Information about Upanayanam

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Upanayanam, sometimes known outside India by the name, "sacred thread ceremony", is a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual. Traditionally, the ceremony was performed to mark the point at which male children began their formal education.

The ceremony is performed to young boys of at least 7 years of age from the three varnas of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya. The youngster is taught during the ceremony the secret of life through Brahmopadesam (revealing the nature of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality) or the Gayatri mantra. He then becomes qualified for life as a student or Brahmacharya, as prescribed in the Manusmriti.

According to the appendix of Manusmriti, girls were allowed to study the Vedas in the previous Kalpa (time unit) (Creation). Orthodox Hindus, however, do not accept this reference of previous Kalpa to be applicable for the present Kalpa, because no Hindu canonical text allows this ceremony for a girl in the present Kalpa. Some sects, esp.Arya Samaj perform this ceremony for girls also on the basis of this statement in the appendix of Manusmriti.

Yajñopavītam - the "Sacred Thread"

Brahmins are called dvijas meaning twice born. Once he is born in the womb of the mother and the next time when he learns gayatri mantra.


The hallmark of having gone through the Upanayanam ceremony is the wearing of the Yajñopavītam (Sacred Thread) on the body. The thread is circular, being tied end-to-end (only one knot is permissible); it is normally supported on the left shoulder(savya) and wrapped around the body, falling underneath the right arm. The length of the thread is generally 96 times the breadth of four fingers of a man, which is believed to be equal to his height. Each of the four fingers represents one of the four states that the soul of a man experiences: waking, dreaming, dreamless sleep and knowledge of the absolute.

Yajñopavītam has three threads (actually only one thread, folded three times and tied together) each consisting of three strands. These threads represent

• Goddess Gayatri (Goddess of mind),
• Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of word) and
• Goddess Savitri (Goddess of deed).

It denotes that one who wear the sacred thread should be pure in his thought, word and deed. The sacred thread reminds a Brahmachari to lead a regulated life with purity in his thought, word and deed. These threads also represent the debt that is owed to the guru, parents and society.

The knot in the middle represent the formless Brahman, the pure form of energy which pervades all. The three threads again represent the manifestation of brahman as Srishti, Sthithi and Vinasa. The sacred thread illustrates the fact that everything in the universe emerge from and then merge with Brahman.

Ancient texts refer to the wearing of the Yajñopavītam in three forms:

• One is Upavītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This is for Gods. Upavītam is also called savya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra &c.).
• The Second is Nivītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn around the neck and over the chest. Nivīta form is to be used during Rishi Tharpana, sexual intercourse, answering the calls of nature etc. (-Shadvimsha Brahmana, Latyayana, etc.).
• The third, Prachīnavītam is where the Yajñopavītam is worn above the right shoulder and under the left arm. This is for Spirits. Prachīnavītam is also called apsavya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra, Manusmriti, &c.).

In some communities, later, at the occasion of wedding, a further three threads are added to make for a 6-thread bunch. In some communities, the custom exists of one thread more being added at the birth of every child. In some interpretations, these threads are intended to constantly remind the man of his worldly responsibilities. 3 original threads (each consisting of 3) make up 9 threads, to which 3 are added for wife and 1 for children, making a total of 13 individual threads in some communities.

The sacred thread is supposed to be worn for the rest of one's life after the ceremony has been performed. A new thread is worn and the old thread discarded every year; the change-over ceremony is held on a specific date calculated as per the Hindu lunar calendar. Among Brahmins, this date varies depending on which of four Vedic Shakhas one belongs to.

The sacred thread has close and essential connection with the concept of pravaras related to brahmin gotra system, which reflects the number of most excellent Vedic rishis belonging to that particular gotra to which the wearer of sacred thread belongs. Generally, there are either three or five pravaras. While tying the knots of sacred thread, an oath is taken in the name of these excellent sages. The full affiliation of a Vedic brāhamana consists of (1)gotra, (2)sutra (of Kalpa), (3)shakha, (4)pravaras. (Example :) A brahmana named 'X' introduces himself as follows: I am 'X', of Shrivatsa gotra, of Āpastamba sutra, of Taittiriya shākha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named Bhārgava, Chyāvana, Āpnavan, Aurva and Jāmdagnya (This example is based upon the example given by Pattābhirām Shastri in the introduction to Vedārtha-Pārijata, cf. ref.).

Both the sacred thread and the Upanayanam ceremony are known by different names in different languages.

#	Language	Name of the ceremony	Word for "Sacred Thread"
1	Sanskrit	Upanayanam	Yajñopavītam
2	Malayalam	Upanayanam	Poonool (IAST: Pūnūl)
3	Tamil	Poonal	Poonal (IAST: Pūnūl)
4	Telugu	Odugu	Jandhyamu
5	Kannada	Munji	Janivaara
6	Hindi	Janeu	Janeu
7	Marathi	Munja	Zaanva
8	Konkani	Munji	Jannuvey
9	Bengali	Poita/Upanayan	Poita
10	Oriya	Brata Ghara	Poita
11	Nepali	Bratabandha	Janai
12	Kashmiri	Mekhal	Yonya
13	Assamese	Lagundeoni	Lagun
14	Tulu	Upanayanam	Janivaara
15	Gujarati	Yagnopavit	Janoi

Regional variations

The ceremony is called Munja in the state of Maharashtra, where the Marathi language is spoken. According to one lore, the ceremony and custom find their origin in the worship of Munja, a deity resident on Pipal trees. This deity is a bachelor and is worshipped throughout Maharashtra. In Hindu folk tradition, the Pipal tree represents knowledge. Upanayana has one more meaning, derived from Marathi words: Upa na (over/above)+yan am (it is), making for the meaning "that which is above (the shoulder)".

Modern Gurukulas

Upa+nayana also means taking somebody near(upa)knowledge.In ancient times, after the ceremony was performed, the child was sent to the Guru's house (Gurukul) for education, where the child remained until completion of education. Even today, there are many Vedic Gurukulas (traditional Vedic schools) which follow this practice with and without government help, without taking any fees from students (who must be brahmacharis).

References

• Vedārtha-Pārijata by Swāmi Karpātri,Published by Sri Rādhā Krishna Dhanuka Prakāshan Sansthan,Calcutta,1979;(Sañchālakas : Vedasāstra Research Centre, Kedārghat, Vārānasi)

See also

• Samavartanam
• Varnas
• Brahmin
• Brahmin gotra system
• Pravaras
• Rishi
• Shivalli Brahmins
• Navjote -- Zoroastrian initiation ceremony.