Essentials of Hinduism - Sandyhavandana And Gayatri Japa

Essentials of Hinduism

Sandyhavandana And Gayatri Japa

First Part

Sandhyavandana is the Daily Prayer offered by a Hindu Brahmin to the Sun God and is a well designed Ritual for the Realization of the Brahman. It begins with the External Purification of the Body by sprinkling Water over the Head and Body and reciting a few Hymns. It also results in Internal Purification when we sip a few drops of Water and pray that all sins committed during the preceding twelve hours be washed away. The Worshipper then offers water to the Sun God chanting the Gayatri Mantra. Everyone should know the Meaning and Importance of Sandhyavandana and should perform this Prayer to Sun God with Faithful Devotion.

Sandhyavandana is a Ritual that is a Prerequisite for doing all other Religious Karmas. It is a Nitya Karma, meaning, Sandhyavandana has to be performed Everyday – Morning, Afternoon and Evening. The effect of the Sandhyavandana performed on the Bank of a River or Shrine of Gods is countless times effective more than that performed in one’s Home. Hence, one should perform Sandhyavandana at such Locations whenever such an opportunity arises.

Even if a person is impure due to the death of an immediate family member or due to the birth of a child in the family (when certain ceremonies are forbidden to be performed), one must continue to perform the Sandhyavandana. The least a sick or weak person must do is to offer Argya (offer Water) and chant Gayatri twelve times. It is very important to keep in mind throughout our lifetime that if we do not perform the Sandhyavandana, it is considered as a sin that gets accumulated each day.

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Sandhyavandana has three important Rituals:

(1) Pranayama; (2) Arghyapradana; (3) Gayatri Japa.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE UPANAYANA AND FOR WEARING THE

YAGNYOPAVITA (SACRED THREAD):

Upanayana can be split as Upa + Nayana; Upa = Near and Nayana = to show the Path. After the Upanayana Function, the boy is initiated to perform the Sandhyavandanas and perform Japa of the Gayatri Mantra. In the olden days, he is also taken to a Guru to start learning the Vedas for the first time in his Life. This is done usually between the ages of seven and thirteen. After Upanayana, the boy is taught the complete Sandhyavandana Rituals. The Father of the boy chants the Gayatri Mantra in the boy’s ear. The boy is said to get the second life on the Upanayana day.

On the day of Upanayana, the boy is vested (given to possession) with the sacred thread or Yagnyopavita without which the boy cannot be initiated into the Gayatri Mantra. The yagnyopavita

comes with a set of three threads and is tied to a holy knot at one place. Our World is made up of five Elements: Akasha (Space), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Appu (Water) and Prithivi (Earth). Every single object in this World is a permutation and combination of these five Elements and their subtle forms, known as tattvas. All Creations come under these Tattvas and 96 are considered important. The Sacred Thread which is initiated into the Gayatri Mantra has these Tattvas symbolized by the three threads in the holy knot.

Every Year on the Upakarma day we replace the old Yagnyopavita with a new one. To wear the new yagnyopavita, we hold it on the right hand palm with the knot facing upward (toward space) and the yagnyopavita below the left hand palm facing down on the metal-vessel or Panchapatra (toward Earth). The Mantra to change to the new Yagnyopavita signifies that it is a sacred thread that has come ahead of Brahma, it is bright and white and it will provide a Long Life. We chant another Mantra to remove the old yagnyopavita and perform Achamana.

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PRATA SANDHYAVANDANA RITUALS:

After waking-up early in the morning one should wear Dhoti in the Panchakaccha Style (it is said this style has a Loop and does not allow dissipation of the Mantra Energy into the Ground). One should wear the religious mark as per the family tradition. It is important to realize the Significance of the Vibhuthi and the Tiruman or Gopichandan – all are daily reminder to us that our body is temporary and some day we will have to leave this World. Therefore Vibhuthi and Tiruman or Gopichandan are Everyday Reminder to us that we have to perform all the Nitya Karmas laid down to us by the Vedas very faithfully.

Sit in a squatting (folded legs) posture. Perform the Prata Sandhyavandana Rituals facing the East.

Achamana: Sip a little Water in the prescribed manner for Self (inside) Purification. If there is a Pavitra (piece of sacred knotted dried grass) worn on the second or ring finger, it should be removed before the Achamana and worn again after the Achamana.

Ganesha Dyana: chant the Mantra, strike the forehead gently five times with the two hands folded. Pray to Ganesha to ward off all the hindrances.

Pranayama: Chant the Pranayama Mantra stated earlier and perform regulated breathing in accordance with the prescribed methods. The Pranayama helps in the blood circulation, improves memory power and prevents mind from indulging in bad thoughts.

Pranayama procedure:

Breathe in and chant Om bhoohoo......ogum satyam;

Hold the breath and chant mentally Om tatsavitur......prachodayat;

Breathe out and chant Om apaha......suvarom.

Sankalpa:

Perform resolution to perform Sandhyavandana.

Apo-marjana (External Purification):

Invoke all the holy Waters of the Earth by sprinkling water on oneself. Seek Blessings from the Goddess of Water!

Prashana (Internal Purification):

Reciting this Mantra, take Water in the right hand and drink it. This is a Prayer to the Sun God to remove all sins done during the night before by the mind, speech, two hands, two feet, as well as, all other possible sins.

Punar-achamana:

Repetition of Achamana with the appropriate mantras for removal of all sins and obstacles.

Punar-marjana:

Repetition of Marjana with Mantras for welfare here and for Spiritual Attainment.

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Argyapradana:

Chant the Gayatri Mantra and offer plenty of water with both the hands. Repeat this procedure for three times. The Argyapradana removes all the internal enemies within ourselves. This Argyapradana Ritual is also said to protect the Sun God from His enemies. Therefore, Argya should be done without fail and is considered an important ritual of the Sandhyavandana. This does not mean the other Rituals can be skipped.

Devata-arpana:

Pour Water with the name of all the Navagrahas and then chant the twelve Names of Lord Vishnu.

WHEN TO PERFORM THE SANDHYAVANDANA:

Prata Sandhyavandana:

It is ideal to perform the Prata Sandhyavandana when we can still see the Stars. It is considered mediocre to perform when the Stars are not visible but Sun has not risen yet. It is not desirable to perform after Sunrise.

Madhyannika:

Repeat the above Prata Sandhyavandana Rituals for the Madhyannika with minor modifications. Perform Madhyannika between 10.30AM and 12Noon facing the North or East.

Sayam Sandhyavandana:

Repeat the above Prata Sandhyavandana Rituals for the Sayam Sandhyavandana with minor modifications too and should be performed facing the West. It is ideal to perform Sayam Sandhyavandana before the Sunset. It is considered mediocre to perform after Sunset. It is not

desirable to perform when Stars are visible.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.