Avani Avittam

Avani Avittam - Rig,Yajur  Upakarma (India 03-08-2020),USA (02-08-2020)

Avani Avittam is an important ritual observed by the Brahmin community belonging to Vedic Brahmins. This is also called as Upakarma. Following day, Gayatri Japam is performed.

On the day of Avani Avittam, the 'poonal' ( in Tamil ) or ' Yangopaveedham' or Yajnopavit (sacred thread ) is changed after performing certain rituals and it is usually a community observance and takes place on the banks of a pond or river and now a days in temples ( even in overseas). Avani is the name of the Tamil month and Avittam is one of the 27 stars. On this day, a vow (Mahasankalpam) is taken for atonement of all our sins committed with or without our knowledge during the past year.

Avani Avittam Significance

It is said that Brahma had mastered the Vedas and he became arrogant with pride that he was the only entity that had the knowledge of the Vedas. Lord Sri Narayana thought otherwise and created demons Madhu and Kaitabha and then instructed them to steal the Vedas from Lord Brahma and hide it. Lord Brahma was in a fix that he was not able to save the Vedas from theft and prayed to Lord Sri Narayana to do the needy. Lord took the form of Hayagriva or Hayavadana and restored the Veda to Brahma, humbling Brahma. As the Vedas were restored on this day, Upakarma is performed on this day to mark a new beginning.
The following are procedures that are followed:

Samitha Dhanam ( offering to homam)

Kamokarsheet Japam

Brahma Yagnam

Maha Sankalpam

Yajnopaveeta dharanam

Khandarishi tharpanam


Note: Samitha dhanam is not given here as it has to be done with homam. Wherever possible, this should be followed Kaamokarsheeth Japam:

Persons performing their maiden avani avittam after their Upanauyanam need not do this.
Ganapati Dyanam:
Om Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashi varnam chaturbhujam Prasannavadanam dyayetha, sarva vignobha upashanthaye -
Pranayamam :
Om boohu, Om bhuvaha,Om bhuvasuvah, Om mahahah, Om janaha Om tapaha, Oghum satyam, Om tatsa vithurvarenyam, Bhargo devasya dhimahih, dheeyo yonah prachodayathu, Om apaha, jyothi rasa, amrutam brahma, bhurbhuva suvarom
Sankalpam: ( given for year 2020- the year, month, star may change every year)
"Mamopatha Samastha, duritha kshaya dwara, Shri Parameswara preethyartham shubhey shobhaney muhurthey, adhya brahmana dvithiya pararthey shwetha varaha kalpey, vaivaswatha manvantharey, ashtavimsadhi, thamey, kaliyugey, prathamey padhey, jambudwipey (for USA - Krowncha dwipey), bhaaratha varshey(for USA - Ramanaka varshey), bharata khandey (for USA - uttara khandey), meroho, dakshiney parshvey shakapthey, asmin, varthamaney, vyavaharikey, prabhavadhi, shashti samvatsaranam madhyey, Sarvari( year) naama samvatsarey, Dakshinayaney, Greeshma rithou, Kadaga  maasey (month), shukla pakshey, Pournamaasyaam Shubha thithou, (Banuvasara for USA) Indu vaasara( day) yukthaayaam,Sravana  nakshatra(star) yukthayaam, atikanda nama yoga, pathrai karana yuktayaam, yevanguna,viseshana vishistayam, asyam shuba thithau.

Mamo patha Samastha, duritha kshaya dwara,Shri Parameswara preethyartham,thaishyam,pournamasyam, athyaya,uthsarjana,akarana, prayaschitartham,ashtothara shatha sankya (108 times)
" Kamokaarishitha manyura karishitha namo namaha ithi maha mantra japam karishyey."
10 times pranayaman

Now say 108 times - " Kamokarishitha manyura karishitha namo namaha."

Take out the darbhai from the fingers and throw it in the northern direction after reciting kamokarishi mantra 108 times. Then remove the pavitram, untie it and place it also in the northern direction. Then do the Achamaniyam say " Sarvam brahmarpanam asthu" and pour little water in front of you.

This sankalpam should be followed by Maadyanikam and Brahma Yagnam.

Bhrama yagnyam Brahma yagnam should be performed by all. The offering to pithrus should be omitted for those whose father is alive. Brahma yagnam is the sacrifice to Brahma offered to satisfy Devas, Rishis(sages) and Pithrus(ancestors ).

