Holy Thread

[Sb1995]

Just wondering, do any of you wear holy thread (known as mauli in north Indian temples). I've seen typically that the north Indians wear the red thread and south Indians usually wear the black thread. What is the difference? Someone(north Indian) told me that black is not a good colour for Hindus and brings bad luck but I am curious because in South Indian mandirs Lord Ganeshji is depicted as all black and they wear black thread. I usually visit north indian style temples which is why I wear only red thread but once I wore a black one I received and someone told me to take it off so I did

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

I always wear the red/yellow tread, and I give it also as prasad to people that hire me to do pûja or samskar for them. I never heard about the black tread however... I can't really help you on this one, sorry :/ I'm not sure, but I think in south india black is not a unlucky color, it protects from evil.

 

[Sb1995]

If you visit any Saiva/south indian temple I'm 95% sure you will see people wearing black thread. I received it from a Saiva temple once for Archana. Their practices are much different.

 

[Sumit]

Just wondering, do any of you wear holy thread (known as mauli in north Indian temples). I've seen typically that the north Indians wear the red thread and south Indians usually wear the black thread. What is the difference? Someone(north Indian) told me that black is not a good colour for Hindus and brings bad luck but I am curious because in South Indian mandirs Lord Ganeshji is depicted as all black and they wear black thread. I usually visit north indian style temples which is why I wear only red thread but once I wore a black one I received and someone told me to take it off so I did

I wear Black thread around my neck and red on my hand.

 

[Vinayaka]

If you visit any Saiva/south indian temple I'm 95% sure you will see people wearing black thread. I received it from a Saiva temple once for Archana. Their practices are much different.

I have not seen this, although Ayyappan devotees wear all black. I have seen red threads on the wrist. In fact our priest was tieing one on a child yesterday.

 

[Sumit]

I have not seen this, although Ayyappan devotees wear all black. I have seen red threads on the wrist. In fact our priest was tieing one on a child yesterday.

In north India black thread is mostly used for Tantrik purposes.

 

[Vinayaka]

In north India black thread is mostly used for Tantrik purposes.

I have seen black threads tied across doorways.

 

[Sumit]

I have seen black threads tied across doorways.

To prevent from evil eye (if that's the right word to use in eng)

 

[Poeticus]

I have seen black threads tied across doorways.

To prevent from evil eye (if that's the right word to use in eng)

Why not just have a procession
that would ward off "evil spirits"?​

 

[Vinayaka]

To prevent from evil eye (if that's the right word to use in eng)

Yeah that's the reason ... or similar. I heard it was to keep negative forces out, sort of like the doorkeeper's job. BTW SB, I personally wear no threads.

 

[Makaranda]

Yes I wear red thread.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

What is the meaning of the red and yellow threads? I know that yellow threads are tied about the wrist during Ramnavami to celebrate the union of Rama and Sita, but I also know that young boys (and some girls) get the white thread at a certain age when they enter the "Student" stage of their life.

:camp:

 

[Sb1995]

What is the meaning of the red and yellow threads? I know that yellow threads are tied about the wrist during Ramnavami to celebrate the union of Rama and Sita, but I also know that young boys (and some girls) get the white thread at a certain age when they enter the "Student" stage of their life.

:camp:

Kalava - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In Hinduism 's many scripts have many religious stories about "Kalava" In the Mahabharata, Kunti tied a Kalava on right hand of Abhimanyu before his last day of war for divine protection. He was not defeated by many warriors as long as he wore the "Kalava" on his right hand. Lord Krishna wanted his death, as Kunti was evil in his previous life. Krishna thus sent a mouse to cut his Kalava and soon after, Abhimanyu was killed. Another legend has it that Lord Vishnu during his incarnation as Vamana tied a red thread on the hands of King Bali to grant him immortality and to rule the netherworld."

 

[Aupmanyav]

What is the meaning of the red and yellow threads? I know that yellow threads are tied about the wrist during Ramnavami to celebrate the union of Rama and Sita, but I also know that young boys (and some girls) get the white thread at a certain age when they enter the "Student" stage of their life.

That is 'yajnopavita'/'janeu', which the 'twice-born' men are supposed to wear across from the left shoulder all their life after the initiation. Unmarried with 3 strands and married with 6 strands. I do not know the explanation.

