AAVANI AVITTAM

Come Aavani and the Hindu Brahmin community of India will be busy with preparations for the important festival, Aavani Avittam. Popularly known thus, the festival is called "Upaakarmam" in Sanskrit.

According to Hindu tradition, a boy has to be introduced to the rites of religion by means of the poonool (thread) ceremony or "Upanayanam" when he turns 7. His first Veda classes would start on the auspicious day of Sravana Pournami and continue till the first pournami of Thai Maasam. The lad cannot learn fresh Vedas till the next Sravana Pournami and has to practice all that he has been taught so far. This is known as vedarambam or vedosthsarjanam.
This year Aavani Avittam is falling on August 15 August 16 according to the Vedic distinction.

According to Hindu scriptures, as this could be done only during certain junctures, the upakarma has to be performed every year. Thus, every year on Aavani Avittam, the poonool or sacred thread is changed anew, along with the chanting of mantras. This ceremony can be performed not just by Brahmins but also by the Kshatriya and Vaisya communities.

Aavani Avittam isn't just a ceremony to change the sacred thread (poonool) alone. The rituals of Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, Gaandarishi Tharpanam and Gayathri Japam are very important as well. To perform the Kaamokaarsheeth Japam, one has to chant the mantra "Kaamokaarsheen, Manyu rakaar sheeth", 1,008 times. By chanting this, one begs forgiveness from the Lord by saying "I have succumbed to lust and anger and have slipped from my duties".

The three vedas of Rig, Yajur and Sama and their subsects have many acharyas who follow these Vedas. They are known as Gaandarishis. The ritual that is done to pay obeisance to them is only Gaandarishi tharpanam. The gayathri mantra is chanted 108 times to wash away the sins committed by a person, if any mistakes have been committed during his veda induction.

Living in this fast paced world, many have forgotten the reasons behind these rituals and Aavani Avittam has become just a duty to be carried out. Many of our people seem to forgotten the significance behind these ceremonies. According to the Vedas, the upanayanam is applicable to Kshatriyas and Vaisyas also and not just Brahmins. The word "upanayanam" means "take closer". By teaching a lad the gayathri mantra and putting on him the sacred thread of yagnyopaveedham, one is actually taking him close to Brahman. From that day on, he is deemed fit to learn the vedas and practice vedic rites.

The poonool thread yagnyopaveetham means "brahma soothram". The ritual of upanayanam, actually begins with the gayathri mantra. These two are inseparable. The 3 stages as chanted in the Gayathri
"thatsa vithurvarenyam,
bargo devasya dhee mahi
diyo yonah prachodayath",
denote the three strands of thread of the poonool. Similarly, the gayathri starts with the pranava mantra "Om" and continues as "bhoor bhuva suvaha". This is called "Vyahruthi". To denote these, the poonool has three knots, brahma granthi, vishnu granti and rudra granti.

Brahmacharis (bachelors) are made to wear the poonool thread with three strands. After marriage, the number of strands are increased.

According to the Gayathri, the nine strands of the poonool signify
1. Knowledge about the Aathma
2. Procurement of skills
3. Achieving individual greatness
4. Purity
5. A divine mind
6. Honesty
7. Wisdom
8. Humility

9. Service

Aavani Avittam is also called Rakshaa Bandhan. This falls on the full moon day of the month of Sravan (August-September). It is a popular festival among the Hindus.
On this day, Sachi, the consort of Indra, tied a holy thread or amulet around the wrist of Indra, when he was defeated by the demons. Then Indra, the king of gods, gained victory over the demons by the power of this protection (Rakshaa means "protection") and recovered the lost city of Amaravati.
On this day, in North India, the sisters as a protection from evil during the coming year tie a band around the wrists of brothers. This also renews relationship and heals broken relationships.
Hindus who wear the Holy thread (Yajnopavit) also replace their threads on this auspicious day.