Jandhyala Pournami or Upakarma

A full moon day also known as Pournami. The Pournami comes in Sravana Masam (Usually in August) is celebrated as Jandhyala Pournami in Andhra Pradesh. This day is also called as 'Upakarma' and is considered a very important day for the Brahmin society. On this day, Brahmins change the sacred thread, called the yagnopavitam while chanting mantras. This change signifies atonement for sins done in the past. Putting on a new thread signifies a promise made to self today for a better conduct in the future. The main ritual of the day is 'Upakarma', which is also referred to as Shravani. It is believed that Lord Hayagriva, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, brought back the Vedas, which were stolen by demons, to Lord Brahma. This day is celebrated as RAKHI PURNIMA in other parts of Northern and Western India.

On this day, Brahmins after a holy dip change the sacred thread and wear a new holy thread. This ritual is known as Upakarma, which means beginning. The ritual also symbolizes the permission to study the Vedas.

On the day of 'Upakarma', every devotee puts on a new Yagnopavitam after following a prescribed sacred procedure. Yagnopavitam has three threads, each consisting of three strands. These threads represent:

Goddess Gayatri (Goddess of mind)

Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of word)

Goddess Savitri (Goddess of deed)

The most important religious feature connected with this day is the chanting of 'GAYATRI MANTRA'. 'Gayatri' contains in itself the spirit and energy of all the Vedic Mantras. Indeed it imparts power to other mantras. Without Gayatri-Japa, the chanting of all other Mantras would be futile. We find hypnotism useful in many ways and we talk of 'Hypnotic Power'. 'Gayatri' is the hypnotic means of liberating ourselves from worldly existence as well as of controlling our desire and realising the goal of our birth. We must keep blowing on the spark that is the 'Gayatri' and must take up 'Gayatri-Japa' as a vrata.

The 'Gayatri Mantra' in full, repeated mystically, runs as follows:
OM BHUR-BHUVAH-SUVAH
TAT-SAVITUR-VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT

The meaning of Gayatri Mantra can be summarised as follows: We meditate (Dhimahi) on the Spiritual Effulgence (Bhargas) of that Adorable Supreme Divine Reality (Varenyam Devasya), the Source or Projector (Savitr) of the three phenomenal world planes, the gross or physical (Bhuh), the subtle or psychical (Bhuvah), and the potential or causal (Suvah), both macrocosmically (externally) and microcosmically (internally). May that Supreme Divine Being (Tat) stimulate (Prachodayat) our (Nah) intelligence (Dhiyah) so that we may realise the Supreme Truth.

Upakarma in South India today is being celebrated as Raksha Bandhan (the bond of protection in Hindi) or Rakhi (in Devanagari) in different parts of India. It is a Hindu festival and also a Sikh festival, which celebrates the noble and abiding relationship between brothers and sisters. The festival is marked by the tying of a Rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her. The Rakhi may also be tied on other special occasions to show solidarity and kinship (not necessarily only among brothers and sisters), as was done during the days of India's independence movement.

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