Why do we wear Janeu?????

Om Yajnopavitam Param Pavitram, Prajapatayertsahajan Purastat.
Ayushyamgryam pratimuncha shubhram, yajnopavitam balamastu tejah.

The sacred thread is also known as the Upavita (Upavita), Yajnasutra (Yajna Sutra), Vratabandha (Vratabandha), Balabandha (Balabandha), Monibandha (Monibandha), and Brahmasutra (Brahma Sutra). The tradition of wearing the sacred thread is very ancient. Instructions for wearing the sacred thread are given in the Vedas. This is called the Upanayana ceremony.

“Upanayana” means “to bring near or close.” To whom? To bring near Brahma (God) and knowledge. The sacred thread is worn during the Upanayana ceremony, one of the 24 rites of Hinduism, also known as the Yajnopaveet ceremony. Tonsure and bathing in holy water are also part of this ritual.

Those who wear the sacred thread must follow all the rules. Once a sacred thread is worn, it cannot be removed. If it becomes dirty, a new one must be worn immediately. Let us know about the religious and scientific importance of Janeu as well as its health benefits.

Who can wear Janeu?????

In Hinduism, it is the duty of every Hindu to wear the sacred thread and follow its rules. Every Hindu may wear the sacred thread provided they follow its rules.

Not only Brahmins, but every section of society can wear the sacred thread. Only after wearing the sacred thread does a twice-born child gain the right to perform yagnas and study independently. The term twice-born means second birth.

Celibate and Married: A woman who wishes to observe celibacy throughout her life may wear the sacred thread. A celibate wears a sacred thread with three threads, while a married woman wears a sacred thread with six. Of the six threads of the sacred thread, three are for the man himself and three for his wife.

What is Janeu?????

You may have noticed that many people wear a raw thread wrapped from their left shoulder to their right arm. This thread is called the sacred thread. The sacred thread is a three-strand thread. The sacred thread, known as “Yagnopaveet” in Sanskrit, is a sacred thread made of cotton that is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This thread is placed around the neck in such a way that it rests over the left shoulder.

Why three threads: The sacred thread consists of three primary threads. First, these three threads symbolize the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. Second, these three threads symbolize the debt to gods, ancestors, and sages. Third, they symbolize sattva, rajas, and tamas. Fourth, it symbolizes the three stages of the Gayatri Mantra. Fifth, it symbolizes the three ashramas. The sacred thread is removed in the Sannyasa Ashram.

Nine Strings: Each string of the sacred thread has three strings. Thus, the total number of strings is nine. One mouth, two nostrils, two eyes, two ears, and two for feces and urine, making a total of nine. We should speak and eat well with our mouth, see well with our eyes and hear well with our ears.

Five Knots: The sacred thread is tied with five knots, symbolizing Brahma, Dharma, Ardha, Kama, and Moksha. It also symbolizes the five yagnas, the five senses, and the five karmas.

The length of the sacred thread: The sacred thread is 96 fingers long. This signifies that the wearer should strive to learn the 64 arts and 32 sciences. There are total 32 Vidyas including four Vedas, four Upvedas, six Angas, six Darshanas, three Sutragranthas, nine Aranyakas. 64 arts like architecture, cuisine, painting, literature, handicraft, language, machine making, sewing, embroidery, weaving, handicraft, jewellery making, agricultural knowledge etc.

Wearing the sacred thread: When wearing the sacred thread, the boy holds a staff in his hand. He wears a single, unstitched garment. A yellow scarf is tied around his neck. After shaving his head, a tuft of hair is placed on his head. They wear wooden slippers, a belt and a loincloth.

Mekhla, Kopin, Danda: Mekhla and Kopin are combined. A cord-like thread that can be tied around the waist is called a mekhla. Mekhla is also called munj and kardhani. A mekhla is made from a long piece of cloth, a stitched cotton cord, and a piece of lace. The loincloth (kopin) is a loincloth approximately 4 inches wide and 1.5 feet long. It can also be stitched to a girdle. A stick or a roll resembling a Brahma Danda can be used for the punishment. The sacred thread is dyed yellow.

How do you wear Janeu?????

