Upakarma is the day when we make offer felicitations/thanksgiving to Kandu Rushi who is none other that Vishwamitra alias Kausika.
Kaushika was born a Kshatriya, the warrior class and learned the skills of warfare. He was a king in ancient India and the great grand son of Kusha. During one of his endeavours , while travelling with his huge army, Kaushika, came across Rishi Vasishta's Ashrama. Kaushika bade the army to take rest further away from the ashrama and went alone to offer respects to Rishi Vasishta. Rishi Vasishta, invited Kaushika bring his entire army to ashrama to be fed and rest. The entire army was fed a scrumptious meal and well taken care off. Kaushika was astonished at the food and treatment that everyone received at the ashrama. Rishi Vasista revealed that his cow Nandi provided all the food. Kaushika, now wanted to claim the cow for himself. Rishi Vasishta refused to part with his cowm. Kaushika called for a war against Rishi Vasishta. Rishi Vasishta, placed his Bhramha danda to face Kaushika's army and continued his daily his routines as usual. Kaushika's army was defeated. Kaushika , then realized that there was more power in the Brahmhadanda. Kaushika, renounced his kingdom and went on to severe penance. Spiritual realization and the vedas were revealed to him. Later he was given the Name of Mahabrahmana and Vishwamitra.
Several years rolled by, Devatas pleaded with Vishwamitra (friend of the Universe) to find some simple routine task to keep the human race in good health. Vishwamitra, prayed to Lopamudra and was revealed the "Gayatri mantra" which he imparted to the everyone.
So in reverence to him and our other forefathers for revealing knowledge to the humankind, tarpana is offered as felicitations/thanksgiving. This day is considered auspicious and everyone can wear new clothes. Originally, both male and female were given the Gayatri Upadesha. But as centuries rolled by, the equal rights for females were slowly depleted because protecting them became more prominent than imparting knowledge to them. Now predominantly Gayatri Upadesha is still imparted to the male populous.
Traditions:
Annual auspicious time to change the sacred thread. Unmarried men wear 3 threads with a bramha gantu(one knot). The three threads represents the 3 states of matter(water, solid and vapour, or past present and future). The knot represents your ability to control whatever gets thrown at you in your lifetime. Can go to the river bed(most auspicious), or temple or do it at home. Ladies at home should take arathi when the upakarma is completed.
Kaushika was born a Kshatriya, the warrior class and learned the skills of warfare. He was a king in ancient India and the great grand son of Kusha. During one of his endeavours , while travelling with his huge army, Kaushika, came across Rishi Vasishta's Ashrama. Kaushika bade the army to take rest further away from the ashrama and went alone to offer respects to Rishi Vasishta. Rishi Vasishta, invited Kaushika bring his entire army to ashrama to be fed and rest. The entire army was fed a scrumptious meal and well taken care off. Kaushika was astonished at the food and treatment that everyone received at the ashrama. Rishi Vasista revealed that his cow Nandi provided all the food. Kaushika, now wanted to claim the cow for himself. Rishi Vasishta refused to part with his cowm. Kaushika called for a war against Rishi Vasishta. Rishi Vasishta, placed his Bhramha danda to face Kaushika's army and continued his daily his routines as usual. Kaushika's army was defeated. Kaushika , then realized that there was more power in the Brahmhadanda. Kaushika, renounced his kingdom and went on to severe penance. Spiritual realization and the vedas were revealed to him. Later he was given the Name of Mahabrahmana and Vishwamitra.
Several years rolled by, Devatas pleaded with Vishwamitra (friend of the Universe) to find some simple routine task to keep the human race in good health. Vishwamitra, prayed to Lopamudra and was revealed the "Gayatri mantra" which he imparted to the everyone.
So in reverence to him and our other forefathers for revealing knowledge to the humankind, tarpana is offered as felicitations/thanksgiving. This day is considered auspicious and everyone can wear new clothes. Originally, both male and female were given the Gayatri Upadesha. But as centuries rolled by, the equal rights for females were slowly depleted because protecting them became more prominent than imparting knowledge to them. Now predominantly Gayatri Upadesha is still imparted to the male populous.
Traditions:
Annual auspicious time to change the sacred thread. Unmarried men wear 3 threads with a bramha gantu(one knot). The three threads represents the 3 states of matter(water, solid and vapour, or past present and future). The knot represents your ability to control whatever gets thrown at you in your lifetime. Can go to the river bed(most auspicious), or temple or do it at home. Ladies at home should take arathi when the upakarma is completed.
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