Upanayana

File:Bengali Poite Ceremony.jpg

This picture shows the Poite Ceremony of two brothers is conducted in a Bengali Kulin Brahmin family.

Upanayanam in a Tamil Iyer household

Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge.

Significance of the Yajñopavītam

In Hinduism, a Yajñopavītam (Sanskrit: यज्ञोपवीतम्, yajñopavītam) is a thin consecrated cord, composed of distinct cotton strands, worn to symbolize the permission given to him to do Sandhyavandanam and Gayatri Mantra. The sacred Yajñopavītam is known by many names (varying by region and community), such as Bratabandha, Janivaara, Jandhyam, Poita, Pūņūl பூணூல், Janeu, Lagun, Yajnopavita, Yagyopavit, Yonya and Zunnar. The other Sanskrit term for it is Avyanga.

The sacred Upnayanam ceremony (Sanskrit: उपनयनम्, upanayanam) that invests the wearer with the sacred Yajñopavītam is often considered a socially and spiritually significant rite (or samskara). It has varying formats across Hindu communities and is also called by varying names, including Upanayana, Brahmopadesham, Munji, Munj, Janeu rasm and Bratabandha. Among Hindus, the ceremony was once associated with the higher castes.

Though far less common, it is sometimes conducted for girls. At a village in Bihar, Girls irrespective of caste, undergo Upanayana and wear the sacred thread.

In some regions of modern North India and also among a few South Indian castes, the ceremony is often conducted as an immediate precursor to wedding ceremonies, instead of during adolescence; in other regions it is almost always associated with adolescence; with regards to this it is very important.

Symbolism of the sacred thread

The strands of the sacred thread have symbolic meaning that varies by community and region. The sacred thread has three strands. A bachelor wears only one sacred thread; a married man wears two of them making it six strands. If the man has married and has fathered a child, he wears three, which makes nine strands.

Three debts

The three strands sometimes symbolize three debts (ऋण, rin) that must never be forgotten:

• the debt to one's teachers (गुरु ऋण, guru rin), i.e., those who have taught the wearer;
• the debt to one's parents and ancestors (पितृ ऋण, pitr rin), i.e., those who have nurtured the wearer and made possible his existence;
• the debt to the sages/scholars (ऋषि ऋण, rishi rin), i.e., those who discovered knowledge, both spiritual and secular, over the ages, which now enriches the wearer's life.

In some versions, the debt to the sages is replaced with debt to God (देव ऋण, dev rin). Upon marriage, sometimes the number of strands increases to six, because the man is expected to assume the debts of his wife as well.

Three devis

The three strands does symbolize:

• Maa Parvati ( Goddess of strength )
• Maa Laksmi ( Goddess of wealth )
• Maa Saraswati ( Goddess of knowledge )

Purity

The strands could represent purity in thought, word and deed expected from the wearer.

A Tulu Madhwa Brahmin boy during his upanayana ritual. The thin, yellowed, Yajnopavita thread runs from left shoulder to waist. Note the munja grass girdle around the waist. The peepal tree twig in his right hand marks his entry into the Brahmacharya stage of life.

Upanayana (lit. "leading closer" to the Brahma) is a version of the sacred thread ceremony which initiates the boy into the study of brahman or the Vedas. The word brahman is the ancient word for Vedas or, specifically, Vedic hymns and shall not be confused with the later philosphical concept of Brahman. Traditionally, the ceremony was performed to mark the point at which boys began their formal education. The ceremony is performed when the boy is seven years old (Gharbheshu ashtame varshe) in the Brahmin varna, at least 13 years in the Kshatriya varna. 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. The child then becomes qualified for life as a student or Brahmachari, as prescribed in the Manusmriti. According to an appendix of the Manusmriti, girls were allowed to study the Vedas in the previous kalpa (Creation). Orthodox Hindus, however, do not accept this reference, because no Hindu canonical text allows this ceremony for a girl in the present kalpa. However, some sects, especially Arya Samaj, perform this ceremony for girls as well on the basis of this statement.

Brahmins and Kshatriyas are called dvijas meaning "twice born". A man of these castes is born once in the womb of his mother and again during the Upanayana when he learns the Gayatri Mantra. The Upnayanam is practiced by the three higher castes in India[bramin,viswakarma,kshatriyas].

