History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c24.s1.524

v2.c24.s1.524

There is great divergence of views about the starting point from which 16 years are to be calculated. The Baud. Dh. S. (I. 2. 7) has stated the rule in general terms that the number of years is to be calculated from the time of conception.⁹⁶³ Following this rule the Mit. on Yāj. I. 36 and Kullūka on Man II. 65 say that godāna should be performed in the 16th year from conception in the case of brāhmaṇas,⁹⁶⁴ while Aparārka says that it is to be performed in the 16th year from birth. Viśvarūpa⁹⁶⁵ on Yāj. I. 36 says that whatever the period of brahmacarya that a student was going to observe (whether 12, 24, 36, 48 &c.) keśānta must be performed in the 16th year and if any one had his upanayana performed later than the 16th year, then keśānta will not take place at all. Nārāyaṇa on Āśv. gṛ. I. 22. 3 notes that according to some godāna takes place in the 16th year from upanayana, while others celebrate it in the 16th year from birth.