The Sacred Thread in Hinduism...

Known as Yajnopavita, the sacred thread is a hand- Known as

Yajnopavita, the sacred thread is a hand-spun cotton thread worn across the chest and resting on
ones left shoulder (the stavya position of the thread) most commonly by the priestly Hindus.

This sacred thread of the Brahmins is made of cotton, that of a Kshatriya of hempen threads and that
of a Vaisya of woolen threads. The sacred thread finds its origins in the Vedic rites, as a garment
worn during the rituals. This is perhaps the reason why the first time it is worn (during a Upanayana
ceremony), it is attached to a piece of skin (known as krishajina). In todays Hindu society, the sacred
thread symbolizes the ancient history of the custom as well as the caste (Varna) of the person
wearing it. Wearing the Thread the First Time Wearing of the yajnopavita for the first time involves
teaching the young boy (known as vatu or understudy) the sacred Gayatri mantram and providing a
three-threaded yajnopavita. Boy Becomes Man The Hindu Ordaining Ceremony Brahmins mark
this transition with the Upanayanam Samskara (the sacred thread ceremony) and is usually
performed between the ages of seven and fourteen. If, for some reason, it has not been done during
this age period, then it needs to be completed before he gets married. This ceremony is a very
ancient one. So long the boy does not wear the janeo or the sacred thread, he could
not be reckoned among the Dvija (twice born).The janeo thread is not only worn by the Brahmins
but also by Kshatriyas and by Vaishyas. If a Brahmin wishes to become learned in the Vedas, he
should wear the janeo at the age of 5 years; if a Kshatriya wishes to gain strength, he should wear
the thread at 6, and for a Vaishya, if he wishes for success, he should wear the Janeu at the age of
8. After the man is married, the three-threaded yajnopavita is replaced by a six-threaded one,
symbolic of the additional repsonsibility. Typically women do not wear the yajnopavita (although they
may wear other sacred threads). However, practitioners of Arya Samaj philosophies practice
equalities of same sex and perform all rituals for both the sexes. Meaning of the Three Strands of the
Janeu: The janeu thread used by the Brahmins consists of three strands. There are various
interpretations of the three strands of the janeo. These are as follows :The three strands symbolizes
the Hindu trinity-Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Some symbolizes with Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi
and Mahakali. Some interpret with past, present and the future. The three qualities- sattva, rajas and
tamas. The three states- wakefulness, dream and deep sleep. The three dimensions- Heaven
(swarga), Earth (mrityuloka) and nether regions(pataloka). The most important of all is-ida,
pingala and susumna nadi, through which the kundalini energy manifests as prana and
consciousness.

Three debts: The three strands sometimes symbolize three debts (, rin) that must never be
forgotten: the debt to ones teachers ( , guru rin), i.e. those who have taught the wearer; the
debt to ones parents and ancestors ( , pitr rin), i.e. those who have nurtured the wearer and
made possible his existence; the debt to the sages/scholars ( , rishi rin), i.e. those who
discovered knowledge, both spiritual and secular, over the ages, which now enriches the

wearers life. In some versions, the debt to the sages is replaced with debt to God ( , dev rin).
Upon marriage, sometimes the number of strands increases to six, because the man is expected to
assume the debts of his wife as well.
#Different Methods of Wearing theThread :
There are different methods of wearing the Sacred Thread at different occasions. For example :
While performing an auspicious ceremony one should be Upaviti that is, the Sacred Thread should
hang from his left shoulder. While performing an inauspicious ceremony one should be Prachnaviti,
that is, the Sacred Thread should hang from the right shoulder. At times he is called Niviti when
the Sacred Thread is worn round the neck like a garland. The thread should be lifted and the upper
part should be put behind ears when a person goes for his daily ablutions or doing impure tasks.
Both males and females can wear the thread. However, the woman should wear it on the neck.
Otherwise, she may wrap it on a naariyal (brown coconut), and place it in worship place. After a birth
or death in the family,it should be taken out and then a new thread should be worn 15
days after the event. Old, or broken thread should be replaced etc.
The
Thread
Changing
Festival
:
A full-moon day of the year is observed by those who wear the sacred thread (typically brahmins and
followers of Arya Samaj) as a day of spiritual renewal and the thread the ritually replaced by new
one.
When on ones shoulder, it it the persons responsibility to keep the thread clean (washing every time
one takes a bath) and honor it.
and Apastavyam :
There are essentially two positions of the thread on a person. The Stavya position, is the default one,
is when the thread us hanging from left shoulder. If you study most Hindu idols of worship you will
notice this position of the thread.
The opposite position, hanging from the right shoulder is called the exceptional position and is used
during funerals and when answering natures calls. cotton thread worn across the chest and resting
on ones left shoulder (the stavya position of the thread) most commonly by the priestly Hindus.
This sacred thread of the Brahmins is made of cotton, that of a Kshatriya of hempen threads and that
of a Vaisya of woollen threads.
The sacred thread finds its origins in the Vedic rites, as a garment worn during the rituals. This is
perhaps the reason why the first time it is worn (during a Upanayana ceremony), it is attached to a
piece of skin (known as krishajina). In todays Hindu society, the sacred thread symbolizes the
ancient history of the custom as well as the caste (Varna) of the person wearing it. Wearing the
Thread the First Time Wearing of the yajnopavita for the first time involves teaching the young boy
(known as vatu or understudy) the sacred Gayatri mantram and providing a three-threaded
yajnopavita.

