Avani Avittam - Yajur Upakarma (India 22-08-2021),USA (21-08-2021)
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 (the 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 a 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.
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:
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
"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, Plava naama samvatsarey, Dakshinayaney, Greeshma rithou, Simma maasey, shukla pakshey, Pournamaasyaam Shubha thithou, (Sthia vasara for USA) Banu vaasara yukthaayaam,(for USA - Sravana nakshatra yukthayam ) Saravishta nakshatra 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.
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.
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 ).
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.
Do rishi tharpanam by wearing yagnopaveetha as garland and pouring out water from the leftside of your palm .. 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 10. Sagumhithir devatha upanishada tharpayami 11. Yagnikeer devatha upanishada tharpayami 12.Varuneer devatha upanishada tharpayami 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 Pouring out water from the leftside of your palm... 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 Wear the Poonal in the normal fashion and then do aachamanam.
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, Indu 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.
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.
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, Plava nama samvatstare, Dakshinaayane,Varsha rithou, Simma mase , Krishna pakshe, prathamayam shubha tithou, (for USA Bhanu vasara ) Indhu vasara yukthayam,(for USA Saravishta) sadabishak 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.