Situations of accidental lapse in wearing yajnopaveetham and other questions

[Raghav K]

My pranamams to the members of this group!

I have had some of these situations happen to me and some of these happen to people who have reached out to me asking what to do in such situations. Reaching out to the elders and learned scholars of this group who can suggest appropriate measures based on pramanams from shastra/conduct of purvacharyas.  

I am wondering if anyone could advise on the prayaschitta to be followed in instances where there is an accidental lapse in wearing yajnopaveetham for a brief period of time such as cleavage during a shave/haircut when tied to the right ear, or if the yajnopaveetham gets washed away in an ocean tide when swimming etc. 

Another related question, can yajnopaveetham be changed before evening sandhya vandanam if there is any kind of impure contact during the day or does it have to be changed only the following morning? 

In general, if someone happens to be in a profession where there is a possibility of regular impure contact (such as a surgeon, an obstetrician, or a gynecologist) or happens to regularly go for swimming, or be in a back massage for a treatment for extended period (say 21 days etc), should the person change the yajnopaveetham everyday before evening sandhya or is there a recommended practice where probably removing it and rewearing it is likely against the scripture? Is removing even approved in the scripture?

If someone needs to travel for an extended period or be in a profession with continuous on-duty time, is the recommended practice to perform evening sandhya in the morning itself, or after the time has lapsed and whenever one is back home  and clean or if one can perform manasika sandhya at the required time (despite one's physical state of cleanliness) and then perform a prayaschitta arghyam whenever one returns home and gets clean? 

If sandhya vandanam needs to be performed in a place where the location/coordinates are not known per shastra, how should the sankalpam be said?  (for instance, the United States is being referred to as Krauncha dveepa, ramyaka varsha, aindra khanda by all priests but I have not so far come across a reference for the authenticity of such claim from anyone I have spoken to and the description of krauncha dveepa per various puranas/Mahabharata does not match the present day United States)

Thank you for your patience as I try to learn the right dharma and your guidance,

Warm regards,

Raghav 

[Mahamaho. Subrahmanyam Korada]

नमो विद्वद्भ्यः

यज्ञोपवीतधारणा --

Let us start with श्रुति (वेद) --

स्वाध्यायब्राह्मणम् is the द्वितीयप्रश्न of  तैत्तिरीयारण्यकम् (कृष्णयजुर्वेदः) - many concepts related to वैदिकसंप्रदाय are described there --  who should recite वेद - यज्ञोपवीतधारणा - why सन्ध्यावन्दनम् and how - वैदिकाचमनम्  - दानम् - कूश्माण्डहोम (प्रायश्चित्तम्) -  पञ्चमहायज्ञाः  - स्वाध्यायः -  अनध्यायाः etc. .

The following text is there  in the above श्रुति  with regard to यज्ञोपवीतम् --

अजिनं वासो वा दक्षिणत उपवीय दक्षिणं बाहुमुद्धरते’वधत्ते सव्यमिति यज्ञोपवीतमेतदेव विपरीतं प्राचीनावीतग्ं संवीतं मानुषम् ।

अमरकोशः (2 - ब्रह्मवर्गः) - उपवीतं यज्ञसूत्रं प्रोद्धृते दक्षिणे करे । प्राचीनावीतमन्यस्मिन्  निवीतं कण्ठलंबितम् ्।

Skin or cotton , if worn under right hand it is called सव्यम् / उपवीतम् - this is for दैवकर्म - सन्ध्यावन्दनम् - पूजा etc. . 

If it is under left hand it is called प्राचीनावीतम् for पितृकर्म (clear for those who perform  मासिकम् - आब्दिकम् / तद्दिनम् - पितृतर्पणम् ।

If it hangs from neck it is called संवीतम् / निवीतम् for all मानुषकर्मs - toilets - निद्रा - sex  etc. . 

