Thank you very much for reading the posting and responding with GOOD
wordsGopalakrishnan
On Sunday, 14 August, 2022 at 11:04:31 am IST, Rajaram Krishnamurthy
<[email protected]> wrote:
Good KR IRS 14822
On Sat, 13 Aug 2022 at 21:06, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123
<[email protected]> wrote:
UPAKARMA
Dear friends,
This is a nostalgic writing about some past upakarmaperformed by me. Nothing
serious other than nostalgic memories. I was writingit in parts for three days
and today only I could complete.
Gopalakrishnan 13-8-2022.
1. Period tillcollege days over (till 1964) after upanayanam
It was practice to perform all functions related toupakarma in samooha matam on
those days in my home town. The local sasthrikalwould come with his hand
written book and spectacles early morning by about 8AM to conduct functions. My
home samooha matam is on the western side ofAchhankovil River.
1A. Haircut
It was a must all Brahmacharis to have hair cut in themorning. The local barber
would come,some- times with his son for assistance ,and after haircut we had
to take bath inthe river, come home, perform prathasandhya, and reach samooha
matam with newsingle dhoti, to perform Kamokarshi japam.
1B. Kamokarshijapam
It was a must to apply holy ash wetted with water asthree lines in forehead,
arms, chests etc. On other days most of us used toapply the sandal paste
prasadam given from Krishna temple. Since there was someirregularity to all to
come together periappa used to conduct in three batchessankalpam and kamokarshi
Japam. All dharbham, pavithrams and poonool were boughtby Periappa.
My mother ensured copper and brass thambalam were wellcleaned, pancha pathram
and uddirini were arranged all in the family. Rarely myeldest brother was there
on upakarma day. My eldest brother was employed evenwhen I was about 10 years.
On those days elders used 2nd cloth only towrap around waist, though rarely it
was used as upper cloth while coming/ returning after upakarma.
1C. Kamokarshijapam
Those few residing at a distance used to come only for upakarma,
performingsandhya and kamokarshi japam at home. I recollect one such person was
myteacher in middle school, Late Mr. Ramaswamy iyer; He would come with his
sons.He was very close to my late father, probably not by working in same
school,but both married from Kidangoor (near Kottayam) area.
Incidentally, by correspondence initiated by ourmember Sri APS Mani, I could
understand Mr. Ramaswamy was his eldest co-brother.
The local sasthrikal was not fully pledged satirical,often he referred book.
Even now I do not know his name; he was kochumadathilperiappa/Anna for all. He
was always serious person; I have not seen a smile onhis face. A strict person,
fearsome for even elder boys.
Most elders came with Double dhoti and Uthareeyam,having haircut and shave at
least within a week. Most important- Keeping mustache my Brahmins wasunknown
among iyers on those days.
After kamokarshi japam, all departed for tiffin, andinstructed to assemble by
11. 50 AM, for upakarma. We had to carry additional dressfor bath in the river.
Bathing in river was compulsory.
My late father, permanent president of samooham, tillhe became too aged, would
ring the big bell at 11. 50 AM. It is ensured all assembledto start Maha
sankalpam. We had about 33 Brahmin families in home, and ensured all
arrived,unless otherwise intimated absence. My elder brother took charge as
presidentafter him. By the time the number of Brahmin families had reduced to
mere nine, most settling in other states andcountries.
1DMahasankalpam
Wearing pavithram mahasankalpam was performed. AfterMahasankalpam, pavithram
was removed and achamanam done. I recollect our sasthrikalwas reciting during
maha sankalpa
Narmada Sindhu Kaveri
Godavari Namosthuthe.
As boys we could not control our laugh looking at him,his wife’s name was
Kaveri.We used to say, purposely he was including Kaveri??!!.
On this title, in later time I wrote about rivers in India, somemembers gave
correction to Mantra, how it has to be recited.
The Pavithram was removed and achamanam done.
1E . Bath inriver
After bath in river with head bath, applying holy ash,wearing new dhoti all
youngsters performed namaskaram to elders before wearing newYanjopaveetham. I
have never seen this practice in Tamilnadu and Kerala in laterperiods.
1FYanjopaveetha dharanam
Now Periappa will issue Yanjpaveethams. Boys who hadperformed upanayanam were
given one, married were given two, those who lostfather were given three. I am
not sure how many where issued to boys who lostfather.
Small naughty boys were issued one upaveetham. It was called kallapoonool. I
dorecollect even myself worn such, before my upanayanam. I have seen this
practice continued even now.
Holding the knot of yanjopaveetham at top with left hand palm, using right
hand palm with yanjoopaveetham touching water, it was worn standing in knee
deep water. Eldersrepeated two/three times.
Now with mantra old yanjopaveetham was removed and putin flowing water.
It was not uncommon some elders and youngsters not able to remove folding
correctly and make out the full length. Such persons weregiven a new set.
1 G Kandarshi tharpanam
For Kandarshi tharpanam performed by all, wetted rice was spreadon left hand
and tharpanam was performed taking rice from hand using both handsand performed
tharpanam using both hands, holding new holy thread through right hand.
Tharpanam was done threetimes.
To tell the fact, what is meant by Kandarshi, wasknown to me very late- Those
who wrotevarious Kandas.
Most used to bring raw rice and if required thil fromhome for tharpanam.
1 H Pithrutharpanam
After kandarshi tharpanam, pithru tharpanam was doneby those whose father had
his unfortunate death. Periappa used to make a closewatch, someone having
father, not listening to hisannouncement standing for tharpanam especially
elder boys. Forpithru tharpanam thilam mixed with raw rice was used.
1I . Vedarambham
Again coming back to samooha matam vedarambham wasperformed. The first line of
different Vedas recited with other items etc. weretaught and recited. Probably
not able to digest as a young boy, all detailswere clear to me in later period
only.
1J Homam
Homam was performed participated by those boys whoseupanayanam was done in that
year. As like today no person departed after Vedarambham leaving itonly to few
after offering dakshina.
1K Dakshina
After offering daakshina by all and performingNamaskaram to sasthrikal all
departed to home, after worshipping in localtemple by about 1.30 PM. Those came
from distance went back by bus. Like today no cars or bikes, not even cycles
were used bythe persons. Those who are more affordable gave more
dakshina.Surely Periappa had a smile on seeing more Dakshina- Natural.
Nowadays dakshina is collected by some representativeand given to sasthrikal in
my area inChennai, he is sure minimum from a member would be above Rs 100-00.
Upakarma isthe only day sasthrikal does not quote dakshina amount, even today.
However nowadaysthe representative quote minimum dakshina with a smile. 95%
offer minimum doublehis quoting amount.
1L AArathi
At home elder sumangali waited with aarathi, after aarathi people entered
home. Good feast would be waiting. Night only tiffin,being amavasya day. Only
plantain leaves were used to take food and nighttiffin.
Regarding Gayathrijapam, later period upakarma, I willcontinue in another
posting
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