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Upakarma - Goddess Sarawati

From the Bhakti List Archives

Vijay_Srinivasan • August 10, 1998 


Dear Prapatti Group members:

If for any reason you have missed performing the upAkarma on Avani-Avittam
(for eg. Grahanam etc.,), you can perform it on the next pournami day.
Upakarma is best performed in a river (rather than in a temple).  This year
at Buffalo, 20 of us joined together and performed the upAkarma on the
Niagara river at the Beaver Island State Park.  It was a great experience
and everyone of us enjoyed it.   For a moment I thought the river must have
felt thankful for serving the cause of Sanatana Dharma!

I have personally come across lot of variations on the worship of Sarawati.
I have seen some families observing Sarawati pooja (including mine) and
this may be due to the cosmpolitan influence of big cities.  It may be
worthwhile to know the official Sri Vaishnava view.  According to my late
grandfather, there were Sri Vaishnavas(paramaikantins) in his native town
who would only worship Rama, Krishna and Lord Narayana (i.e. they would
celebrate only Rama Navami and JanmAshtami of all the festivals).  They
would refrain from doing anything Kamyam (like performing Sudarshana Homam
etc.).  The question is where do we draw the line.  I think our own family
tradition is the best guide.

Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan