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How to use and make a brahmana thread

G?yatr? Mantra

The word G?yatr? generally refers to a particular metre (chanda), often used in Vedic hymns. Vedic mantras, such as brahma-g?yatr?, are eternal, spiritual vibrations, representations of God in the form of sound (?abda brahma). A mantra is a combination of particular energies in the form of sound, and its recitation evokes those energies externally and internally. Every mantra is a combination of particular sounds, words, meanings, rhythms, and tunes. It has a predominating deity and a particular purpose. The potency of a mantra can fully manifest only if the chanter, having received it from a bona fide spiritual master (coming from a bona fide disciplic succession), recites it without impurities. At the moment of initiation, the spiritual master gives to the disciple a mantra from the Vedas and from the Pañcar?tra according to the tradition of the parampar?. Any mantra which is not received by a bona fide disciplic succession is considered to be impotent - samprad?ya-vih?n? ye/mantr?s te ni?phal? mat??

"If one wants to advance in spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from one of these bona fide samprad?yas, otherwise he will never successfully advance in spiritual life. " (Bhag.6.8.42.)

If the disciple wishes to worship a particular form of the Lord, he must receive the proper mantras from his spiritual master, or from a devotee or scripture authorized by him. By chanting these mantras for japa and arcana, a disciple who is not under the control of ignorance realizes the relationship between the spiritual meaning of the mantra, and the identity of the deity being worshipped.

One must know the meaning of the mantra which he is reciting; without knowing the meaning of a mantra, one cannot reach the goal. (Yajñavalkya-sm?ti).

Upav?ta

The sacred thread is given by the spiritual master (in vedic tradition by the father) along with instructions about how to chant the brahma-g?yatr?-mantra, its meaning, and the rules of conduct for life as a brahmac?ri. The sacred thread and the cloth worn on the upper body symbolise spiritual qualification and vaidika initiation (admission to the twice born status of the three superior var?as) for members of all ??ramas. Paramaha?sas generally abandon the sacred thread to demonstrate their renunciation of all var???rama designations.

The cords of the sacred thread are made up of three strands. If the upper cloth (utt?rya) is missing during a ceremony, the third cord of the upav?ta takes its place. The sacred thread must be made by a brahma?a or brahma?? and tied with a brahma-granthi knot. The dangling part of the upav?ta must be tied under the navel, not on the chest (according to Katy?yana). Traditionally, students of the g-Veda wore it between the chest and the navel; students of the Yajur-Veda at navel level, and students of the Sama-Veda at elbow level.

The upav?ta must be changed when contaminated or spoiled. Although there is no reference in the scriptures about winding the upav?ta around the thumb while chanting G?yatr? or during acamana and p?ja, it is common practice in Bengal. It can be done, but it is not compulsory.

One should not be without upav?ta at any moment and must never allow it to come into contact with contaminated objects. It is a great offense to break the upav?ta of another brahmana, for which one must execute praya?citta (great austerities to atone sins). While passing urine or stool, the sacred thread must be placed on the right ear, which is considered to be as good as a t?rtha (always pure) and thus remains suci, although the body is muci. Otherwise it will be considered contaminated. After ?auca (purification/ taking a shower) the upav?ta can be again placed in its usual position (on the left side). If the thread is too short, it can be placed around the neck as a garland (while in the toilet).

The Scriptures give information about the appearance of G?yatr? devi in the form of time, for it is helpful for the meditation to chant G?yatr?-mantra at the proper time. G?yatr?-mantra must be chanted during the first sandhya which starts 24 minutes before sunrise and ends 24 minutes after. It is said that best is to chant when there are still stars in the sky, second best, when although the stars cannot be seen, the sun has not yet risen, and third best, when the sun is already in the sky.

To chant G?yatr?-mantra in one's home has a certain value; to chant in an open area is ten times better. To chant on the bank of or standing in a river up to the knees is a hundred times better, but chanting in the proximity of the Lord is infinitely better.

The best way to chant G?yatr? is mana?ika, in the mind. Yajñavalkya says one has to meditate on the sound of every syllable, on the meaning of every word, and of all the mantras, without moving the tongue or lips, without shaking the head or neck and without showing the teeth. The hands must be cleaned, and one must have brushed the teeth before taking the morning shower. The clothes must be dry and spotlessly clean. Tilaka must be worn on all the twelve parts of the body and the sika must be tied. G?yatr? should not be chanted on a bed, in a car, or with the back towards a guru, temple, m?rti, water, fire or a pippal tree. One should not wear shoes, doze, yawn, spit, look about or speak. If an important person such as an ?c?rya arrives while chanting G?yatr?, one must stop to receive him properly, and only resume after asking his permission.
 
 

Who is a br?hma?a? AND THERE IS a br?hma?a. What is the proof that he is a br?hma?a? He has got a sacred thread, that?s all. Or thread. It may not be sacred; purchased on the market. So at least we try to give a sacred thread by ceremony. But anyone can purchase a thread from the market, two-paisa worth or one-cent worth, and become a br?hma?a. ?You are a br?hma?a?? ?Yes, you see my sacred thread?? (laughter) Finished. ?What you are doing?? ?Never mind.? Don?t be such br?hma?as, at least in our camp. You must follow the rules and regulations. Don?t show that ?I am now doubly initiated, sacred thread.? Don?t cheat in that way. Excerpt from a Room Conversation, New Vrindaban, June 25, 1976


 
 

Method of construction

Here are the successive steps of making the upav?ta:

