Maithil Upanayan
Ceremonial upanayan of Maithils
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Maithil Upanayan is a ceremonial upanayan sanskar practised in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent by the Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayastha in the region. It is a Vedic religious ceremony. In the Mithila region, Upanayan is also known as Jenaoo Sanskar. The tradition of Upanayan sanskar in the Mithila region among the Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayastha varies from the other part of the subcontinent. It has some unique and special rituals. In the tradition of the Maithil Brahmins community, a child is not considered as a Brahmin from his birth. Only after the completion of the upanayan ceremony, the child is confirmed as a Brahmin status. Before it, he has status of Barua or Batuka. During the upanayan rituals, sevaral folk songs in Maithili language are sung by the women of the family, relatives and neighbours. The Maithil Upanayan takes more than a week to complete its ceremonial rituals. It initially starts with Baskatti and Marabthatthi rituals and end with Jenau and Jaga rituals.[1][2][3][4][5] It is conducted only on an auspicious day (Subh Din) as suggested by the Mithila Panchang published by the Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University in the Mithila region.[6]
Description
In the Mithila region, the upanayan sanskar is conducted for male child. The male child whose upanayan sanskar is going to be conducted is called Baruaa. The first day of the Maithil Upanayan ceremony is known as Udog. On this day, the Barua applies pithar (paste made of rice flour) and vermilion to five bamboo trees. Then the bamboo trees are cut by the elders and brought to the courtyard of the family. The ritual of cutting the bamboo trees is called Baaskatti. These bamboos are used in making marwa (hut), where the Upanayan rituals will be conducted in the courtyard.[5]
After the Baskatti ritual, the next ritual is Udog Marabthaththi for the construction of the marwa. After the Udog Marabthaththi, on upcoming Tuesday Matimangal ritual is held in which soil is brought from farm or pond for the construction of the marwa. The sacred ceremony of digging soil from the farm or pond is called Matkor. During the Matkor ceremony, the barua's mother covers her beloved son with her veil, and along with his grandmother, aunts, and other female relatives, they sing folk songs and perform the ritual of digging the earth for soil.[7][8] The next ritual is Kumaram. After the ritual, Kumaram bhoj is organised in which Kumari Kanyas (unmarried girls) are fed with delicious Kheer, Puri and sweets, etc. The relatives of the family and people from neighbours are also invited to take the prasad of the Kumaram bhoj.[9][10] It is organised on a day prior to the main ritual of Janeu Sanskar on Upanayan day. The items of food in Kumaram bhoj differs according to the nature of Kuldevi/Kuldevta of the family. It is generally vegetarian food but in some families, on this day, a goat is sacrificed to the Kuldevi of the family as offerings. And at evening, a feast is held having cooked meat of the goat sacrificed as offerings, in dishes along with other food items. At the end of the bhoj, curd is mandatorily served in the dishes.[11]
On last day, the main rituals of the Janeu Sanskar are conducted. These include removal of hair from the head of the Barua/Batuk, and wearing the sacred thread Janeu, etc. On this day, hajaam (barber) removes hair from the head of the Barua. Then Vedic mantras are chanted and major rituals are performed and the sacred thread Janeu is worn on the body of the Barau. Finally, the Barua is declared to the status of Brahmin. He is given to wear new clothes brought from the maternal grandfather village. After that the ritual of Chumawan is conducted in which five elder male married Brahmins chant the Durwakshat Mantra for blessings the new declared young Brahmin.
Brahmin Bhoj
In the evening or early night of the Upanayana day, a grand Brahmin Bhoj is organised in the courtyard of the family. In the Brahmin Bhoj feast, a large number of Brahmins are invited. They are served several food items including Chura-Dahi, rasgulla, gulab jamun, seasonal vegetables and other sweets, etc.[11]