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Glossary

Sanskrit and Vraj philosophical terms used across the Vachanamrut, Shikshapatri, and Bhaktachintamani, sourced verbatim from Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj-Kutch's own published Vachanamrut glossary appendix — not written by us.

88 resultsfor “Man” · clear

ãgnã: A command.
Akshar: 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh.
antah-karan: Inner ability. The complete mind which is made up of four parts: man (generating thoughts and desires); buddhi (consolidating thoughts, making decisions and resolutions, forming convictions, or discriminating); chitt (repeatedly contemplating or focusing); and the ahankãr (forming a sense of being). It is also referred to as a singular as all four are parts make up one antah-karan, but usually referred to as being four different antah- karans.
asat-purush: A false sant. An asat-purush person believes that all male and female svarups in this world have been created through Mãyã and the Purush, Virãt, and svarup of Bhagvãn, implying that all of these svarups are manifestations of Bhagvãn Himself. He also believes that if his mind is attracted towards a higher or lower svarup of either a male or female, he should perform dhyãn upon that very svarup in order to attain instantaneous samãdhi.

bhãgvati dikshã: Initiation into a sampradãy. A person may receive a guru mantra.
brahm-chãri: 1) A brãhman who has been initiated as a tyãgi into the Swãminãrãyan sampradãy. Such brahm-chãris were given special priestly authority, such as personal sevaks to the murtis within mandirs, and as the performers of other religious ceremonies. 2) A person who observes brahm-chãrya; leads a life of celibacy. 3) A person who is in the first stage of life, brahm-chãrya ãshram.
brãhm-kalp: Period of time during the process of creation when Bhagvãn gave all beings, from Brahmã to the smallest blade of grass their bodies, through his own body in the form of Virãt-Purush. Length of brahm-kalp time of one of Brahmã's days (4.32 x 109 human years).
brãhman: Priest. A religious and educated scholar traditionally assigned duties of worship, performing rites and rituals, and teaching. The highest of the four varnas (castes) of the ancient Indian social system.
Buddh: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of an enlightened sãdhu. He was born a prince named Siddhãrth. A brãhman had predicted that Siddhãrth would either become a great king or a great tyãgi as a result of seeing suffering and death. Siddhãrth eventually left home and became a sãdhu. He attained great peace and knowledge, and became enlightened. He then became known as Buddh. He preached the philosophy of ahinsã to all who could hear Him. He taught that all sorrow comes from attachments and desires, so it's better to abandon all attachments in order to remain happy.

chakra: 1) A razor-bladed disc. One of Bhagvãn’s weapons. Also called sudarshan chakra. 2) Wheel. According to yogic practices, chakras are centres of spiritual power and consciousness located within the inner body. The six chakras are: ãgnã, vishuddh, anãhat, manipur, svãdhisthãn, ãdhãr. Each chakra has its corresponding location and dev.
Chandra-Dev: The dev of the Moon. The dev of the man.
chintãmani: A divine gemstone that fulfils all of the wishes of whomever posses it.

Dattatrey: An avatãr of Bhagvãn, born to Ansuyã and Atri Rushi. Bhagvãn incarnated in the combined svarup Brahmã, Vishnu, and Shiv. He has three heads (Brahmã, Vishnu, and Shiv) with one body. Dattãtrey had twenty-four gurus: earth, air, sky, water, fire, sun, moon, python, pigeon, sea, moth, bee, elephant, bear, deer, fish, osprey, child, maiden, prostitute, blacksmith, serpent, spider, and wasp. He perceived gun in His twenty-four gurus. He believed that in the world, a man can learn from each and every thing.
Dharma-Dev: The earthly father of Swaminarayan Bhagwan. Born Dev-Sharma in Samvat 1796 to a Sarvariya Sam-Vedi brahmin family in Itar village, Kaushal-Desh; became known as Dharma-Dev for his strictness in dharma. Took bhagvati diksha from Ramanand Swami at Prayag-Kshetra.
dhvaj: A flag. A chihn on Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn’s right foot. A flag sits above a mandir, and is also carried by the chief
Dvãpar-Yug: Third of the four yugs that mark the time-scale of the world. Lasting 864,000 human years, it was an age when purity and righteousness diminished considerably, people lived to be 1,000, and the system of the four varnas came into full operation.