Wrap a thread three times around your knees (or one knee plus one object) and then hold the two ends between the fingers and thumb of the left hand. Make sure that all the strings have the same length.
Make a loop with one end, leaving about 10 to 15 cm extra. Keep all strings taut; keep hold at the place where the loop folds back along the other strings.
Wrap the other end of the thread perpendicular to the triple threads wrapped around your knee, three times. For each wrap chant one time the first line of G?yatr? mantra (brahma-g?yatr?) silently.              Put the end of the string which you have just wrapped through the loop. Pull the end which makes the loop, then pull the other end and tighten, making a simple knot. Twist both ends of the string in the direction the threads of the strings are turning, making them tight, but not so tight that they double over. Put the two string ends together and twist them, this time in the opposite direction from the direction you were just twisting them separately.
With the two ends make a simple knot about three cm distant from the first knot and cut off excess string. Now you can make the second half of the upav?ta in the same way, taking care not only that it is itself having equal length strings, but that it is equal in length to the first half. To do this, it is best to keep the first half in the same position as you have made it (around your knees, or around a knee and a pot, for example) and wrap the second half on top of the first. By pulling the two halves separately with the same force (before making the first knot in the second half) you will see whether they are equal. If not, make the necessary adjustment on the second half, then tie the first knot. To tie a completed upav?ta into a storable condition (as one gets them from the shop!) simply fold it in half, looping both ends of the upav?ta around the left forefinger and putting the forefinger of your right hand through the loop made by the fold; twist the folded end in one direction several times, such that it coils around itself; finally, insert the folded end through the loop through which the left forefinger was inserted. Before wearing the thread, you may offer it to Lord Caitanya or Lord K???a in His Deity form by placing it at the Deity?s feet. Of course, upav?tas can be made for the Deities in the same manner, to the appropriate length.

© International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust 1998
Founder-?ch?rya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhup?da

 

How to put on a brahmin thread:

Proceedure for Yajur Veda Upakarma - Changing the Sacred Thread
When to do?

Ekadasi or if the thread becomes dirty or broken, or yearly on Yajurved Upakarma day.

“After dressing he would sit at his desk and put on tilak and say Gayatri mantra before taking lunch.  Today was a special once in a month opportunity because Srila Prabhupada would chant on the new thread while holding his old one. I walked into his sitting room and picked up his discarded thread only to discover that he had pulled apart each of the threads. He smiled at me and said, "The Brahmin thread, you have disposed of it?" He said, "You should bury it underneath the Tulasi plant in the temple courtyard. Put it in the dirt under the roots."” (Srutikirti dasa. Prabhupad Uvacha excerpt - October 1972, Vrindavan, India
Camp: Radha Damodara Temple)

How to change the sacred thread:
1. Sit down on an åsana (Face east in the morning and noon, and north in the evening)

2. Perform åcamana. Simple Åcamana:
om keshavåya nama·h - sip water from bråhma tîrtha of right hand
om nåråyanåya nama·h - sip water from bråhma tîrtha of right hand
om mådhavåya nama·h - sip water from bråhma tîrtha of right hand

(Optional) Special Åcamana:
om govindåya nama·h - sprinkle water on right hand
om vishnave nama·h - sprinkle water on left hand

om madhusüdanåya nama·h - wipe mouth with right hand
om trivikramåya nama·h - wipe mouth with right hand

om våmanåya nama·h - wipe lips with base of thumb
om Shrîdharåya nama·h - wipe lips with base of thumb

om hrishîkeshåya nama·h - sprinkle water on both hands
om padmanåbhåya nama·h - sprinkle water on feet
om dåmodaråya nama·h - sprinkle water on head

om våsudevåya nama·h - touch lips with right hand

om sankarshanåya nama·h - touch right side of nose with right hand
om pradyumnåya nama·h - touch left side of nose with right hand

om aniruddhåya nama·h - touch right eye with right hand
om purushottamåya nama·h - touch left eye with right hand

om adhokshajåya nama·h - touch right ear with right hand
om nrisinghåya nama·h - touch left ear with right hand

om acyutåya nama·h - touch navel with right hand
om janardanåya nama·h - touch heart with right hand
om upendråya nama·h - touch head with right hand

om haraye nama·h - touch right shoulder with right hand
om krishnåya nama·h - touch left shoulder with right hand

(om) tad vishnoh paramagm pada-gugm sadå pasyanti suråyah
          divîva cakshur åtatam tad vipråso vipanyavo
        jågrivå-gugm sah samindhate vishnor yat paramagm padam

3. Sprinkle some water from the pañchapåtra on your new sacred thread. Undo it and stretch it around your knees.

4. Remove the new sacred thread from your knees and hold it horizontally open with the palms of your hands. Turn the thread vertical so that your right hand is up and left hand is down. Your left palm should be turned downwards.

5. Chant the following mantra for putting on the sacred thread.

(om) yajñopavîtam paramagm pavitram
           prajåpater yat sahajagm puraståt
       åyushyam agryam pratimuñca shubhragm
          yajñopavîtam bålam astu tejah

6. Put on the new sacred thread.

7. Wearing both threads chant the Gåyatrî mantra and other mantras given to you by your guru ten times each – on the rekha - lines of middle finger, kanistha – little finger, and tips of other fingers.

8. Chant the following mantra for removing the old sacred thread.

upavîtagm chinnatantugm
      jîrnam kanmala düshitam
visrijåmi punar brahman
      varco dîrghåyur astu me

9. Remove the old sacred thread from the left shoulder. Bring it down to waist level and break it string by string with both hands. Dispose of it in the same manner as old prasadam, being placed in “a sacred throw out” (to be composted – never to be left laying around, or discarded improperly) (or may be disposed of as

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