Sandhyavandanam
Encyclopedia
Sandhyavandanam is a religious practice performed by Hindu
men initiated into the rite by the ceremony of Upanayanam
, and instructed in its execution by a Guru (a qualified spiritual teacher). Sandhyavandanam consists of excerpts from the Great Vedas that are to be recited thrice daily. One during sunrise(when day proceeds from night), next during midday(which is the transition from ascending sun to descending sun) and during sunset(when night takes over from day).
It is known by a different name at each hour - in the morning , at noon , and in the evening . Sivaprasad Bhattacharyya defines it as the "Hindu code of liturgical prayers."
The term is a Sanskrit compound consisting of , meaning "union", or more specifically the union or junctions of day and night which takes place in the morning or evening twilight, and meaning worship. In addition to dawn and dusk, noon is considered the third juncture of the day, and hence meditations and prayers are performed daily at those times.
The term is also used by itself in the sense of "daily practice" to refer to the performance of these devotions at the opening and closing of the day.
Sandhyavandanam has the following main components
Chanting of the Gayatri
mantra
, traditionally, is done 32, 64 or 108 times (It depends on person doing sandhyavandana. He can chant any number of times. "YathaSakti Gayatri mantra japam karishye" was the sankalpam in Sandhya vandana), depending upon the prescriptions of the practitioner's Veda and Sutra
, is an integral part of Sandhyavandanam. In addition to the mantra, the ritual of also includes certain other rites that are purificatory and preparatory (Sanskrit: mantras), serving to prevent distracting thoughts and bring focus to the mind. Some of these are: propitiatory libations of water to the Gods of the planets and of the months of the Hindu calendar, atoning for Sandhyavandanams not performed and atoning for sins committed since the last hour of Sandhya. In addition, one of the most important rituals of Sandhyavandanam involves worshiping the Sun as Mitra in the morning and worshiping Varuna, in the evening.
Each Shakha
of the holy Veda has its own unique way of sandhyavandanam. Shatatapa Smriti says a Dwija who dont do sandhyavandanam at least once that person will be born as a dog in next birth. During Ashoucham (during death of any relative or birth of a child) also sandhyavandanam is done but without water and Darbham(Kusha grass). On Trayodashi, during sayam sandhya minimum gayatri japam and silence is prescribed by some vedik scholars.
Furthermore, Brahmacharis
are required to perform a fire-sacrifice, the Samithadhanam, on the conclusion of the main portion of the Sandhyavandanam.
Other aspects of the ritual, though, speaking strictly, not to be included in Sandhyavandanam, may include meditation
, chanting of other mantras (Sanskrit: japa
), and devotional practices specifically for divinities that are preferred by the practitioner. Regarding the connection with meditation practices, Monier-Williams notes that if regarded as an act of meditation, the may be connected with the etymology .
Depending on the beliefs Smartha, Sri Vaishnava, Madhva
these mantras or procedures have slight changes, while the main mantras like marjanam (sprinkling of water), prashanam (drinking water), punar marjanam and arghya pradhanam remain the same in 95% of the cases. Smarthas (Advaithins) have Aikyanu Sandanam, where they (Yajur Vedins) recite the verse from bruhadaranyaka Upanishad(Brahmir vaa Aham Asmi).
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
men initiated into the rite by the ceremony of Upanayanam
Upanayanam
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
, and instructed in its execution by a Guru (a qualified spiritual teacher). Sandhyavandanam consists of excerpts from the Great Vedas that are to be recited thrice daily. One during sunrise(when day proceeds from night), next during midday(which is the transition from ascending sun to descending sun) and during sunset(when night takes over from day).
It is known by a different name at each hour - in the morning , at noon , and in the evening . Sivaprasad Bhattacharyya defines it as the "Hindu code of liturgical prayers."
The term is a Sanskrit compound consisting of , meaning "union", or more specifically the union or junctions of day and night which takes place in the morning or evening twilight, and meaning worship. In addition to dawn and dusk, noon is considered the third juncture of the day, and hence meditations and prayers are performed daily at those times.
The term is also used by itself in the sense of "daily practice" to refer to the performance of these devotions at the opening and closing of the day.
Sandhyavandanam has the following main components
- 1. AachamanaAchamanaAchamanam is one of the most important rituals in the Hindu tradition. It is a male purification ritual that is believed to cure all physical and mental illnesses...
- 2. PranayamaPranayamaPranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately, "extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to extend, draw out, restrain, or...
- 3. Sankalpam
- 4. Jalaprashanam or Marjanam
- 5. Arghya pradanam
- 6. Gayatri japam
- 7. Upasthanam
- 8. Abhivadanam
- 9. Samarpanam
Chanting of the Gayatri
Gayatri
Gayatri is the feminine form of , a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. Gayatri is a consort of Brahma and the goddess of learning. Brahma married her when there was a need for a companion during a yajna. Brahma had to start the yajna along with his wife...
mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
, traditionally, is done 32, 64 or 108 times (It depends on person doing sandhyavandana. He can chant any number of times. "YathaSakti Gayatri mantra japam karishye" was the sankalpam in Sandhya vandana), depending upon the prescriptions of the practitioner's Veda and Sutra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
, is an integral part of Sandhyavandanam. In addition to the mantra, the ritual of also includes certain other rites that are purificatory and preparatory (Sanskrit: mantras), serving to prevent distracting thoughts and bring focus to the mind. Some of these are: propitiatory libations of water to the Gods of the planets and of the months of the Hindu calendar, atoning for Sandhyavandanams not performed and atoning for sins committed since the last hour of Sandhya. In addition, one of the most important rituals of Sandhyavandanam involves worshiping the Sun as Mitra in the morning and worshiping Varuna, in the evening.
Each Shakha
Shakha
A shakha , is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. An individual follower of a particular school or recension is called a ...
of the holy Veda has its own unique way of sandhyavandanam. Shatatapa Smriti says a Dwija who dont do sandhyavandanam at least once that person will be born as a dog in next birth. During Ashoucham (during death of any relative or birth of a child) also sandhyavandanam is done but without water and Darbham(Kusha grass). On Trayodashi, during sayam sandhya minimum gayatri japam and silence is prescribed by some vedik scholars.
Furthermore, Brahmacharis
Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
are required to perform a fire-sacrifice, the Samithadhanam, on the conclusion of the main portion of the Sandhyavandanam.
Other aspects of the ritual, though, speaking strictly, not to be included in Sandhyavandanam, may include meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, chanting of other mantras (Sanskrit: japa
Japa
Japa is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of a divine power. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the recitor's mind...
), and devotional practices specifically for divinities that are preferred by the practitioner. Regarding the connection with meditation practices, Monier-Williams notes that if regarded as an act of meditation, the may be connected with the etymology .
Depending on the beliefs Smartha, Sri Vaishnava, Madhva
Madhva
Madhva may refer to:* Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of the Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi in Karnataka, India* Madhwas, a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought...
these mantras or procedures have slight changes, while the main mantras like marjanam (sprinkling of water), prashanam (drinking water), punar marjanam and arghya pradhanam remain the same in 95% of the cases. Smarthas (Advaithins) have Aikyanu Sandanam, where they (Yajur Vedins) recite the verse from bruhadaranyaka Upanishad(Brahmir vaa Aham Asmi).