Ekãdashi: 1) Eleventh day of the bright and dark halves of a lunar month (ek+das = 1+10 = 11). 2) Special religious vrat performed on this day which also involves fasting and control of the ten indriyas and the mind. 3) Name of the young woman who was created from the light of Bhagvãn's ten indriyas and mind to battle against Mur-Dãnav. [Gadhadã II-8].

Ganesh: The dev known as the remover of obstacles. He is the son of Shiv and Pãrvati, and has the body of a human, and the head of an elephant. His pujã is performed before any religious ceremony or auspicious occasion. Also called Ganpati and Vignavinãyak. Ganesh writes the charitras of Bhagvãn.

jad prakruti: 1) Eight non-chaitanya (lifeless) components of the world: pruthvi, jal, tej, vãyu, ãkãsh, maha-tattva, Pradhãn-Prakruti and Mul-Prakruti. 2) The Bhagvad Geetã mentions these to be pruthvi, jal, tej, vãyu, ãkãsh, man, buddhi and ahankãr. [Loyã – 7].
jangam: Mobile. Animate. Life-forms such as humans, animals, and birds.
jarãyuj: Born from a womb. The life-forms born from wombs (all mammals, including humans).
jeevãtmã: See jeev. jhãnjh Pair of small, cymbals – slightly larger than manjirãs - used in the accompaniment of other percussion

kalash: A brass water-pot. A chihn on Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn’s left foot. By performing dhyãn on this chihn a bhakta attains total fulfilment and becomes akshar-rup. A kalash occupies the highest point on the shikhar of a mandir, and so the bhakta attains the highest dhãm, Akshardhãm.
Kali-Yug: Age of Darkness. Fourth and present of the four ages that mark the time-scale of the world. Kali-Yug began in 3102 BCE, after Shree Krishna Bhagvãn left the earth. It lasts for 432,000 human years, of which over 5,000 years have already passed. The current Kali-Yug is estimated to end in the year 428,889 CE. Kali-Yug is when purity and righteousness have thoroughly diminished in comparison to what they were in Satya-Yug. People generally live to be not more than a hundred, and svabhãvs prevail in greater abundance than ever before.
kalp-vruksh: A special tree possessing the magical power to fulfil the wishes of anyone who sits under it. It is one of the fourteen divine objects that emerged from the samudra manthan. The kalp-vruksh lives for one kalp (4,32 x 109 years).
kamandalu: A wooden water pot, with a handle.
karma-yogi: A person is striving for karma-yog (yog through activities). Term used for a grahastha bhakta who has not renounced his/her worldly duties completely – as opposed to a sãnkhya-yogi – but is nevertheless sincerely striving for yog or kalyãn. Refers to the many grahasthas in the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn who chose to totally commit and dedicate their lives to satsang.
Kãyasth: Community of people or a person born of brãhman and kshatriya parents, traditionally engaged in political affairs.
Krishna: 1) An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a cowherd. This is considered to be a greater avatãr than the others, as Shree Krishna possessed all of the powers of Bhagvãn, whereas other avatãrs possessed less power. Shree Krishna conveyed the message of love and humanity to the world. Also, He recited the epic poem, the Bhagvad Geetã, to Arjun in which He stated: ‘Whenever dharma declines and adharma increases, I shall incarnate myself as a human to save the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, and to establish dharma. I come into being from yug to yug’. 2) In the Vachanãmrut, Shreeji Mahãrãj also uses the name “Shree Krishna” to describe Bhagvãn Purushottam Nãrãyan.
Kurma: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a turtle. During the samudra manthan (churning of the ocean), the Mount Mandarãnchal that was used to churn

