What Samavartana means
Samavartana — "returning" — ends the brahmacharya stage. The student takes a ritual bath (hence the graduate is called a snataka), puts on new clothes and ornaments, and receives the teacher's farewell advice.
The Taittiriya Upanishad preserves a famous convocation address: "Speak the truth. Follow dharma. Do not neglect your study… Let your mother be a god to you; let your father be a god to you; let your teacher be a god to you; let your guest be a god to you." Its words are still read at convocations in India.
How it is performed
- Ritual bath. The student bathes with mantras, ending the student's vows.
- New clothes. He wears new clothes, a garland and ornaments.
- Teacher's counsel. The teacher gives his final teaching, such as the Taittiriya convocation address.
- Dakshina. The student offers gurudakshina and returns home.
Mantras
Convocation address (Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11)
सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।
मातृदेवो भव । पितृदेवो भव । आचार्यदेवो भव । अतिथिदेवो भव ॥
satyaṃ vada | dharmaṃ cara | svādhyāyān mā pramadaḥ |
mātṛdevo bhava | pitṛdevo bhava | ācāryadevo bhava | atithidevo bhava ||
Speak the truth. Follow dharma. Do not neglect your study. Let your mother be a god to you; let your father be a god to you; let your teacher be a god to you; let your guest be a god to you.
Samavartana today
The words of the Taittiriya convocation address are recited at many university convocations in India today.
Rituals differ by Veda, region, community and family. For the ceremony itself, follow your family priest (purohit).
Frequently asked questions
What is a snataka?
A graduate who has completed study and taken the ritual bath (snana) of Samavartana.
What is the Taittiriya convocation address?
The teacher's parting counsel in Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11: "Speak the truth, follow dharma, do not neglect study; honour mother, father, teacher and guest as gods."