43 - Paviträropana of Vishnu 

Hari said: 

1. I shall expound the rite of Pavitráropana that yields worldly enjoyment and salvation. Formerly at the time of their war with the demons, Brahma and others sought refuge in Hari. 

2. Vishnu gave them a banner and a necklace. Hari told them that they can overcome the demons by seeing them (the banner and necklace). 

3. When Vişhnu said thus, the serpent, brother of Vasuki said: 

"O Vrushadhvaja, I plead thee for the Pavitra; grant me this boon. 

4. Let this necklace given by Hari be famous under his name." When he said thus, he granted that boon. 

5. During the rainy season if they do not worship by means of Puvitrakas, the full year's worship of those men shall be fruitless. 

6. Hence, Pavitráropana is essential for all deities. 

Beginning with the first day and ending with Paurnamast (full moon), the deities shall be worshipped on their respective days. 

7. O Hara, the worship of Vishnu shall be performed on the twelfth day, either during the bright half or during the dark half. During calamities, in Dakshināyana1, during Solar or Lunar eclipses. 

1. It means a period of six months during which the sun moves from the north to the south, as seen in India. Roughly 15th July to 15th January. 

8 When any rite for prosperity is performed, at the advent of the preceptor, this Pavitra rite for Vişhnu has to be performed. During the rainy season it is essential. 

9. The sacred thread can be made of silk, cotton or linen. For Brahmins it can be made of Kusha grass. For kings it can be of red silk. 

10. For Vaishyas it shall be woollen or silken; for Shūdras it shall be of fresh barks of trees.1 O Iśhvara, a sacred thread made of cotton or fibres of lotus stalk is praiseworthy in regard to all castes.

1. Variant: Sana-valkajam. 

11. The thread spun by a brahmin lady and twisted three times three shall be used. The deities for the yarn are Onkāra,2 Shiva, Soma, Agni, Brahma, Phanin,3 Ravi.4 

2. Here we find deification of Om.

3. Ananta or Sheșha-någa.

4. The sun.

12. Vighnesha5 and Vishnu. The deities of the Trisutra are Brahmă, Vişhnu and Rudra. 

5. Ganesha. 

13. The thread shall be placed in a vessel of gold, silver, copper, bamboo or earth (clay). The best vessel is sixtyfour angulas large; the middling - half of it. 

14. And the smallest still half of it. The best thread is one hundred and eight angulas long; Madhyama - half of it and the smallest -- still half as explained before. 

15. The best knot shall be of the size of the thumb, the middling of the size of the middle finger and the smallest - of the size of the little finger. 

16. In length and in the size of the vessel this is the principle to be followed. 

O Shiva, the devotee shall place the thread on the idol. 

17. Such that it passes through the chest, navel and thigh and resets on the knee. 

18. The length of the thread may be one thousand and eight angulas. With four, thirtysix, twentyfour, or twelve knots. 

19. The Pavitraka shall be dyed with Saffron turmeric or sandal paste. 

The devotee who has observed fast shall consecrate the Pavitra. 

20. He shall dedicate to Sarkarşhana in the east the twig and Kućha grass placed in a vessel made of banyan tree leaves in all the eight quarters. 

21-22. The same dyed with yellow pigment and saffron shall be dedicated to Pradyumna in the south. The devotee who is about to wage war shall for the sake of good results dedicate the Pavitra dyed with sandal, blue ashes, gingelly seeds and rice grains in a mixture, to Aniruddha in the west. He shall assign in the south-east and other directions the deities Shri, etc. 

23. The devotee shall inspire the Pavitra with Vasudeva mantra once, look at it and worship again. He shall then cover it with a cloth carefully. 

24. And place it in front of the deity or in front of the mystic diagram of the idol. As before, let him place it in the west-south and north. 

25. In order of Brahmana, etc., and worship the pitcher. After making a Mandala with the Astra-mantra, let him offer the oblation (Naivedya). 

26-27. After finishing the rite of Adhivasa1 to the Pavitra, he shall encircle the altar, the soul with: Kalašha (pitcher) sacrificial pit, Vimana (the resting place of idols), mandapa (the raised platform) and the house with three or nine (threads). He shall take one thread and place it on the head of the deity. 

1. Application of scents. Adhivasa or Adhivasana also means preliminary consecration of om image, making a divinity assume its abode in an image. 

28. After that let him perform the worship of Maheshvara and recite this mantra - "O lord of gods Paramešhvara! Thou hast been invoked for the worship. 

29. I shall worship thee in the morning. Please be present near the materials got ready." The Adhivasa rite shall thus be performed for one night or three nights. 

30. He shall be awake throughout the night and in the morning after worshipping Keśhava2 he shall put the three Pavitrakas - the best, the middling and the smallest in order.

2. Vishņu.  

31. He shall show incense and inspire with mantras. 

Reciting the names of the knots he shall worship with flowers and other things. 

32. It shall again be worshipped with Gayatri and then dedicated to the deity. Let the end of this sacred thread be held by his sons, wife, etc. 

33. "I am holding in front of you this beautiful Pavitraka with pure knots, destructive of the greatest iniquity, dispelling all sins." 

34. (Having said so) the devotee shall place the three threads (best, middling and the smallest) in order. “This is the pure refulgence of Vishnu that destroys all sins. 

35. In order to acquire virtue, love and wealth I wear this round my neck." 

After worshipping the garland of wild flowers he shall dedicate it with its own mantra. 

36. After making various kinds of food-offerings, let him make oblations and offerings of flowers. 

37. In a sacrificial pit twelve angulas in length let him worship fire and offer a Pavitra one hundred and eight angulas long. Let him first offer Arghya to the Sun and then a Pavitra. 

38. Then O Hara, let him worship Vishvaksena and the preceptor with Arghya, etc. Then let him recite this mantra in front of the deity, standing with the joined palms. 

39. O Sureśhvara,1 whether I know it completely or I am ignorant, I have completed the worship. Due to thy grace let it be fulfilled. 

1. Lord of the deities.

40. (As if it was) with jewels, corals and garlands of Mandara2 flowers, O Garudadhvaja,3 let this Samvatsari (Annual) worship be dedicated unto thee.

2. Perhaps calotropis gigantea or C. prochera VN, p. 32.

3. (Vishņu) in whose banner is the image of Garuda.  

41. Just as thou wearest the Vanamala and Kaustubha always on thy chest, so also be pleased to wear this Pavitra -- the garland of threads too. 

42. After worshipping and reciting the prayer thus, let him feed the brahmins and give them Dakshinas4 and send them off in the evening. 

4. An offering, as a fee or remuneration, to the preceptor or to the brahmanas 

43. The next day he shall say thus: - "O Pavitraka, after finishing the Samvatsari Puja thou art discharged. Be pleased to go now to the world of Vişhnu."