sandhyavandanam (the watery connection) and ekadashi

[Guest guest]

The Sandhya water may be safely consumed. In fact the purpose is to take

the smallest possible quantity, charge it with the power of the most

highest name and then consume it so that it goes down your throat, right

into your system. The little drop is one of the most sacred of foods, even

better than the nectar(amrit) because apart from being the 'home' of our

beloved Lord, it is also His creation and also carries His blessings.

Therefore, you first invoke the sacred name "Om Achuthaya namaha" and then

consume it. Not the other way if you look at it carefully. The name comes

first.

 

Water is one of the simplest and yet the most potent and ultimate elements

insofar as humanity is concerned. And even modern science has also proved

time and again that water is one of the key elements. Even now when the US

sets out to explore remote planets, the first thing on their agenda is

whether there are signs of water, which signifies the smallest possibility

of life.

 

Water (Apa) was recognised by our learned ancestors, the Rishis/Sages and

therefore numerous scriptural references can be found praising Water. Right

now one does not have any detail on these scriptural materials. Some of our

learned members in this forum may be able to help out. Water in most of the

Vedic works is considered as the purifying agent, alongwith agni which

burns up impurities.

 

However, unlike Agni which is Rajasic, water is not - perhaps this is why

our Beloved Lord likes to float on Water !!!. Water is a cooling agent. If

your mind, inner organs and humors, circulation is heated up or sluggish,

nothing like a dose of cool water.

 

Further, unlike the other 4 mahabhootas, fire,earth,space, ether, water is

the one which can easily be accessed and safely consumed.It is the most

tangible one. School geography and basic science texts say that over 70%

of the earth is composed of water,and coincidentally,the same holds true to

our body and contents of our blood also. Taking a sip is more beneficial

for another reason also. Instead of a spoonful or a glass ful, a small drop

has more power. When we look at the homeaopathic therapy, it is based on

degree of dilutions called 'potency', the smaller the dilution percentage

the higher the potency. Though not directly connected with this topic,

just to give an idea of the power of a single drop, among the ancient

Chinese torturn methods the most cruel one was to make the enemy lie down

with hands/legs tied up and his neck/head made immobile by supports. A pan

with cold water would be hung directly over the head at a height and water

would drop in very small droplets at regular intervals over the forehead.

Within an hour the victim would howl with unbearable pain and will

eventually go raving mad and spit out all the secrets.

 

If you really look deeply into the Sandhya practices, you will see that the

crown is the 'Gayathri' japam

However, the prelimineries are prescribed because one has to purify oneself

both externally and internally. Externally one may take bath, but

internally there is no other way other than by using water and breath. Both

are non-invasive. While breath has a different role, water is the cleansing

agent. Whether for cleaning your clothes, your body, your hair, the

floorings in your house, the window pane, or the utensils and also for

cooking from Alaska to Australia everywhere water is the only critical

component. Its utility as an universal cleansing agent cannot be

undermined. Therefore, water has been accorded a very high place in the

Sandhya practices.

 

The cool droplet is supposed to be sipped rather gulped and once it drops

into your apana region it will quench the fire which is constantly raging

in this region - the lower abdomen below the naval. This will enable you

to perform the Sandhya, especially the Gayathri with total focus.

 

Some other aspects on water :Water is everything (apo va idagum sarvam).

You need water to bless (prokshanam), water to clean (apa upa sprushya),

water to even curse (by throwing water after

uttering the cursing words), water to cleanse internally (achamanam),

water to be taken before

eating food and food is considered as Brahma (Annam Brahma).

 

Therefore, water has a great significance and the manner of usage of

water is prescribed. The above is just a broad general gist of the

importance of water.

 

 

Om Tat Sat

Tat tvam asi

 

 

 

"Anand Iyengar"

<anand2048@

 

.com> cc:

sandhyavandanam and ekadashi

08/31/04 05:16

AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Namaskaram Bhagvathars, Shri Vaishnavas,

 

Honorable people, please guide me with knowledge on my concern.

