In the year 2011 - Avani Avittam falls on the following dates:
Brahmins who are the followers of Yajur Veda change the sacred thread on the day. In 2011, the date is August 13.
Rig Veda Upaakarma is observed on the day before Shravan Poornima. Brahmins who are the followers of Rig Veda change the sacred thread on the day. In 2011, the date is August 13.
Sama Veda Upaakarma is observed on the day after Shravan Amavasai (No moon day in Sawan month). Brahmins who are the followers of Sama Veda change the sacred thread on the day. In 2011, the date is August 29.
Avani Avittam or Upaakrama is a famous South Indian festival associated with the Hindu festival 'Raksha Bandhan' , a festival to celebrate the sacred relation of a brother and a sister. It is a ritual that is followed by the Brahmins. Avani Avittam is most commonly celebrated in the southern states of India like Tamil Nadu and Kerala and also in the states of Orissa and Maharashtra. This ritual is performed on the day of Shravan Purnima that is the same day as Raksha Bandhan.
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| Brahmin Boy invested with the Holy Thread on Avani Avittam |
Recitation of the Vedas on this great day is highly beneficial. This festival is also known as Upaakarmam, and is specially sacred to the Brahmins, who have been invested with the sacred thread. When the Brahmin boy is invested with this holy thread, symbolically his third eye, or the eye of wisdom, is opened. This festival of Upakarmam reminds the wearer of the sacred thread of its glorious spiritual significance. Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors to whom they owe their birth and to the great Rishis to whom they are highly indebted for their spiritual knowledge and the Vedas themselves. The true Hindu never forgets his benefactors!
This is the only festival which is 100% male centric for a Tamil Brahmin.
In the beginning, it was purely celebrated by Hindus but gradually the zeal of this festival has spread to other religions around the world. Hindus wear a holy thread and offer libations of water to the ancient Rishis on this day.
Rituals of Avani Avittam
Avani Avittam is a day of retrospection for the Brahmins and a day when they can reaffirm their vows of penitence. This is also known as Mahasankalp [great aim]. On this day, Brahmins take a dip in the holy river. It is a sight which commands immense respect all over the rolling plains of India. They also change their sacred thread on this day. Thread changing process symbolizes the shedding of all sins and making a new beginning. It also involves the renewal of their pledges to keep their Vedic duties towards society and humanity at large. This festival of Upakarmam reminds the wearer of the sacred thread of its glorious spiritual significance.
Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors to whom they owe their birth and to the great Rishis to whom they are highly indebted for their spiritual knowledge and the Vedas themselves. In North India, on this day, an amulet known as a Raksha or Rakhi is tied round the wrist of brothers by the sisters as a protection from evil during the coming year.
Prayer Mantras and Meaning :
Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors to whom they owe their birth and to the great Rishis to whom they are highly indebted for their spiritual knowledge and the Vedas themselves. In North India, on this day, an amulet known as a Raksha or Rakhi is tied round the wrist of brothers by the sisters as a protection from evil during the coming year.
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| Significance of Mantras-Avani Avittam |
Prayer Mantras and Meaning :
The prayer of that people recite to wash away all the sins on this day means:
"For the removal of all my sins and thereby to secure a divine blessing and for qualifing myself to perform the essential duties of Brahmanas as prescribed in the vedas and smritis and adopted by the really good in their conduct I put on this Yagnopavita".
While removing the old thread, the mantra recited means :
"I throw away the broken dirty old thread, may the new one bring on long life and Brahmana's brilliance."
When the new thread is worn then another mantra is recited which means:
"I put on the sacred thread which is highly pure, is inseparable from God, is capable of prolonging life and is the foremost in the accomplishment of a Brahmana. May such pure Yagnopavita bring strength and dignity."
Avani Avittam Significance
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| Reciting the Mantras on Avani Avittam |
Avani Avittam Significance
The festival of Avani Avittam is marked as the most significant and auspicious event for Brahmins. The name 'Upakramam' that is another name for this festival means 'beginning'. On this day, the Yajurvedis begin to read Yajur Veda for next six months.
The day is also auspicious because it is believed that on this day Lord Vishnu was incarnated as Lord Hayagriva, the lord of knowledge, and reinstated the Vedas to Brahma.
I refer to you here, a very useful Website with video presentation- by Sri Muktha Ravi, which I am sure will be beneficial to one and all and of great value for our community people. Sri Mukta Ravi has created his new Website to digitalise our Rituals.
You may visit the following Website URL
For Avani Avittam, which falls on 13-08-2011 being Saturday, interested persons may download text or download and view through your Laptop or even through your Mobile phones.
Incidentally, Sri Muktha Ravi is the son of Muktha Srinivasan[Film Producer / Director - Muktha Films].
Legend has it that Lord Hayagriva, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, brought back the Vedas stolen by Asuras on this day. For the interest of the community at large, please note that Hayagriva Jayanthi also falls on the same day of Avani Avittam.
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| Lord Hayagriva |
The people of different languages call Sacred threads as Janeu in Hindi, Janivaara in Kannada, Poonool in Malayalam & Tamil, Jandhyamu in Telugu, Jaanave in marathi, Lagun in Assamese. This indicates “unity in diversity” in India by celebrating people from all over.
Sacred Thread Guidelines
- The sacred thread should never be removed from one’s body.
- If for some reason, the sacred thread is lost or slips off, it should not be reused. A new sacred thread [that has been got as prasad from Yagnopaveeteswara] should be worn.
- Bachelors should wear sacred threads with 3 strands. Married men should wear sacred threads with 6 strands. Men whose parents have passed on should wear sacred threads with 9 strands.
- The Gayatri Mantra should be chanted before wearing sacred thread.
- It is the person’s responsibility to keep the thread clean
According to source, in Hinduism, Upanayanam [Sacred Thread ceremony] is performed on boys of at least 7 years of age from the Brahmin varna, of at least 13 years from the Kshatriya varna, and of at least 17 years from the Vaishya varna. The youngster is taught during the ceremony the secret of life through Brahmopadesam [revealing the nature of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality] or the Gayatri mantra.Everyone has a first, biological birth, but when a young man seeks his spiritual identity he symbolically accepts a spiritual teacher as father and the Vedas as mother.At the ceremony, he receives the jenoi [sacred-thread], usually worn for his entire lifetime. It is replaced at intervals, but never removed until the new one has been put on.
Here are a few other helpful sites too, which I found be useful for those who plan to do Avani Avittam / Gayathri Japam by themselves and are looking for pointers to the procedure for the same:
- http://www.trsiyengar.com/id62.shtml
- http://www.vadhyar.com/Upakarma%20Mantram.php
- http://www.prapatti.com/
I am sure you will agree with me in saying ...."The power of these Mantras protects the wearer from evil influences" and it is a known fact that, in the recitation of "Sanskrit Mantras"....it can indeed bring a transformation in you, thereby leading you to Power and Strength!
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