भोजनम् is a दैवकर्म ।

While going out for job or any other work better to  be निवीती (having as निवीतम्) . So the question of अपवित्रता does not arise . After returning home

one may take bath - apply विभूति and proceed  with सन्ध्यावन्दनम् ।

1..... possibility of regular impure contact ...... change the yajnopaveetham everyday before evening sandhya or is there a recommended practice where probably removing it and rewearing it is likely against the scripture? Is removing even approved in the scripture?

No - one need not change everyday - should not be removed - not sanctioned . No  अपवित्रता if  निवीती ।

Suppose there may be a need to go for परामर्श (of dead) then one has to change before सायंसन्ध्या - go ahead with नित्यकर्म (सन्ध्यावन्दनम्) - next day morning change again .

2.If someone needs to travel for an extended period or be in a profession with continuous on-duty time, is the recommended practice to perform evening sandhya in the morning itself, or after the time has lapsed

There are two ways -- in the morning one may say देशकालशरीरवैपरीत्याशंकया सायंसन्ध्याङ्गार्घ्यप्रदानं करिष्ये - offer अर्घ्यप्रदानम् । After late return one may offer a प्रायश्चैत्तार्घ्यप्रदानम् - सायंसन्ध्याङ्गकालातिक्रमणदोषनिर्हरणार्थम् अर्घ्यप्रदानरूपप्रायश्चित्तं करिष्ये -- ’ओम् भूर्भुवः सुवः । तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥ ओमापोज्योतीरसो’मृतं ब्रह्मभूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् ’ ।

On a train / flight etc. one may offer मानसिकार्घ्यप्रदानम्  just like we do during अशौचम् (मैला) ।

3.If sandhya vandanam needs to be performed in a place where the location/coordinates are not known per shastra, how should the sankalpam be said?  (for instance, the United States is being referred to as Krauncha dveepa

Patanjali in महाभाष्यम् says सप्तद्वीपा वसुमती -- the issue is not discussed in श्रुति or स्मृति as far as I know । So instead of saying जंबूद्वीपे भरतवर्षे भरतखण्डे - one may say खण्डान्तरे | Similarly  तिथि etc - some people are compiling yearly almanac / पञ्चाङ्गम् for that part of the globe . If satisfied one may follow the same . 

आचारभूषणम् -- ज्योतिषार्णवम् - when to change the यज्ञोपवीतम् --

उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गे सूतकद्वितये तथा ।

श्राद्धकर्मणि यज्ञादौ शशिसूर्यग्रहे’पि च ॥

नवयज्ञोपवीतानि धृत्वा जीर्णानि च त्यजेत् ।

धारणाद् ब्रह्मसूत्रस्य गते मासचतुष्टये ॥

उपाकर्मणि चैतानि त्यजेत् जीर्णानि सर्वदा  ।

उपाकर्म (after उपनयनम् - to start वेदाध्ययनम् on श्रावणपूर्णिमा ) - उत्सर्गकर्म - जाताशौचम् - मृताशौचम् - श्राद्धकर्म - यज्ञादि (starting a याग , होम, पूजा etc.) -  चन्द्रग्रहणम् - सूर्यग्रहणम् -- one should  wear नूतनयज्ञोपवीतम् and remove जीर्णोपवीतम् । After four months one should replace the यज्ञोपवीतम् ।

Some people change after  क्षौरम् (cutting) also . Any doubt of अपवित्रता can also be a cause .

आचारहीनं न पुनन्ति वेदाः यद्यप्यधीताः सह षड्भिरङ्गैः - वसिष्ठस्मृतिः ।

Even वेदs , learnt along with वेदाङ्गs, cannot purify a person without आचार ।

धन्यो’स्मि

Dr.Korada Subrahmanyam

Prof of Sanskrit (Retd)

Adj Professor , Dept of Heritage Science and Technology

IIT , Hyderabad

Chairman , Bharateeya Vidvat Parishat

Ph:09866110741

https://sites.google.com/view/koradeeyam/home

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[Raghav K]

Respected Prof. Subrahmanyam garu,

Thank you for your response and guidance in this regard.

Kind regards,

Raghav

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