𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓷𝓸 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾....

𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓷𝓸 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾....

While reading through a commentary on Smruthis, saw the description about the ritual of Upanayanam, now what we call thread ceremony..

Every brahmin knows about it..

Immediately after Upanayanam, the initiate or Vatu has to beg for his daily handfuls of grains which alone are to be used for his daily food during his days of brahmacharya..

While dealing with the first request for Bhiksha the instructions are..

मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीम् निजाम्।

भिक्षते प्रथमम् भिक्षाम् या चैनम् न विमानयेत्॥

mātaraṁ vā svasāraṁ vā māturvā bhaginīm nijām|

bhikṣate prathamam bhikṣām yā cainam na vimānayet||

The first request for Bhiksha should be made by an initiate to

1. His mother or 2. His sister or 3. His mothers own sister..

so that the Vatu will not and shall not be turned away empty-handed..

It is not the procedure of begging, or the way of life that looked significant to me at that stage.

If a boy makes a request to his mother or sister or the maternal aunt, he is not likely to be turned away..Even the sages were sure of it..

Secondly it is heartening to note that mothers sister is being placed almost on equal footing with the mother and the sister..

I was indeed touched ..The social customs and ritual behind them are for a particular community...Agreed

But the mind that speaks of priorities among blood relations is relevant for all human beings.