#Thread ON SANDHYAOPAASANAA OR DIVINE MEDITATION 🧘♀️ 🕉
Sandhyaopaasanaa was/is one of the two mandatory daily great activities for boys and girls students in ancient gurukulas or those which are run as per ancient Vedic system.
Sandhyaopaasanaa was/is one of the two mandatory daily great activities for boys and girls students in ancient gurukulas or those which are run as per ancient Vedic system.
The preparatory stages for Sandhyaopaasanna or Divine worship are:-
1. Bathing - which effects bodily cleanliness, and ensures health.
1. Bathing - which effects bodily cleanliness, and ensures health.
Manu says:- "Water washes off the impurities of the body. Truth exalts the mind. Knowledge and strict devotion to duty elevate the soul. Possession of ideas refines the intellect." MANU 5: 109.
I)Achamana (Sipping of sanctified water): This consists in taking in as much water as can be held in the palm of one's hand by applying the lips to the root and centre of it...
.. The quantity of water should be just sufficient to reach the lower part of the throat. Its object is to relieve irritation of the throat of dryness thereof it present.
II) Maarjana :is to sprinkle water with the points of the middle and index fingers, on the face & other parts of one's body. Its object is remove drowsiness. If a person be not drowsy or if water be not obtainable, it can be dispensed with.
After preparatory stages, comes essential stages of Sandhyaopaasanaa for both boy and girl students in Gurukuls:-
1. Praanaayaama - or control of the breath. Says Patanjali, in his Yoga Shaastra :- "The practice of Praanaayaama gradually burns off all impurities and exalts the soul...
... The light of knowledge in the soul goes on continually increasing till the soul is emancipated." YOGA Shaastra Saadhanapaada, 28.
Manu says:- "Just as a goldsmith, by blowing stronghly against a piece of impure gold, removes its impurities by oxidation, so does Praanaayaama burns off all impurities of the mind and senses." MANU 6: 71
Method of Praanaayaama:"As in the act of vomiting all the contents of the stomach are violently expelled, so should the breath be expired forcibly & exhale out as long as possible by drawing up the epelvic viscera." YOGA Shaastra, Samadhipada, 38.
When discomfort is felt, the air should be gently inspired. This process should be repeated according to one's desire and strength. This exalts the purity of the soul and develops concentration of mind.
Praanaayaama is of four kinds:-
I) Baahya Vishaya - It is the process desired above in which the breath is held out as long as possible.
II)A'Bhyantara - In which the breath is held in as long as possible.
I) Baahya Vishaya - It is the process desired above in which the breath is held out as long as possible.
II)A'Bhyantara - In which the breath is held in as long as possible.
III)Stambha Vritti - In which the breathing is suddenly stopped at any stage of respiration.
IV)Baahyaabhyaantaraakshepi - In which the ordinary course of breathing is reversed, expiration is forcibly begun when inspiration is going on,...
IV)Baahyaabhyaantaraakshepi - In which the ordinary course of breathing is reversed, expiration is forcibly begun when inspiration is going on,...
.... and vice versa. By thus reversing the course of respiration, both expiration and inspiration are in turn stopped, and thus the processes of respiration, and consequently and mind and senses come under the direct control of the Will...
.. By the increase of bodily strength and activity, the intellect becomes so subtle that it can easily grasp the most abstruse and profound subjects...
.. It also helps to preserve and perfect the reproductive element in the human body, which, in its turn, produces self-control, firmness of mind, strength, energy, and acuteness of intellect.
Girls as well as boys should practice Praanaayaama.
Girls as well as boys should practice Praanaayaama.
2. Aghamarshana - Repentance and intense desire to keep aloof from the even the thought of sin.
3. Manasaa Prakrimana - Mental Rotation, i.e., - turning one's mind in all the six different directions of space - North, South, East and West, Above and Below - and feeling in each the presence of God.
4. Upaastha - Realization of God as the source of all Light, Life, Knowledge, etc.
5. Stuti - Glorification; Praathnaa --Prayer; Upaasanaa - Communion.
5. Stuti - Glorification; Praathnaa --Prayer; Upaasanaa - Communion.
For best benefit to mind, body and soul, Sandhaopaasanaa should be performed in some lonely spot, with a concentrated mind.
Manu says:- "Seek some lonely spot, by the side of the water, concentrate your mind and perform your Sandhyopaasanaa. Never forget to recite the Gayatri Mantra and contemplate its manifold meaning. act accordingly."MANU 2: 104.
The second daily great activity taught and carried out in Gurukulas by both boy and girl students was/is Devayagna, comprising of Agnihotra (the feeding of fire with clarified butter and aromatic substances for sanitary purposes)..
..and associating with, and serving devout and learned persons.
I will post a separate #Thread on Agnihotra and Homa.
Source & credit : Satyarth Prakash by Swami DAYANANDA SARASWATI Udeypur, 1939 Vikram, Bhadarpud Shukula Paksh (A.D. 1882).
Let’s return to the golden Vedic Age of Sanatan Dharma 🙏
Source & credit : Satyarth Prakash by Swami DAYANANDA SARASWATI Udeypur, 1939 Vikram, Bhadarpud Shukula Paksh (A.D. 1882).
Let’s return to the golden Vedic Age of Sanatan Dharma 🙏
