History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c24.2

v2.c24.2

This word literally means 'leading or taking near'. But the important question is 'near what'? It appears that it originally meant 'taking near the ācārya' (for instruction); it may have also meant 'introducing the novice to the stage of student-hood'. Some of the gṛhyasūtras bring out this sense clearly e. g. the Hir. gṛ. I. 5. 2⁶¹⁶ says "The teacher then makes the boy utter 'I have come unto brahmacarya. Lead me near (initiate me into it). Let me be a student, impelled by the god Savitṛ'". The Mānava and Kāṭhaka gṛ. (41. 1) also use the word upāyana for upanayana and Ādityadarśana on Kāṭhaka gṛ. (41. 1) says that upānaya, upanayana, mauñjībandhana, baṭukaraṇa, vratabandha are synonyms.