Sri: Dear Sri Ramesh Srinivasan : I will get you answers for some of your questions on UpAkarma soon . Your questions are excellent . That reminds me of the adage Rishi Moolam , Nadhi Moolam indicatign the ancient nature of Rishi Paramparai . Meanwhile , I welcome others to resspond to the specific queries . There is indeed a reasoning behind the various steps of different SamskArams . NamO Veda PurushAya , V.Sadagopan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ramesh Srinivasan" <ramesh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <Oppiliappan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 6:46 PM Subject: [t'venkatam] kANDa r^iShi-s and their significance Respected elders, Every year, during the upAkarma observance, we offer gratitude and homage o the kANDa R^iShi-s associated with our particular veda shAkhA. In particular, for the kR^iShNa yajur veda taittirIya shAkhA, we chant the following mantra-s during the kANDa r^iShi tarpaNam: (i) prajApatim kANDarshim tarpayAmi (ii) sOmam kANDarshim tarpayAmi (iii) agnim kANDarshim tarpayAmi (iv) viSvAn devAn kANDarshIn tarpayAmi (v) sAmhitIr devatA upanishadas tarpayAmi (vi) yajnikIr devatA upanishadas tarpayAmi (vii) vAruNIr devatA upanishadas tarpayAmi (viii) brahmANaGM svayambhuvam tarpayAmi (ix) sadasaspatim tarpayAmi It is my understanding that the first four lines above refer to the 4 kANDa r^iShi-s - prajApati, soma, agni and vishvedevAH. However, I am unsure about the following questions and would be grateful to learn from knowledgable elders in this forum: 1. BhagavAn veda vyAsa is the compiler and editor of the 4 veda-s. However, the fact that we remember the 4 kANDa r^iShi-s every year during upAkarmA and utsarjana indicates that they must have played a momentous role in the transmission of the veda-s. In addition, between upanayana and vivAha samskAra, every brahmacAri is enjoined to perform the catvAri veda vratAni to propitiate each kANDA r^iShi before commencing the study of the associated saMhitA portion. What is the specific contribution of the kANDa r^iShi-s that earns them this high place of honor in the vaidika saMpradAya? 2. Since the taittirIya saMhitA consists of 7 kANDa-s, what is the division (mapping) of these 7 kANDa-s amongst the 4 kANDa r^iShi-s? 3. During the upAkarma observance, we perform *nava* kANDa r^iShi arpaNa. Who are the remaining 5 r^iShi-s whom we worship thus? What is the> significance of propitiating them?> 4. Moreover, in the prayoga assoiated with these tarpaNa mantra-s, we seem> to differentiate in the manner of pouring water - the first 7 being r^iShi tIrta, the 8th being brahma tIrtha and the 9th being deva tIrtha. Why this distinction and what is its origin? 5. We perfrom tarpaNam by wearing the sacred thread as a garland (nivItam). What is the significance behind this? I would be very grateful for your kind elucidation of this matter. If I have erred in my understanding as stated above, I would appreciate being corrected by the esteemed members of this forum. With respectful namaskAram-s, Ramesh Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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