Wearing the sacred thread: Wearing unstitched clothes, holding a staff, a loincloth, and a yellow scarf, the sacred thread is worn with due rites. A yajna (sacrifice) is performed to mark the sacred thread’s completion, in which the boy wearing the sacred thread participates with his entire family. The sacred thread, sanctified by the yagna, is composed using a special ritual. This three-threaded sacred thread is worn permanently after initiation by a guru. If it becomes impure, it is replaced.

Gayatri Mantra: The sacred thread ceremony begins with the Gayatri Mantra. The union of Gayatri and the sacred thread is the essence of Dwijahood. The sacred thread has three threads, just as Gayatri has three steps. ‘Tatsaviturvarenyam’ is the first stage, ‘Bhargodevasya Dhimahi’ is the second stage, ‘Dhiyo Yo Na: Prachodayat’ is the third stage. Image of Gayatri Mahamantra – Yajnopavita, which contains 9 words, three stages, including three Vyahritis.

The mantra for wearing Yagyopavit is-
Yajnopavitam param pavitram prajapateryatsahajan purastat.
Ayushyagram Pratimuncha Shubhram Yajnopavitam Balamastu Tejah.

This is how the ritual is performed: Before beginning the Yagyopavit ceremony, the boy’s head is shaved. On the auspicious day of the Upanayana ceremony, the boy is bathed, his head and body are anointed with sandalwood and saffron paste, and he is made a Brahmachari by wearing the sacred thread. Then they perform homa (fire sacrifice). Then, the deities like Ganesha and others are worshipped ritually, the sacrificial altar is set up, and the child is seated wearing a garland and undergarments. Then, after chanting Gayatri Mantra ten times and invoking the gods, a promise is taken from him to study the scriptures and follow the fasts.

Then he is made to sit with children of his age and is fed Churma, then after giving him a bath, the Guru, father or elder brother recites Gayatri Mantra and says that from today onwards you have become a Brahmin, that is, you have become a believer of Brahma (one who believes only in God).

After this, the boy is covered with a deerskin, tied with a belt made of munj (girdle), and given a stick in his hand. After this, the boy begs for alms from those present. After dinner, he runs away from home with a stick on his shoulder, saying, “I am going to Kashi to study.” Later, some people lure him with the promise of marriage and bring him back. The boy is then accepted as a Brahmin.

When to wear the sacred thread: The Upanayana ceremony is performed on the eighth year of the child’s conception. Education begins only after wearing the sacred thread, But nowadays, with the end of the Guru tradition, most people no longer wear the sacred thread. Instead, they are offered it before marriage. But this is nothing more than a ritual, as they do not understand its significance.

Yatha-Nivini Dakshin Karne Yajnopavitam Kritva Uritpurishe Visarjet.
Meaning: It is necessary to keep the sacred thread on the right ear at the time of defecation and urination. Take it off only after washing and rinsing your hands and feet.

It is mandatory to wear the sacred thread before performing any religious ceremony, worship, yajna, etc.

Marriage is not permitted until the sacred thread is worn.

The sacred thread is worn whenever one urinates or defecates.

Time for the sacred thread ceremony: The six months from Magha to the beginning of the month of Rama are suitable for the Upanayana ceremony. The dates of the first, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, thirteenth, fourteenth, full moon, and new moon are often omitted. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are the best days of the week, Sunday is moderate, and Monday is less favorable. However, Tuesday and Saturday are considered inauspicious.

Auspicious times: Among the nakshatras, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Pushya, Ghanishta, Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Shravan, and Ravati are considered auspicious. As a rule, all nakshatras except Bharani, Krittika, Magha, Vishakha, Jyeshtha, and Shatatara are auspicious for everyone.

PS: Purvashadha, Ashwini, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Shravan, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha, Jyestha, Purva Phalguni, Mrigashira, Pushya, Revati and all three Uttara Nakshatra Dwitiya, Tritiya, Panchami, Dashami, Ekadasi, and Dwadasi dates, Ravi, Venus, Upanayana i.e. Yagyopavit i.e. Janeu Sanskar is auspicious on Thursday and Monday, Shukla Paksha, Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus, Virgo and Gemini zodiac signs during the time of Sun in Uttarayan.

Rules of Janeu?????

1. The sacred thread should be placed over the right ear before defecating or urinating, and should be removed only after cleansing the hands. The literal meaning of this is that the sacred thread should be above the waist and should not become impure. This should be used to repeatedly reflect on one’s vow to observe a fast.

