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 Shravani ritual) ritual for the purpose of renewing it annually. Yajnopavita is the sacred cord invested to a student on the day of Upanayana and has to be worn at all times till the end of his life, unless he takes the Sanyasa Ashrama.

In modern times, the Upanayana samskara came to be addressed as Yajnopavita samskara. Although none of the grhyasutras contain the prescription of investing the yajnopavita, later textual authorities, mention this rite as an important part of the samskara after tying the mekhala (girdle) to the boy undergoing Upanayana.

It is called Sacred Thread or cord in English but the name does not signify many associated characteristics.

Origin of Yajnopavita

Early Vedic references such as Rigveda, mention about the Brahmachari and their characteristics. Yajnopavita by itself, during Upanayana, was insignificance in ancient times. It seems that the upper garment (a dupatta of northern India or the Uparane of Maharashtra) which was offered to the youth was the proto-type from which the sacred thread descended, though both the prototype (not used for yajnas) and the imitation (sacred thread) were retained by the later authorities during Upanayana samskara. Grammatically, Yajnopavita is an adjective and refers to something that was worn at the time of the yajna. यज्ञाय उपवीतं यज्ञोपवीतम्।

Bharatiya dress decorum and decency required that the upper part of the body should be properly covered when one was engaged in yajnas, danas and svadhyaya.

उत्तरं वासः कर्तव्यं पञ्चस्वेषु कर्मसु । स्वाध्याय-उत्सर्ग-दानेषु भोजन-आचामयोस्तथा।। (Baud. Dhar. Sutr. 2.3)

Yajnopavita denoted the upper garment when it was worn in the proper manner prescribed for sacred occasions. Taittriya samhita explicitly says that Yajnopavita means wearing the garment in a particular manner - when it is passed under the right and over the left shoulder, it becomes Yajnopavita as per the authority of Brahmana texts. The upper garment that was thus used was normally a, piece of cloth. But in prehistoric times when the art of spinning and weaving was not known, it was a piece of deer-skin. Taittriya Aranyaka states that it should be a piece of deer-skin, rather than a piece of cloth.

अजिनं वासो वा दक्षिणत उपवीय। (Tait. Aran. 2.1.1)

In the course of time when clothes became common the upper garment also became a cotton product, but earlier tradition of the deer-skin was, in a way preserved by continuing the use of a small patch of deer-skin on such occasions. In later times when Yajnopavita as a piece of cloth was replaced by Yajnopavita in the form of the thread, this piece of deer-skin was strung into it. This custom still continues at the time of Upanayana.

Significance of Yajnopavita

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.