Yagyopaveet

Yagyopaveet (Thread Ceremony) The sacred thread ceremony - Installation of the principles of Indian culture - taking pledge to lead disciplines, dignified spiritual life. The most important sanskar for boys in their teens. It indeed gives "new birth" (dwijatva) to a person. The development of personality coherent with the dignity of human-being begins only after one adopts certain moral values and disciplines of humanity and enlightens his/her mind as well as inner self. The Yagyopaveet sanskar is performed to channeling this development. The initiation of the Gayatri Mantra and experiments of spiritual elevation is associated with this sanskar. The methods of performing this sanskar and propagated the universality of Yagyopaveet and Gayatri and made that knowledge available and attainable for all humans, without any discrimination of sex, caste, religion, creed, or social status. The discipline of maintaining shikha (hair knot) on head. This shikha is placed at a point, which is very important for positive impact of yoga and meditation. It lies at a special junction of many nerves, which are linked with intellectual processing and memory registration in the brain and is found to have a controlling effect on harmonious functioning of the endocrine system. Importance in life To understand its sanctity and significance one has interestingly and carefully to examine it. It is white in color. Its made up of raw yarn. There are three threads and each thread is further made up of three most tiny threads. The total length of a Yajyopaveeta or ‘‘Younie’’ is 98 fingers, with five knots on it that make the thread circular. In Kashmiri fingers mean ‘‘Mav’’. The white color of this sacred threads represents the Purity and Peace. Natural cotton fiber is used in constructing the Yajyopaveeta, because it does not cause any allergy to the body. The length as mentioned above has been fixed as the average human body is 98 in figures long in height. The three threads together signify our three debts we owe to the society. i. Rishi Rin, ii. Dav Rin, iii. Pitri Rin. The debt towards our parents for all their hard ships selflessness service and bringing us up, this debt (Rin) is to be returned by serving our parents in their needy hours-old age, and obey them. To keep them happy. But not after death. Rishi Rin means debt towards our true gurus and preceptors for true guidance, imparting knowledge and enlighten us, inspiration for good deeds by which others are not hurt. Dev Rin :- The Rin (debt) towards animate and inanimate deities. Animate devs are mother, father, True Garu all from whom you derive the value of life. Inanimate devs such as earth, water, fire, air, ether etc etc because they provide us with life giving resources. The oneness of these threads teaches us that we too must have oneness in our thought, word and deeds. There should not be divergence between theory and practice. Second thing of the oneness of these threads remind us that ‘‘Parkriti’’ or the entire universe has also three ‘‘Gunas’’ (Attributes) Satuguna, Raju Guna, and Tamo Guna. The cycle of life also has three aspects, birth, sustenance, and death which is the IIIrd description of oneness of three threads. The fourth description tells us that the Sacred threads keep us reminding our three eternal i.e God, (Parmatma) Soul (Atma) and Matter or (Prakriti) which all the three are indestructible. The three tiny threads of one thread and thus the total 9 tiny threads of a Yajyopaveet or ‘‘Younie’’ which Hindus use to wear, warns us about the body in which the soul stays for a particular period to be vigilant about the use of our nine exits. These Exits are two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth and two excretory out lets. The nine tiny threads of gaytri constantly remind us to keep these nine exits functional legally and never to misuse or abuse any of them. The gaytri Sanskar or Yajyopaveet ceremony as per Vedic guidelines were usually performed when a child started schooling in good olden days. His parents would also inspire him the importance of it. This ceremony can be performed at any stage in life for those who unfortunately have missed it. The sanctity of this sacrament is enhanced if one understands its meaning and obligation before embarking on wearing one. Method of wearing : It is worn on the left side shoulder round to the right side of the waist under the right arm which goes over the line of heart and ends at the waist line. Thus it becomes mandatory to perform all the duties you take oath at the time of ceremony. But what has been observed at present when such ceremonies take place, Yajyopaveet takers are not being explained by those who are supposed to. Vedas do not allow you to remove this sacred thread before the end of life. The sacred thread however is removed when one attains Sanyasa. If it is torn some where, one can replace it.