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== The Significance of the Sacred Thread, Yagnopavitham ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

 

== यग्नोपविथम् || The Significance of the Sacred Thread, Yagnopavitham ==

in  the Sravana month the many Indians perform the thread changing ceremony.tpractice of wearing a sacred thread. On your Upanayanam, this thread is given to you as a sign of committing you to schooling, education. It is a way by which parents tell you that you are now entering a phase where you have to stay fully committed to learning, avoiding all distractions.

in  the Sravana month the many Indians perform the thread changing ceremony.tpractice of wearing a sacred thread. On your Upanayanam, this thread is given to you as a sign of committing you to schooling, education. It is a way by which parents tell you that you are now entering a phase where you have to stay fully committed to learning, avoiding all distractions.

The thread you wear acts as a constant reminder and helps you to make sure that you stay committed to the cause you have taken up and also to avoid all distractions, which may come in your wake.

The thread you wear acts as a constant reminder and helps you to make sure that you stay committed to the cause you have taken up and also to avoid all distractions, which may come in your wake.

Similarly, when one gets married, there is an additional thread that gets added to the previous set. This is to condition one to stay on the path of societal norms of a married man who has to look after his family as well as support the community.

Similarly, when one gets married, there is an additional thread that gets added to the previous set. This is to condition one to stay on the path of societal norms of a married man who has to look after his family as well as support the community.

== Upanayanam ==

== उपनयनम् || Upanayanam ==

The etymological meaning of Upanayan- Upa means ‘near’ or ‘by the side of’ and nayanam means ‘by the eyes’. Therefore upanayanam denotes being by the side or supervision of a teacher. Upanayanam is typically performed at the age of 7 years, the time when a child is ready to start schooling. At that time, parents conduct this ceremony and then take the child to the Gurukula, school.

The etymological meaning of Upanayan- Upa means ‘near’ or ‘by the side of’ and nayanam means ‘by the eyes’. Therefore upanayanam denotes being by the side or supervision of a teacher. Upanayanam is typically performed at the age of 7 years, the time when a child is ready to start schooling. At that time, parents conduct this ceremony and then take the child to the Gurukula, school.

This thread ceremony, also called Brahma Upadesham (Brahmopadesham) is to prepare the child to enter school and the schooling phase of life (Brahmacharyam).

This thread ceremony, also called Brahma Upadesham (Brahmopadesham) is to prepare the child to enter school and the schooling phase of life (Brahmacharyam).

No, in older times every child, irrespective of varna/jati (loosely translated as caste in present times) at the start of schooling underwent this ceremony and went to Gurukula to study basic Veda and other subjects in line with their family profession or aptitude. So this particular investiture is meant for all, not just Brahmins.

No, in older times every child, irrespective of varna/jati (loosely translated as caste in present times) at the start of schooling underwent this ceremony and went to Gurukula to study basic Veda and other subjects in line with their family profession or aptitude. So this particular investiture is meant for all, not just Brahmins.

== did girls go through the Upanayanam ceremony? ==

== Did girls go through the Upanayanam ceremony? ==

Yes, girls too underwent such a ceremony. But post foreign invasion after the 12th century, when Bharat came under onslaughts, girls being physically vulnerable, were kept away from schools to protect them from the invaders. With that maybe the number of girls going to Gurukula reduced, thereby reducing the practice.

Yes, girls too underwent such a ceremony. But post foreign invasion after the 12th century, when Bharat came under onslaughts, girls being physically vulnerable, were kept away from schools to protect them from the invaders. With that maybe the number of girls going to Gurukula reduced, thereby reducing the practice.

The thread is changed every year to renew our commitment . Further from the hygiene point of view as the thread is made from cotton yarn, it needs to be changed atleast once a year.

The thread is changed every year to renew our commitment . Further from the hygiene point of view as the thread is made from cotton yarn, it needs to be changed atleast once a year.

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