sarvEbhyO brAhmaNEbhyO namaH
The upAkarmam signifies the commitment to acquiring knowledge (vedas) especially vedic knowledge which is creative and beneficial to all created beings. That is the purpose of the procedure adhyayana ArambhaM when we recite the beginning shlOkas of some of the Vedas and Upanishads. CM which is gAndharva veda is included as part of the Sama Veda.
This procedure is preceded by offering thanks (khANDa riShi tarpaNam ) to all known and unknown (gnyAtAgnyAta) seers who were the custodians of our knowledge from time immemorial.
That again is preceded by purification rites ( kAmOkArShIt japam ) of both mind and body and symbolic wearing of the new sacred thread that emphasizes the determination to pursue knowledge (samkalpam). The right to acquire knowledge belongs to everybody irrespective of religion, caste or clan except that he be initiated by a competent guru in the ceremony known as upanayanam whose esoteric meaning is the opening (upa) of the inner vision (nayanam). The sacred thread is just the symbol of that commitment.
Finally there is the deep meditation (same day or the next day) on that Effulgent Blessed Creative Force which is beyond human ken to propel us towards the understanding of that Divine Knowledge (gAyatrI japam ).
lokA samastA sukhinO bhavantu |