Admin

When NANAK entered the ninth year it was decided to celebrate the Janeoo sacrament. A janeoo is a cord-hoop, which is woven out of cotton.It is worn round the neck and slung over the shoulder by the upper class Hindus. A day was fixed to perform the ceremony and messages were sent all relatives and […]

When NANAK entered the ninth year it was decided to celebrate the Janeoo sacrament. A janeoo is a cord-hoop, which is woven out of cotton.It is worn round the neck and slung over the shoulder by the upper class Hindus.

A day was fixed to perform the ceremony and messages were sent all relatives and friends.All residents of the village were invited to takemeals. Confectioners were called and various types of cooked delicacies were prepared.Pandit Hardayal,the family priest came on the fixed time.

For his sitting a specially built platform was prepared it was purified by cow dung plaster.He sat on the platform and drew a line around him.Then he burnt lamp and incense enchanting the mantras drew figures in front of him.Then he took the sacred cotton thread and again chanted the holy hymns.The child Guru was sitting in front of the Pandit.All others relatives and people of the village were sitting all around.The women were sitting on one side and sister Nanaki was sitting in front of all.She was watching the ceremony very curiously.
After doing all necessary rites,Pandit leaned forward to place the cord across the shoulder of NANAK.As the ceremony was going to be completed so all the relatives and friends were making themselves ready to congratulate MEHTA KAALU.(FATHER OF GURU NANAK).But all were astonished when they saw Nanak pushing back the thread towards Pandit.He denied to wear the thread and in a logical manner said,”What are you doing with this yarn,first tell me what is use of wearing this thread?”

Pandit replied,”This is a sacred thread, it is a symbol of high caste.”But the child Guru was not satisfied by Pandit’s answer.He said,”How can you differentiate men by such worthless threads.A man becomes high by his deeds and actions.How a cruel and wicked man can become a man of upper class wearing such a thread.Besides,this thread will not last long,this thread is soiled with filth and breaks.”

But the pandit again tried to persuade him.He said,”You are a Khatri and it is a binding for you to wear the janeoo like all your ancestors.”The Guru smiled and said,”Pandit Ji,you are not coming to the point.This thread is useless because it does not yield any spiritual benefit.You buy a thread for four kauries,then twisting it put on your disciple while sitting on a platform.But when the wearer dies,the thread falls off and the soul departs to the next world without thread.If you want that I must wear a thread, then give me such a thread that should accompany me even to the next world.”

When Nanak refused to wear the thread then Pandit asked,”Please tell me how that type of thread can be prepared that accompanies us till to the next world.Then the Guru Nanak recited these lines:- “Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, continence the knot and truth the twist.That is true sacred thread of the soul.O PANDIT JI! If you have such a thread then you should put this on me.”