The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram)
by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy | 1958 | 410,072 words
This page describes “symbology of the sacred thread (yajnopavita or pancavata)” from the part dealing with Nampi Arurar (Sundarar) and Mythology, viz. Puranic stories and philosophy. The 7th-century Thevaram (or Tevaram) contains devotional poems sung in praise of Shiva. These hymns form an important part of the Tamil tradition of Shaivism
Symbology of the sacred thread (Yajnopavita or Pancavata)
[Note: for the context of this text, see chapter 3.8 section IV.6]
The term Mahavrata has already been explained. The yajnopavita is called Pancavata: in Tamil Pancavati. The Saint who came to the Nayanar, on seeing the beautiful tresses of the bride worshipping at His feet stated, ‘Her tresses will be useful for our Pancavati’,
Having understood the meaning of this term, one finds this very term used by Arurar. He says that the Lord has the Pancavati on His chest, “Pancavati marpinar”. Arurar uses this, in juxtaposition with the other technical term ‘Pacupgtar wearing in profusely the sacred ashes, according to the description of the Pasupata vrata of the Atarva Shiras and wearing the loin cloth and the waist cord. The poet’s other reference to Pancavati is more explanatory: ‘He with the chest adorned with the Pancavati with grey hair interspersed amidst (black) hair’—“Narai viraviya mayir tannotu pancavati marpan” This may also mean He has the Pancavati or yajnopavita along with the grey hair possibly of the ass, whose skin had to be worn with the hair appearing on the exterior though there is no such puranic reference available.
The poet refers to yajnopamta as “Purinul”, ‘the twisted thread’; he speaks of it as the white thread of embracing darnings—“Ilai taluvu vennul”. It is so characteristic that our poet speaks of it as that; it is on the body of the Lord—“Meyyatu puri nul’' He is the Lord of the sacred thread—“Purinulutai nampi”. It is pure white—“Venpurinul,” “Vennul” and it glistens—“Vittilanku puri nul’. Our author gives a poetic description of this beautiful sight of the sacred thread on the form of Shiva.
The Lord is red like the coral mountain and the sacred thread appears to him like a stream of crystal diving into this coral mountain:
“Palikkut tarai pavala verpil
Kulikkum pol nut”
In one place the poet speaks of “Pun nan avatar aravam” and if we compare the modern usage of “Pun nul” for the sacred thread we have to assume that the poet is contemplating a case of the serpent itself being the sacred thread of the Lord.