 

I regularly do nirjala ekadashi and sandhyavandanam. Every time on

day of

Ekadashi & Dwadashi I get this query in my mind of whether to sip

water

during sandhyavandanam ? Finally I end up doing achamanam but not

sip the

water. So please share with me the knowledge on performance of

Sandhya

vandanam on ekadashi & dwadashi days. Food on dashmi and dwadashi

whether it

is one full meal and fruits or do you have any suggestions/knowledge

of

right way ? I take one full meal on dashmi (noon) and fruits in the

evening.

I am happy and satisfied for today with past. I want to grow with

right

attitude and knowledge in

snadhyavandanama, ekadashi performances. What does the vedic

sampraday

provides knowledge on following topics, please share with me.

 

Your guidance is a blessing.

 

With all respects

 

Anand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

Here is an excerpt from "Hinduism Rediscovered" (page 367)

explaining the role of water in our anushTaanams.

 

"Water is one of the most natural elements and symbolizes

the power of sanctity inherent in nature capable of ensuring

a spiritual upsurge. The human being is a bodily natural one;

naturally, religion hooks the physical aspects of nature like

water to those of the human embodiment, synchronizing dramatically

the interaction between the two, sanctifying each other

within the environment of the sacred world. Here, a meaningful

meeting takes place between the macrocosm and the microcosm"

 

As for the quanitity, the amount of water during Achamana

(at a time) should not be more than what would be required

to submerge a single grain (whole)of blackgram (maasha)

in your palm.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

=========================================================

Now, Read on:

Sri:

Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha,

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha,

Srimathe Lakshmi Narasimhay Namaha,

Dear Swamin, Bhagvathar, Sri S Ramachandran,

 

Accept dasan's humble namaskar and respects to you,

 

With all respects to your response and advice, I

accept the explanation. Your knowledge and examples

are expression of superior thought collections.

 

Thanks to all the people, which includes you, who make

the life more meaningful and worth learning to live

better tomorrow. I feel blessed to have your response.

 

Would you please explain why you write "Om Tat Sat

Tat tvam asi" at the end ?

 

Please initiate the process of knowledge sharing on

Sandhya Vandanam when you have time. Your knowledge is

very good and will be helpful to people like me. It is

hard to get knowledge which is right and for future

help. For me, avniavattam (punnal) first had been

performed during 1986. However I never realised the

importance and neither I mustered the will power to

observe as daily ritual except since last couple of

years and now I am 35. Blessed are those who initiated

this start.

 

Anand

 

 

--- s.ramachandran wrote:

 

>

>

>

>

> The Sandhya water may be safely consumed. In fact

> the purpose is to take

> the smallest possible quantity, charge it with the

> power of the most

> highest name and then consume it so that it goes

> down your throat, right

> into your system. The little drop is one of the most

> sacred of foods, even

> better than the nectar(amrit) because apart from

> being the 'home' of our

> beloved Lord, it is also His creation and also

> carries His blessings.

> Therefore, you first invoke the sacred name "Om

> Achuthaya namaha" and then

> consume it. Not the other way if you look at it

> carefully. The name comes

> first.

>

> Water is one of the simplest and yet the most potent

> and ultimate elements

> insofar as humanity is concerned. And even modern

> science has also proved

> time and again that water is one of the key

> elements. Even now when the US

> sets out to explore remote planets, the first thing

> on their agenda is

> whether there are signs of water, which signifies

> the smallest possibility

> of life.

>

> Water (Apa) was recognised by our learned ancestors,

> the Rishis/Sages and

> therefore numerous scriptural references can be

> found praising Water. Right

> now one does not have any detail on these scriptural

> materials. Some of our

> learned members in this forum may be able to help

> out. Water in most of the

> Vedic works is considered as the purifying agent,

> alongwith agni which

> burns up impurities.

>

> However, unlike Agni which is Rajasic, water is not

> - perhaps this is why

> our Beloved Lord likes to float on Water !!!. Water

> is a cooling agent. If

> your mind, inner organs and humors, circulation is

> heated up or sluggish,

> nothing like a dose of cool water.