Boy Becomes Man The Hindu Ordaining Ceremony Brahmins mark this transition with the
Upanayanam Samskara (the sacred thread ceremony) and is usually performed between the ages
of seven and fourteen. If, for some reason, it has not been done during this age period, then it needs
to be completed before he gets married. This ceremony is a very ancient one. So long the boy does
not wear the janeo or the sacred thread, he could not be reckoned among the Dvija (twice born).
The janeo thread is not only worn by the brahmins but also by Kshatriyas and by Vaishyas. If a
Brahmin wishes to become learned in the Vedas, he should wear the janeo at the age of 5 years; if a
Kshatriya wishes to gain strength, he should wear the thread at 6, and for a Vaishya, if he wishes
for success, he should wear the Janeu at the age of 8.
After the man is married, the three- threaded yajnopavita is replaced by a six-threaded one, symbolic
of the additional repsonsibility. Typically women do not wear the yajnopavita (although they may wear
other sacred threads). However, practitioners of Arya Samaj philosophies practice equalities of same
sex and perform all rituals for both the sexes.
of the Three Strands of the Janeu:
The janeu thread used by the Brahmins consists of three strands. There are various interpretations
of the three strands of the janeo. These are as follows : The three strands symbolizes the Hindu
trinity-Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Some symbolizes with Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi and
Mahakali. Some interpret with past, present and the future.
The three qualities- sattva, rajas and tamas.
The three states- wakefulness, dream and deep sleep.
The three dimensions- Heaven (swarga), Earth (mrityuloka) and nether regions(pataloka).
The most important of all is-ida, pingala and susumna nadi, through which the kundalini
energy manifests as prana and consciousness.
debts:
The three strands sometimes symbolize three debts (, rin) that must never
the debt to ones teachers ( , guru rin), i.e. those who have taught
the debt to ones parents and ancestors ( , pitr rin), i.e. those who have
wearer and made possible his existence; the debt to the sages/scholars ( ,
those
who
discovered
knowledge,
both
spiritual
and
secular,
ages, which now enriches the wearers life.

be forgotten:
the wearer;
nurtured the
rishi rin), i.e.
over
the

In some versions, the debt to the sages is replaced with debt to God ( , dev rin). Upon
marriage, sometimes the number of strands increases to six, because the man is expected to
assume the debts of his wife as well.

#Different Methods of Wearing the Thread :

There are different methods of wearing the Sacred Thread at different occasions. For example :
While performing an auspicious ceremony one should be Upaviti that is, the Sacred Thread should
hang from his left shoulder. While performing an inauspicious ceremony one should be Prachnaviti,
that is, the Sacred Thread should hang from the right shoulder.
At times he is called Niviti when the Sacred Thread is worn round the neck like a garland. The thread
should be lifted and the upper part should be put behind ears when a person goes for his daily
ablutions or doing impure tasks After a birth or death in the family, it should be taken out and then a
new thread should be worn 15 days after the event. Old, or broken thread should be replaced etc.
Thread Changing :
A full-moon day of the year is observed by those who wear the sacred thread (typically brahmins and
followers of Arya Samaj) as a day of spiritual renewal and the thread the ritually replaced by new
one. When on ones shoulder, it it the persons responsibility to keep the thread clean (washing every
time one takes a bath) and honor it.
#Stavyam and Apastavyam :
There are essentially two positions of the thread on a person. The Stavya position, is the default one,
is when the thread us hanging from left shoulder. If you study most Hindu idols of worship you will
notice this position of the thread.
The opposite position, hanging from the right shoulder is called the exceptional position and is used
during funerals and when answering natures calls.