Q5. What is our Parivar? Ans. Som Pravara. Namely,Som,Budha, Pururava, and Soumya.
Pravara. — The word literally means a person duly appointed. Such as Rishis who were entitled to be appointed as assistant priests for the performance of the religious ceremonies of his ancestors. Pravara is the number of the most excellent Rishis who belonged to that particular gotra to which a person belongs. Gotra is the name of the founding father. In Vedic ritual, pravara appears to be used in proclaiming, one as a descendant of worthy ancestors, one is fit and proper person to do the act that he is performing.
The sacred thread called as Upavita or Yagnopavita or Janeo has close connection with the concept of pravaras related to Brahmin gotra system. While tying the knots of sacred thread, an oath is taken in the name of each one of these three or five or seven or nine of the most excellent Rishis belonging to one's gotra. While the Gotras were classified initially according to nine (?) Rishis, the Pravara was classified under the names of the following seven Rishis namely, Agastya, Angirasa, Atri, Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Vasista, Viswaamitra.
The pravara identifies the association of a person with three or sometimes five and some times seven and interestingly sometimes nine.
What is Yajñopavītam ?
Yajñopavītam - the "Sacred Thread" or “above the shoulder” –are meaning in Sanskrit.Brahmans, Kshatriyas and Vysyas are called Dvijas meaning twice born. A man of these castes is born once in the womb of his mother and again during the Upanayanam (Yajñopavītam ceremony) when he learns the Gayatri Mantra.
Upanayanam ceremony is the wearing of the Yajñopavītam/Janeo (Sacred Thread) on the body. The thread is circular, being tied end-to-end (only one knot is permissible); it is normally supported on the left shoulder (savya) and wrapped around the body, falling underneath the right arm. The length of the thread is generally 96 times the breadth of four fingers of a man, which is believed to be equal to his height. Each of the four fingers represents one of the four states that the soul of a man experiences: waking, dreaming, dreamless sleep and knowledge of the absolute.
Yajñopavītam has three threads (actually only one thread, folded three times and tied together) each consisting of three strands. These threads represent
Goddess Gayatri (Goddess of mind),
Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of word) and
Goddess Savitri (Goddess of deed).
It denotes that one who wear the sacred thread should be pure in his thought, word and deed. The sacred thread reminds a Brahmachari to lead a regulated life with purity in his thought, word and deed. These threads also represent the debt that is owed to the guru, parents and society.
The knot in the middle, represent the formless Brahman, the pure form of energy which pervades all. The three threads again represent the manifestation of Brahman as Srishti (creation), Sthithi (status) and Vinasa (destruction). The sacred thread illustrates the fact that everything in the universe emerges from and then merges with Brahman.
Ancient texts refer to the wearing of the Yajñopavītam in three forms:
- Upavītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This is for Gods. Upavītam is also called Savya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra.).
- Nivītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn around the neck and over the chest. Nivīta form is to be used during Rishi Tharpana, sexual intercourse, answering the calls of nature etc. (Shadvimsha Brahmana, Latyayana, etc.).
- Prachīnavītam is where the Yajñopavītam is worn above the right shoulder and under the left arm. This is for Spirits and is used by men when performing the death ceremonies of an elder. Prachīnavītam is also called apsavya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra, Manusmriti, &c.).
This reminds me of Bade Tayaji (Pt. Shivnarain Mohlajee) who followed these rituals diligently, to my amusement as a child.
The numbers of thread vary, according to communities as they keep adding on for reasons as per Vedas followed by them.
Ancient Hindu texts specify an age for the Upanayanam ceremony based on the caste (7 for brahmans, 11 for Kshathriyas etc.) Upanayanam marks the start of learning of "Brahman" and Vedic texts. Once a student achieves a certain level of Brahma knowledge ("Brahma Vidya"), the guru adds 3 more strings signifying "Graduation" and the student goes on to study. In South Indian wedding ceremony, the addition of the 3 more string is followed by "Kashi Yatra"- a journey equivalent to going abroad or other place for study.
In modern days, the entire ceremony is packaged within the wedding ceremony.
I recall, during every religious functions / marriage/ ceremonies,elders in our family used to tease we boys. Wait till your time comes for (Upanayanam) they will make you drink COW URINE (Gomutra) which made us run for cover. Thankfully, I was not asked to drink Gomutra for my Janeo(Upanayanam) on the occasion of marriage
The sacred thread is supposed to be worn for the rest of one's life after the ceremony has been performed. A new thread is worn and the old thread discarded every year; the change-over ceremony is held on a specific date calculated as per the Hindu lunar calendar. Among Brahmans, this date varies depending on which of four Vedic Shakhas one belongs to. As per my understanding Shukla Yajurvedis perform this ceremony on a Full Moon day of the month of Shravan (Monsoon)
Q6. What is your Veda?
