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Yajman

Graduation (Samavartana)

The Upanishad's own convocation charge, in their name.

Before there were caps and gowns there was the samavartana: the day the student, finished with study, was charged by the teacher to go and live what they had learned. Speak the truth. Walk in dharma. This blessing hands that original convocation charge to a new graduate, by name.

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The prayer at its heart

Word for word, the way it has always been said. Their name goes at its head, and your words travel with it. The Sanskrit never arrives alone: a transliteration, so anyone can say it aloud, and its meaning in plain English.

Satyaṃ Vada: The Original Convocation Charge

सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।

satyaṃ vada | dharmaṃ cara | svādhyāyān mā pramadaḥ |

Speak the truth. Walk in dharma. Never neglect your learning. The teacher's parting charge to the departing student: the oldest convocation address there is.

Source: Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Śīkṣāvallī 1.11; the samāvartana charge to the graduating student Reviewed by Pandit Arvind Narayan Shastri

See a finished Graduation blessing, names and all (an example family)

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Asha is our digital host. Her voice is digitally produced, and she is not a priest. She reads the words Pandit Arvind has reviewed and blessed. More about Asha.

The prayer is the same in all three. What changes is how it arrives: on the page, in a voice, or spoken on film.

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A blessing for …their name

satyaṃ vada | dharmaṃ cara | svādhyāyān mā pramadaḥ |

Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Śīkṣāvallī 1.11; the samāvartana charge to the graduating student. The finished page carries the whole prayer, in Devanagari, with its meaning.

Make it theirs

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If the family observes gotra, we’ll name it in the blessing.

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When should it arrive?

Every verse in this blessing is quoted from a named source, and Pandit Arvind Narayan Shastri of Rishikesh reads every one before it is sent. Our Proof Standard →

Take your time. A blessing is care made into words, and it is prepared on your schedule.