August 10, 2006
Viya Varusham
Greeshma Rithu
Aadi Maasam 25-th day
Thursday
A Gayatri Yajnopavita Resolve
Om. It is Avittam (Dhanishta) nakshatra today. On this day, our thoughts go to next month's Avittam nakshtra day - the Avani Avittam day when we
change our yajnopavita sacred thread (poonal, poonool thread). On this day, without caste or creed considerations, everyone should wear the sacred yajnopavita thread.
Just like the vibhuti sacred ash and the kumkumam vermilion offer spiritual protection for those who wear them,
the yajnopavita sacred thread also is a sign of mature spirituality and protection. It should not be confused with caste or creed.
It has become a practice to change the sacred thread only once a year on Avani Avittam day. But this is not enough, say the Siddhas.
There are those who change their sacred thread every day. Those who do daily tharpan do this as a matter of course. But one should change
their sacred thread at least on every Avittam nakshatra day.
The yagnopavita sacred thread is the concrete, external symbol of our resolve to chant the Gayatri mantra
without fail. The sacred thread is a constant reminder of Mother Gayatri.
Every Avittam nakshtara day is a day for renewing our commitment to the Gayatri mantra.
So on this Avittam day today, change your sacred thread, renew your Gayatri vow and make a resolve to do so on every Avittam day of every month.
Of course, the yearly Avani Avittam ceremony should be conducted on a much grander scale as a massive, group pooja.
There is much significance behind the three strings that make up the yajnopavita sacred thread.
The three threads signify our sthoola (concrete), sookshma (subtle) and karana (causal) bodies.
They also signify mantra, yantra and tantra and our practice of the same.
The trimurti trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra) is in each of the three threads. There is one knot in it known as the knot of Brahma. This knot signifies the spiritual
ordeals that one must go through before one can gain knowledge of the Divine. One should meditate on these significances of the poonal sacred thread everyday.
Thus the sacred thread is itself an object of meditation.
This is why it is very important in the spiritual lives of all, without caste or creed consideration.
Since the sacred thread signifies Gayatri, the Mother of Wisdom, it also signifies vidya shakti.
In temples, the sacred thread should be changed for all deities in every pooja. But temples don't have the resources to do this.
So the Siddhas advise us to offer hundreds of yagnopavita sacred threads to temples.
This will bless one's children with vidya shakti.
Gifting sacred thread to temples and to poor people who would like to wear them can ensure spiritual protection for one's children
so that they may not fall into evil ways.
Even those who don't wear the poonal scared thread may adppt this practice of gifting the scared thread.
They will be blessed by gotradhipati rishis. Their progeny will be blessed with good habits and good character.
Keep lots of yajnopavita sacred threads with you. Whenever you pass a roadside shrine (Ganesh, Aiyanar, Karupanna Swami, Muneeswara), change the
sacred thread for that deity. Experience the mental peace and tranquility that results.
Change your sacred thread on this Avittam nakshtara day and renew your vows to Mother Gayatri today and on all subsequent Avittam days.
Meditate on the yajnopavita everyday and chant the Gayatri mantra a minimum of 108 times at dawn, mid-day and dusk everyday.
This will be a stepping stone to spiritual advancement.
Om.
