How to use and make a brahmana thread

by Caitanya-mangala dasa (Sridhama Mayapur)

Although one can purchase "brahmana threads" (upavita) very inexpensively in the market in India, it is highly preferable for a brahmana to make them himself. Once you learn how to do it, with a little practice it becomes very simple. The main challenge is to make all strings equally long to avoid getting them tangled with each other. To make sure the strings remain equal in length, the upavita should be always taut while tying the knots. One may wind the upavita around one’s knees while sitting on the floor, or one may use one’s knee and another stable object like a heavy pot (preferable to two knees for getting sufficient length of the finished upavita). Although some devotees can be seen winding the string around one knee and a toe of the other leg when making an upavita, this is not considered proper.

Gayatri Mantra

The word Gayatri generally refers to a particular metre (chanda), often used in Vedic hymns. Vedic mantras, such as brahma-gayatri, are eternal, spiritual vibrations, representations of God in the form of sound (sabda 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 PaNcaratra according to the tradition of the parampara. Any mantra which is not received by a bona fide disciplic succession is considered to be impotent - sampradaya-vihina ye/mantras te nisphala mataƒ

"If one wants to advance in spiritual power, one must receive his

mantras from one of these bona fide sampradayas, 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.

(Yajnavalkya-smrti).

Upavita

The sacred thread is given by the spiritual master (in vedic tradition by the father) along with instructions about how to chant the brahma-gayatri-mantra, its meaning, and the rules of conduct for life as a brahmacari. 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 varnas) for members of all asramas. Paramahaˆsas generally abandon the sacred thread to demonstrate their renunciation of all varnasrama designations. The cords of the sacred thread are made up of three strands. If the upper cloth (uttarya) is missing during a ceremony, the third cord of the upavita takes its place. The sacred thread must be made by a brahmana or brahmani and tied with a brahma-granthi knot. The dangling part of the upavita must be tied under the navel, not on the chest (according to Katyayana). 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 upavita must be changed when contaminated or spoiled. Although there is no reference in the scriptures about winding the upavita around the thumb while chanting Gayatri or during acamana and puja, it is common practice in Bengal. It can be done, but it is not compulsory.

One should not be without upavita at any moment and must never allow it to come into contact with contaminated objects. It is a great offense to break the upavita of another brahmana, for which one must execute prayascitta (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 tirtha (always pure) and thus remains suci, although the body is muci. Otherwise it will be considered contaminated. After sauca (purification/ taking a shower) the upavita 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 Gayatri devi in the form of time, for it is helpful for the meditation to chant Gayatri-mantra at the proper time. Gayatri-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 Gayatri-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 Gayatri is manasika, in the mind. YajNavalkya 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. Gayatri should not be chanted on a bed, in a car, or with the back towards a guru, temple, murti, 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 acarya arrives while chanting Gayatri, one must stop to receive him properly, and only resume after asking his permission.

Who is a brahmana?

AND THERE IS a brahmana. What is the proof that he is a brahmana? 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 brahmana. “You are a brahmana?” “Yes, you see my sacred thread?” (laughter) Finished. “What you are doing?” “Never mind.” Don’t be such brahmanas, 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 upavita: 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 Gayatri mantra (brahma-gayatri) 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 upavita 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 upavita into a storable condition (as one

gets them from the shop!) simply fold it in half, looping

both ends of the upavita 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 Krsna in His Deity form by placing it at the Deity’s

feet. Of course, upavitas can be made for the Deities in the

same manner, to the appropriate length.

(Note: For further information about PaNcaratrika rules regarding chanting

gayatri and care of the upavita, see the ISKCON Deity worship manual

PaNcaratra Pradipa, vol1, pp. 47-51. - Ed.)

On the meaning of Vaisnava-diksa

It is offered by the acarya. It is the certificate that “This

boy has been trained up as a brahmana.” Therefore the sacred

thread is a symbolic presentation. Not that to purchase one two

paisa worth sacred thread and one becomes brahmana. No. Now, of

course, in Kali-yuga... Vipratve sutram eva hi. In Kali-yuga

this will go on. Vipratve. A brahmana, ksatriya, sudra,

brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya,.. Simply purchase one thread from

the market and get it on your body and you become... Vipratve

sutram eva hi. No, that is not actually. It is a qualification

and it is certificate... Similarly, one who has got the sacred

thread means that he has approached qualified acarya, and the

acarya has recognized him as brahmana. This is sacred thread,

not that purchase one sacred thread and get it and become a

brahmana. No. This is very important thing. First of all

educate, and then divide.

Excerpt from Bhagavad-gita lecture by Srila Prabhupada on April

4, 1974 in Bombay, India.