the upanayana of vAmanA

The upanayanA of vAmana is described in the bhagavata purANa – I have added footnotes from the nArayaNeeyam commentary by Brahmasri Sengalipuram AnatarAma dIkSitar

सावित्रीं सविताब्र्वीत् – sAVitrIM savitA abravIt

the sun god chanted the gAyatri mantrA (into the ears of the brahmachAri) (1)

ब्र्ह्स्पति ब्र्ह्म सूत्रं brhaspati brhmasUtram

brhaspati (the deva guru) gave the yaGnopavIta (the sacred thread) (2)

मेखलां कश्य्पो ददात् .।। mekalAM kaSyapo dadAt

the straw belt (was) given by kaSyapa (3)

ददौ कृष्णान्जनं भूमिर्  – dadOu kRSNanjanaM bhUmir

the earth gave (Him) the skin of the black buck (4)

दंडं सोमो वन्स्पपति – danDAm somo vanaspati

the staff (was given) by the moon (who is) the king of the forest (5)

कौपीनाञ्छदनं माता  kaupInACadanaM mAtA

the loin cloth cover (by) mother (6)

द्यौश्छत्रं जग्त: पते: dyOuS CattraM jagta: pate:

a glittering umbrella (by) the lord of the worlds (indra) (7)

कमंडलं वेदगर्भ kamaNDalaM vedagarbha

the waterpot (by) the one in whom the vedAs reside (brahma) (8)

कुशान्सप्तऋष्यो ददु  kuSAN saptaRSayO dadu

kuSA grass was given by the seven RShis (9)

अक्ष्मालां महाराज सरस्वत्यव्ययात्म्ना akSamAlaM mahArAja sarasvatyavyayAtmanA

a garland of seeds (O King was given by ) sarasvati to the one who belongs to the soul (10)

तस्मा इत्ययुपनीताय  tasmA ityupanItAya

Having thus been adorned with the sacred thread

यक्षराद्पात्रिकामदात्  yakSa radpAtrikAmadAt

the king of the yakSAs (kubera) gave a (begging) vessel (11)

भिक्षां भगवती साक्षादुमांबिकां सती – bikSAm bhagavatI sAkSAdumAmbikAM satI

(the first) alms were given by uma – ambikA – satI – Herself (12)

स ब्र्ह्म्वर्चसेनैवं सभांसंभावितो वटु:  sa brahmavarcasenIvaM sabhAMsaMbhAvito vaTu:

ब्रह्मर्षिगणसञ्जुष्टामत्यरोचत मारिष: brahmaRSigaNasanjuSTamatyarocata mAriSa:

this having happened the brahmacAri (vAmana) his brhma efflugence (was) incomparable in the gathering of (eminent) brahmaRShis

Footnotes

1. In the upanayanam traditionally the father recites the gAyatri into the ears of the child. The father should have diligently recited the gAyatri for atleast a mandala before the upadeSA. Otherwise the most qualified person in the sabha should do the upadeSA. Indeed the latter is correct because in a sabha of highly qualified practitioners the most qualified was the sun god because is the devata who guides the mantra. (2)
2. The only wealth of the brAhmaNa is his tapa. This is protected by the brahma sUtra (2)
3. The munja grass belt has several benefits  as mentioned in the atharva veda – importantly it is supposed to protect against urinary problems (2)
4. Deer skin is purported to confer long life according to the vidyAranya bASyA of the vedas. It is also supposed to protect one against tuberculosis (2)
5. The palasa staff that is given to the brahmacAri is special. It confers memory and ability to discriminate. There is a vedic story regarding the palasa tree. Once the devatAs gathered without the knowledge of anyone in the earth to discuss the meaning of the gAyatri. A palasa tree that happened to listen to their discussion started sprouting leaves in threes.  The gAyatri is in three parts and the palasa sprouting leaves thus signifies its understanding of the gAyatri. Since memory and understanding of the gAyatri is important the palasa staff is given to brahmacAris (2)
6. the loin cloth is supposed to ward off diseases (2)
7. the umbrella is provided to ward off heat and sunlight from the ears during the course of service to the guru- heat in the ears is purported to affect functioning of the brain (2)
8. the kamaNdalu must always be with a veda practitioner from childhood – to perform Acamana etc. (2)
9. kuSa grass improves concentration. In the gIta the lord asks arjuNA to perform japa in a seat made of kuSa grass (2)
10. the rudrASa malA increases the power of japA a thousand fold. It also confers health (2)
11. Irrespective of personal wealth – a brahmacAri must eat only by taking alms. He has to take the receipts to his guru who will distribute it amongst everyone and will give the remains to the brahmacAri. He has to be content with this. When these rules are followed ego is destroyed and the student will learn humility (2)
12. When you set out for your first alms – the person who gives it must be incapable of saying no – in life this is usually the mother or sister. For the lord the lokamAtA annapurNeswari herself provided the first bikSA (2)

References:

1.Srimad Bhagavatam 8:18 14-19

2. Sengalipuram AnantarAma DikSitar Sri NarayaNeeyam First publication 1959 Subadra and Co Salem

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