The Sacred Thread

Since time immemorial, different caremonies have been performed to greet the arrival of youth. the purpose of these caremonies is to acknowledge and prepare the youth for the responsibilities of life. Thus these caremonies arose from the civil needs of the community and over the years acquired a religious colouring. These initiation caremonies take many forms. Some of the more primitive tribes initiate their youth with tests of endurance and strength.

The Hindus however framed an initiation which was a departure from many of the earlier ideas. The initiation which took the form of a thread caremony for the boys which was a passport to the literacy treasures of the Hindus and a means of communion with society. By virtue of this caremony, the initiated ranked as Dvija or twice born.

In early times, the youth took himself to a teacher and announced his intention to become a Bramachari. The teacher then took charge of him and taught him the sacred Gayathri mantra.

The traditional thread caremony like all other Indian caremonies is fairly elaborate. It is an occassion for family and friends top come together to watch the child enter his youth. While different communities and regions have their own special elements, the essence of the basic caremony begins by seeking the blessings of the departed souls of elders in the family. This is common to almost any auspicious occassion in India. The boy is then made to have a meal with another boy who has already had his upanayanam. This was perhaps started to foster a relationship between the young boy who was being left in the ashram with the guru and an older boy who had been there for some time.

This is usually followed by the traditional Dhikbhavan on the removal of hair is then performed. the boy is made to sit facing east and the shaving of the head is done with the appropriate mantras for each side. The eastern side is shaved with a blessing for the boy to attain old age and long life.

The southern side goes with the mantra for long life, reputation and welfare. The western side for a long and good life.

Lastly the northern side is shaved with a prayer for a good appearance, a tranquil mind and long life.

Long life is an oft repeated prayer for there is a general belief that the removal of hair reduces longevity. The hair thus collected is disposed according to certain rites.

Today the shaving is more symbolic in keeping with more modern thinking and ideas. However the essence of the mantras remains unchanged.

The boy is then give a caremonial bath and dressed for the occassion. Fire like all other Indian functions is an important element here. A mantra is recited invoking Agni-"Oh Deva Agni who bestows life and has shining limbs that grow by the oblations of ghee; may you take the praise offered to you and drink the ghee resembling ambrosia and like a father to his son lead this boy to old age."

The boy is then made to stand on a stone and mantras are chanted which bless the boy with welfare, long life, wealth and happiness. A thread consisting of three ropes is then would around the hip of the boy. Made of a type of grass, this is believed to have medicinal properties.

The boy then requests the father to teach him the Gayathri mantra which is believed to be the basis of all other mantras. It is this that is the essence of the caremonies As the secrets of the mantra pass from father to son, the boy enters a new phase of his life. He is then declared a Bramachari and ready to participate in the soicial activities of the community as an initiated youth. The cord or thread he wears is generally worn from the left shoulder falling to the right hip and is composed of strands of cotton.

The caremony itself is usually conducted with much pomp and splendor. Although it is expected to be performed at an early and tender age, many now choose to have a quick and private caremony prior to the wedding. It is a necessary prelude to any caremony as it qualifies the boy to learn the Vendas or perform any rites.

What today is a caremony of primarily religious significance had its origins in the need for education. Very early on, people realized that education was essential for any advancing civilization. the education at the home of the guru following the upanayanam thus became an important social and cultural impulse in society.