Upanayanam (A Quintessential Handbook)

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Sri Sri Rangapriya Swamiji is well known among lovers of Samskruta and Samskruti as a scholar par excellence, outstanding orator, poet extempore and an ascetic of the highest order. His personality was a unique blend of Jnaana, Bhakti and Vairagya.

Born as Varadadesikacharya in 1927 in the tiny hamlet of Hedathale in Nanjangud near Mysore, he had the great fortune of being a close relative of Sriranga Mahaguru. The kinship got transformed into an intimate Guru- shishya relationship. Under the spiritual tutelage of Sriranga Mahaguru, he studied the basis and beauty of Bharatiya Samskruti and its component vidyas, kalas and shastras.

He completed formal education at the Samskrutha Pathashala, Mysore and later at Saugar University, M.P. He taught at National College in Bangalore from where he retired as HOD of Sanskrit. He delivered hundreds of invited lectures and inspired countless numbers of people to follow the path of Dharma in the best traditions of our culture. His written articles and transcribed lectures have been compiled into several books on a variety of topics such as Festivals, Bhagavad Gita, Vivaha, Upanayana and other Samskaras. His words and thought appealed to one and all-be it students or professionals, scholars or common folk, children or the elderly. His own personal life however was simple, sweet and steeped in devotion to his Guru at whose feet he surrendered his all.

In this booklet, the main rationale of Upanayana Samskara, its essential principles, and the means and methods through which the goals can be well achieved are described in the most lucid, inimitable and splendid fashion.

Dr. S. Bharath, an M.Tech, Ph.D., from IIT (Delhi) is presently serving as the Head, Mech. Engg. & Projects at Zentech Inc, Houston, Texas USA. With an intimate association of Mandiram for 30 years, he has studied the nuances of Samskruti under the direct disciples of Mahaguru.

Samskaras (Rites to Purify, Refine and Enhance the internal Adhyatmic Potential) are the primary rites and practices, the basis and design of which are propelled by the deep impulses emanating from meditative states of the Rsis of Sanatana Arya Bharata. These rich and multifarious Samskaras were deftly organized and structured by the Rșis, in such a way that all embodied human beings are instinctively propelled by this towards their own life source which is verily Bliss and Tranquillity. Out of this vast pool of Samskäras, sixteen have been reckoned as the most significant. Among these it is quite reassuring to note that Upanayana (Thread Ceremony) and Vivaha (Marriage) Samskaras are even to this day celebrated with pomp and merriment. However, we cannot overlook the fact that due to the ravages of time and escalating ignorance, these magnificent Samskaras have lost all their sublime spiritual sheen and instead only a highly distorted and phony version is currently in vogue.

It was the noble goal of Sriranga Mahaguru, the Supreme and Eternal Master of Astanga Yoga Vijñana Mandiram that these priceless Samskaras, which have been bequeathed for the benefit of the society, are re-infused with life and their original pristine spiritual splendor is restored.