(This Bhrama Yagnam is supposed to be performed daily after Madhyannikam, but nowadays it is done mainly on Avani avittam days.)

Achamanam …………
Face eastern direction and do “Shuklam baradaram….” Followed by pranayamam “om Bhoo…"
Mamopartha samastha duritha kshyadwara sri Parameshwara preethyartham Brahma Yagnam karishye. Brahma yagnena Yakshye.
Chant and clean the hands with water

Vidhyudasi vidya me paapmanam amruthath Sathya mupaime
(chant)
Om Bhoooh, tatsa vithurvarenyam
Om Bhuvah, Bhargo devasya Dheemahi
Ogum suvah, Dhiyo yonah prachodayath
Om Bhoooh Tatsa vithurvarenyam Bhargo devasya dheemahi
Om Bhuvah Dhiyo yonah prachodayath
Ogum Suvah Tatsa vithurvarenyam Bhargo devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo yonah prachodhayath

(Chant Vedic manthras)
Om Agnimeele purohitham Yagnasya Dheva mruthvijam, hotharam Rathna Dhathamam
Om Ishe Tworje Twa vayavastha upayavastha Devo vassavitha prarpayathu sreshtathamaya karmane
Om Agna Aayahi veethaye grunano havyadathaye, ni hotha sadhsi bharhishi
Om shanno devirabheeshtaye Aapo bhavantu peethaye sanyoh abhishravanthu naha
Sprinkle water round the head by reciting
Sathyam Thapa shradhayam juhomi

(Recite three times with folded hands)
Om namo brahmane namosthwagnaye nama pruthwyai nama oshadheebhya namo vaache namo vaachaspathaye namo vishnave bruhathe karomi.
(Clean the hands again with water)
“vrushtirasi vruschame paapmanam amruthath sathyamupaagam”
deva-rishi tharpanam karishye.
Do deva tharpanam through the tip of fingers
1.Bramodaya ye deva thaan devaan tharpayami
2.Sarvaan devaan tharpayami
3. Sarva deva ganaan tharpayami
4.Sarva deva pathnis tharapayami
5.Sarva deva ganapathnis tharpayami

Do rishi tharpanam by wearing yagnopaveetha as garland and pouring out water from the little finger slightly tilting your hand..
1, Krishna dwaipayanadayah ye rishaya thaan rishin tharpayami
2. Sarvaan risheen tharpayami
3. Sarva rishi ganaan tharpayami
4. Sarve rishi pathnis tharpayami
5, Sarva rishi gana pathnistharpayami
6. Prajapathim kanda rishim tharpayami
7. Somam kanda rishim tharpayami
8. Agnim kanda rishim tharpayami
9. Viswan devan kanda rishin tharpayami
Pour water from the tips of fingers straight down..
10. Sagumhithir devatha upanishada tharpayami
11. Yagnikeer devatha upanishada tharpayami
12.Varuneer devatha upanishada tharpayami
Pour out water from the liitle finger
13. Havyavaham tharpayami
14.Viswaan devaan kanda rishin tharpayaami
Pour water by raising the right arm, from the bottom of the palm towards self
15.Brahmanam swayambhuvam tharpayami
Pour out water from the little finger
16.Viswan devan kandarishin tharpayami
17.Arunan kandarishin tharpayami
Pour water from the tips of fingers
18.Sadasaspathim tharpayami
19.Rig vedam tharpayami
20.Yajur Vedam tharpayami
21. Sama Vedam tharpayami
22. Atharvana Vedam tharpayami
23. Ithihasa puranam tharpayami
24. Kalpam tharpayami

Put the Poonal in the normal fashion
And then do aachamanam.


