Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.32

c12.32

Age and Time of Upanayana. The normal age for Upanayana is 8 for a Brāhmaṇa, 11 for a Kshatriya, and 12 for a Vaiśya [*Manu* and *Yājñavalkya*]. Logākshi makes it 7, 9, and 11 respectively for these three castes. But these normal ages are different where the Upanayana is performed with reference to a particular aim (*kāmya*), as stated by Gautama. For a Brāhmaṇa whose aim is Brahmavarchasa, the age of Upanayana is 5 [*Manu* and Āṅgirasa]. Brahmavarchasa is the divine glory and spiritual pre-eminence or sanctity resulting from proficiency in *Brahma* or *Veda*. Where his aim is *Āyu* or longevity, the age of Upanayana should be 9 [Āṅgirasa]. For a Kshatriya whose aim in life is increase (vṛiddhi) of Power (Bala) and Life (Āyu), the age of Upanayana should be 12 [ib.]. A Vaiśya whose ambition in life is the attainment of Āyu, longevity, and *Iha*, “prosperity in Agriculture and other pursuits" (*Kṛishyādivishaya-cheshṭā*) should perform his Upanayana at the age of 14 [ib.]. These variations of age according to those of castes and aims are brought under a general rule applicable to all by Āpastamba [i, 1, 1, 21-6] as follows: "The age of Upanayana is to be 7 where the objective is *Brahma-varchasa*; 8 where it is *Āyu*; 9 where it is *Teja* or physical vigour; 10 where it is livelihood (*annādi*); 11 where it is vital force (*indriya*); and 12 where it is increase of live stock (*pashu*).