Yagnopaveetham
Encyclopedia
The Yagnopaveetham is the triple stranded sacrificial strand of thread that is worn by those initiated into the Gayatri recital
. The three strands represent the three sandhya rites that are to be performed when the sun rises and sets and when the sun is at the zenith. The rites are in adoration of the Hindu trinity (Trimurti
): Brahma
, Vishnu
, and Shiva
. The purpose of the rites is to invoke the Gods to bless the novitiate to lead a good life at all times (past, present, and future), in all places (heaven, earth, and nether region).
Each Strand represent that the barer of the thread has STUDIED ONE VEEDA OF THE TRAYI VEEDA PER STRAND VIZ RIG YAJUS SAAMA, (ATHARVA was not considered as a Veeda at that period of time)
A Brahmachari - vatu - wares three stranded one yajnopaveeta, in ancient times even women too were considered to have rights to ware and perform sandhya vandana. Later that her part of responsibility is shifted to her husband, since then Man after marriage ware a pair of yajnopaveeta, one for himself and another of his wife's. He has to perform all vidhis and give his wife her part of the punyaarjane.
Gayatri
Gayatri is the feminine form of , a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. Gayatri is a consort of Brahma and the goddess of learning. Brahma married her when there was a need for a companion during a yajna. Brahma had to start the yajna along with his wife...
. The three strands represent the three sandhya rites that are to be performed when the sun rises and sets and when the sun is at the zenith. The rites are in adoration of the Hindu trinity (Trimurti
Trimurti
The Trimurti is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahmā the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver, and Śhiva the destroyer or transformer," These three deities have been called "the Hindu triad" or...
): Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, and Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. The purpose of the rites is to invoke the Gods to bless the novitiate to lead a good life at all times (past, present, and future), in all places (heaven, earth, and nether region).
Each Strand represent that the barer of the thread has STUDIED ONE VEEDA OF THE TRAYI VEEDA PER STRAND VIZ RIG YAJUS SAAMA, (ATHARVA was not considered as a Veeda at that period of time)
A Brahmachari - vatu - wares three stranded one yajnopaveeta, in ancient times even women too were considered to have rights to ware and perform sandhya vandana. Later that her part of responsibility is shifted to her husband, since then Man after marriage ware a pair of yajnopaveeta, one for himself and another of his wife's. He has to perform all vidhis and give his wife her part of the punyaarjane.