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Upanayanam perhaps better known outside India by the name "Sacred thread ceremony", is a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual. Traditionally, the ceremony was performed to mark the point at which male children began their formal education.
The ceremony is performed to young boys of 7+ years of age (and girls in some sects) from the three varnas of brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya. 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. He then becomes qualified for life as a student or Brahmacharya, as prescribed in the Manusmriti.
The Sanskrit word Upanayanam is believed to be derived from the word nayanam meaning "eye", prefixed with upa- ("auxiliary"), making for the interpretative meaning: bringing (the ultimate truth nearer in sight)
Yajñopaveetam - the "Sacred Thread"
The hallmark of having gone through the Upanayanam ceremony is the wearing of a Sacred Thread on the body. The thread is circular, being tied end-to-end; it is supported on the left shoulder and wrapped around the body, falling underneath the right arm. At the time of the ceremony, a thread consisting of three strands is conferred upon the novitiate. Later, at the occasion of his wedding, a further three strands are added to make for a 6-strand bunch. In some communities, the custom exists of one thread more being added at the birth of every child. In some interpretations, these threads are intended to constantly remind the man of his worldly responsibilities.
The sacred thread is supposed to be worn for the rest of one's life after the ceremony has been performed. A new thread is worn and the old thread 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.
Both the sacred thread and the Upanayanam ceremony are known by different names in different languages.
| # | Language | Name of the ceremony | Word for "Sacred Thread" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanskrit | Upanayana | Yajñopaveeta |
| 2 | Tamil | Poonal | Poonal |
| 3 | Telugu | Odugu | Janavaaram |
| 4 | Kannada | Munji | Janavaara |
| 5 | Hindi | Janev | Janev |
| 6 | Malayalam | Upanayanam | Poonool |
| 7 | Marathi | Munja | Jaanava |
| 8 | Konkani | Munji | Jannuvey |
| 9 | Bengali | Poithe | Poithe |
| 10 | Nepali | Bratabandha | Janai |
We see that the ceremony is called Munja in the state of Maharashtra, where the Marathi language is spoken. According to one theory, the ceremony and custom find their origin in the worship of Munja, a deity resident on Pipal trees. This deity is a bachelor and is worshipped throughout Maharashtra. In Hindu folk tradition, the Pipal tree represents knowledge. Upanayana has got one more meaning, derived from Marathi words: Upa na (over/above)+yan am (it is), making for the meaning "that which is above (the shoulder)".
See also
Samavartanam
External link
"Upanayanam"