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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 ones knees while sitting on the
floor, or one may use ones 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 mata
"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. Paramahasas 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,
thats 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. Dont be such brahmanas, at least in our camp. You
must follow the rules and regulations. Dont show that I am now doubly initiated, sacred thread.
Dont 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 Deitys
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.