What is the right age for Upanayanam ?

10-20-2003, 11:59 AM

Hi All,

I want to know what is the right age for Upanayanam? I read in the Sapthagiri
magazine that if the Upananayam is not performed between the age 8 and 16, then
the boy is not for Brahmopadesha. The article continued that "it is said in the
Dharma Shastra that if Upanayana is not performed before the age of Sixteen a
boy becomes Savitri-Patita, fallen from the Brahmanic tradtion"

In my case, my parents couldn't perform the upanayanam before the age of 16. I
believe there is a custom that there should not be 3 Brahmacharis in a house at
any point of time. I don't know the reason behind this custom. But becasue of
this custom, my upanayanam was postponed until one of my elder brother got
married. But by the time I had already crossed the age of 16.

Though in the same article it has been mentioned that the Boy and his father
would have perfromed some prayaschitta for the delayed performance of the
Upanayana, I don't remember of doing any such thing during my Upanayanam.
Probably the person (Vadhiyar swamigal) who has performed the Upanaayanam for
me would have performed the prayaschitta without making informing us.

Can some one tell me whether I should do any prayaschitta now ? If yes, what
kind of Prayaschitta I should do now ?

I also wanted to know whether the age mentioned in the ariticle is correct and
the reason behind the custom of 3 Brahamacharis should not be there in the house
at any time.

Thanks, Balaji

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10-20-2003, 05:32 PM

Balaji Swamin,

Nothing to worry. U had a upanayana, brahmopadesham & u r regularly performing
sandhya & gayathri japam. Just erase from ur mind that 9 extra years were spent
for no fault of u without entering into the gayathri's fold. Simply carry on ur
adhyayanam and nitya karma.

In fact there are many superstitions & practices which has no real basis as per
the Dharma sastras. All that is important for upanayanam as per the sastra is
'garbhashtamam'. 'Ashtavarsha brahmana Upanayetha' is the dictat. H.H. 44th Jeer
of Ahobila Mutt, when posed such a question of 3 brahmacharis simply disposed it
off saying it as baseless belief. That is how my younger brother had his
upanayanam and we three brothers in my house were brahmacharis for atleast 6
long years. All of us are at present married with me spending 13 years now in
the Gruhasthasrama. Everything is good by Lords grace.

So the message is try to dismiss superstitions as far as possible!

sajjana pada padma parama renuhu

Lakshmi Narasimha dasaha

Balaji wrote: Hi All,

I want to know what is the right age for Upanayanam? I read in the Sapthagiri
magazine that if the Upananayam is not performed between the age 8 and 16, then
the boy is not for Brahmopadesha. The article continued that "it is said in the
Dharma Shastra that if Upanayana is not performed before the age of Sixteen a
boy becomes Savitri-Patita, fallen from the Brahmanic tradtion"

In my case, my parents couldn't perform the upanayanam before the age of 16. I
believe there is a custom that there should not be 3 Brahmacharis in a house at
any point of time. I don't know the reason behind this custom. But becasue of
this custom, my upanayanam was postponed until one of my elder brother got
married. But by the time I had already crossed the age of 16.

Though in the same article it has been mentioned that the Boy and his father
would have perfromed some prayaschitta for the delayed performance of the
Upanayana, I don't remember of doing any such thing during my Upanayanam.
Probably the person (Vadhiyar swamigal) who has performed the Upanaayanam for
me would have performed the prayaschitta without making informing us.

Can some one tell me whether I should do any prayaschitta now ? If yes, what
kind of Prayaschitta I should do now ?

I also wanted to know whether the age mentioned in the ariticle is correct and
the reason behind the custom of 3 Brahamacharis should not be there in the house
at any time.

Thanks, Balaji

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10-20-2003, 09:21 PM

In continuation to Sri Balaji's question, I would like to know if
there is anything specific called "Srivaishnavite Upanayanam?"...If
yes, who performs it ? Is it possible for someone to get initiated
into Srivaishnavism around the same time as Upanayanam itself.

I apologize for my ignorance and would deeply appreciate any inputs
in this matter.

--- In SriRangaSri (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, Balaji wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I want to know what is the right age for Upanayanam? I read in the
Sapthagiri magazine that if the Upananayam is not performed between
the age 8 and 16, then the boy is not for Brahmopadesha. The article
continued that "it is said in the Dharma Shastra that if Upanayana is
not performed before the age of Sixteen a boy becomes Savitri-Patita,
fallen from the Brahmanic tradtion"
>
> In my case, my parents couldn't perform the upanayanam before the
age of 16. I believe there is a custom that there should not be 3
Brahmacharis in a house at any point of time. I don't know the reason
behind this custom. But becasue of this custom, my upanayanam was
postponed until one of my elder brother got married. But by the time
I had already crossed the age of 16.
>
> Though in the same article it has been mentioned that the Boy and
his father would have perfromed some prayaschitta for the delayed
performance of the Upanayana, I don't remember of doing any such
thing during my Upanayanam. Probably the person (Vadhiyar swamigal)
who has performed the Upanaayanam for me would have performed the
prayaschitta without making informing us.
>
> Can some one tell me whether I should do any prayaschitta now ? If
yes, what kind of Prayaschitta I should do now ?
>
> I also wanted to know whether the age mentioned in the ariticle is
correct and the reason behind the custom of 3 Brahamacharis should
not be there in the house at any time.
>
> Thanks, Balaji
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]