manusmriti

LAWS OF MANU
education. The ceremony is performed when the boy is seven years old (Gharbheshu
ashtame varshe) in the Brahmin varna, at least 13 years in the Kshatriya varna. The
youngster is taught during the ceremony the secret of life through Brahmopadesam
(revealing the nature ofBrahman, the Ultimate Reality) or the Gayatri mantra. The child
then becomes qualified for life as a student or Brahmachari, as prescribed in the
Manusmriti. According to an appendix of the Manusmriti, girls were allowed to study
the Vedas in the previous kalpa(Creation). Orthodox Hindus, however, do not accept
this reference, because no Hindu canonical text allows this ceremony for a girl in the
present kalpa. However, some sects, especially Arya Samaj, perform this ceremony
for girls as well on the basis of this statement.Brahmins and Kshatriyas are called
dvijas meaning "twice born". A man of these castes is born once in the womb of his
mother and again during the Upanayana when he learns theGayatri Mantra. The
Upnayanam is practiced by the three higher castes in India.
The main point of having gone through the Upanayana ceremony is the wearing of the
Yajñopavītam on the body. The Yajñopavītam is circular, being tied end-to-end (only
one knot is permissible); it is normally supported on the left shoulder (savya) and
wrapped around the body, falling underneath the right arm. The length of the
Yajñopavītam is generally 96 times the breadth of four fingers of a man, which is
believed to be equal to his height. Each of the fingers represents one of the four states
that the soul of a man experiences: waking, dreaming, dreamless sleep and
knowledge of the absolute.
The knot in the middle represent the formless Brahman, the pure form of energy which
pervades all. The three strands of Yajñopavītam again represent the manifestation of
Brahman as Srishti, Sthithi and Vinasa. The sacred strands of Yajñopavītam illustrates
the fact that everything in the universe emerge from and then merge with Brahman.
Ancient texts refer to the wearing of the Yajñopavītam in three forms:
• Upavītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn over the left shoulder and under the
right arm. This is for Gods. Upavītam is also called savya (Katyayana Shrauta
Sutra, etc.).
• Nivītam', where the Yajñopavītam is worn around the neck and over the chest.
Nivīta form is to be used during Rishi Tharpana, sexual intercourse, answering
the calls of nature, etc., and during ancestor worship/funeral rites (Shadvimsha
Brahmana, Latyayana, etc.).
• Prachīnavītam is where the Yajñopavītam is worn above the right shoulder and
under the left arm. This is for Spirits and is used by men when performing the
death ceremonies of an elder. Prachīnavītam is also called apsavya
(Katyayana Shrauta Sutra, Manusmriti, etc.).
In some communities, later, at the occasion of wedding, a further three strands of
Yajñopavītam are added to make for a six-strand bunch. In some communities, the
custom is of one thread more being added at the birth of every child. In some
interpretations, these strands of Yajñopavītam are intended to constantly remind the
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