Maha Samkalpam

wear pavithram on your right hand ring finger and loosely clench and two dharbai around the pavithram.
a.Aachamanam
b.Shuklam baradharam……..
c.Om bhoo

Mamopatha Samastha, duritha kshaya dwara, Shri Parameswara preethyartham
Tadeva lagnam sudhinam tadaiva, tharaa balam chandra balam thadaiva , vidhya balam daiva balam tadaiva, Sri Lakshmi pathe te aangriyugam smaramaami
Apavithra pavithro vaa sarvaavasthaam gathopi vaa , yasmareth pundari kaksham, sabahya Abhyanthara shuchi , manasam vaachikam paapam , karmanaa Samuparjitham, Sri Ramasmaranenaiva vyopahathi na samshayah ,Sree Rama Rama Rama, Tithir Vishnu, Tatha vaarah, Nakshatram Vishnu reva cha, Yogascha karanam chaiva sarvam Vishnu mayam Jagat ,Sri Govinda , Govinda, Govinda, Aadya sri bhagawatha, Aadi vishno, Aadinarayanasya achinthyaya , aparimithaya, sakthyaa,priyamanasya, mahaa jaloughasya madhye, paribrhamatham aneka koti brhmaandanameka thame, aashta vimsathi thame, kali yuge,prathame padhe, Jamboo dweepe, Bharatha varshe , Bharatha khande, (for USA - Krowncha dwieepe,Ramanaka varshe, uttara khande,) Mero dakshine parshwe, asmin varthamane , vyavaharike prabhavaadheenam sashtyah samvatsaranaam madhye, SriVihari nama samvatstare, Dakshinaayane, Greeshma rithou,Kataga mase, shukla pakshe, aadhya pournamasyam shubha tithou, Guru vasara yukthayam, Sadhabishak nakshatra yukthayam, shubhayoga, shubha karana evam guna, viseshana visishtaayam, asyam vartamanayam pournamaasyam shubha thithou.
Anaadhi avidhya vasanaya pravarthamane asmin mahathi samsara chakre vichitrabhih karma gathibhih vichitrasu yonishu punah punah anekadha janithwa kenapi punya karma viseshena idhaanimthana manushye dwija janma visesham prapthavataha, mama janmabhyasat janama prabruthi, ethath kshana paryantham , baalye, vayasi kaumare yowane vaardhake cha jagrath swapna sushupthi avasthasu mano vak kaya karmendriya jnanendriya vyaparaih kama-krodha-lobha-moha-madha-mathsaryaadhi sambhavithaanam iha janmani janmanthare cha jnana ajnana kruthaanam maha pathakanaam, mahaa patathaka, anumanthrattwadeenam , samapathakaanaam upapaathakaanaam,nindhitha dhana dhaano, upa jeevanaadeenam, aapathrikarananaam jathi bramsa karaanam vihitha karma thyaagaaadeenam, jnanadha sakruth kruthanaam, ajnanatha asakruthaanam, sarveeshaam papaanam, sadhya aapanodhanartham, Sri Hari Hara puthra swami sannidhou,ISHTADEVADA,KULADEVATHA, sannidhou,sravanyam pournamasyaam adhyaya upakrama karma karishye.Thadhangam, sravanee pournamasi punyakale sareera shudhartam shuddhodhaka snanam aham karishye.

Discard the two loose dharbais...

(take a bath or just sprink some water in your head with following mantra)
“ Athi krura maha kaya, kalpanthahanopama, Bairavaya namasthubhyam anukgnaam dathu marhasi”

Remove the pavithram


Yagnopavitha Dharana Mantram (changing of the holy thread)

Achamaniyam …….

"Shuklam bharadaram…………upashanthaye."

"Om boohu…………bhur bhuvah suvarom."

Mamopata Samastha duritha Kshaya dwara, Sri Parameshwar preethyartham, Sraudha smarta vihita, nityakarma anushtana, yogyatha sidhyartham, brahma tejo abhivridyartham.


Yagnopavitha dharanam karishyey.( touch water)
Yagnopavitha dharana mahamantrasya ( touch forehead) para brahma rishi,
(touch nose) Tristup chandaha
(touch chest) paramatma devata. (Namaste)
Yagnopavitha dharaney viniyogaha

(The new poonal set with you will consist of three sets. Brahmacharis use 1 set and married use two or all the three.Take the poonal in your hands. --- The Knot in the poonal on top of right hand, left hand holding other end of poonal with fingers touching the panja patram.
Then say…..)

(Unmarried (Brahmacharis) recite once the following and married three times for each poonal.)..

Yagnopavitham paramam pavithram, prajapathey, yat sahajam purastat. 'Aayushyam agriyam, prathimunja shubram yagnopavitham balam asthu tejaha…Om.

Then do achamaniyam. Then say….

