Chapter 36 - Mode of performing the investiture of sacred thread

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agni said:

1. Having bathed in the morning and worshipping the guardian deities, (the worshipper) should enter the secret chamber and gather (articles) and place.

2. The articles (are) the dress, ornaments and perfumes which were offered in the consecration ceremony earlier. Having discarded the remnants (of articles for worship), the deity should be well-installed and worshipped.

3. One should offer the pañcāmṛta (five sweet articles), the unguents, pure and perfumed waters as well as dress, perfumes.and flowers.

4. Having offered unto the fire as done everyday one should pray to the deity and bow down. Having submitted one’s actions to the deity one should perform the naimittika (periodical) ceremony.

5. One should worship the gate-keeper, the pitcher ofViṣṇu and the varddhanī (vessel) and Hari. The pitcher (should be consecrated) with the sacred syllable ‘ato deva’ (and the following).

6. “O Kṛṣṇa! Salutations to you. You accept this sacred thread for the sake of purifying all and which yields fruits of a year’s worship.

7. You purify sins that had been committed by me. O God! the lord of celestials I will be purified by your grace.”

8. Having sprinkled mentally the sacred thread and the self, and having sprinkled the pitcher of Viṣṇu, one should go near the deity.

9-10. One should offer a sacred thread to the self, after having discarded the protective thread (tied on the hand). O Lord! Accept the sacred thread that has been made ready by me, for the sake of accomplishing rites so that there may not be any fault on me. The sacred thread (should be offered) to the gate-keepers, the seat and to the chief preceptors.

11. The garlands of forest flowers (should be offered) to the gods of inferior order with the basic formula. The articles should be offered to the heart etc. and ending with Viṣvaksena (an epithet of Viṣṇu).

12. Having offered to the fire the oblations placed near the fire for Viṣṇu and other (gods), and having worshipped, the final oblation should (then) be made with the basic formula for the expiation (of one’s sins).

13-16. O Lord! having Garuḍa as your emblem! Let this be your annual adoration with one hundred and eight or five Upaniṣads^[1] (and) with garlands of gems and corals, the flowers mandāra and others.

“O Lord! Just as the garland of wild flowers and the kaustubha gem (are) (worn) always on the chest, so also bear the sacred thread and the worship on the chest. Whatever has been done wantonly or unwantonly in the regulations of the worship let it become complete by the rite shorn of impediments.” Having worshipped, bowing down, and requesting them the purified article should be placed on one’s own head.

17. Having made offering to Viṣṇu the preceptor should be satisfied by (giving) the fees. The brahmins should be satisfied) by (giving) food, clothes and other things either for a day or for a fortnight.

18. At the time of bathing, having gone down into the waters, the sacred thread should be offered. Without any restriction, food and other things should be given (to others) and then one has to eat.

19-22. Having worshipped fire at the (rite of) dismissal the threads are removed. (One should then say) “Having thus duly accomplished my annual adoration O thread! you now go to the world of Viṣṇu having been permitted by me. Having worshipped Someśa and Viṣvaksena at the centre and having worshipped the sacred threads one should dedicate them to the-brahmins. As many knots as there are in that thread (one will) live gloriously for so many thousands of years in the world of Viṣṇu. One will get release (from bondage) after having redeemed hundreds of his ancestors the ten preceding and the ten succeeding and having established them in the world of Viṣṇu.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The mystical writings ascertaining the meaning of the Vedas.