IMHO, this boy was given the yajnopavita a bit early. It is generally not before 7 years of age. There are observances which are considered necessary. That required a tonsured head, but perhaps his people chose not to do so. I face the same problem. Our two-year old will undergo the first tonsure, Mundana/Chudakarman. He has beautiful long shining slightly brownish hair which at the moment we make into a pony tail or plait. Looks very good on him. I suggested that a total tonsure be avoided and a symbolic hair-cut be given, but perhaps that would not be accepted by my wife and his parents. Dates April 14/15th. Party 19th evening. You are all cordially invited to bless Amogha (second image on his first birth day party). Last time the theme was 'Mogli', this time perhaps it would be 'Bal Hanuman'. He wants us to get a tail for him. We expect some 125 people, relatives and friends. I will inform you of the venue.

 

[Sb1995]

So does anyone know why north indians say not to wear black thread but in the south they wear it?

 

[Poeticus]

So does anyone know why north indians say not to wear black thread but in the south they wear it?

What I'm still trying to figure out, is
how old this notion of don't wear this
one particular color really is, and
if it always varied from region to region.
Knowing that South Indian priests
have usually been more traditional and
Veda-centric, I'd have to state that I
find them to be more credible.​

 

[Sb1995]

What I'm still trying to figure out, is
how old this notion of don't wear this
one particular color really is, and
if it always varied from region to region.
Knowing that South Indian priests
have usually been more traditional and
Veda-centric, I'd have to state that I
find them to be more credible.​

I agree. It's probably some Punjabi superstition..

 

[ShivaFan]

That is 'yajnopavita'/'janeu', which the 'twice-born' men are supposed to wear across from the left shoulder all their life after the initiation. Unmarried with 3 strands and married with 6 strands. I do not know the explanation.

IMHO, this boy was given the yajnopavita a bit early. It is generally not before 7 years of age. There are observances which are considered necessary. That required a tonsured head, but perhaps his people chose not to do so. I face the same problem. Our two-year old will undergo the first tonsure, Mundana/Chudakarman. He has beautiful long shining slightly brownish hair which at the moment we make into a pony tail or plait. Looks very good on him. I suggested that a total tonsure be avoided and a symbolic hair-cut be given, but perhaps that would not be accepted by my wife and his parents. Dates April 14/15th. Party 19th evening. You are all cordially invited to bless Amogha (second image on his first birth day party). Last time the theme was 'Mogli', this time perhaps it would be 'Bal Hanuman'. He wants us to get a tail for him. We expect some 125 people, relatives and friends. I will inform you of the venue.

Wonderful! wonderful! May blessing always be yours! What a beautiful child!

 

[Sb1995]

That is 'yajnopavita'/'janeu', which the 'twice-born' men are supposed to wear across from the left shoulder all their life after the initiation. Unmarried with 3 strands and married with 6 strands. I do not know the explanation.

IMHO, this boy was given the yajnopavita a bit early. It is generally not before 7 years of age. There are observances which are considered necessary. That required a tonsured head, but perhaps his people chose not to do so. I face the same problem. Our two-year old will undergo the first tonsure, Mundana/Chudakarman. He has beautiful long shining slightly brownish hair which at the moment we make into a pony tail or plait. Looks very good on him. I suggested that a total tonsure be avoided and a symbolic hair-cut be given, but perhaps that would not be accepted by my wife and his parents. Dates April 14/15th. Party 19th evening. You are all cordially invited to bless Amogha (second image on his first birth day party). Last time the theme was 'Mogli', this time perhaps it would be 'Bal Hanuman'. He wants us to get a tail for him. We expect some 125 people, relatives and friends. I will inform you of the venue.

Looking like a young prince

 

[Aupmanyav]

It's probably some Punjabi superstition.

'Abir' and 'Gulal', yellow and red, nice colors, happy colors, auspicious. We sprinkle that on the lingam at the time of 'abhishekam'. Actually threads of two colors are made into one thread and that is bound on the wrist. Or the thread is rolled with kumkumam (roli). The following is the only karma-kandi chant (while tying the thread on the wrist) that I remember from my childhood:

"Yada badhnandakshyayana hiranyam shatanikayah sumanasya mana, tadma abadhname shat sharaddhyaya rakshasya me keshavah pranadana vyanadana chobhayam lokaviram jivattwam sharadam shatam, twam jiva sharadam shatam."

Don't know if I have written it correctly. Also I do not know complete meaning.

Edited, now I remember the whole correctly.