The Sun of Auspicious Moments with the Beloved of the Sun Commentary

Now, he explains what must be avoided during "setting" the astronomical combustion of a planet. Regarding the combustion of the Lord of the Vedas original: "Sharvesha," referring to Jupiter/Guru: while he is combust, a noble person should not perform the sacred thread ceremony Maunjibandha or the commencement of Vedic studies Nigamarambha. If the sacred thread ceremony and other such rites are performed during this combustion, the boy may become a fool. One might ask: why would he become a fool? Because the Lord of the Vedas is the one who grants mastery over them. The sacred thread ceremony is performed specifically for the sake of studying the Vedas; therefore, if the planet is weak, foolishness results.

On this, Yajnavalkya says: "The teacher, having initiated the student with the 'Great Utterances' the sacred syllables Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, should teach him the Vedas and instruct him in the rules of purity and conduct. For each Veda, the period of student-celibacy Brahmacharya is twelve years, or five years, or until the text is mastered. The ritual haircutting Keshanta should occur in the sixteenth year. For the twice-born members of the upper three social classes, the Veda alone is the highest means for the success of sacrifices, austerities, and auspicious works."

This tonsure Chaula is desired; however, while Jupiter or Venus are in their "infant" or "aged" states, or during the combustion of the Lord of the Vedas, the noble person should not perform the initiation or the beginning of Vedic studies. 7

Thus, in the Katyayana Grihya Sutra: "Having completed the Veda, he should bathe the Samavartana ceremony; or the student-celibacy may last for forty-eight years, or twelve years for each Veda as permitted by the teacher," and so on. 7

Now, the determination for the tonsure Chaula is explained in one verse. The tonsure Chudakarana is said to be performed in the five months starting with Magha roughly January–February, excluding the month of Chaitra original: "Amadhu," the month of honey/spring. As Narada says: "The tonsure is beneficial in the five months beginning with Magha, avoiding Chaitra original: "Madhu"." It should be done in the second, third, or fifth year, or according to one’s own family tradition original: "Svachara".

The Katyayana Grihya Sutra states: "The ritual haircutting Chudakarana for a one-year-old, or in the third year, or as tradition dictates; the Keshanta rite for a sixteen-year-old, or as is auspicious for all." Harihara Mishra explains "of a one-year-old" original: "Samvatsarikasya" as referring to a child who has passed one year of age.

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Thus says Shadgurushishya: "Some perform it in the first year, others in the fifth, but not in the second; or it may be performed along with the sacred thread ceremony Upanayana, according to the family custom Kuladharma."

If the mother is pregnant original: "Sagarbha", this ritual should not be performed here. This means if the mother of the boy is pregnant during the second, third, or fifth year, the tonsure should not be done. However, it is understood that it can be done after the fifth year even if she is pregnant. On this, Narada says: "While the mother is pregnant, one should not perform the tonsure ritual. This applies before the fifth year; after the fifth year, it may be done even if she is pregnant."

He then states that there is no fault if it is performed together with the sacred thread ceremony: "Where it is performed together with the initiation Upanyayana, then this prohibition does not apply." That is, when the tonsure and initiation are done at the same time, this prohibition (regarding the mother’s pregnancy or the month of Chaitra) is lifted.

The tonsure Chaula is declared in the five months starting with Magha, excluding Chaitra, in the appropriate second, third, or fifth year, or by family custom. If the mother is pregnant, this should not be done.

The same author says: "If performed with the initiation, no fault is found." Regarding the prohibition during the mother's menstrual cycle, he says: "The man seeking auspiciousness should avoid the thread ceremony, marriage, and tonsure during the mother's period until she is purified."

This means the seeker of well-being should not perform these three—the tonsure, the sacred thread initiation Vrata-maunji, and marriage Upayamana—until the mother’s purification. Similarly, in the Manusmriti: "If the mother is menstruating during a wedding, a vow, or a tonsure, then no auspicious work should be done; it should be done after her purification."

If another auspicious date cannot be found, a "peace-making" ritual Shanti is prescribed by the authors of the Karikas: "If the mother's menstrual fault exists and no other time is available, one should worship the Goddess of Fortune Shri to remove the terrifying fear of 'Indra-slaying' a metaphor for a great sin or spiritual obstacle. One should worship a golden image of a lotus, weighing one Masha, according to the rites of the Shri Sukta."