# 014 Third and Fourth Yagnopaveetam - When is it worn?

Today when I took out the new Yagnopaveetham, Sacred thread (Janav or Poonal), there were not the usual 2 but 3 of them. Somehow it has gotten into my mind that the third one is worn during 70 th or 80 th birthday ceremonies. Curious to get at the fact, I searched the net and to my surprise found out that no additional Poonal is worn during either the 70 th or 80 th birthday celebrations. Instead I came across the following. Never heard of the 4 th one. Is anyone aware of the same?

A Brahmachari wears one single triple stranded Yagnopaveetham (Janav or Poonal). When he gets married, he is called a Grahasta and wears two. When he performs the "Seemantha" to his wife when she is (usually 7 months) pregnant, starts wearing three Yagnopaveethams. (This practice is now not common). When he takes Adhyayanam of the fourth Veda, i.e. Adharva Veda, he is invested with the fourth Yagnopaveetham (who is doing Adyayanam (Learning) of even one Veda now a days, leave alone the Fourth one?)


Understand that in ancient times women also wore such sacred threads and performed Sandhya rites. During subsequent periods, a married woman's privilege or responsibility of performing such rites was transferred to her husband. Since then, each married man has been expected to wear a pair of triple stranded sacred threads, one for himself and another representing that of his spouse. Thus he is expected to perform Sandhya rites on behalf of both and share the benefits with his spouse.


Now a days third Yagnopaveetam is worn during the marriage purportedly in place of the second Uttahareeyam or Angavasthra. Vedic Scholars look down on this practice as a stupidity arguing that a Yagnopaveetam cannot, by any stretch of imagination, make up for the Angavasthra.