In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Upavītaka (उपवीतक) refers to the “sacred thread” and is used to describe Śaṃkara (i.e., Bhairava), according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess (i.e., Khageśī) said to the God (i.e., Bhairava), “[...] Give up the ash, the matted hair and the form with five faces. Give up the bones and skull and (all) else that is artificial. Give up (the practice of ritual) gestures, the Moon and the sacred thread [i.e., upavītaka]. [...]”.

2) Upavītaka (उपवीतक) refers to the “virtue of one’s sacred thread”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(The true teacher is dedicated to) truthfulness, ritual purity and cleanliness, compassion, and forbearance; [...] One who is endowed with such qualities is a Brahmin (vipra), not by caste or by virtue of (his) sacred thread [i.e., upavītaka] (and the like). These are the qualities of a (true) Brahmin. He who possesses them is a (true) teacher. Moreover, he removes error, and he reveals the meaning of the Kula scripture. Previously consecrated, (such a one) should always be made (one’s) teacher”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Upavītaka (उपवीतक) refers to the “investiture rite with the sacred thread”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.47 (“The ceremonious entry of Śiva”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “Then the chief of mountains caused the investiture rite with the sacred thread (upavītaka) for Pārvatī and Śiva with the Vedic hymns recited enthusiastically. Then Viṣṇu, the other gods and the sages entered the inner apartments of the palace of the mountain enthusiastically at the request of Himācala. After performing the conventional rites in accordance with the Vedic injunctions and the social customs they decorated Pārvatī with the ornaments provided by Śiva. [...]”.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Upavītaka (उपवीतक).—The sacred thread.

Derivable forms: upavītakam (उपवीतकम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Upavītaka (उपवीतक):—[from upa-vye] n. the sacred thread, [Kathāsaritsāgara; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Upavitaka in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Upavitakarman.

Ends with: Yajnopavitaka.

Full-text: Upavita.

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