DOUBLE SACRED THREAD :

What is called the "sacred thread"or yajnopavita has three strands that are knotted together. Two such sacred threads make a "double sacred thread".

IL - ARATTAN:

"il-arattan" : "il" means house and "aram" from which "arattan"is derived is dharma.

NEIGHBOURHOOD :

Andhra Prades (Andhra Pradesh )

BHAYAVAHAH:

See notes appended to Chapter 6, Part Three.

CRITICISE BRAHMINS:

For straying from the path of their dharma; See Chapter 6, Part Three.

VEDAS :

A number of subjects dealt with in this chapter have been elucidated by Kumbhakonam Sri Lakshmi Kanta Sarma Dampati and Agnihotram Ramanuja Tatacariyar

- Ra. Ga.

ADHANA:

"Adhana" literally means "placing" or "keeping".

PURODASA:

It is an oblation made of ground rice.

MARKAZHI, TAI, MASI, PANGUNI :

Mid-December to mid- January; mid- January to mid- February; mid- February to mid- March; and mid-March to mid- April.

CITTIRAI, AIPPASI:

Mid- April to mid - May; mid October to mid-November.

KURUVA, SAMBA:

These are varieties of rice grown in Tamil Nadu.

AIPPASI :

MId- October to mid-November.

KARTTIGAI, PANGUNI, ADI :

Mid- November to mid- December; mid- March to mid-April; mid-July to mid-August.

ENFORCES PROHIBITION:

Prohibition was perhaps sought to be strictly enforced (particularly in Tamil Nadu) at the time the Paramaguru gave this discourse.

ELDEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY :

Only the eldest son married among Namputiris.

KARNA-VEDHANAM:

The lobes of the ears of the child are pierced. In the case of boys the right ear first and in the case of girls the left ear.

AKSARABHYASA:

It is also called vidyarambha.

MANKIND:

The Paramaguru is obviously speaking here of the ideal according to the sastras.

BRHDARANYAKA UPANASID (4. 4. 22):

Sa ca esa mahanaja Atma yo'yam vijnamayah pranesu ya eso'ntarhrdaya akasastasmincchete, sarvasya vasi sarvasyesanah, sarvasyadhipatih, sa na sadhuna karmana bhuyanno evasadhuna kaniyanesa sarvesvarah, esa bhutadhipatih, esa bhutapala, esa seturvidharana esam lokanam asambhedaya. Tam etam Vedanuvacanena Brahmana vividisanti, yajnena, danena, tapasa'nasakena; etameva viditva munir bhavati, etam eva pravrajino lokam. icchantahpravrajantiyetetaddhasma vai tat purve vidvamsah prajam na kamayante: kim prajaya karisyamah; yesam no'yam Atmayam loka iti, te ha sma putraisanayasca vittaisanayasca lokaisanayasca vyutthaya, atha bhiksacaryam caranti, ya hyeva putraisana sa vittaisana, ya vittaisana sa lokaisana, ubhe hyete esane eva bhavatah sa esa neti netyatma; agryah, na hi grhyate; asiryah; na hi siryate; asangah, na hi sajyate; asito na vyathate; na risyati; etam u haivaite na tarata iti, atah papam akaravam iti, atah kalyanam akaravam iti. ubhe u haivaisa ete tarati, nainam krtakrtae tapatah.

- Brhadaraynyaka Upanisad, 4. 4. 22

YOGA-BHRASTA:

Prapya-punya-krtamllokan usitva sasvatih samah

Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga - bhrasto'bhijayate.

- Bhagavadgita, 6. 41.

DISCRIMINATION:

Such a man will be a greater "vivekin".

NADIKA:

A nadika is 24 minutes.

THE FIVE JNANENDRIYAS :

In this rite there is grateful recognition of the fact that all those things that delight our five senses, the Lord has created for our sake.

FOOD MEANT FOR OUTCASTES, BEGGARS, DOGS, BIRDS, ETC :

One authority on our sastras says that vaisvadeva "is the outcome of the nobel sentiment of universal kindliness and charity; the idea that One Spirit pervades and illumines the meanest of creatures and binds all together ".