"Upavitham bhinatanthum, jeernam kashmala dooshitham. Visrujami, na hi brahma varcho dirghayurastu mey."

Now take out your old poonal and throw it in Northern direction. Then do achamaniyam and exit.


Kanda Rishi Tharpanam

Do Aachamanam..
Suklam baradharam...
Om bhoo....

Mamo partha samastha durida kshya dwara sri parameshwata preethyartham sravanyaam pournamaasyam adhyaya uakrama karmangam kanda rishi tharpanam karishye.

Wear poonal as garland and do tharpanam using water mixed with thil (black sesame seeds) and akshatha (rice grains)
Each manthra has to be chanted thrice and tharpanam done.

1.Prajapathim kanda rishim tharpayami
2.Somam kanda rishim tharpayami
3.Agnim kanda rishim tharpayami
4.Viswaan devaan kanda rishim tharpayaami
5.Saahinkeer devatha upanishadha tharpayami
6.Yagnigeer devatha upanishadha tharpayaami
7.Vaaruneer devatha upanishadha tharpayami

Pour water by raising the right arm, from the bottom of the palm towards self

8.Brhamanagum swayubhuvam tharpayaami

Normal
9.Sadasaspathim tharpayami
wear poonal in the normal fashion and then do aachamana.

Gaayathri japam (following day)


Aachamanam...

Shuklaam baradharam ... Shantaye...

Om bhoo .... Suvarom..

Mamo partha samastha duritha kshya dwara sri parameshwara preethyartham Tadeva lagnam sudhinam tadeva, tharaa balam chandra balam thadeva , vidhya balam daiva balam tadeva, Sri Lakshmi pathethe aangriyugam smaramaami Apavithra pavithro vaa sarvaavasthaam gathopivaa , ya smareth pundari kaksham, sabahya abhyantaraha shuchi , manasam vaachikam paapam , karmanaa Samuparjitham, Sri Rama smaranenaiva vyopahathi na samshayah .Sree Rama Rama Rama Shubhe Shobane muhurthe adya Brahmana dwiteeya paradhe , Swetha varaha kalpe, Vaivaswatha Manvanthare, Ashtavimsathi thame , Kali yuge, Prathame pade, Jambhu Dwieepe, Bharatha Varshe,Bhartaha Khande,(for USA - Krowncha dwieepe,Ramanaka varshe, uttara khande), Meroh, Dakshine Parshwe, Sakabdhe, Asmin Varthamane Vyavaharike, Prabhavadinam Sashtiyah Samavathsaranaam Madhye, Manmatha nama samvatstare, Dakshinaayane,Varha rithou, Simha mase , Krishna pakshe, prathamayam shubha tithou, Bhanu vasara yukthayam,Shatabhishek(sadhayam)nakshatra yukthaayam, shubha yoga shubha karana evam guna viseshana visisishtaayam asyaam vartamanayam Krishna Paksha prathamaayam shubha tithou mithyaa Dheetha prayaschittartham ashtothara sahasra samkyaka (1008) gayatri maha manthra japam karishye.

Pranavasya Rishi brahma (touch head), Devi Gayathri chandaha (tip of your nose) Paramatma devadha (heart),

(touching your head) Pooradhi,saptha vyahrudheenam, athri -brihu-kutsa-vasishta-gowthama-kachyapa-aangreesa- rushaya

(touching your nose) Gayathri-ushnik-anushtup bruhudhi bankthee dhristup jagathya:chandamsi,

(touch your heart) agni vayoo-arka-vageesa-varun-indhra-vichveadeva:devatha:

do one Pranayamam: then

(touch your head) Ayathvithi anuvagasya-vama deva rishi

(nose) Anushtup Chandaha:

(heart) Gayathri Devatha , ayadhu varadha devi, aksharam brahma sammitham,gayathrim cchandasaam ,madhaedham brhama jushaswanaha, ojosi,sahosi, palamasi, prajosi, devaanaam , thaama naamasi, vichwamasi vichvayuu: sarvamasi sarvayuu: abhipurom:

Gaythrim avahayaami: Savithrim avahayaami: Saraswathim avahayaami:

(touch your head) savithriya rushihi: vichwamithra

(nose) nichruth gayathri cchandaha:

(heart) savitha devatha

and then chant the Gaythri manthra 1008 times.