🪷 समावर्तन · samāvartana
Saṁskāra #14 of 16 · The graduation from student-life (homecoming from the gurukula) · stage: completion
🪷 Vedārambha / Keśānta / Samāvartana · Krishna's 64-kalā graduation
Krishna completed the entire Vedic curriculum at Sāndīpani in 64 days (which would normally take 12 years) — and offered the guru-dakṣiṇā of restoring Sāndīpani's drowned son. The samāvartana (graduation) ceremony marked Krishna's formal entry into the kṣatriya-householder stage.
— Bhāgavata 10.45.31-49
Dharmic Purpose
To formally complete the gurukula-phase · to receive the snānaka (graduate) status · to take final blessings from the guru before entering gṛhastha-āśrama · the student is now ready to assume household responsibilities, marry, and continue the family lineage.
Canonical Timing
After completion of Veda-study (traditionally 12 years per Veda · or 24-48 years for all four) · marks the transition from brahmacarya to gṛhastha (or sannyāsa)
Source-Text Citations
- Manu Smṛti III.4 — "vedān adhītya vedau vā vedaṁ vāpi yathākramam · aviplutaḥ brahmacaryaḥ gṛhasthāśramam āviśet"
- Āśvalāyana Gṛhya-Sūtra III.8 · Pāraskara Gṛhya-Sūtra II.6
Ritual Essence
The student bathes ceremonially in a sacred river or kuṇḍa · removes the brahmacāri-cloth · puts on full householder-attire · takes leave of the guru with gifts (guru-dakṣiṇā) · returns home as a snānaka · the family welcomes him with mantras.
Modern Adaptation
In academic contexts often paralleled with university graduation · in religious contexts performed after completion of formal scripture-study · marks readiness for marriage.
Jyotiṣa Considerations
Auspicious nakshatra · prefer waxing moon · Jupiter or Mercury in benefic position · Sun in own/exalted sign
🪷 A muhūrta-finder is available for this saṁskāra.
Sources and Connected Saṁskāra Readings
After the ritual essence, modern application, Jyotiṣa considerations, and available muhūrta guidance, these links connect this saṁskāra with its lifecycle index, paramparā, relevant Krishna-līlā or Bhagavad-Gītā readings, and the Bindu and philosophy foundations. Manu-Smṛti and Gṛhya-Sūtra citations remain as text because they are not yet hosted as local corpus pages.
🪷 ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः · श्री गुरवे नमः 🪷
📚 See Also
- samāvartana Muhūrta-Finder · Find auspicious dates for this rite
- All 16 Saṁskāras · index · Garbhādhāna through Antyeṣṭi · the full lifecycle
- Saṁskāra Muhūrta Finder · Pick auspicious dates for any of the 16 rites
- Paramparā · Vyāsa-Nārada lineage · The chain transmitting Manu-Smṛti through generations
- Birth-Chart Calculator · See if YOUR Lagna supports performing this rite
📖 References
- Manu Smṛti III.4 — "vedān adhītya vedau vā vedaṁ vāpi yathākramam · aviplutaḥ brahmacaryaḥ gṛhasthāśramam āviśet" — Manu Smṛti — the foundational source for the 16-saṁskāra enumeration
- Āśvalāyana Gṛhya-Sūtra III.8 · Pāraskara Gṛhya-Sūtra II.6 — Gṛhya-Sūtra — the household-ritual treatise specifying mantra + procedure
- Bhāgavata Purāṇa · saṁskāra-context in various skandhas — Krishna-līlā models the saṁskāras (Krishna's own nāmakaraṇa · cūḍākarma · etc.)