man: Mind. One of the four antah-karans, with the function of (pronounced mun) generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas.
manan: To think about. Contemplation. To mentally think over a talk, and to discard parts of the talk which are not needed and to retain the parts of the talk which are useful.
mandal: Group or assembly. In the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn, the sãdhus were often formed into groups, within which they travelled and preached in different regions.
mandir: Temple. Sacred Hindu place of worship.
manjirã: Pair of small, cymbals used in the accompaniment of other percussion instruments.
manomay chakra: The mind in the form of a wheel. The mind, seen as a constantly turning wheel, whose ten spikes are taken to be the ten indriyas. [Sãrangpur – 7].
manovahã nãdi: Nerve or channel in which the mind resides, transmitting energy within the inner body of a person and allowing the flow of desires and thoughts.
mantra: 1) A repeated word or phrase. 2) A sacred verbal phrase repeated in prayer, or meditation, such as ‘Swãminãrãyan’. Wicked people use mantras to cast evil curses.
Manu: Manu is responsible for overseeing the first stages of all life forms in the new cycle of creation and he lives for the entire cycle. Manu and his wife become the first parents for each cycle (Adam and Eve). In one day of Brahmã, fourteen Manus reign and die. The duration of the reign of one Manu is 306,720,000 human years, and is called a manvantar. Fourteen Manus are created and destroyed during one day of Brahmã.
manvantar: The duration of the reign of one of the fourteen Manus that reign sequentially during one day of Brahmã. Duration of time equalling 306,720,000 human years.
Mãyã: 1) Power of Bhagvãn used as the fundamental 'substance' of creation. It is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in its dormant state (before the time of creation) – it houses all jeevs and ishvars, and all the tattvas. It is inspired by, controlled by, and dependent on Bhagvãn. The jeevs and ishvars must go beyond Mãyã (eradicate it within themselves) in order to attain Akshardhãm. Everything in the world is produced from the products of Mãyã. Also called Prakruti. 2) Third of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).
medi: A small room above a house or a mansion.
Muktãnand Swãmi: One of the five principal paramhansas -- along with Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, and Shukanand Swami -- who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut. Originally a shishya of Ramanand Swami; Nilkanth Brahmachari first met him at Lojpur.
muni-mandal: Group or assembly of munis.

Naimishãranya: 1) Wherever the jagged edges of the manomay chakra are Kshetra worn away. A person should understand the mind to be the manomay chakra, and the ten indriyas to be its jagged edges. Wherever those jagged edges of the mind (the indriyas) wear away and become blunt, that place should be known as Naimishãranya Kshetra. Religious deeds (jap, tap, vrat, dhyãn, and pujã) commenced in that place flourish rapidly, day by day. Naimishãranya Kshetra should be known to be wherever Bhagvãn’s ekãntik sant resides. 2) A tirth in India.
Nãrad: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a travelling rushi. Nãrad showed that bhakti is the best way of attaining moksh. He was also a great bhakta of Bhagvãn and has guided many souls on the path of kalyãn by travelling all over the brahmãnd.
nimit-pralay: 1) Stimulated dissolution. Destruction of the lower ten loks of the fourteen loks of a brahmãnd, including Svarg-Lok, Mrutyu-Lok and Pãtãl. This is stimulated by the end of the fourteen-manvantar day of Virãt- Purush, when his equally long night falls. 2) Brahmã’s state of sushupti (deep sleep) – when all of ishvar’s responsibilities are absorbed – which lasts as long as his day. Equivalent to 4.32 x 109 human years.
Nishkulanand Swami: Disciple of Sahajanand Swami (Swaminarayan Bhagwan) and author of the Bhaktachintamani, as stated in the scripture's own closing colophon at the end of every chapter.
nitya-pralay: 1) Constant destruction. The day-to-day dying of countless individual devs, demons, humans and other beings. 2) The jeev’s state of sushupti (deep sleep) – when all of jeev’s responsibilities are absorbed.
Nrusinh: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a lion-man. Hiranyakashipu was a demon who had immunity from being killed by man, beast, and Bhagvãn. For, this reason, Bhagvãn took birth as half-lion and half- man. He killed Hiranyakashipu, and saved His devout bhakta, Prahlãd.

