Avani Avitam - Sacred Thread Ceremony

Avani - Name of a Month
Avittam - Star

Sanskrit - Tamil - Greogarian - Zodiac

Simha - Avani - Aug/Sept - Leo

Avani Avittam is also referred as Upakarma ( Beginning \ Commencement).

Beginning or commencment of study of Vedas (Veda Adhyayanam) during the month of Avani.

In Ancient days, 6 months would be dedicated to study of vedas and the remaining 6 months to study shastras and other scriptures. Study of commencement starts between the period of mid-Aug to mid -Jan and ending of vedas is called Veda Utsarjana.

An auspicious day is thus selected to begin the study every year, called Avani Avittam. The day is chosen as the same day when Vishnu (the protector) took avatar as Hayagriva in form of Horse God associated with Wisdom & Knowledge. The purpose ofthe avatar according to the hindy myth was to rescue the vedas stolen by daemons from the bottom of the ocean as requested by Brahma.