The main point of having gone through the Upanayana ceremony is the wearing of the Yajñopavītam on the body. The Yajñopavītam 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 Yajñopavītam is generally 96 times the breadth of four fingers of a man, which is believed to be equal to his height. Each of the fingers represents one of the four states that the soul of a man experiences: waking, dreaming, dreamless sleep and knowledge of the absolute.

It denotes that one who wears the sacred Yajñopavītam should be pure in his thought, word and deed. The sacred Yajñopavītam reminds a Brahmachari to lead a regulated life with purity in his thought, word and deed. This Yajñopavītam also represents 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 strands of Yajñopavītam again represent the manifestation of Brahman as Srishti, Sthithi and Vinasa. The sacred strands of Yajñopavītam 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:

• 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, etc.).
• 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., and during ancestor worship/funeral rites (Shadvimsha Brahmana, Latyayana, etc.).
• Prachīnavītam is where the Yajñopavītam is worn above the right shoulder and under the left arm. This is for Spirits and is used by men when performing the death ceremonies of an elder. Prachīnavītam is also called apsavya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra, Manusmriti, etc.).

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

Ancient Hindu texts specify an age for the Upanayana ceremony based on the caste (8 for Brahmins, 11 for Kshathriyas, 12 for Vaishyas (Manu Smriti sloka 2:36)). Upanayanam marks the start of learning of "Brahman" and Vedic texts. The age for Upanayanam supports this as Brahmins devote their life in pursuing the knowledge of "Brahman" and hence makes sense to start early and continue for a longer time. Kshathriyas, on the other hand, study additional skills and go through "Brahman 101". In the communities where three strands of Yajñopavītam are added at the time of wedding, there is another interpretation.

Once a student achieves a certain level of Brahma knowledge ("Brahma Vidya"), the guru adds three more strings signifying "graduation" and the student goes on to study. In South Indian wedding ceremonies, the addition of the three more strings is followed by "Kashi Yatra". This signifies the Yatra student intends for advanced study. At this point, the father of the bride convinces the youth to get married and then go to Kashi (Varanasi) with his new bride. In modern days, the ceremony is packaged in the wedding ceremony.

The sacred Yajñopavītam is supposed to be worn for the rest of one's life after the ceremony has been performed. A new Yajñopavītam is worn and the old Yajñopavītam 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 Yajñopavītam 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 the particular gotra to which the wearer of sacred Yajñopavītam belongs.

Generally, there are either three or five pravaras. While tying the knots of sacred strands of Yajñopavītam, an oath is taken in the name of these excellent sages. The full affiliation of a Vedic brāhamana consists of

• gotra
• sutra (of Kalpa)
• shakha
• pravaras.

For 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.)

Regional variations

The ceremony is called Munja or Mounji-Bandhana (lit. Tying of munja) in the state of Maharashtra. This name finds its origin in the name of a grass variety called Saccharum munja (Bengal cane). This grass is used to make a girdle that is tied around the waist of the child. In Gujarat, the sacred thread is known as the "janoi."

Upanayana has one more meaning, derived from Sanskrit words: upa (lesser)+ nayanam (to lead), meaning "lesser leading along".

#	Language	Name of the ceremony	Word for "Sacred Thread"
1	Sanskrit	Upanayanam उपनयनम्	Yajñopavītam यज्ञोपवीतम्
2	Malayalam	Upanayanam ഉപനയനം	Poonool (IAST: Pūnūl) പൂണൂല്‍
3	Tamil	pūṇūl/Upanayanam பூணூல்/உபநயனம்	Pūnūl(IAST: Pūnūl) பூணூல்
4	Telugu	Odugu,Upanayanamu ఒడుగు,ఉపనయనము	Jandhyamu జంధ్యము
5	Kannada	Upanayana, Munji ಉಪನಯನ,ಮುಂಜಿ	Janivaara ಜನಿವಾರ
6	Hindi	Janeu जनेऊ	Janeu जनेऊ
7	Marathi	Munja मुंज	zaanave जानवे
8	Konkani	Munji मुंज,मुंजि	Jannuvey जानवें,जानुवें
9	Assamese	Lagundeoni লগুণদিয়নি	Lagun লগুন
10	Bengali	Uponayon উপনয়ন	Upabeet, Poité উপবীত, পৈতে
11	Oriya	Bratopanayan,Brata Ghara ବ୍ରତୋପନୟନ, ବ୍ରତଘର	Poitaa ପଇତା
12	Nepali	Bratabandha ब्रतबंध	Janai जनई, जनै
13	Kashmiri	Mekhal معخل,मेखल	Yonya يoنيآ,योनया
14	Tulu	Munji, Noola Madimme ಮುಂಜಿ, ನೂಲ ಮದಿಮ್ಮೆ	Janivaara ಜನಿವಾರ
15	Gujarati	Yagnopavit યજ્ઞોપવીત	Janoi જનોઈ
16	Pahari	Janeyu जनेयु	Janeyu जनेयु
17	Sindhi	Janya जानया	Janya जानया
18	Punjabi	Janju जनजू	Janju जनजू
19	Sourashtra	Oduvam	Jenjam

