yagnOpavIta

- translated to English from Sri Bannanje Govindacharya's article

yagnOpavIta dhAraNa

yagnOpavIta is a dIkshAbandha which is worn to signify a persons commitment towards karmAnushtaana (duties) that are prescribed in vEdAs. The three strings of yagnOpavIta represent the three vEdas, three qualities and three purushArthas namely dharma,artha, kAma. pavitaradu gantu(knot) in it is the indication of purity.

yagnOpavIta should not be above Navel. it should not be below it either. it should be in line with Navel.

If the yagnOpavIta a person is wearing is torn or if the person has ashoucha, on the day of shuddhi, one most wear a new yagnOpavIta.

BrahmachAri (unmarried man who has had upanayama ceremony) should wear one yagnOpavIta .gruhastha (married person) should wear a minimum of two. He could wear one more as a represntative of upper cloth and also for prosperity. wearing four is even more special.

Acamana needs to be done first, and then do sankalpa as yagnOpavItadhAraNaM kariShyE, it should be offered Idol of God , yagnOpavIta should be opened up, held in hand and one should chant gAyatri 10 times facing the Sun. Later while chanting the following mantra yagnOpavIta should be worn in such a way that it lands on the right shoulder.

|| OM ||

yaj~jOpavItaM paramaM pavitraM

prajApatEryat sahajaM purastAt |

AyuShyamagryaM pratimuMca shubhraM

yaj~jOpavItaM balamastu tEjaH || OM ||

Later old yagnOpavIta should be slid from donw and taken out.

it should be left in water by chanting the following mantra

upavItaM bhinnataMtuM jIrNaM kashmaladUShitam |

visRujAmi jalE brahmavarcO dIrGAyurastu mE ||

anEna yaj~jOpavItadhAraNEna madhwAMtargataH shrIgOpalakRuShNaH prIyatAm |

|| shrI kRuShNArpaNamastu ||