Why Early Upanayana

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Why Early Upanayana

(HinduDharma: Brahmacaryasrama)

 

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Let us leave aside the question of child being inspired by Sarasvati

before he is imbued with Gayatri. The more important thing is that

before Kama takes hold of a boy he must be inspired by Gayatri. That

is why the age of upanayana is fixed at eight. When one is possessed

by Kama one would be dragged away from one's ideal, that of

acquiring the power of mantras. Even the power already acquired

would be destroyed. That is the upanayana ceremony is performed

early so that the boy is helped to become perfect by constant

repetition of Gayatri Mantra. After 16, he will not be able to do

the same. If he somehow ascends one span spirituality, he will the

next moment descend by one cubit. That is why the upanayana

samaskara must performed early.

 

We do not take such samaskaras seriously nowadays. We do things to

no purpose, and at the same time we do not have the courage to give

up such rites altogether. So we go through them "somehow " for a

false sense of satisfaction. Far better it would be, instead, to

have the courage to be an atheist. The atheist at least has some

convictions, so it seems to me.

 

If the Gayatri mantra is learned in childhood itself it would be

retained like a nail driven into a tender tree. Gayatri imparts in

great measure mental strength, lustre and health. It will increase

the child's power of concentration, sharpen his intelligence, make

him physically strong. Later in life, when he feels the urge of

Kama, Gayatri will prevent him from being dragged downward and be a

protective shield for his body and intelligence. When one learns to

meditate on the Gayatri in childhood itself, it would be a great

help, as one grows up, in not wasting one's seed, in acquiring

Brahmic lustre and qualities like studiousness, humility, devotion

to God and interest in matters of the Self.

 

Parents nowadays deny their children the opportunity of being

afforded such great benefits and for no reason.

 

A student spends the years of his gurukulavasa in Gayatri-japa;

study of the Vedas and the Vedangas, begging for his food, serving

his guru, observing various religious vows. When he completes his

education thus, he will have become a young man ready for his

samavartana. Later he must go to Kasi and, on his return home, take

a wife. He is called a "snataka" between his samavartana and his

return from his journey to Kasi. Samavartana is equivalent to

today's convocation ceremony. In present-day marriages there is a

farcical procedure called "Kasi-yatra"

 

Marriage is one of the forty samskaras.

http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part17/chap8.htm