pãdma-kalp: Period of time during the process of creation when Marichi and others jeevs are given their bodies by Bhagvãn. Length of pãdma-kalp time is one of Brahmã's days (4.32 x 109 human years). [Gadhadã – 13].
parãrdhs: Duration of time equalling 1 x 1017 human years.
pãrasmani: Alchemist’s stone. Magical gem that turns iron into gold.
Prakruti: 1) Divine energy or instrument of Bhagvãn that initiates the creation process by being ‘impregnated’ by Purush – also called Mul-Purush, Mahã-Purush, or Akshar- Purush – and from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are ‘conceived’ for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Taken to be feminine in nature, she is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in her dormant state houses all jeevs and all elements. Also called Mul- Prakruti, Mul-Mãyã, and Mahã-Mãyã. 2) Also refers to Pradhãn-Prakruti.
pranav: A transformed form of the divine, transcendental vibration emanated at the moment of first creation, and from which all other sounds, and ultimately the sacred Veds, come forth. The speech of Virãt-Purush became the form of pranav by becoming the three sounds of ‘A’, ‘U’, and ‘M’, and then became the fifty-two syllables, and took the form of the four Veds. The three-syllable – ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’ – sound known as AUM.
pravrutti: 1) Activity in the form of social duties and affairs. In this sense, often used to refer to the path of a grahastha. 2) Can also include all forms of activities and responsibilities, including religious activities, such as sevã in the mandir, and attending to bhaktas of Bhagvãn. A person increases bhakti and sevã rather than dhyãn and smaran.
Purãn: Ancient. A set of eighteen shãstras recording ancient Hindu events that incorporate ethical and spiritual teachings, most popular of which is the Shreemad Bhãgvat Purãn. The other seventeen Purãns are, namely: the Brahma Purãn, Padma Purãn, Vishnu Purãn, Vãyu Purãn, Nãrad Purãn, Mãrkandey Purãn, Agney Purãn, Bhavishya Purãn, Brahma-Vaivart Purãn, Ling Purãn, Varãh Purãn, Skand Purãn, Vãman Purãn, Kurma Purãn, Matsya Purãn, Garud Purãn, and Brahmãnd Purãn. Forms a portion of the Smruti.

rajo-gun: Quality of passion. One of the three gun of Mãyã (Prakruti) characterised by incoherence and desires for the vishays. When rajo-gun prevails, the antah-karan becomes polluted and many disturbing thoughts regarding desires for the vishays arise, making it difficult to worship Bhagvãn’s murti. Also, when rajo-gun is predominant, the rewards of any karmas performed by a jeev are experienced in the svapna state. The products of rajo-gun include lust, and desires for enjoying sense pleasures. [Kãriyãni – 1] [Gadhadã II – 43].
Rãm/Rãmchandra: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a king. Shree Rãm was the perfect human, the perfect son, the perfect husband, and the perfect king. He was exiled to the forest for fourteen years, with His wife Sitãji and His brother Lakshmanji. When Sitãji was kidnapped by the demon Rãvan, Rãm saved her with the help of Hanumãnji and Lakshmanji, and killed Rãvan.
Rãmãnand Swãmi: The guru who gave the young Nilkanth Brahmachari bhagvati diksha at Piplana in Samvat 1857, naming Him Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni. Recognizing Him as gifted with every quality of a true sant, Ramanand Swami handed over leadership of the Sampraday to Him before passing away in Samvat 1858.
Rãmãyan: The story of Rãm. A shãstra narrating the story of Shree Rãm Bhagvãn, which includes His 14-year exile from the throne of Ayodhyã to the forest; Sitã’s abduction by the evil demon Rãvan; Rãm’s ultimate victory over Rãvan and his armies; and the return of Rãm and Sitã to Ayodhyã. It contains principles for society through the characteristics exhibited by Rãm, Sitã, Lakshmanji, and Bharatji.
rasik: Loving. Affectionate. Romantic. [Gadhadã – 26].
rotlo: A basic unleavened bread-like food of many parts of Gujarat made generally of millet flour that is patted into a flat, circular shape before being cooked on an earthen or metal hot plate.

