THE THREAD

In the olden times, there were many rituals which the priests asked the people to perform. The masses did exactly what the priests told them to do. One such ritual was the wearing of a white thread called Janeyu in a holy ceremony.

The Janeyu was joined into a long, circular thread and worn over one shoulder, across the chest, dropping at the other side.

When Nanak was nine years old, Mehta Kalian wanted to perform this sacred thread ceremony for him. He invited all his relatives and friends for a grand celebration of the ceremony

When the priest took the sacred thread to put it around Nanak, Nanak enquired, “Why are you putting this thread around me?” contd …………………..

 “It is written in our religious scriptures that the wearing of this sacred thread denotes the second birth as by birth we are all Sudras. It is a sacred ceremony which is being performed for ages by the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, “Said the priest.”

“Why don’t the sudras get this Janeyu?” Asked Nanak.

“Because our religious books consider them ineligible for that,” replied the piest.

“But you just said that by birth we are all Sudras, and it is only after this ceremony that we become a Brahmin, a Kshatriya or a Vaishya. If we are all Sudras, we too must not be allowed to wear this Janeyu.” Said Nanak.

“This is what is written in the scriptures. Nanak you must not question the scriptures. It is a sin to do that,” Said the priest.

 Of cannot be a sin in using one’s intellect. If we don’t question, how will we understand?” Said Nanak.

The priest had no answer to this. He stood speechless before Nanak and the villagers. Nanak again asked, “Please tell me why people of different castes wear different janeyu? Why did not Sudras, Muslims and women wear Janeyu? Why do some people wear it and some don’t? Why do we wear a thread divides and discriminates people?”

Nanak continued, “This sacred thread doesn’t stop people from lying and committing other serious crimes. If this thread won’t make me a better person or bring me closer to God, why should I wear it? If you have a thread that will motivate me to do good deeds then make me wear that thread.

The priest evidently had no answer to Nanak’s questions.

All the guests and the villagers realized that what Nanak had said was true. There was no use of a custom that had no meaning.

After Nanak’s refusal to perform the ritual, the family members went home without the sacred thread ceremony being performed.