Upakarma is conducted once a year during the Shravana masam or Dhanista nakshatara of Shravan month, when Brahmins ritually change their upanayanam thread accompanied by relevant Srauta rituals, making Sraddha offerings to the Rishis who composed the Vedic hymns.
Vikhanasa Maharishi, a human form aroused from Sri Maha Vishnu’s mind, arrived at Naimisaaranyam on the purnima day of Sravana masam at Sravana nakshatara. Hence, every year this day is observed as His birthday called Vikhanasa Jayanthi. Saga Vikhanasa got instructions from Sri Maha Vishnu, preached Vaikhanasa Bhagavath Shastras to his disciples Bhrugu, Mareechi, Atri and Kasyapa Rishis. His disciples in turn have given a physical form to these divine Shastras as number of text books containing four lakh slokas, which are together referred as Sri Vaikhanasa Agama.
|