#Sandhyavandanam
Sandhyavandana is a short religious practice that Hindus perform thrice daily. It combines specific mantras with breathing practice and meditation. Regular practitioners perform this thrice a day, just before sunrise, at noon and just before sunset. Vedic saints
Sandhyavandana is a short religious practice that Hindus perform thrice daily. It combines specific mantras with breathing practice and meditation. Regular practitioners perform this thrice a day, just before sunrise, at noon and just before sunset. Vedic saints
believed that it is those times of the time that the mind & body is fully alert, and we could leverage those periods to strengthen the mind. It takes about 10-15 minutes each time. There are 4 main components of Sandhyavandana:
1. Gayathri Japa - this is the core of the ritual.
1. Gayathri Japa - this is the core of the ritual.
It comprises of 5-10 min of meditating on a manthra (hymn) that Hindus consider very sacred. The mantra has a deep calming effect and sharpens the concentration.
2. Pranayama - this is the breath control part of the exercise. Pranayama has a great health benefit as it can greatly
2. Pranayama - this is the breath control part of the exercise. Pranayama has a great health benefit as it can greatly
reduce stress. Each Sandhyavandana ritual has 13 pranayamas, 39 in total per day.
3. Achamaneyam & Tharpanam - this is the cleaning part of the ritual where we wash our hands and feet and take the water "ritually cleansed". The constant handwashing involved in these rituals was
3. Achamaneyam & Tharpanam - this is the cleaning part of the ritual where we wash our hands and feet and take the water "ritually cleansed". The constant handwashing involved in these rituals was
probably related to ancient hygiene.
4. Upasthana Manthra - This is the part of the ritual where we placate the Vedic gods. In the morning, we address to #Mitra - the god of
oath & friendship, in the afternoon we address to #Surya - Sun god and in the evening we address to
4. Upasthana Manthra - This is the part of the ritual where we placate the Vedic gods. In the morning, we address to #Mitra - the god of
oath & friendship, in the afternoon we address to #Surya - Sun god and in the evening we address to
#Varuna - the god of water. The hymns are powerful and the prayer brings family and social peace. The afternoon mantras bring the essence of the Vedas (stressing on the happiness).
Apart from these 4, there are various small parts that address various gods and builds a spiritual
Apart from these 4, there are various small parts that address various gods and builds a spiritual
bond.
The benefits of Sandhyavandana:
1. It brings down the stress levels. The Pranayama & Gayathri Mantra to be performed in 6 hour intervals calms tempers.
2. Early morning and early evening times are most conducive for learning and children do their meditation before their
The benefits of Sandhyavandana:
1. It brings down the stress levels. The Pranayama & Gayathri Mantra to be performed in 6 hour intervals calms tempers.
2. Early morning and early evening times are most conducive for learning and children do their meditation before their
studies to improve their concentration.
3. It stresses a lot on hygiene. The rituals have to be performed after bathing and has a lot of cleaning exercises.
4. The hymns address various gods of nature and brings a certain appreciation for nature's beauty. Ardent practitioners
3. It stresses a lot on hygiene. The rituals have to be performed after bathing and has a lot of cleaning exercises.
4. The hymns address various gods of nature and brings a certain appreciation for nature's beauty. Ardent practitioners
face the early morning sun standing in a river and enjoy the divine joy of nature's bounty.
5. It brings a discipline in us. Having to do it 3 times day on specific periods builds a sort of rhythm.
6. It builds a bond between the elders and youngsters in the house. In traditional
5. It brings a discipline in us. Having to do it 3 times day on specific periods builds a sort of rhythm.
6. It builds a bond between the elders and youngsters in the house. In traditional
households, the grandfathers, fathers, sons, uncles, cousins and brothers all perform the ritual at the same time and given the meanings of many mantras praying for family peace, it brings calmness to the home.
7. It connects us to our ancient culture. It teaches about how our
7. It connects us to our ancient culture. It teaches about how our
ancestors performed the rituals.
It is a beautiful art and celebration of nature that we are slowly losing. The cleanliness, preservation of nature and de-stressing exercises have all gone with the wind. We end it by saying
“Kayena vacha manasendriyenva Buddhayatmnava
It is a beautiful art and celebration of nature that we are slowly losing. The cleanliness, preservation of nature and de-stressing exercises have all gone with the wind. We end it by saying
“Kayena vacha manasendriyenva Buddhayatmnava
prakreetiswabhavat
Karomi yadhyat sakalam parasmai Narayanayeti samarpayami"
meaning, whatever I do with my mind, body, speech or with other senses of my body, or with my intellect or with my innate natural tendencies, I offer everything to the Lord! Though we attempt to
Karomi yadhyat sakalam parasmai Narayanayeti samarpayami"
meaning, whatever I do with my mind, body, speech or with other senses of my body, or with my intellect or with my innate natural tendencies, I offer everything to the Lord! Though we attempt to
concentrate our mind onto the almighty, we get perturbed, in most cases, eventually what we had done can impure in heart. So we request the god to accept our mistakes and let him decide the authenticity and outcomes of our prayer. There is a misconception that only Brahmins are
allowed to do Sandhayavandanam which is completely untrue. Everyone can perform if he goes through the process of Upanayanam.
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻
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