sãkshãtkãr: When that talk is recalled exactly as it was, with absolute clarity and sincerity. If a person engages in shravan, manan, and nididhyãs about the Bhagvãn and His svarup of the ãtmã, then he will attain sãkshãtkãr of the ãtmã. Sãkshãtkãr cannot be attained by doing shravan alone, without practicing both manan and nididhyãs. Also used to describe something that has been so well learned or understood that it becomes second nature.
samudra manthan: Churning of the ocean. The devs decided to churn the ocean for precious gifts and amrut. However, they needed the demons to help them churn the ocean. The devs offered half of the amrut to the demons, and they accepted. First, they tore up Mount Mandarãnchal for use as a churning stick. Then, a serpent named Vasuki was used as a churning rope. The devs took hold of the tail, and the demons held the head. While they were churning, Vasuki’s breath became very hot, which almost suffocated the demons. Bhagvãn then took the avatãr of Kurma to stop the mountain from sinking into the ocean bed. Finally, the ocean produced precious items: poison, a cow, a horse, a white elephant, a diamond, a wishing tree, an apsãrã, alcohol, Lakshmi, Chandra, Surya, a jewel, a conch
Sanakãdik: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of the four sons of Brahmã: Sanak, Sanãtan, Sanandan, and Sanat-Kumãr. Born from Brahmã's mind, the four sons are described as great rushis who undertook lifelong vows of brahm-chãrya against the wishes of their father. From the Sanakãdik, the brãhmans got the inspiration regarding the values and importance of tap and brahm-chãrya. Although they are eternally liberated souls from birth, they still became attracted to the devotional service of Bhagvãn. Despite being very senior in age, the Sanakãdik are said to wander the universe in the forms of small children. Also called Chãtur Kumãr or Kumãr San.
sãnkhya-yogi: A yogi who has abandoned activities. Term used for a bhakta who has abandoned his/her worldly duties – as opposed to a karma-yogi – and is sincerely striving for kalyãn. Refers to a tyãgi who is totally dedicated and committed to satsang. In the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn, many widows and widowers chose to become sãnkhya-yogis after their spouse passed away. They dedicated their lives to Bhagvãn rather than any other family members. Often refers to female tyãgis.
sãrangi: An Indian stringed musical instrument played by stroking the strings with a bow and depressing strings on a fretted neck. Of all Indian instruments, it is said to most resemble the sound of the human voice.
sat: 1) True. Real. 2) Permanent, imperishable and unchanging. Is unbound by the past, the present, and the future.
sat-purush: A true sant. A sant who guides a person on the path of Bhagvãn. A guru for a mumukshu. Through whom Bhagvãn remains ever-manifest, passing on His divine energy and experience, love and guidance to all beings on earth. They ensure that the gateway to liberation and Bhagvãn is forever open for all seekers. Surrendering to a sat-purush, and striving to obey his ãgnã, is the root of all spiritual activities. Also called sant, bhakta, ekãntik bhakta, ekãntik sant, param-bhãgvat, param-ekãntik sant, and sadguru.
sãttvik-ahankãr: One of the three types of ahankãr that evolve from maha- tattva, and from which the man, and the presiding devs of the indriyas evolve.
Satya-Yug: First of the four yugs that mark the time-scale of the world. Lasting 1,728,000 human years, it is the purest and most righteous of the yugs, where people lived to be 100,000, all were brãhmans, everyone’s wishes were fulfilled, and everyone worshipped Bhagvãn.
shikhar: The dome above a mandir.
shikhar-bandh: A mandir with domes on the top. Below each dome is a mandir three-dimensional murti, carved in stone, wood, or metal.
shravan: 1) To listen to talks of Bhagvãn through the ears. 2) The term also means the initial intake of gnãn from any of the outer indriyas. In this sense, darshan, intake of gnãn through the eyes, is also considered a form of shravan. However, the intake of gnãn through the process of shravan (listening) must be strengthened with manan (thinking) and nididhyãs (remember) if it is to lead to the sãkshãtkãr (realisation) of that gnãn.
shudra: Labourer. Skilled worker traditionally serving the other three varnas (brãhmans, kshatriyas, and vaishyas). The lowest of the four varnas (castes) of the ancient Indian social system.
Swãminãrãyan: 1) The lord of the whole world. Creator and destroyer of everything, 2) The mantra (mahã-mantra) given by Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn to His bhaktas in when Faneni, after He became head of the sampradãy. Eventually people began to identify Shreeji Mahãrãj by this mantra and called Him Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn. The mantra holds power greater than any other mantra. The greatness of the mantra is described in ‘Je Swãminãrãyan Nãm Leshe’ from Shree Hari-Leelãmrut.

