Temple Darshan, Pooja and Sevas Information Infoirmation Website Upa and Nayanam (vision through knowledge) combine to form the Sanskrit word Upanayanam. It is identified as wisdom and knowledge, the second vision. Furthermore, Dwijan, the young person for whom the ritual is being held, is said to have received a second birth; the first was as a physical baby born on Earth, and the second was as a result of this event “taking one near to wisdom.”
It consists of two components. The Yagnopaveetha Dharanam, or swearing-in of the three-stranded thread, comes first. The second stage, Brahmopadesham, involves bringing the practitioner to the Brahman and reciting the Gayathri Mantra into his right ear. Usually, his father does this; to the youngster, he serves as the guru or teacher.
Step-by-Step Upanayanam Procedure
- Uthakashanthi: During this ritual, all the deities are called upon in water through mantra chanting, and water is poured over the young ones to protect them and purify their body and mind.
- The Naandhimukha ritual is performed to receive the blessings of the ancestors of the family before the happy occasion of the Upanayanam.
- The Aajyabhaagaantha homam is a prayer offered to Agni, the God of Fire, wishing for the child’s longevity, wisdom, bravery, and other attributes.
- Yagnopaveetha Dharanam: On the guidance of the pandits and the Guru, the father puts the sacred thread across the child’s left shoulder. Three strands make up the sacred thread, which stands for Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. This depicts Gnyana, karma, and bhakti. Next, Moonji ties a covering made of Dharba grass around the child’s waist. This is to safeguard his innocence and ward off evil.
- Kumarabhojanam: The young child receives food along with one or two other brahmacharis, signifying that brahmacharis also stand in for him.
- Brahmopadesam: The highest mantra, Gayatri, showers protection upon people who say it. The boy’s father transforms into his guru, whispering the powerful Gayatri mantra into his ears.
- Surya Darshan: The youngster is to be taken outside and shown the sun deity. It is assumed that the sun deity will provide him with protection. The way the hands are joined creates a peephole for the sun deity.
- The stem in his right hand, which is often a little stick of green-leafed peepal tree, represents his promotion into the order of Brahmacharya. It is a belief, and naturally true, that the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra reside in the peepal tree. He receives the blessings of the three gods, along with Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Durga, as a result of possessing a tiny branch of the sacred peepal tree (arasa maram).
- Bhikshakaranam: In this story, the youngster seeks his mother and other married ladies for rice handouts in a symbolic manner. This is a significant occasion, and the purpose of the Bhikshakaranam is to develop humility, civility, and self-control. Additionally, this helps the young vatu (the male) develop sensory control, which is crucial for learning Vedic knowledge.
- The Abhivathanam.Following Upanayanam, the kid offers a Shashtanga Namashkar salute to each of the elders in attendance to ask for their blessings. In this Abhivathanam, the youngster gradually introduces himself using his names, Gothram, Suthram, Rishi, and Parampara.
Required Puja articles for Upanayanam
| Item | Quantity |
| Turmeric | 150 g |
| Kumkum | 100 g |
| Incense stick | 1 packet |
| Camphor | 1 packet |
| Sandal powder or paste | 1 small packet |
| Betel Nuts | Rs.30 |
| Vari Pindi | 100 g |
| Jaggery | 250 g |
| Cow Ghee | 500 g |
| Honey | 100 g |
| Sugar | 250 g |
| Cotton wicks | 1 packet |
| Dry dates | 100 g |
| Raw turmeric | 100 g |
| Yellow Towels for VATUVU | 2 |
| Thread Reel | 1 |
| SAMIDHULU | 3 PKT |
| Navadhanya | 500 g |
| Yagnopaveetham | 2 Nos |
| Rice | 6 Kg |
| Anthill sand | 2 Kg |
| Dry coconut | 1 Kg |
| Scissor | 1 No |
| Papad | 1 packet |
| Odiyalu | 1 packet |
| Moong Dal | 250 g |
| White Paint Tin | 1 |
| Hand fan | 1 |
| Wheat Flour | 100 g |
| Rice Flour | 100 g |
| Muruku | 1 packet |
| Arisalu | 1 packet |
| Dharba | 1 packet |
| Dharba Rope | 1 |
| Sattupindi | 50 g |
| Moduga stick 4 TO 5 Feet | 1 NOS |
| Jeera | 20 g |
| Blouse piece | 5 Nos |
| White Mustard | 50 g |
Temples where Upanayanam is performed
- Tirumala Temple
- Annavaram Temple
- Dwaraka Tirumala Temple
- Sringeri Temple
- Dharmasthala Temple