Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3537

c9.3537

UPAVĪTA. The sacred string or Uttarīya. The twice-born (the three upper castes) wear this. When it is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm it is called Upavīta, when it is worn over the right shoulder and under the left arm it is called Prācīnāvīta and if it is worn around the neck as a garland it is called Nivīta. (Manusmṛti, Chapter 2, Stanza 63).