Granthānvayam — Formal Admission to Sacred Text Study
Granthānvayam (Sanskrit: grantha = sacred text + anvaya = connection/joining; 'connection to sacred texts') is the saṃskāra (sacred rite) by which an Āchārya formally initiates a disciple into the practice of attending kālakṣēpams — the oral, line-by-line exposition of sacred texts conducted by a qualified preceptor.
Significance: Without granthānvayam, a devotee may be a sincere Śrī Vaiṣṇava but is not formally considered eligible (adhikāri) for the deeper, more confidential levels of service and learning within the tradition. 'Just as a student must formally enroll to attend a course, granthānvayam formally enrolls the devotee in the lineage of sacred learning.'
What Happens During Granthānvayam: The Āchārya formally receives the disciple and initiates them into kālakṣēpams of Tiruppallāṇḍu, Kaṇṇinuṇ Chiru Thāmbu, Bhagavat Viṣayam (Tiruvāimozhi with commentary), and the Rahasya Traya — the three rahasyams. After this, the disciple may continue to study under the same Āchārya or other qualified kālakṣēpa adhikāris.
Antaraṅga Kaiṅkaryam: Granthānvayam makes a devotee eligible for antaraṅga kaiṅkaryams — intimate acts of service such as tirumadapaḷḷi (cooking for Bhagavān, Āzhvārs, Āchāryas), performing thiruvārādhanam at temples and muṭṭs, and serving at the āchāryan's thirumaḷigai.