Svikaranam

An initiation into Vedic learning 

Upanayanam is a Vedic samskara which heralds the beginning of a boy’s spiritual education. Svikaranam is a gender neutral ceremony recognizing the efforts of both girl ( Svikrtaa) and boy (Svikrta) for their efforts in learning Hindu religion.

Svikaranam is conceived as a graduation ceremony for both boys and girls when they complete learning the basics of Vedic tradition and understand Hindu religion. It is similar to the Jewish bar or bat mitzvah.  The verses  in the book were selected by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. 

  Svikaranam consists of three sections. The first is a section of basic shlokas invoking the devatas and  the  common shanti mantras. The second section consists of verses from  Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Vidura Neeti (from Mahabharata). The final section is the Vedic chanting with prescribed intonations, the mantras from selected Upanishads. 

The website link to help learn the chanting is  http://www.holinewyork.org/svikaranam/

 The ceremony is meant for children between the ages of 10-15.  During the ceremony the student chants all the verses before a gathering of family and friends.  After the ceremony the student is encouraged to chant these daily.

This book provides recommendations for lesson structure and  the graduation ceremony.

The book serves to provide a  brief exposure to a range of  basic Hindu prayers and Vedic chanting.  Although it is meant for children, this curriculum is applicable for anyone aspiring to begin their spiritual journey.

https://avgbooks.org/product/svikaranam-chanting/

https://avgbooks.org/product/svikaranam-an-initiationinto-vedic-learning-2/