>

> Further, unlike the other 4 mahabhootas,

> fire,earth,space, ether, water is

> the one which can easily be accessed and safely

> consumed.It is the most

> tangible one. School geography and basic science

> texts say that over 70%

> of the earth is composed of water,and

> coincidentally,the same holds true to

> our body and contents of our blood also. Taking a

> sip is more beneficial

> for another reason also. Instead of a spoonful or a

> glass ful, a small drop

> has more power. When we look at the homeaopathic

> therapy, it is based on

> degree of dilutions called 'potency', the smaller

> the dilution percentage

> the higher the potency. Though not directly

> connected with this topic,

> just to give an idea of the power of a single drop,

> among the ancient

> Chinese torturn methods the most cruel one was to

> make the enemy lie down

> with hands/legs tied up and his neck/head made

> immobile by supports. A pan

> with cold water would be hung directly over the head

> at a height and water

> would drop in very small droplets at regular

> intervals over the forehead.

> Within an hour the victim would howl with unbearable

> pain and will

> eventually go raving mad and spit out all the

> secrets.

>

> If you really look deeply into the Sandhya

> practices, you will see that the

> crown is the 'Gayathri' japam

> However, the prelimineries are prescribed because

> one has to purify oneself

> both externally and internally. Externally one may

> take bath, but

> internally there is no other way other than by using

> water and breath. Both

> are non-invasive. While breath has a different role,

> water is the cleansing

> agent. Whether for cleaning your clothes, your body,

> your hair, the

> floorings in your house, the window pane, or the

> utensils and also for

> cooking from Alaska to Australia everywhere water is

> the only critical

> component. Its utility as an universal cleansing

> agent cannot be

> undermined. Therefore, water has been accorded a

> very high place in the

> Sandhya practices.

>

> The cool droplet is supposed to be sipped rather

> gulped and once it drops

> into your apana region it will quench the fire which

> is constantly raging

> in this region - the lower abdomen below the naval.

> This will enable you

> to perform the Sandhya, especially the Gayathri with

> total focus.

>

> Some other aspects on water :Water is everything

> (apo va idagum sarvam).

> You need water to bless (prokshanam), water to

> clean (apa upa sprushya),

> water to even curse (by throwing water after

> uttering the cursing words), water to cleanse

> internally (achamanam),

> water to be taken before

> eating food and food is considered as Brahma (Annam

> Brahma).

>

> Therefore, water has a great significance and the

> manner of usage of

> water is prescribed. The above is just a broad

> general gist of the

> importance of water.

>

>

> Om Tat Sat

> Tat tvam asi

>

>

>

>

> "Anand Iyengar"

>

> <anand2048@ To:

>

> .com> cc:

>

>

> sandhyavandanam and ekadashi

>

> 08/31/04 05:16

>

> AM

>

>

>

Namaskaram Bhagvathars, Shri Vaishnavas,

>

> Honorable people, please guide me with knowledge on

> my concern.

>

> I regularly do nirjala ekadashi and sandhyavandanam.

> Every time on

> day of

> Ekadashi & Dwadashi I get this query in my mind of

> whether to sip

> water

> during sandhyavandanam ? Finally I end up doing

> achamanam but not

> sip the

> water. So please share with me the knowledge on

> performance of

> Sandhya

> vandanam on ekadashi & dwadashi days. Food on dashmi

> and dwadashi

> whether it

> is one full meal and fruits or do you have any

> suggestions/knowledge

> of

> right way ? I take one full meal on dashmi (noon)

> and fruits in the

> evening.

> I am happy and satisfied for today with past. I want

> to grow with

> right

> attitude and knowledge in

> snadhyavandanama, ekadashi performances. What does

> the vedic

> sampraday

> provides knowledge on following topics, please share

> with me.

>

> Your guidance is a blessing.

>

> With all respects

>

> Anand

>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------ Sponsor

>

>

> Links

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Tks for the essay on water. Highly informative.

Adiyen will post on this later with the solpa

knowledge

I have.

 

Dasan/raghavan