Samasthi Upanayanam

Upanayanam Ceremony is a very important tradition among the Brahmins. The sacred thread is also worn by some Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. A Brahmin is also called a ‘Dwija’ which means the one who is born twice. A boy is said to be born again when you perform Upanayanam Samskara.  A sacred thread, called Janeu or Yajnopaveetam is placed around the left shoulder of the boy.

One Sacred thread contains 3 strands, the three strands symbolize three debts.  The debt to Teacher, the debt to parents and ancestors, the debt to the God.

The ceremony is performed, starting with Vighneshwara pooja, Punyaha Vachanam, Maha Sankalpam, Kalasha pooja, Udagashanti, Upanayanam and then the homam is performed as per the Shastras.

When to Perform Upanayanam Ceremony?

This Ceremony is conducted when the boy enters the age of 8, an auspicious day is selected as per the Janma Nakshatra of the boy, his father, and mother.

Benefits of Upanayanam Ceremony:

• The Boy is now eligible ready to learn all vedas.
• He is protected from all kinds of evil spirits and negative energies.
• Increases the ability to gain knowledge.

In today’s scenario many a Brahmin households don’t have the budget to spend on the long list of poojas and ceremony’s or don’t wish to spend the said monies on the functions.
Samashti Upanayanam is the solution for this process. The word samashti means in group so in short it’s a upanayanam function held in groups.

In some cases many well-to-do people perform the upanayanam of their sons in lavish manners. Since those who can afford contribute, there is the added merit of our having indirectly helped the poor Brahmin boys getting the upanayanam rite performed for them they organize their family upanayanam in Samashti manner. In many cases now a days brothers cousins and close family members conduct the upanayanam in samashti manner so that all relatives are available to make to the function and the boy gets the blessings of all of their relatives.

As advised by the Sankaracharya of Kanchi , Sri Jayandra Saraswati Swamigal , the Sri Sankara Mattham in Mumbai conducted the Samashti Upanayanam for Brahmin boys who have not been able to perform this sacred thread ceremony due to some reason or the other. Ten Brahmin boys and their families participated in this function organized by the Mutt . Materials required for the ceremony and sweets and also lunch are arranged by the Mutt. The father of the boy preach the Gayatri Mantra in the ears of the boy after performing the thread ceremony. It is said in olden days the brahmachari went out into the streets to beg for alms from various houses called Bhikshakaranam. Today this is being done symbolically during the ceremony. While it may be very difficult to practice Bhikshakaranam daily in today’s conditions, the practice of Bhikshakaranam will induce humility and quell the ego and it will root out all difference of high and low, wealthy and poor.

Sri Sankara Mattham Mumbai Matunga conducts Samashti upanayanam once a year. For more information please contact the temple office in person or via telephone.