Poonal length

[Vijay Kumar]

How to make sure that the poonal is naabhi samam ? Is the right side that has to be at navel level ie where it hangs or is there some way to check the correct length....sastra s warn not to wear it too long or too short...can someone explain ? I see many wearing it well below navel....regards

[Padmanabhan.J]

Re: Poonal length

Sri.Vijay Kumar Sir

Thanks for posting this Thread.

The length of the thread is generally 96 times the breadth of four fingers of a man, which is believed to be equal to his height. Each of the four fingers represents one of the four states that the soul of a man experiences: waking, dreaming, dreamless sleep and knowledge of the absolute.
Yajñopavītam has three threads (actually only one thread, folded three times and tied together) each consisting of three strands. These threads represent:

• Goddess Gayatri (Goddess of mind),
• Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of word) and
• Goddess Savitri (Goddess of deed).

It denotes that one who wears the sacred thread should be pure in his thought, word and deed.
Ancient texts refer to the wearing of the Yajñopavītam in three forms:

• One is Upavītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This is for Gods.

• The Second is Nivītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn around the neck and over the chest. Nivīta form is to be used during Rishi Tharpana, sexual intercourse, answering the calls of nature etc. (Shadvimsha Brahmana, Latyayana, etc.).

• The third, Prachīnavītam is where the Yajñopavītam is worn above the right shoulder and under the left arm. This is for Spirits.

The poonal is worn across the body, from the left shoulder to the right hip. It should not go below the navel: and if it does (this can happen to shorter persons), the extra length should be folded and knotted again, to reduce the length.


Hope this helps.
Regards

Padmanabhan.J



http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Upanayana

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/07/po...d-be-worn.html

[Vijay Kumar]

Re: Poonal length

Sir,
Thanks,but my query was how to measure the navel length ie is it while extending the poonal from left shoulder to navel and allowing a certain length to hang,this means the hanging side on waist is a bit lower than navel( most people seem to wear it like this) or should the hanging side be exactly at navel?( seems too short/tight to me)?thanks again.

[bmbcAdmin]

Re: Poonal length

Sri:
See the below picture to know the level of poonal at naval.

When the poonal is in left shoulder (which is called upaveedi) at the right side maximum hanging of the poonal
will not exceed the straight line drawn from the center of the naval.
It will be very convenient to do all rituals.
Also, as per shastra, if the poonal is dropped from the left shoulder to few inches in the left hand
one should do 1000 prANayAmams as prayachittam.
If the length of the poonal is more, it will happen often.
regs,
nvs

[soundararajan50]

Re: Poonal length

Now its very clear and thanks for the reason you have mentioned swamin

[Vijay Kumar]

Re: Poonal length

Very clear and lucid sir,thank you.

[lakshmi-narasimhan-s]

Re: Poonal length

Sri: For benefit of larger audience
Will try to say why length should be before Nabhi. It is as per Dharma sastra that a human body is considered impure below the nabhi. That is why Aachamanam is done in the upper portion of the body (all the 12 namavelli)..Even during bath the water that touches tongue/lips and towel that touches lower portion of our body should not touch our nabhi above portions.

When poonal crosses nabhi, we use something called Paythanga mudichu to crop its length manually. Brahma mudhichu is done by the vadyar with veda upanishads and that is why it is important to buy from those people who are legitimate.

Brahma mudichu should always be at our chest after we wear it.

[Vijay Kumar]

Re: Poonal length

Very clear,thank you.

[Vijay Kumar]

Re: Poonal length

Sir,though sastras say that poonal should be navel height,why are some temple idols depicting The Lord with poonal hanging below navel? Is the navel height applicable to all or does it vary as per some sub sects?

[bmbcAdmin]

Re: Poonal length

Sir,though sastras say that poonal should be navel height,why are some temple idols depicting The Lord with poonal hanging below navel? Is the navel height applicable to all or does it vary as per some sub sects?

Sri:
Good Question!
Two things to note:
1. No Shastra is saying that "Idols of Gods should wear a poonal", but, poonal became a symbol of Hinduism.

2. The latest idols are not made by learned or traditional Sculptures (sthapathis).

Always Shastras remains same for all sects of brahmin category.

[sridharv1946]

Re: Poonal length

The brahma knot should be at th shoulder and not at chest level, as I understand from elders

[bmbcAdmin]

Re: Poonal length

ஶ்ரீ:
"வைத்யநாத தீக்ஷிதீயம் - ஸ்ம்ருதி முக்தாபலம்" - வர்ணாச்ரம தர்மகாண்டம் - பக்கம் 290 முதல் 299 வரை பூணல் பற்றிய விதிகள் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.
ஆனால் - ப்ரஹ்ம முடிச்சு இந்த இடத்தில்தான் இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று எங்கும் சொல்லப்படவில்லை.

அதுபோல், உபாகர்மா - ருஷிதர்பணம் பண்ணும்போதும், காயத்ரி ஜபம் பண்ணும்போதும் பூணலின் ப்ரஹ்ம முடிச்சைப் பிடித்துக்கொள்ளவேண்டும் என்றும் எங்கும் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளதாகத் தெரியவில்லை.
என்.வி.எஸ்

[ahariram]

Re: Poonal length

Dear Sir,
While perusing through i got another doubt - in samithadhanam there is a portion of mantra as "Annatho Bhooyasam" - certain text says apply the raksha at your back below your neck - in another text it has been said to apply above Nabhi - we are aware that its not below nabhi - are we right in applying the raksha on stomach - please clarify - sorry for the topic deviation

Thanks.

[Vijay Kumar]

Re: Poonal length

Thanks. Sir.

[Vijay Kumar]

Re: Poonal length

Sir,is there any recommended store for purchase of poonal's made in the correct manner?iused to buy from giri trading but I find that the quality has dropped ....smarta...recommendations appreciated.