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Important note about observing Yajur Upakarma

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • July 27, 2001 


Dear Friends,

This year the calendar complicates the observance of Upakarma
(AvaNi-aviTTam) a little bit.  Sri Madhavakkannan has just
brought this to my attention.  For some people, such as those
in India and Singapore, both Upakarma and Gayatri Japam will
have to be observed on the *same day*. (To understand why,
please see http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/aug2000/0135.html
from last year when the same thing happened).

To summarize:

  India:
    Yajur Upakarma        Saturday, August 4
    Gayatri Japam         Saturday, August 4

  Singapore:
    Yajur Upakarma        Saturday, August 4
    Gayatri Japam         Saturday, August 4

  Dubai and everyplace West, including
  New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles:
    Yajur Upakarma        Friday, August 3
    Gayatri Japam         Saturday, August 4


Not having access to the appropriate texts,
I do not know the rules for Rg Upakarma. Please
consult locals for the correct information. 
    
Here is what Sri Madhavakkannan's father writes about 
how to observe Yajur Upakarma and Gayatri Japam on the
same day. It is tough:

> A correction in Avani Avittam celebrations. This year Pournami, and
> Prathamai fall on the same day more or less, ie. on saturday. Hence all
> the Acharyas have directed that Avani Avittam and Gayathri japam are to
> be performed on the Saturday itself. As such, we must do
> kamokaareesheeth japam first, followed by Gayathri's Japam 1008 times.
> Afterwards only, around 11'o clock Avani avittam i.e. yagopaveetha
> tharanamand Deva rishi, Kanda rishi Tharpanam.
> 
>      Here, we follow this pattern only.

Here some knowledgable people may wish to confirm, but 
from my reading of the Ahnika Grantha of Srimad Azhagiya Singar,
for those who are observing Gayatri Japam and Upakarma on the
same day, one should fast or observe phalAhAram the day and
night *before* the Upakarma / Gayatri Japam and not the day of, 
as normally performed.

I apologize for the late notice.

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,
Mani

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