2. If any thread of the sacred thread breaks or is worn for more than six months, it should be replaced. A broken thread should not be worn on the body. If the threads become loose and dirty, it is advisable to replace them early.

3. It is customary to change it after the period of mourning for birth or death. Women without young children can also wear the sacred thread; however, they must change it every month after their menstrual bowel movements.

4. The sacred thread is never removed from the body. To clean it, it is rotated and washed while still around the neck. If it accidentally comes off, the rule is to chant one rosary as atonement or replace it.

5. To maintain the dignity of the idol, do not tie a bunch of keys to it. Make a separate arrangement for this. Only when a child is capable of following these rules should they be given the sacred thread.

Religious significance of the sacred thread: The sacred thread is called a vow. Without being bound by vows, human progress is impossible. The sacred thread is considered a symbol of devout devotion. That is why it is also called a formula (support). In religious scriptures, the Yama-Niyama principles are considered a fast.

Upanayana (Janeu) ceremony is very important for the child’s longevity and to become eligible for Gayatri and Veda recitation.

From a religious perspective, it is believed that wearing the sacred thread purifies and sanctifies the body. According to scriptures, the right ear is considered the abode of deities like Aditya, Vasu, Rudra, Vayu, Agni, Dharma, Veda, Apa, Soma, and Surya. Therefore, even just touching it with the right hand yields the benefits of achamana (drinking water). Achamana means the act of purifying oneself with water before entering a temple or performing a puja. In Islam it is called Wudu.

Dwija: To come out of the narrowness of selfishness and enter into the greatness of altruism, to give up animality and embrace humanity is called second birth. The body is born from the semen and ovum of the parents, just like other living beings. To pledge to embrace an idealistic life goal is to enter into true human birth. This is called twice-born. This means second birth.

Scientific significance of the sacred thread: From a scientific perspective, wearing the sacred thread is extremely beneficial. It is not only a religious commandment but also a harbinger of health, so it should always be worn.

According to doctors, the passing of the sacred thread near the heart reduces the chances of heart disease, because it helps in smooth blood circulation.

A person wearing the sacred thread is bound by rules. He cannot remove it after defecating until he has washed his hands and feet and rinsed his mouth. Therefore, he removes the sacred thread from his ear only after thoroughly cleaning himself. This cleanliness protects the person from diseases of the teeth, mouth, stomach, worms, and bacteria. This is why the sacred thread is most beneficial for heart patients.

Before defecating or urinating, the sacred thread must be tightly wrapped around the ears twice. This presses two nerves behind the ears, which are connected to the intestines, and causes them to open completely, Due to which defecation becomes easy and some fluid is released from a vein near the ear at the time of defecation or urination. The sacred thread stops its speed, due to which constipation, acidity, stomach diseases, urinary diseases, blood pressure, heart diseases and other infectious diseases do not occur.

According to medical science, the nerve in the right ear is connected to the testicles and genitals. Wrapping the sacred thread around the right ear while urinating protects sperm.

According to scientists, in case of repeated bad dreams, wearing Janeu provides relief from this problem.

By wrapping the sacred thread around the ear, the Surya Nadi is awakened in a person.

Wrapping the sacred thread around the ear also protects against stomach related diseases and blood pressure problems.

There is a natural line on the back of the body that is believed to act like an electric current. This line runs from the right shoulder to the waist. By wearing Janeu, the electrical flow remains controlled, which makes it easier to control lust and anger.

The sacred thread evokes a sense of purity. It protects the mind from evil deeds. Simply realizing that the sacred thread is on the shoulder helps a person avoid corruption.

Another hidden fact behind pulling children’s ears in schools is that it presses a nerve in the ear, triggering dormant parts of the brain. This is also the reason for wearing the sacred thread on the right ear.

The ritual of Yajnopati is prevalent in all religions: The ritual is still alive in some form or another in other religions. This Aryan ritual has been adopted by all religions for one reason or another. In Mecca, it is performed before circumambulating the Kaaba.

A close examination of the ancient Buddha statue at Sarnath reveals the subtle line of the sacred thread on his chest. This ritual is also performed in Jainism. The Vritra Mekhela (undergarment) is also associated with the Parsis.