WHO ARE THE 64 IMPORTANT GOPIS?

The following are the 64 important Gopis:
 Candralatika
 Candrarekha
 Candrika
 Capala
 Carukavara
 Citrarekha
 Damni
 Dhanistha
 Gunacuda
 Harahira
 Harakanthi
 Harini
 Kalahamsi
 Kalakanthi
 Kalapini
 Kamala
 Kamalatika
 Kamanagari
 Kandarpa-sundari
 Kaveri
 Kunjari
 Kurangaksi
 Madanalasa
 Madhavi
 Madhureksana
 Madhurendira
 Madhuspanda
 Mahahira
 Malati
 Mandali
 Manikundala
 Manjukesi
 Manjumedha
 Manohara.
 Modini
 Nagari
 Nagavenika
 Pankajaksi
 Prema-manjari
 Ramani
 Rangavati
 Rasalika
 Rasottunga
 Ratika
 Ratikala
 Ratnaprabha
 Sasikala
 Sauraseni
 Subhadra
 Subhanana
 Sucarita
 Sugandhika
 Sukesi
 Sumadhura
 Sumadhya
 Sumandira
 Sumukhi
 Surabhi
 Susangata
 Tanumadhya
 Tilakini
 Tungabhadra
 Varangada
 Vicitrangi

WHETHER FOR MADHYAHNIKA SANDHYA VANDANAM, ONE CAN USE THE TERM "UPASISHYE" DURING SANKALPA?

Based on traditional practices, we use the sankalpa "MAdhyAnika sandhyAm upAsishye." There is no difference in the sandhyA sankalpam whether prAtah, MAdhyAhnika or SAyam sandhyA. We use the term "upAsishye" all across . The term " MAdhyAhnika sandhyopAsanam," has been used by traditional scholars.

According to atri:-

sandhyA trayam tu kartavyam dvijenAtmavidA sadA iti !

atra sandhyA Sabdena sandhyopAsana rUpa karmopalakshyate !

anyathA devatAyAh kartavyatvA yogAt!!

WHETHER VAPANAM IS MANDATORY FOR BRAHMACARIS ON THE UPAKARMA DAY ?

 Vapanam (Hair-cut) is mandatory for brahmacAris on the day of upAkarma. This is especially applicable to the BrahmacAris of  Yajurveda - Apastamba SUtra.

WHETHER PITRU TARPANAM HAS TO BE PERFORMED BY A VIPRA BELONGING TO APASTAMBA SUTRA WHOSE FATHER IS ALIVE?

In Yajur Veda Mantra starting with "somah pitrumAn yamo angirasvAn......" the Pitrus referred to are the nitya Pitrus and not one's own pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha. Also, in the nitya pitru tarpaNam, we use only water.

A person does tarpaNam using gingelly (til) for his own pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha only when his father is not alive. In regard to nitya pitru tarpaNam forming part of brahma Yajna, it is not the case. Hence every vipra, irrespective of the fact whether his father is alive or not, has to perform nitya pitru tarpaNam as part of brahma Yajna if he belongs to Yajur Veda Apastamba SUtra. Thus performance of nitya pitru tarpaNam by such a vipra whose father is alive is in order.

WHETHER YAJUR UPAKARMA HAS TO BE PERFORMED ONLY ON 2ND AUGUST 2012 ?

There are a lot of intricacies in determining the upakarma. Each sect gives importance to one key aspect and determines the day accordingly. One should not forget that there are reputed traditional scholars still alive in each of these sects.Accordingly,one major sect of vipras in Tamil Nadu including us are observing yajur upAkarma on 1st August 2012. We cannot say that it has to be only performed on 2nd August,2012.

Similar is the case with reference to determination of ekAdaSi, SrI KrshNa jayanti, SrI RAma navami , amavAsyA and so on. All these would have regional / sectoral variants. That is the beauty of sanAtana dharma. Starting from Vedas, smrtis, dharma SAstras, sUtras, there are a lot of variations which are there from time immemorial. No one can ever make them uniform all across.

In the light of the above, in these matters the best way is to follow one's own tradition without adversely commenting upon others' traditions and practices. After all, doing upakarma with SraddhA on any of these acceptable days is better than arguing endlessly as if upakarma is being performed by the vipras for the first time ever in BhArata deSa.