Ans. We follow Shukla Yajurveda
There is a story of the formation of Yajurveda as earlier period had known only two Vedas Rig veda and Sam-veda.
The story
According to Indian tradition, Yajnavalkya(pronounced as Yagnavalkya) was the son of sage Devaraata and was the pupil of sage Vaishampayana. Once, Vaishampayana got angry with Yajnavalkya as he sensed pride in his demeanour. The angry teacher asked his pupil Yajnavalkya to give back all the knowledge of Yajurveda he taught him. As per the demands of his Guru, Yajnavalkya vomited all the knowledge that he acquired from his teacher in form of eaten food. Other disciples of Vaishampayana took the form of partridge birds and consumed the vomited stuff because it was knowledge and they were very eager to receive the same.
The Sanskrit name for partridge is "Tittiri". As the Tittiri (partridge) birds ate this Veda, it is thenceforth called the Taittiriya Yajurveda. It is also known as Krishna Yajurveda or Black-Yajurveda or Mixed –Yajurveda on account of it being a vomited substance. The Taittiriya Samhita thus belongs to this Yajurveda.
Then Yajnavalkya determined not to have any human guru thereafter. Thus he began to propitiate the Sun God, Surya. Yajnavalkya worshipped and extolled the Sun, the master of the Vedas, for the purpose of acquiring the fresh Vedic portions not known to his preceptor, Vaishampayana.
The Sun God, pleased with Yajnavalkya’s penance, assumed the form of a horse and graced the sage with such fresh portions of the Yajurveda as were not known to any other. This portion of the Yajurveda goes by the name of Shukla Yajurveda or White-Yajurveda on account of it being revealed by Sun. It is also known as Vajasaneya Yajurveda, because it was evolved in great rapidity by Sun who was in the form of a horse through his manes. In Sanskrit, term "Vaji" means horse. Yajnavalkya divided this Vajasaneya Yajurveda again into fifteen branches, each branch comprising hundreds of Yajus Mantras. Sages like Kanva, Madhyandina and others learnt those and Shukla Yajurveda branched into popular recensions named after them.
Yajnavalkya married two wives. One was Maitreyi and the other Katyayani. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini ( one who is interested in the knowledge of Brahman ) . Yajnavalkya described greatness of the Absolute Self, the nature of its existence, the way of attaining infinite knowledge and immortality, etc. This immortal conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi( his favored wife) is recorded in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad where he also shares his wisdom equally with King Janak .He also participates in a competition arranged by King Janaka about selection of great Brhama Jnani ( knower of Brahman). His intellectual dialogues with Gargi (a learned scholar of the times) form a beautiful chapter filled with lot of philosohical and mystical question-answers in BrhadaranyakaUpanishad. His precepts as contained in this Upanishad stand foremost as the crest-jewel of the highest teachings on knowledge of Brahman. In the end, Yajnavalkya took VidvatSanyasa (renunciation after the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman) and retired to the forest.
His Works
Main articles: Shatapatha Brahmana and Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
Yajnavalkya has made important contributions to both philosophy, including the apophatic teaching of 'neti neti' , and to astronomy, describing the 95-year cycle to synchronize the motions of the sun and the moon.
Yajnavalkya is known to be a native of
The Shatapatha Brahmana ( śatapatha brāhmaṇa, "Brahmana of one-hundred paths", abbreviated ŚB) is one of the prose texts describing the Vedic ritual, associated with the Shukla Yajurveda. It survives in two editions, Madhyandina (ŚBM, of the vājasaneyi madhyandina śākhā) and Kanva (ŚBK, of the kāṇva śākhā), with the former having the eponymous 100 brahmanas in 14 books.Linguistically, it belongs to the Brahmana period of Vedic Sanskrit, dated to the first half of the 1st millennium BCE (Iron Age India).
Among the points of interest are the mythological sections embedded in it, including myths of creation and the Deluge of Manu. The text describes in great detail the preparation of altars, ceremonial objects, ritual recitations, and the Soma libation, along with the symbolic attributes of every aspect of the rituals.
Shukla Yajurveda mentions numbers in ascending power of the tens. They believed in division of society according to Varnas and not colors.
Every verse ends with “ten me manah shivsankalpa astu” On that the auspicious will of the divine may my mind dwell.
Greatest contribution of Shukla Yajurveda is addition of Prefix “Bhur Bhav Svah” in Gayatri mantra of Rigveda.
Our ancestors followed this Veda which explains their moderate behavior, simplified ceremonies and spirit of tolerance towards others sects, cults and varnas.
Q.7.What is your Sakha(Shakha)?
