2

What's the history of Avani Avittam (Upakarma) festival? What does our scriptures say about it? This is not about Raksha Bandhan but its purely about a festival for male.

Agamas Tantras
  • 3,490
  • 2
  • 21
  • 50
  • Possible duplicate of What is the origin of Raksha Bandhan? – Sarvabhouma Sep 06 '18 at 17:38
  • 1
    Though usually Avani Avittam and Raksha Bandhan fall on the same Purnima Day in the month of Shravan, the two festivals are not similar. Raksha Bandhan involves both the brother and sister. Avani Avittam is a purely male affair, where the men change their old yagyopavith. This day ritually everyone starts to learn the Vedas and it is termed 'Vedarambam'. There are no such ceremonies in the celebration of Raksha Bandhan - this question is not a duplicate to the referred question on Raksha Bandhan. – Suresh Ramaswamy Sep 07 '18 at 07:47
  • Raksha Bandhan was not a festival for brothers and sisters originally. See the original question. It was Shravana Pournami or Upakarma. The answer in the first line gives the reason why it was originally celebrated. It later changed culturally to festival of brother and sisters. – Sarvabhouma Sep 11 '18 at 06:25

1 Answers1

3

An Explanation of the Vedic Ritual of Yajur Upakarma, also known in Tamil as “Avani Avittam” :

UPAKARMA (AVANI AVITTAM): NATURE AND PURPOSE

Upakarma (/upaakarma/) means beginning or “Arambham”, i.e. to begin the study of the Veda (Veda Adhyayanam). For example, Yajur Upakarma means to begin the study of the Yajur Veda. Those belonging to the Yajur Veda observe the Upakarma in the month of Sravana (August-September), on the day of the full moon (paurnami). Why begin study of the Vedas on this particular day? This auspicious day also happens to be the day when Lord Narayana took the avatara as Lord Hayagriva. Lord Hayagriva as we all know restored the Vedas to Brahma and also is the God of Knowledge.

The next question is: why do this every year? In the not too distant a past, Veda Adhyayanam was performed only during the period Avani to Tai (from mid-August to mid-January). Therefore, one is supposed to perform an “utsarjanam” in the month of Tai, i.e., a giving up of the learning of Vedas from Tai to Avani. Just like a Upakarma function there was a Utsarjana function in Tai. The period between January to August was then devoted to learning other branches of our shastras. Thus the cycle of Upakarma and Utsarjana with regard to Vedic studies was established. However, this method took 12 or more years to learn just one veda. Slowly this became impractical and Vedic studies continued throughout the year.

More details about what all rituals are associated with Upakarma can be read there as well.

Just_Do_It
  • 8,896
  • 1
  • 17
  • 57