Tattva-viveka
Brahmin thread
Madeleine Brodd - January 21, 2008 11:17 am
Why does ISKCON devotees use a six threaded thread instead of the standard nine threaded one? 
Syamasundara - January 21, 2008 4:20 pm
Maybe because of their absorption in politics. Ksatriyas wear 6 strands...
Vamsidhari Dasa - January 21, 2008 9:21 pm
Why does ISKCON devotees use a six threaded thread instead of the standard nine threaded one?
obviously because they are missing 3 limbs of bhakti 
Zvonimir Tosic - January 21, 2008 10:21 pm
Why does ISKCON devotees use a six threaded thread instead of the standard nine threaded one?
I'm not a brahmana, or ksatriya, but
is that so relevant for devotional service, the number of threads?
After all, devotional service is not a caste system that we need to distinguish ourselves with the number of threads or whatever else.
Syamasundara - January 22, 2008 12:05 am
You know what, I just noticed that mine are 6, too, because each bundle contains two 3-strand threads, and I forgot to split a second bundle for the third thread. So the real question is, why do they even sell them in pairs in India?
Anyway, it's not so important, which doesn't mean we shouldn't wonder or ask in public. There may always be a sweet answer, like for example, I noticed you took initiation in the Syamananda parivara recently. Why is your tilak different? The answer to that is very sweet.
Madan Gopal Das - January 22, 2008 1:40 am
I'm sure that Bhrigupada has all kinds of good info on this subject. I was wondering if you could tell us why 9 is what you call standard. That might help, because I think that different people have different reasons for the number of threads. I don't think iskcon really thinks about it so much or has a good reason. Likely it is because that is what is sold in Loi Bazaar! Some devotees who are a little into researching this stuff have said that there is one standard that a brahmacari will wear one thread (3 strands) a grhastha wears two (6 strands) because he wears one for the wife who doesn't wear the thread. I don't remember who under this logic wears 9 strands... But this is one of those technical things that has different explanations for different people with different goals. You know, Hinduism!!!
Nanda-tanuja Dasa - January 22, 2008 2:21 am
There are so many possibilities! The nine threads of yajnopavita can symbolize the nine practices of suddha-bhakti (sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, and atmanivedanam) or the nine islands of Sri Navadvipa Dhama (Antardvipa, Simantadvipa, Godrumadvipa, Madhyamdvipa, Koladvipa, Tudvipa, Jahnudvipa, Modadrumadvipa, and Rudradvipa) or the nine stages of developing suddha-bhakti (sraddha, sadhu-sanga, bhajana-kriya, anartha-nivrtti, nistha, ruci, asakti, bhava, and prema). Nine planets (navagraha) or nine Dravyas (earth, water, fire, air, ether, time, space, soul and mind), etc.
Syamasundara - January 22, 2008 2:29 am
Yes, Nandatanuja was faster than me (unbelievable!). I remember when I joined GVS, somebody telling me that here we wear 9 threads altogether, and every time we needed a bundle and a half, and used the odd thread to tie the bundle of... bundles. I just didn't know that in Iskcon they wear 6.
Syamasundara - January 22, 2008 5:08 am
Another question is: How did you put that 
next to the topic name?
Madeleine Brodd - January 22, 2008 9:43 am
Why does ISKCON devotees use a six threaded thread instead of the standard nine threaded one?
Thank you for the answers, actually it was one of my friends how wondered about this question, me myself is not very intrested, I think you can figure out why 
Syamasundara I think you can click on the post Icons to put a smiley next to the topic name.
All glories to all the devotees.
Babhru Das - January 22, 2008 10:16 am
I'm a little slow getting in on this one. I always guessed that ISKCON guys wear six strands (two 3's) because that's what Srila Prabhupada gave us, and probably what he wore himself. He didn't talk about it, although I remember hearing such discussions going way back. I think there are some ISKCON husbands who wear and extra set of three for their wives because of some idea that it's Vedic. As Madan suggested, I doubt that many in ISKCON think about it that much.
Vamsidhari Dasa - January 22, 2008 3:14 pm
a grhastha wears two (6 strands) because he wears one for the wife who doesn't wear the thread. I don't remember who under this logic wears 9 strands...
I guess I better pt two extra for my two wifes!
Syamasundara - January 22, 2008 4:54 pm
Who's the second?
Madan Gopal Das - January 22, 2008 5:43 pm
Who's the second?
Uh oh, I see a brawl starting here in Vamsi's harem. I always suspected him of spreading the love around. I'm your favorite right??? Please wear a thread for me Vamsi, please! What about Smeagol?
Vamsidhari Dasa - January 22, 2008 6:16 pm
Uh oh, I see a brawl starting here in Vamsi's harem. I always suspected him of spreading the love around. I'm your favorite right???
Of course I will for you two threads! 
Syama Gopala Dasa - January 22, 2008 7:25 pm
Where's Brighu when we need him?
I remember him saying last summer how indeed brahmacaris and householders would wear a different number of strands.