Bratabandha in Nepal

At Upanayana ceremony of Nepalis

Two young batuks during Upanayan Sanskar.

A ceremony which combines chuDAkarma and upanayana is called Bratabandha (Sanskrit brata = promise, bandhan = to be bound) among the hill communities in Nepal.

A religious ceremony is held where most of a boy's head is shaved (except the very top) by his maternal uncle and performs rituals. It is a symbolic representation that a boy is mature enough to perform his duties as a brahmachari (that is to learn) and learn the traditional laws, ceremonial roles and rituals of their caste.

Red, white, yellow markings, Swasti, are made around a fire for protection and as an elaborate place setting, indicating where each god should sit when they join the ceremony. Offerings of fruit, money, cloth and rice, were made. Two Bhramin priests are required to perform the complex rituals.

Boys are given a secret mantra, which they are not to share with anyone. This mantra comes from the holy Hindu book, Ved. It is thought if the boys repeat the mantra every day they will be protected from misfortune.Also, the mantra is taken as the only companion or guide in the metaphysical journey towards becoming a Bramhan.

Traditionally these boys were then sent to ashrams of gurus to learn in a Gurukul system of education. Today it is only represented symbolically by letting the boys beg with the relatives or friends (esp. elders) at the occasion like the students in the Gurukul system in ashrams used to in homes). At this point, the boys who want to renounce family life and get to the gurus by running (though it is just pretended as doing so) is avoided by the mama (maternal uncle) who lures them to material world or grihastha by offering money. In that process the boy tries to run away by running towards the other side of the road. The boy promise to stay home and at the same time perform the karmas of a brahmachaari (studying, earning a living and performing religious rites). After this ceremony the boys are considered men (though not physically). They are given the Janai (yagyopavita, the holy thread from yagya) and are expected to keep with the rules and norms of full-age men. This promise, taken by wearing the janai, holds them in a bond. This gives its name Bratabhandha. From this point onward they are permitted to take an active part in religious ceremonies (pujas, last rituals, marriages, etc.). Non-veg is not allowed to the boy for a week or so who has just gone through his Bratabandha.

The ceremony culminates with the wearing of the Janai, a sash made of strings. Brahmins are given six strings and taught the secret gayatri mantra which is not to be repeated aloud. Chettris are also given six strings except some caste like giri and puri who are given three strings. In goa India also this same ceremony is performed like shaving of head till the end and stopping by mama (uncle).

Modern gurukulas

Upa+nayana also means taking somebody near (upain) 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).

See also

• Samavartanam
• Sikha
• Upakarma
• Varnas
• Brahmin
• Brahmin gotra system
• Pravaras
• Rishi
• Shivalli Brahmins
• Navjote, Zoroastrian initiation ceremony
• Kushti, the Zoroastrian sacred thread
• Izze-kloth, the Apache Native American sacred cord
• Bar and Bat Mitzvah—Initiation ceremonies for men/women in Judaism

References

• Vedārtha-Pārijata by Swāmi Karpātri,Published by Sri Rādhā Krishna Dhanuka Prakāshan Sansthan,Calcutta,1979;(Sañchālakas : Vedasāstra Research Centre, Kedārghat, Vārānasi).
• Shanti-kun, Haridwar:awgp.org; (Indian Scientific Religion basis).