Ans. We are followers of Madhyandina Sakha of Shukla Yajurveda
A Shakha (Sanskrit śākhā, "branch" or "limb"), is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts. An individual follower of a particular school or recension is called a śākhin. Akin to our following CBSE (Central Board of secondary education)or ICSE (Indian council for secondary education) curriculam in High School.
A related term Caraṇa, ("conduct of life" or "behavior") is also used to refer to such a Vedic school " caraṇa properly applies to the sect or collection of persons united in one school, and śākhā to the traditional text followed, as in the phrase śākhām adhite, ("he recites a particular version of the Veda")". The schools have different points of view, described as "difference of (Vedic) school" (śākhābhedaḥ). Each school would learn a specific Vedic Saṃhita (one of the "four Vedas" properly so-called), as well as its associated Brahmana, Aranyakas, Shrautasutras, Grhyasutras andUpanishads.
In traditional Hindu society affiliation with a specific school is an important aspect of class identity. By the end of the Rig Vedic period the term Brahaman had come to be applied to all members of the priestly class, but there were subdivisions within this order based both on caste and on the Shakha (branch) with which they were affiliated. A Brahaman who changed school would be called "a traitor to his śākhā" (śākhāraṇḍaḥ).
Map of early Iron Age Vedic India after Witzel (1989). Location hypotheses for Vedic shakhas are shown in green.
According to “Hindu Castes & Sects” (pages 85-86) that Madhyandina Sakha attach great importance to the performance of sandhya prayer after 11 am. Whereas Rig vedis can perform such ceremonies at any time of the day.
Madhyandina sakha emphasizes the need to give some knowledge to Shudra and Viashyas too. Stated by Arthur Anthony Macdowell in his “Vedic Mythology”
The 14 books of the Madhyandina recension can be divided into two major parts. The first 9 books have close textual commentaries, often line by line, of the first 18 books of the corresponding samhita of theYajurveda. The following 5 books cover supplementary and ritualistically newer material, besides including the celebrated Brhadaranyaka Upanishad as most of the 14th and last book.
Shukla Yajurveda mentions numbers in ascending power of the tens.
They believed in division of society according to Varnas and not colors.
Thus we see the difference in customs, practices, ceremonies and teachings of different Sakha.
Finally,
A Brahman named 'Ajaya' introduces himself as follows: I am 'Ajaya Mohla', a Punjabi Saraswat Brahman of Somastam gotra, of Kalpa sutra, of Madhyandina shākha of Shukla Yajurveda, of Som pravaras named Som, Budh,Pururava, Soumya.)
References & Readings from:
1.WikiPedia
2."Vedic Mythology" By A.A.Macdonell
3."Indian caste" By John Wilson
4."A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Panjab and North-West Frontier Province" by H.A.Rose
5."A classical dictionary of
6."Ethnography -castes & tribes" By Sir Athelstane Baines
7."The Puranas" A compact english-only version of the major 18 puranas in one document By Dharmic Scriptures Team
8."Hindu Castes & Sects" By Jogender Nath Bhattacharya
9. Inspired by the articles of Smt. Sharda Kapuria,Shri Prem Narayan Mohlajee & Shri Mahendra Pratap Mohlajee in this blog.
Here i reproduce comment received from Jyoti Chachi on my personal email.
ReplyDelete"Chiranjeev Ajaya Mohla (Sharma),
Obviously, we all will benefit from your extensive research and for that I bow to your gurus and mentors who prompted you in this direction. So much detail about our introduction and ancestry that now when someone goes to a sacred place, they will not be fumbling for details about their family roots and where they come from. Thanks and regards to all those who are taking part in this (Mohla) abhiyan.
Love and regard from all of us here.
Jyoti Chachi"
Thank you Chachi for all the encouragement. I assure you of my best efforts in times to come.
Ajaya
I received another interesting comment(s) on my postings from my learned Uncle Lall(Madan)over telephone last night.
ReplyDeletehe said whatever you wrote will take me time to assimilate as you and your Uncle(Mahendra) have put in lot of scholarly stuff. He promised me to put in his view points on the blog sooner than later yet i do it much before he does to let us all know his ideas of treating this blog.
He said:
1. Try and find date of birth and death and place of living of all those mentioned in the english(version) Vanshavalli.
2.To begin with start from the latest generation and the immediate elders.
3.Try and place their individual pictures and sketch their bio data or brief note about them.
4.Reach out to people who are mentioned in the Vanshavali and currently out of touch to expand the horizon.For e.g. he will search for contact details of Mr. M.L.Jhingan(Murari) mentioned therein, who is a learned scholar of economics and potentially great contributor to our blog.
5. Most important task assigned: download all the entries in print and store someplace for future archives or library of Mohla Clan so that it remains an eternal document for future generations to come.
I think great ideas and we should work on them.