Education in Ancient India c15.17

c15.17

The Number of Sacred Threads increases, why :— In the course of time, however, owing to its obvious convenience, the innovation of the Sacred Thread became popular and its original significance was gradually forgotten. Brahmachārī was to wear only one Sacred Thread, but Snātaka was to wear two, one for the under garment and the other for the upper garment⁴. It was clearly forgotten by this time that Yajñopavīta was intended to be the upper garment. If Snātaka was to wear two Yajñopavītas, the Gṛihastha must wear three, for he was one stage higher. The Gṛihyā-sangraha however thinks that this third Sacred Thread was in lieu of the upper garment¹. Devala also holds the same view; an upper garment, he says, is not always at hand, hence the recommendation to wear the third Sacred Thread².