Mini- #Thread on Yajnopavita or Janeu wearing Indians (irrespective of gender & class) as observed & recorded by renowned Arabian scholars and travelers, Al Masudi and Alberuni who extensively travelled in India during 10th-11th century CE. #History #janeu #medieval #india #sacred

I have been mentioning about Muslim travellers observing Janeu/sacred thread wearing Indian men and women in Middle Ages. So, here is a mini thread on this subject with historical references.

As per Al Masudi, both men and women of Brahmin class wore Janeu which he describes as yellow thread and also observed the followings about them :-

“...They are honoured by Indians as forming the most noble and illustrious caste. They do not eat the flesh of any animal, and both men and women wear yellow threads suspended round their necks, like a baldrick, to distinguish them from the other castes of India.”

As per Alberuni, Indians belonging to Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and even Sudra classes wore yajnopavita (though of different thickness and texture) :-

“The Kshatriya reads the Veda and learns it, but does not teach it. He offers to the fire and acts according to the rules of the Puranas. In places where... a tablecloth is prepared for eating, he makes it angular...

.. He rules the people and defends them, for he is created for this task. He girds himself with a single cord of the threefold yajno-pavita, and a single other cord of cotton. This takes place after he has finished the twelfth year of his life.”

.. “Vaishyas practice agriculture. It is the duty of the Vaisya to practise agriculture and to cultivate the land, to tend the cattle. He is only allowed to gird himself with a single yajnopavita, which is made of two cords.”

“The Sudra is like a servant, taking care of affairs and serving. If, though being poor in the extreme, he still desires not to be without a yajnopavita, he girds himself only with the linen one...”

Credit and sources :

1) THE INDIA THEY SAW (VOL-2) by MEENAKSHI JAIN
2) Al Masudi’s memoirs as referred by Elliot and Dowson, vol., I, p., 19.
3) Alberuni, vol. II, p., 136-137

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Janeu or sacred thread was there for all, irrespective of gender and varna till 10th-11th century CE till invaders established themselves here