Madan Gopal Das - January 23, 2008 12:14 am
Heck, Bhrigu can even tell you how to make your own thread if you want. This is his kind of thread, about threads... Everybody go chant your mantras, he'll probably show up then.
Syamasundara - January 23, 2008 6:21 am
I prefer to talk about saffron strands, like on sandesh, or sweet rice, or pushpanna (God, I need to live in a place with a kitchen...).
So, Vamsi, your wives are Madan and Caitanya daya? I'm confused.
Caitanya-daya Dd - January 25, 2008 3:22 pm
Of course I will for you two threads!
I see how it is ... pushing devi out ...
Vamsidhari Dasa - January 26, 2008 1:03 am
I see how it is ... pushing devi out ...
there can be only one devi!
Bhrigu - January 29, 2008 2:53 am
Where's Brighu when we need him?
I'm in Koh Mak, Thailand, teaching Sanskrit and the Yogasutras at a yoga retreat, and haven't logged into Tattvaviveka before now. There are different standards for the brahmasutra. The classic system is one set of three for brahmacaris and two for grihasthas -- yes, the other one is for the wife. Wearing three times three is the Bengali custom.
Unfortunately I don't know know how to make your own thread, but I think I have seen the instructions somewhere (Mahanidhi Maharaja's Gayatri-book?). The tricky part is getting the knots right.
Shreekrishna - April 18, 2008 2:39 am
I'm in Koh Mak, Thailand, teaching Sanskrit and the Yogasutras at a yoga retreat, and haven't logged into Tattvaviveka before now. There are different standards for the brahmasutra. The classic system is one set of three for brahmacaris and two for grihasthas -- yes, the other one is for the wife. Wearing three times three is the Bengali custom.
Unfortunately I don't know know how to make your own thread, but I think I have seen the instructions somewhere (Mahanidhi Maharaja's Gayatri-book?). The tricky part is getting the knots right.
I was recently taught by a pujari to make brahmin threads for the deities. There are three "threads" each made of three strands each knotted three times (if I remember correctly!). So that makes nine strands in all. Yes, in ISKCON, the deities do wear 9-strand brahmin threads!
Another related question, how often is one expected to change the brahmin thread (barring undue wear)? I've heard every ekadasi as one answer, but this seems a bit over-enthusiastic... Any thoughts?
Bijaya Kumara Das - April 18, 2008 6:54 am
what does Guru Maharaja say?
Syamasundara - April 18, 2008 7:05 am
I can't give an official response, but the upavita is considered part of the body of a brahmana, also known as suci (clean). Unless the thread looks so worn and torn, or unclean (like saying someone who has been building a temple among redwood sawdust for month - you know who you are 
) and in that case it would be in the nature of the brahmana to change it for a new one (on an Ekadasi or full moon), why not change it when it breaks off? I also heard indicatively every six months, but that's connected to the fact that by then it may not look too spiffy anymore, so a brahmana, out of his sense of cleanliness and tidiness, would naturally feel like changing it.
Shreekrishna - April 18, 2008 10:51 am
As an aside...
In India, people born into brahmin families belong to a certain veda (which they perfect reciting). Each of these lineages changes their brahmin threads on one day of the year, called upakarma. So you can have Rig upakarma, Saama upakarma, etc. Now, changing it at other times of year, I've never heard this mentioned, but I'm sure it's done. I'm not sure which days, but I wouldn't be shocked if these differed for GVs since even the number for threads is different...
Bijaya Kumara Das - April 19, 2008 8:02 pm
This is from the Pujari hand book Guru Maharaja ask me to get for him from his Pujari friend:
Brahamana Thread
The brahmana thread is given to a qualified person who receives Vedic Gayatri mantra. It signifies that he has accepted a spiritual master and is qualified to study the Vedas. According to tradition, women do not wear the brahmana thread.
Keep your brahmana thread clean by washing it daily during your bath; do this not by removing it from your body but by rubbing it with soap and scrubbing it between your hands. While evacuating, keep the thread wrapped around your right ear. (Since all the holy tirthas reside in the right ear, the thread remains pure in that position even as the rest of the body becomes impure.) After this is completed, the thread may be restored to its normal position. One should not be without the brahmana thread at any time. You may wrap the thread around the waist while you shave the head or take an oil massage. When performing spiritual activities, the thread should hang from the left shoulder down to the right side. Although not entirely proper according to some Vaisnavas, it is common for Gaudiya Vaisnavas to wrap it once around the neck while performing ordinary duties, or when swimming, so that it does not slip off. Do not use it for carrying keys or other objects.
When To Change Your Brahmana Thread
You should change your Brahaman thread if even one strand of the thread breaks; if the knot becomes undone; if you attend a funeral ceremony; if you touch a women who has just given birth or who is in her menstrual period; after a solar eclipse. In all other cases you should bathe and put on clean clothes before putting on the new thread. To change the thread, have another brahmana put on the new one and chant Gayatri with both the old and the new thread wrapped around your thumb. Then remove the old thread by taking it down and out from under your feet. You may dispose of the old thread by throwing it in a river, lake or ocean.
om tat sat