Yajnopavita (यज्ञोपवीतम्)

Yajnopavita (Samskrit: यज्ञोपवीतम्) is at present understood to be the sacred thread, that is to be worn by the dvijas (twice-born classes) from the time of the Upanayana ceremony onwards. The popular belief is that the Upanayana ceremony is primarily intended for investing the boy with this mysterious thread, and the Upakarma (also called as Sravani ritual) ritual for the purpose of renewing it annually. Yajnopavita is the sacred cord invested to a pupil on the day of Upanayana.

जन्मना ब्राह्मणो ज्ञेयः संस्कारैर्द्विज उच्यते। विद्यया वापि विप्रत्वं त्रिभिः श्रोत्रिय उच्यते॥ (Brahma Purana)

Significance of Yajnopavita

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. Also, during the upanayanam you would have received the first lesson, i.e., the Gayatri Mantra from your first guru, who is your father. This is the Brahma Upadesham, counsel on the cosmos, from the father. This Gayatri Mantra is to be recited at least twice a day, at dawn and dusk, the time windows in a day considered to be most conducive to learning. This mantra is powerful and the vibrations it causes in the body and in the surroundings rejuvenate the body and mind with positive energy keeping them in good health and thus protected.

This thread is like a school uniform and gives you a sense of identity. When you wear a school uniform, your mind automatically gets conditioned and constrained  from indulging in acts that do not behoove school going children such as perhaps going to a bar,  discotheque or movies with the uniform on, this thread also conditions the mind and keeps one focused in their mission. It is not only school uniform, any uniform be it that of a soldier, a policeman or a nurse, conditions one to conduct oneself in a manner specific to the category / institution they represent, when in that uniform. This thread is like that. In that vain of thought, this helps us to be centered to our commitment at hand. 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.

Why do we need two sets of thread!

The other set is to remind him that in life one is always a student and has to seek knowledge that can help one journey through the various phases of life with ease and relish. 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.

Sacredness of Yajnopavita

यज्ञोपवीतं परमं पवित्रं प्रजापतेर्यत्स हजं पुरस्तात् । आयुष्यमग्र्यं प्रतिमुञ्च शुभ्रं यज्ञोपवीतं बलमस्तु तेजः । (Para. Grhy. Sutr. 2.2.11)

Importance of Yajnopavita

Post education the shikha and yajopavita continue to be maintained and are to be removed only if the person accepts Sanyasa ashrama. As for the Grhastha and Vanaprastha ashrama dharmas, Katyayana smrti states that

सदोपवीतिना भाव्यं सदा बद्धशिखेन च । विशिखो व्युपवीतश्च यत् करोति न तत्कृतम् ॥ (Katy. Smrt. Achara Adhyaya 1.4)

Meaning: Yajopavita should always be worn and the shikha has to be kept bound (in a specific way having the knots) or knotted. If shikha and the yajopavita are not present, whatever dharmik activities are undertaken they remain fruitless.

Positions of the Yajnopavita

The Yajñopavītam would have three positions.

1. Upavītam: The cord will be sitting on the left shoulder and hanging under the right hand. For all rites related to deities (Vedic) one should maintain Upavītam.
2. Prācīnāvītam: This is opposite to Upavītam, i.e. the cord would sit on the right shoulder and hangs under the left hand. This position is to be used while performing any rite related to forefathers (Pitṛkarma).
3. Nivītam / Saṃvītam: The cord simply hangs from the neck and this position is for any human activity such as sleeping, nature's calls, sexual intercourse etc.

Making of the Yajñopavītam: The Yajñopavīta should have three threads of nine strands (tantus) well twisted for each thread. A Brahmacārī has to wear a single Yajñopavītam whereas a householder should wear two or three.