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When the founder and first guru of Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji attained the age of nine years, his father was determined to invest him with the ''janeu'' (sacrificial thread of the Hindus). Until a boy is invested with the ''janeu'', he is deemed almost an outcast. When the members of the family had gathered, and all the neighbours, secular and religious, had assembled; and all preliminary rites had been duly performed, Hardial, the family priest, proceeded to put the sacred thread around Nanak's neck. The boy caught the thread with his hand, and asked the priest what he was doing, and the advantage of putting on the ''janeu''. The priest explained that the ''janeu'' was the basis of the Hindu religion, without which a man would only be a Sudra (there are four great varans or castes of Hinduism: ''Brahmans'', the priestly class; ''Kshatriyas'', the military class; ''Vaisyas'', the trading class; and ''Sudras'', the working and lowest of all classes. There are many subdivisions of these castes ), and by putting it on he would obtain greatness in this life and happiness in the next. On hearing this the young Guru uttered the following: From Asa di Var (Guru Granth Sahib pg 462-475): The priest explained that the custom of wearing a janeu descended from the Vedic ritual, and that no Hindu could be deemed religious without wearing it. The Brahman then familiarly addressed the Guru, 'Thou art but a child of yesterday, and are we not as wise as thou? Unless thou wear this thread thou shalt be deemed a person without religion.' Guru Nanak replied: The Brahman priest, on hearing this, became angry, and asked the Guru if everyone else was a fool, and he alone, who had abandoned the customs of his forefathers, was wise. He then asked the Guru to tell him what a proper ''janeu'' was. The Guru replied: The Guru then wound up his instruction on the subject as follows: Guru Nanak's reluctance was in participating in rituals which have no benefit and relevance in living a pure life. The Amrit Sanskar of Sikhi cannot be compared to the Janeu as 1) it is not a guarantee you will be able to live a spiritual life 2) it is open to all, from any gender and non-discrimnatory on caste lines. The Five Ks for the Khalsa are an assertion of sovereignty; they have little, if any, spiritual power. They are to be utilised in a Sikhs temporal life as commanded by Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Nanak Dev was not alone in making such announcements and shunning rituals, other saints also did the same from time to time: 1. Adi Shankaracharya (the sage of Kevala Advaita) refused to heed to the priests and offered ceremony of his dead mother himself. He said he is always pure atman so independent of action. 2. Baba Namdev refused to worship idol when he found out Shiva is essence of everything. 3. Tilopa Brahmin saint of Bengal highly adored by Tibetan Buddhism also stood against traditional ways of worshiping. The following story describes the details of Guru Nanak Dev refusing to wear janeu, considered as a sacred thread as it reminded one of its duties. But people at the time were blind faithed so cared more about ceremonies and ritual attached with wearing (janeu or janou ) rather than understanding the hidden message it bring and follow it. ==Background info on Upanayanam (Thread Ceremony)== ''Upanayanam'' is the ''saṃskāra'' or the ceremonial rite in which the young Brahmin boy is invested with the sacred thread and initiated into the ''Gayatri'' - the Holiest of all mantras in the legacy of the ''Rishis''. This ceremony is only for boys from the top three social classes. Traditionally, an auspicious time and date is chosen to shave the boy's head completely, leaving only a small tuft in the centre of the scalp, called ''bodi''. The sacred thread used for the ceremony consists of three strands, joined by a knot known as ''Brahmagranthi'' or the knot of ''Brahma''. The three strands symbolise the Hindu trinity - ''Shiva'', ''Vishnu'' and ''Brahma''. There are various interpretations of the three strands to represent many of the other triads like ''Mahasarasvati'', ''Mahalakshmi'' and ''Mahakali''. Or the three qualities known as sattva, rajas and tamas; past, present and the future; the three states – wakefulness, dream and deep sleep. Some even say that it represents the three dimensions known as heaven (''swarga''), earth (''martyaloka'') and netherworld (''patala''). The twist of the thread must be upwards to ensure that the ''Sattwaguna'' or the good quality of truth predominates. The most important meaning of the three strands is ida, pingala and susumna nadi, through which the ''kundalini'' energy manifests as ''prana'' and consciousness. ''Yajno-pavita'' means 'thread of sacrifice.' That is so called because it symbolises the sacrifice of ego. The sacred thread was a passport to obtain education. It was a prerequisite for education and also for marriage. Without it, no man could dream of getting a bride for himself. It was considered important because a person with ''Yajnopavita'' should have undergone all the oaths associated with wearing it, led a celibate life and completed a major portion of his education. ''Brahmachari'' or the bachelor (also, a learner) wore a single sacred thread while the householder or the married person wore two. A person who was married and had lost one or both of his parents wore three. There are different methods of wearing the Sacred Thread at different occasions. While performing an auspicious ceremony one should be ''Upaviti'', that is, the Sacred Thread should hang from his left shoulder. At the performance of some inauspicious ceremony one should be ''Prachnaviti'', that is, the Sacred Thread should hang from the right shoulder; and at times he is called ''Niviti'' when the Sacred Thread is worn round the neck like a garland. '' *Note: This information is about the ancient period in India, it is not an indicator of how things are done these days.'' 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Guru Nanak and the Sacred Thread」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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