Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.35

c12.35

Besides the age of Upanayana, its time also is different for different castes. According to Āpastamba, the Upanayana of a Brāhmaṇa should be performed in the season of Spring (*Vasanta*), that of a Kshatriya in Summer (*Grīshma*), and that of a Vaiśya in Autumn (*Śarat*). In the Jyotisha-śāstra, the general rule is stated that the Upanayana for all the castes should be performed in the five months from Māgha, perhaps because these constitute the auspicious portion of the year, known as Uttarāyaṇa. Āpastamba [*D.S.*, i, 19] also specially recommends the season of Spring for the Upanayana of Brāhmaṇas belonging to Yajuḥ-Śākhā.