To Linda: Sacred Thread

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, nierika@a... wrote:

>

>

>Linda asked:

> When this sacred thread is mentioned, are we supposed to

use an actual thread and drape it over ourselves in some way? I

have seen pictures of sadhuks with a red thread coming over

their shoulder and going into their doti. Is this the kind of thread

the Chandi refers to? Is there a tradition we should try

> to follow if we can? Or can we use any kind of thread, any

color? I don't yet have the Advanced Shiva Puja, but the thread is

mentioned in the Chandi, and I am assuming it may be a part of

any puja performed.

 

Namaste Linda,

 

There are 2 places in the Advanced Shiva puja where thread is

offered. Page 21: ( Tie a piece of string around the right middle

finger or wrist) Generally we only recite this mantra and do not tie

the string around our own finger or wrist. When we do puja for

someone else we generally tie red thread around their wrist. Left

for women and right for men.

This same mantra is recited in the Chandi on page 24.

 

The significance of tying the string here is to remind us of God. In

a sense we are binding ourselves to God.

 

On page 107-108 of the Adv. Shiva puja book there is another

offering of 9 threads. This thread is generally white.

The 9 threads consist of the 9 qualities of a Brahmana:

1. peacefulness

2.self-control

3.austerity

4. purity of mind and body

5. patience

6. forgiveness

7. sincerity

8.honesty

9.wisdom

 

This offering of 9 threads is offered onto our altar along with the

other offerings. This particular offering of 9 threads is not in the

Chandi.

 

I think the thread you are refering to is on page 24 of the Chandi

and page 21 of the Advanced Shiva puja. Please clarify if you are

referring to a different thread in the Chandi.

 

Thanks for your question.

parvati

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Question from Henny:

> I have a puja-question: in the enhanced Shiva puja, we offer a

sacred

> thread...And another thing: could these activities (in the verse

beginning with

> 'shamo')be arranged thus; first three - tamas, second three -

rajas and last

> three - sattva? (And perhaps within each group, we can also

make the same

> distinction in threes, something like tamas of tamas, rajas of

tamas etc.?)Or am I

> barking up the wrong t(h)ree?

> I just had to ask, because everytime I recite this text, my mind

wanders off

> and I lose the thread of the puja.

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Maybe you could come down from your t(h)ree and no need to

bark so much.

> These are all pure qualities, and perhaps there is no need to

ascribe them to

> the three gunas.

>

>

>

> Dear Henny ~ thank you so much for asking this question, and

I have a

> follow-up question of my own.

>

> Dear Swamiji ~ your response gave me the best laugh I have

had in a long

> time, and I really need to laugh badly. Still with your concise

clarity you

> state the truth in a way that brought spontaneous joy to my

heart and tears to my

> eyes. Here is my question about the sacred thread.

>

> Linda's Question

> When this sacred thread is mentioned, are we supposed to

use an actual

> thread and drape it over ourselves in some way? I have seen

pictures of sadhuks

> with a red thread coming over their shoulder and going into

their doti. Is this

> the kind of thread the Chandi refers to? Is there a tradition we

should try

> to follow if we can? Or can we use any kind of thread, any

color? I don't yet

> have the Advanced Shiva Puja, but the thread is mentioned in

the Chandi, and

> I am assuming it may be a part of any puja performed. Thank

you so much

> Swamiji ~ Linda

>