Why do Brahmins wear a white

thread(Janaeu) around their body?

What is its significance?
BY PRITI DAS APRIL 19, 2015

Hindu Santana Dharma is marked by 16 rites of passages called

Sanskars (Sanskrit: saskra). They are namely :
1.

Grabhaadhan: Conception
1.
Punsavana: Fetus protection
2.
Simanta: Protection of the pregnant Mother
3.
Jaat-Karmaa(Shasthi): Natal rite for development of
childs intellect
4.
Naamkarma: Naming the Child
5.
Nishkramana: Taking the child outdoors
6.
Annaprashana: Giving the child solid food.
7.
Mundan or Choula: Hair cutting.
8.
Karnavedh: Ear piercing
9.
Yagyopaveet: Sacred thread
10.
Vedarambh: Study of Vedas and Scriptures
11.
Samaavartana: Completing education
12.
Vivaah: Marriage
13.
Sarvasanskaar: Preparing for Renouncing
14.
Sanyas (Awasthadhyan): Renouncing
15.
Antyeshti: Last rite, or funeral rites
The sacred white thread called Janaeu or Yagyopaveet ( (Sanskrit:
,yajopavtam ) is a thin consecrated cord, composed of
distinct cotton strands, donned during the Upanayan Sanskar
( Sanskrit: , upanayanam)- the 10th sanskar of santana Hindu
Dharma. The word Upanayansymbolises , the sacred vision or
new vision, the vision to see things in a proper way & to discern
wrong & right .

The three strands symbolize

1. Acharya (Guru)
2. Maatha/ Pitha (Parents)
3. Forefathers/ ancestral root (Pithru)
It is worn on the body to symbolize that one should never forget the
above three.
Only after yagnopaveetham is done, a Bhramachari can perfom
Sandhayandhanam and recite Gayathri Manta. It is called as
Brahmmopadesam. This will be whispered in the ear by the boys
father in the presence of Guru. A yagyopaveet has three vritas
(threads). Every thread has three cords twining it and one knot. The
word yagvopaveet is made up of yagya+ up+paveet. Yagyo
vai Shreshthatam karma. Not the best but the best of best action is
called yagya. Up means near. veet means obtained, spread,
desired, cherished.
Thus, Yagyopaveet is worn with a desire to do the best. It always
kindles in one a strong motivation to follow the very pious and
sacred of ideals. Knot indiates the pledge. Wearing yagyopaveet
means a pledge to go doing the best always.
The length of the Yajopavtam 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.
The thread is donned upon with the recitation of the following
mantra:
Shraut smaart vihit nitya-karmaa anushthaan sadaachar yogyataa
siddhyaartham, Brahm-tejas abhivrittyaartham, yagyopaveet
dhaaranam karishye.

Wearing vagyopaveet is a holy sadhana. Sdhan (Sanskrit: )

literally a means of accomplishing something, is an ego
transcending spiritual practice. Therefore, yagvopaveet is worn
starting from left shoulder, passing over the heart and goes
backwards on the right ending in a knot.
Left shoulder is the base for carrying the load of life with tolerance.
Heart is the point of determination and faith. Back is a symbol of
commitment, Thus yagvyyopaveet represents the sadhana of the
purest of pure with determination, courage, faith, commitment and a
spirit of toleration.
Sa suryasya rashmibhih parivyat tantum tanvanas trivritam yatha
vide
Nayannritasya prashisho baviyaseeh patir janinam up yate
niskkritam.
One who wears the three threads for gaining knowledge, shines
with brightness like the rays of the sun, wearing yagyopaveet and
spreading it over his body. He carries along the new and fine
instruments of learning, becomes the master where knowledge is
being created and attains expertise and salvation for himself.
As has accurately been pointed out in the aforementioned answer,
the three threads of Yajyopavit (holy thread) signify the three
rins(debts) that must never be forgotten:
the debt to ones teachers ( , guru rin), i.e. those who have
taught the wearer;
the debt to ones parents and ancestors ( , pitr rin), i.e. those
who have nurtured the wearer and made possible his existence;
the debt to the sages/scholars ( , rishi rin), i.e. those who
discovered knowledge, both spiritual and secular, over the ages,
which now enriches the wearers life.
In some versions, the debt to the sages is replaced with debt to God
( , 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.
In brief, Yagyopaveet indicates that the child is qualified to perform
all the traditional vedic rites including Pitra Kriya & Tarpan for his
forefathers.
In addition the three strands also called Kaayaa Dand, Vaag Dand,
and Mano Dand also represent control over body, speech and
mind.
The threads are also said to stand for the Holy Trinity of Hindu
Dharmame scholars also consider the three threads to be emblematic of the
three Gun Sat, Raj, and Tam which can very succinctly be
described as below:
Thus vagyopaveet inspires the wearer to break the bondage of these
three gunas of Maya(Illusion) and lead a sinless life devoid of any
fear or temptations for carnal pleasures by immersing oneself in the
endless flow of holy determinations and actions.
Ud attamam Varun! Paisham asmad avadhamam vi madhyamam
shrattay.
Atha vayam Aditya! Vrate tavanagaso aditaye syam.
O Moon! O Sun! Make loose, open, break open all our bondages,
topmost, middle ones and the lowermost, so that we remain
innocent, free from all kinds of sins and live according to your rules
on this earth, integrated land, all over the globe.
Moreover after the Upnayan sanskar( sacred thread ceremony) does
the persons real life as a Brahmin begins for he undergoes
dwijatva or rebirth. Hence Brahmins have also been referred to as
the twice borns. During the ceremony, one takes the vow to follow

Yama Niyam (the path of ethical discipline) and hence treads on the
footsteps of dignified spiritual life- the very embellishment of
Brahminism and takes the pledge to devote oneself towards the
comprehensive knowledge( Samyak gyan) of the three realities of
this universe:
Atma- Soul
Brahma- Creator
Bhut( Prakrit)- Nature
Traditionally, the wearing of the sacred thread for the first time and
the ceremony itself also signified the Vidya Arambh Sanskar- ones
entry into Brahmacharya ashram i.e. embarkment upon the path of
formal education as well as spiritual elevation. In ancient times it
was the day when Brahmin children used to leave their homes and
entered the auspices of their gurukul (the abode of guru- ones
educator, mentor and guide).
Most importantly the wearing of Vagyopaveet marked ones initiation
of the Gayatri Mantra ( the most revered of all Vedic hymns) which
was whispered for the first time in the childs ear during the
ceremony. Consequently some allude the 3 strands of yagyopaveet
with the three parts of the gayatri mantra. Excluding the former part
(O bhr bhuva sva ), also known as the
mahvyhti(great
utterance) in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.11.1-8),

the gayatri mantra consists of the following three parts:

tt savitr vre (is)ya
bhrgo devsya dhmahi

dhyo y na pracodyt
A literal translation of the Gayatri verse proper can be given as:
May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the god:
So may he stimulate our prayers.
The Hymns of the Rigveda (1896), Ralph T. H. Griffith

Thus, we see that the Yagyopaveet carries immense significance in

the life of a Brahmin. Yagya denotes the pristine elevation and
hence every wearer of Shubhra vagyopaveet embraces the path
of pious radiance by actualizing the following pledges in his life:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

May my total life pass in perforamnce of yagyas!

May each one of my pranas pass with yagyas!
May my sight be one of yagya!
May my ears hearing be of yagya!
May my voice be of yagya!
6.May my mind be of yagya!
6. May my soul be of yagya!
7. May my bright-superior intelligence be of yagya!
8. May my life be of yagya!