Janeu

Janeu

जनेऊ, janeū (hindi)

Janeu or janeo is a sacred thread. Nathas use black or brown woolen thread woven by hand from eight thin threads as an element of nadi janeu. For wearing, the janeu is folded in three turns and then in half again when the rest of the elements are put on it – pavitra, rudraksha, nadi and others. Janeu has a certain symbolism of one thread folded into three and six threads. One thread is a symbol of nada and shabda-brahman. The three threads are the three currents: chandra, surya and agni, or ida, pingala and sushumna. When three threads are folded into six, they symbolize six chakras.