Gayatri and Sandhya worship vs other mantras

[Guest guest]

If we read our epics thoroughly a few things would come up crystal clear

:-

 

It was insisted that all dwijas perform their morning and evening

Sandhya worship every day - even in dire situations.

 

During the 18 day Mahabharata way Sri Krishna and Arjuna were mentioned

as getting down from the chariot at sunset doing their evening Sandhya

rites, after tying up the tired horses. Elsewhere it was also mentioned

for other kshatriya warriors in both sides. Manu also mandates the same.

 

Upon Sri Krishna's advice Arjuna directs the arrow bearing the head of

Jayadratha onto the lap of his father, Vriddhakshatra who at the time

was doing his evening Sandhya worship. As the stunned king stood up, his

son's head rolled from his lap to the ground, breaking the head of

Vriddhakshatra into thousand fragments, thereby fulfilling his own

curse. This is an interesting story of one who gets killed in an

agonizing way, even as he was doing his Sandhyopasana.

 

In the Ramayana Brahmarishi Vishwamitra himself exhorts Rama to do his

Sandhya worship once it was dawn. These are just a few examples

highlighting the importance of regular Sandhya worship.

 

At the same time, both these epics are full of stotras praising various

Gods and Goddesses... and the same regular Sandhya practitioners

mentioned above are seen chanting/advised to chant these respective

Stotras for both kamya and nishkamya siddhi. (Vishnu Sahasranamam by

Bhishma, Aditya hridhayam by Rama, Durga Stuti by Arjuna and

Yudhishtira etc)

 

My own belief is that chanting the Gayatri shows one the right path

meant for him. For some, Gayatri is sufficient. But for others, the path

might not be so straight. Gayatri will lead him to his ordained Guru,

who will then initiate him to the proper path.

 

So, in a way, Gayatri does lead one to liberation. But it need not be a

liberation attained thru Gayatri chant alone.

 

Also, IMO chanting Gayatri gives one the " solar power & strength " to

handle the heat generated by chanting powerful mantras. This is from my

experience.

 

Regards,

Hari

[Guest guest]

VIshwamitra had asked Rama to do Sandhya-In that case Rama is considered to be a

Kshatriya and how come Dwijas are supposed to perform sandhya?Was it common to

all?

 

[satish: The word dvija,includes Brahamana-s , Kshatriya-s and Vaishya-s]

 

--- On Thu, 12/6/08, Krishnan, Harihara & lt;harihara.krishnan & gt; wrote:

 

Krishnan, Harihara & lt;harihara.krishnan & gt;

Gayatri and Sandhya worship vs other mantras

 

Thursday, 12 June, 2008, 5:30 PM

 

If we read our epics thoroughly a few things would come up crystal clear

:-

 

It was insisted that all dwijas perform their morning and evening

Sandhya worship every day - even in dire situations.

 

During the 18 day Mahabharata way Sri Krishna and Arjuna were