Why do Hindus wear janeu?

Photo by Church of the King on Unsplash

Janeu is a sacred strand of threads worn by orthodox male Hindus, which includes Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas.

Janeu has been a part of the Hindu culture for a very long time now. Temples are one of the most common places, in Indian society, where one can observe brahmin or the priest wearing a Janeu.

In this post, let's try to answer a few of the most common questions about this sacred thread.

Question 1: How are the Upanishads linked to janeu?

The ancient Vedas and Upanishads preach an important concept of samskara.

According to our Upanishads, samskaras are the basic means for humans to succeed in all the following aspects of their life:

1. Dharma, which means righteousness.
2. Artha, which means wealth.
3. Karma and Kama, which means work and pleasure.
4. Moksha, which means salvation.

The Upanishads state that there are sixteen forms of samskara. For the relevance of the post, we will be focussing on the tenth form of samskara, which is known as Upanayana.

The upanayana samskara, also known as Yagnopavitra, is a sacred thread ceremony that is observed between the ages of seven to fourteen years.

If for any reason, the ceremony is not performed in that time period, then it needs to be conducted before the person’s marriage.

Question 2: What happens at this ceremony?

Before wearing janeu: To maintain the sacredness of this thread, the brahmins perform the following activities:

1. Recite mantras.
2. Apply sandalwood paste to the thread.
3. Pour unboiled cow milk on the thread.

Once the ceremony is performed, the person wears this holy thread in an upward direction on the left shoulder.

It is believed, after the ceremony, the holiness of the thread manifolds. It exhibits positive vibrations that are beneficial for the person wearing it.

A janeu is not any ordinary thread.

One needs to take proper care of this thread and maintain its sanctity. Its sacredness could get affected if not appropriately worn or changed in case of any inauspicious event.

For example, in case of any birth or death in a family, the old janeu is replaced with the new one within a few days after that event.

Question 3: What is the purpose of this ceremony?

The purpose of this ceremony is to prepare a young man to share the responsibilities of the elders in his family.

Thus, the person wearing this thread can actively participate in his family rituals.

Question 4: What are the different types of janeu?

Based upon material

In Indian society, brahmins, kshatriyas, and vaishyas wear different kinds of janeu. For instance, the brahmins wear threads made out of cotton, the kshatriyas wear threads made out of hempen, and the vaishyas wear threads made out of wool.

Based upon the number of strands

Brahmins generally use a janeu with three strands. Many theories are explaining what the three strands denote.

For example, one theory suggests that the three strands represent Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Another theory suggests that the three strands represent Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kali.

It is also believed that the three strands represent the three nadis — Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. It is believed that through these three nadis, the kundalini shakti or the hidden energy operates in the human body.

Finally, some also say that the three strands represent the debt an individual owes in his life to the following:

1. One's teachers.
2. One’s parents and ancestors.
3. To the sages and gods.

Indicating marital status

If a person is wearing a janeu with three strands, it indicates he is a bachelor.

A married man wears a janeu with six strands.

Online References:

The following posts are also other useful resources on janeu:

Hindupratha, Speaking Tree, WeddingWire, The Ancient India

Reference Books:

Hinduism — Ritual, Reason and Beyond & Hindu Rites and Rituals