Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.39

c12.s6.39

**Ceremony ending Studentship; 'Samāvartana'** (graduation). The studentship was brought to a close by what has been termed the *Samāvartana* (lit. the returning home of the student) ceremony to be performed by the pupil. It included a number of acts signifying the end of the austerities imposed upon the condition of studentship. First, the Brahmachārī was confined in a room in the morning lest his superior lustre puts to shame the sun who shines in the lustre borrowed of him [*Bhāradvāja Gṛi. S.*, ii, 1, 8]! No higher compliment to education can be conceived. Coming out of the room at midday, he shaved his head and beard and cut off all marks of his studentship. Then followed the bath accompanied by the use of powder, perfumes, ground sandalwood, and the like to be presented by the friends and relations of the student, and then were also thrown into the water all the external signs of his *brahmacharya* such as the upper and lower garments, girdle, staff, skin. After the bath, he becomes a *Snātaka* wearing new garments, two ear-rings, and a perforated pellet of sandalwood overlaid with gold at its aperture—the gold which brings gain, superiority in battles and in assemblies—and he prays that he may be loved of all, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaiśyas, Śūdras, and Kings [see *Hiraṇyakeśin*, i, 3, 9–11]. Some of the Sūtras distinguish three kinds of *Snātakas* [Gobhila, iii, 5, 21–3; Pāraskara, ii, 5, 3, 32–5]. "He who performs the Samāvartana ceremony after having finished the study of the Veda but before the time of his vows has expired is a *Vidyā-snātaka*. He who performs the Samāvartana after his vows have expired but before he has finished the study of the Veda is a *Vrata-snātaka*. He who performs the Samāvartana after having finished both is a *Vidyā-Vrata-Snātaka*." "Of these the last ranks foremost; the two others are equal to each other." Thus a *Snātaka* (one who has bathed) or a *Samāvṛitta* (one who has returned home) would be, according to modern ideas, one who had taken his degree. A *homa* or sacrifice was performed with a prayer that the *Snātaka* will have any number of pupils to teach in his turn [*Baudhā. Gṛi. S.*, ii, 6]. Then he, donned in his new robes, was to pay a visit to the local learned Assembly in a chariot or on an elephant to be introduced to them as a full-fledged scholar by his teacher [*Drāhyāyaṇa Gṛi. S.*, iii, 1, 26; *Āpa. Gṛi. S.*, i, 11, 5].