Tretã-Yug: Second of the four yugs that mark the time-scale of the world. Lasting 1,296,000 human years, it was when purity and righteousness had slightly diminished, the instincts of the kshatriyas prevailed, people lived to be 10,000, and people’s wishes were not so readily fulfilled. Called the Tretã-Yug, or age of three, because the general ratio of good deeds performed to bad deeds was three to one.

vachan: 1) A command. An ãgnã.
vaishya: Merchant. Businessman or employer traditionally dealing with financial and commercial matters in society. The
Vãman: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a dwarf. Vãman asked Bali (demon king) to grant Him three steps of Bali’s kingdom, to which Bali agreed. With the first step, Vãman covered all of the earth. With the second step, he covered all of the heavens. With the third step, Vãman pushed Bali into Pãtal.
van-vicharan: Wondering the forest. The pilgrimage of Nilkanth Varni is called van vicharan, as He walked through many forests.
varna: A caste of the ancient Indian social system: brãhman, kshatriya, vaishya, and sudra.
Vidur-Niti: The code of political ethics explained Vidur, the educated statesman, to his elder brother, Dhrutrãshtra Rãjã. It forms portion of the Mahãbhãrat. One of the eight shãstras accepted as trustworthy by Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn.
Virãt-Purush: 1) An ishvar ‘conceived’ by one of the countless pairs of Pradhãn-Purush. A svarup assumed by Bhagvãn through Purush and Prakruti, and through whom He then grants Brahmã and other jeevs their bodies. By nature, he is like a jeev, with his actions also being similar to that of a jeev – but with a lifespan of two parãrdhs (2 x 1017 human years). The creation, sustenance, and destruction of this brahmãnd are his three states. [Gadhadã II – 31]. 2) He is also the physical world (Virãt-Purush) or a brahmãnd, which is a human form. However, it is beyond visualisation due to its immense size. Also known as Purush-Avatãr. [Gadhadã I – 63].
vrutti: Concentration. Focus. The jeev’s vrutti can be thought of as the jeev’s focus of attention. The jeev can experience the physical world (Virãt-Purush) through the indriyas. Similarly the jeev can think about, or have a desire about the world through the antah-karans. When the jeev’s attention is focused on a physical object through the indriyas, it can be said that the vruttis of the indriyas are focused on that object. Similarly, when the jeev’s attention is focused on an object via the antah-karans, it can be said that the vruttis of the antah-karans are focused on that object. Also, like the focus of attention, the vrutti can be focused on many things at once with different levels of intensity. Also, just as the jeev can focus its vrutti outwards, it can also focus it inwards on itself or on Paramãtmã residing within.

yagna: Sacrificial worship. Ceremonial ritual performed as a form of worship to seek the good favour and receive the blessings of the devs. Different items, such as ghee, grains, wood, and spices, are offered into a sacred pit of fire in accordance with strict scriptural niyams with the chanting of mantras that are prescribed in the Veds.
yagnopavit: A sacred white thread, worn from the left shoulder to the waist. It is worn by brãhmans. A ceremony (upanayan) is performed when the yagnopavit is received, usually after the age of seven. Traditionally, the ceremony was performed to mark the point at which boys began their formal education. The yagnopavit is also given to a sant when he receives his dikshã.