Sacred thread ceremony in which a boy is initiated with a sacred thread and is then qualified to learn Vedas. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Upanayana or Upanayanam, the word which has been given to the thread ceremony of initiation, means the conferment of another eye. Your two eyes cannot reveal to you the magnificence and the majesty of the realm of the spirit. They are focussed towards the objective world and its transient attractions. So the `Gayatri Mantra has been given to you as a third eye to reveal to you that inner vision by which you may realise `Brahman . (SSS Vol. 10, p. 124)

Every small word or phrase in a Mantra has immense inner meaning. It cannot be dismissed as superstition. Modern education has ruined our ancient Bharatiya culture. You should know the meaning of the Mantras. People want the fruits of meritorious deeds but they indulge in sinful action. How can you get good results when your action is faulty or sinful? Youth today must pledge themselves to speak the truth, develop love and have unshakable faith in God. They will then be able to establish peace in the world. This is the significance of Yagnopavitam (the sacred thread ceremony). Upanayanam is a Samskara (sacrament) that makes a boy fit for pursuing the highest wisdom. There is no difference between one child and another at the time of birth. All are born out of the mother’s womb only. This is the first stage of life (shudra). The second stage is getting the upadesha of Gayatri at the time of Upanayanam, when the body becomes a Dvija (twice-born). He is then purified. The third stage is Vipra, when one has mastered the study of the Vedas. The fourth stage is Brahmana when he actually realises the Brahman through the knowledge of the Self. One becomes a Brahmin not by birth but only when one realises the Supreme Brahman. One becomes a Brahmin by action and not by birth. (SSS Vol.28, p. 125)

Upanayanam means being near to God. Nearness to God will enable you to get rid of your bad qualities and acquire virtues. (SSS Vol.28)

Upanayanam is an important step in the Restoration of Varna ashrama Dharma itself. Upanayana means, ‘near-leading’, leading near, leading the boy to the Teacher, taking him to the teacher, the guru for this Upadesha, this initiation. (SSS Vol.6, pp. 10-11)

Everything in the universe is Divine; it is; it shines; it is lovable. It is Asti, Bhati and Priyam; it is Sat, Cit and ananda. For, it is the same as the Universal Eternal Absolute, which is also Sat-cit-ananda. This is the Upadesha that the boys got to day through the Mantra that was taught to them. (SSS Vol.3)

The ceremony of Brahmopadesam is Upanayanam, which means, ‘taking near,’ taking the young aspirant near Brahman, that is to say, introducing him to Brahma jijnasa (desire to know Brahman), the path of Brahman. It is one of the Samskaras (purificatory acts), rites which reconstruct the personality, reform the mind, purify it and re-build it. It makes the person receiving it a Dvija (a twice born)! The boy is born first into the world; now, he is born into the Sadhaka world. He becomes a Brahmachari - a person who walks towards Brahman. So, it is a very significant day in the lives of these people, a day they must long remember with joy and thankfulness. It is the day when their hearts were turned towards God; and they should try not to run away from God hereafter; that is a great responsibility. (SSS Vol. 4)

The samskaara (purifying ritual) of Upanayanam (investiture of sacred thread) all these lads ‘twice born’, ‘dvitiyam mounji bandhanath" he said. The belt of munja grass has given them that status, he said. (SSS Vol. 5)

Upanayana, the word which has been given to this ceremony of Initiation, means the conferment of another eye. Your two eyes cannot reveal to you the magnificence and the majesty of the realm of the spirit. They are focussed towards the objective world and its transient attractions. So the Gayatri mantra has been given to you as a third eye to reveal to you that inner vision by which you may realise Brahman. (SSS Vol. 13)

It is essential that Upanayanam be done at the age of eight. One who is initiated into the Gayatri mantra at an early age will become highly intelligent. Man’s life will be sanctified by chanting this mantra. (SSS Vol. 33)