Sacred Thread

The sacred thread is made up of nine fibres. One deity is established in each fibre as follows.

1. Omkar,
2. Agni (deity of fire),
3. Nag (serpent),
4. Som (moon),
5. Pitar (ancestors),
6. Prajapati (deity of procreation),
7. Vayu (air),
8. Yama (deity of death) and
9. Vishvadevata (deity of the universe).

Three strands are created by twisting three of the nine fibres in each strand.

The three Vedas - Rugveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda are established on each of these strands. Three fibres are woven into one strand and the three strands are then knotted together. This knot is called the Brahmagatha (gatha means a knot) or the Brahmagranthi (granthi means a gland). [The knot of sacred grass (darbha) tied to a gold ring (pavitrak) is also called a Brahmagranthi.] It is the site of establishing the Atharvaveda.

The three strands represent the

three stages (ashrams) -

1. celibate student (brahmacharya), 
2. the married householder (gruhastha) and 
3. retired householder (vanaprastha); 

three fires,

1. the fire worshipped in the home (garhapatya), 
2. the fire placed in the south (dakshinagni) and 
3. the sacred fire lit for a specific spiritual purpose (ahvaniya) 

as well as

1. spiritual knowledge (dnyan), 
2. devotion (bhakti) and 
3. action (karma). 

The one who possesses all these three qualities gets the spiritual experience of Brahman.

Based on 96 items listed the length of sacred thread should be 96 times the breadth of a finger (angul).

तिथिर्वारं च नक्षत्रं तत्त्‍ववेदगुणान्‍वितम्‌ । कालत्रयं च मासाश्र्च ब्रह्‍मसूत्रं हि षण्‍णव ।।

Meaning:

1. 15 auspicious dates (tithis) + 
2. 7 days of the week + 
3. 27 lunar asterisms + 
4. 25 principles + 
5. 4 Vedas + 
6. 3 components (gunas) + 
7. 3 time periods (kals) + 
8. 12 months = 96. 

Thus, the length of the sacred thread (yadnyopavit) is 96 times the breadth of a finger (angul).

Comparative importance of various rituals

The ritual	Importance %
1. Supporting rituals	5
2. The resolve of the boy on whom the     sanskar is being performed	2
3. The resolve of the one performing the     thread ceremony	1
4. Installation of the deity of the pandal	1
5. Shaving the hair	1
6. Gifts from the family (a form of blessing)	1
7. The ritual of installation of the pot	1
8. Performing the thread ceremony	5
9. Wearing new clothing	1
10. Wearing the hide of a deer	2
11. Wearing the sacred thread	8
12. The resolve of establishing discipleship	2
13. A prayer asking for the Gayatri mantra	2
14. Learning the Gayatri mantra	2
15. Application of holy ash or tilak	2
16. Tying of the girdle	2
17. The ritual of holding the staff	10
18. The code of conduct preached by the       priest	10
19. A vowed religious observance to be       followed by the boy undergoing the       thread ceremony	5
20. Asking for alms	10
21. The ritual of generation of spiritual       intellect	5
22. Farewell to the deity of the pandal	2
23. Others	20
Total	100

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