Can the Poonal and other Malas be worn at all times?

[Sumi]

From time to time, the Forum receives personal queries by members over email on different matters which we clarify to the best of our knowledge. If the query is general in nature, we publish them in the Forum without revealing the identity of the members if we feel the clarifications may benefit a larger audience.

Here is once such query by some of our respected women members who wish to remain anonymous. Suitable clarifications will be posted by our Administrator.

"When in privacy, should my husband wear his Poonal or remove it. Also, please clarify the same about the Spadika mala and Rudraksha mala that he always wears".

[Kanchi Periva]

The sacred thread (yagnopaveetam or Poonal, as it is called in Tamil) is bestowed upon an eligible brahmachari with the blessings of Guru(s), Parents and many other pundits, and is never to be removed.

The Sastras prescribe different ways of wearing the sacred thread, based on the situation we are in. Here is an extract from Wiki:

Ancient texts refer to the wearing of the Yajñopavītam in three forms:
- Upavītam, where the Yajñopavītam is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This is for Gods. Upavītam is also called savya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra, etc.).
- 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., and during ancestor worship/funeral rites (Shadvimsha Brahmana, Latyayana, etc.).
- Prachīnavītam is where the Yajñopavītam is worn above the right shoulder and under the left arm. This is for Spirits and is used by men when performing the death ceremonies of an elder. Prachīnavītam is also called apsavya (Katyayana Shrauta Sutra, Manusmriti, etc.).

I also recall reading somewhere in Deivathin Kural about how Periva makes it easy for us to remember the different ways of wearing it. So simple - just read this rough translation below.

When you sit facing east (as you would normally do for any poojas), your left shoulder would be pointing to north - North is a direction of the Devas, and you would wear the Poonal on the left shoulder (Upaveetam), pointing to the Devas when you do things related to them.

While sitting in the same posture (towards east), your right shoulder would be pointing to South, and South is the direction of Pitrus. So, any kind of karmas done for the Pitrus should be done with the Poonal on the right shoulder (prachinaveetam)

When you are doing other lowkeeka (worldly) karmas, the entire karmas are just focused around you - yourself only. And hence the sacred thread can be worn around your neck (worn over both shoulders - like a garland), instead of focusing on Pitrus or Devas, you are focusing it on Humans including Rishis (also applies to karmas done for your own self).

As for the Spatika mala, owing to the easily breakable nature of the beads, it would be better to remove it while getting to sleep. On Rudrakasha, it is said in the Sastras that wearing it always is like a boon, but the person wearing it must always be clean (chitta-shuddi, mental purity). However, to ward off the negative implications associated with wearing it during all times of privacy, you can tie the Rudraksha in silver at least (preferably in Gold, if possible), which would address the doshas that might be incurred.

Hope this would take care of the doubts raised. May Periva bless us all with His grace to continue doing our karmas regularly and without any kind of disruption whatsoever.

[kanfusion]

we do not remove the yajnopaveetham even while cremating the dead body of a person.. only replacement is prescribed if the original threads get impure or damaged for some reason..There too the replacement thread should be word chanting the prescribed manthram and then alone the old soiled set should be discarded. I understand that even yatis tie the yajnopaveetam to their danda..