavors.
युवा young, youthful सु good, beautiful वासस् clothes, dress, garment परिवीत encompassed by (the sacred thread), surrounding, all sides आगात come, arrive स this, he, she उ now, indeed श्रेयान् better, preferable भवति become, originate, transform जायमानः victorious, famous
A gift of protection
Acharya hands a prepared length of stick to the child, symbolically handing the means of protection against any stray thought or temptation. That is, for any distractions to studies, the child can ward them off. In the ancient days, these sticks were useful for protection while the initiate was begging and gathering food for the ashram. In the modern context, the stick serves as a physical reminder of the vow of the initiate to live austerely and to be protected from temptations and distractions.
ओं यो मे दण्डः परापतद्वैहायसोऽधिभूम्याम्।
तमहं पुनरादद आयुषे ब्रह्मणे ब्रह्मवर्चसाय ॥
Om yo me daṇḍa paraapatadvai
haayaso’dhibhoomyaam.
Tamaham punaraadada aayuṣhe
brahmaṇe brahmavarchasaaya.4
This stick comes to me upright. It symbolizes that I can control my life as I make this fresh start, maintain rigidity, and remain upright. May the Almighty Lord protect me and preserve my sanctity and wisdom.
यो this मे me, my दण्डः stick, rod परापत arrive, come to द्वैहायसो that heavens-pointing अधिभूम्याम् superior, master तम his अहम् I, me पुनरादद start afresh, new beginning आयुषे lifetime, long life ब्रह्मणे Godly ब्रह्मवर्चसाय sanctity, divine splendor
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 1.8.8
- Paraskaara Grihyasutra 2.2.8
- Ashvalayan grihyasutra, Rig Veda 3.8.4
- Paaraskaara Grihyasutra 2.2.12
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