SANDHYAVANDANAM

[Guest guest]

Original Message from IISH_MIDDLE_EAST on

11.09.2003

 

 

SANDHYAVANDANAM

 

 

In the life of a Hindu boy of the three communities, namely Brahmins,

Kshatriyas, and Vysyas, Upanayana marks the beginning of Brahmacharya

Ashrama which is set apart for the study of Vedas; this stage is said

to be the second birth for him. Mere wearing of a sacred thread

initiated on the Upanayana day does not make him a real Brahmacharin.

It is rather the study of Vedas, learning and chanting Vedic mantras

including Gayathri and Sandhyavandhana which will qualify him to be a

true Brahmacharin. In modern education, there is no place for Hindu

Scriptures and very few study Vedas after Upanayana. The least that

is expected to be done after this ceremony is to recite the Gayathri

mantra and do Sandhyavandhana. The ceremony is not given much

importance or practiced with religious fervour by these communities.

No attempt is made by the parents or the religious preceptors to

educate the youngsters on the importance of this ceremony and its

spiritual values. The ceremonies are done in a routine manner and the

wards take this sacred religious ritual with least seriousness. The

net result is complete ignorance and degeneration of values - Maha

Periyaval of Kanchi KamakotiPeetham.

 

Sandhyavandanam is an amalgamation of meditation and rituals. The

principles of Yoga are the basis on which the rituals of

Sandhyavandanam are designed. Being an integral ritual connected with

Indian Culture in a very prominent manner, Sandhyavandanam reveals

the cultural identity of the person performing it.

 

Gaayathree - Gayathri Mantra - Manthra - Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah Tat

Savithur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat .

 

`Sandhyavandanam' - What It Really Means

 

 

 

Everyone is born a " Prakrita Purushah " , not a " Samskrita Purushah " .

The former lives according to his `Prakriti', nature or instinct.

Therefore, for all practical puposes, he is an " animal man " . His life

is not governed by any discipline. It is an unrefined life. The Veda

allows a person to be so. But for 8 or 10 years. Afterwards, one has

to enter the second stage.

 

This second stage called `Dwija' stage. What makes a person a Dwija?

The Dwija's life is governed by `dharma-adharma', right and wrong. He

should avoid what is wrong. The question arises: " How do you

determine what is right or wrong? " It is highly relative, What I may

consider right, some one else may consider it wrong. When there is a

controversy, we go to " Sastram " , the Veda. In the scriptures,

whatever is prescribed is `karyam'; whatever is prohibited

is `Akaryam'.

 

Discipline is `certain habits' to be developed at the earliest age

possible, right from getting up early in the morning. Discipline is

enforced at a very young age. This discipline should be based on

conviction.

 

A disciplined life is the end, according to the Veda. The last stage

is, " Brahmano Brahma Veda " . In the third stage also, if life is

governed by dharma-adharma, the very discipline of dharma-adharma can

become a subtle bondage called the golden bondage.

 

The fourth stage is going beyond `dharma-adharma'. Going beyond

dharma-adharma is purely at the internal level-internally,

understanding level. One who has internally gone byond dharma-adharma

but externally follows dharma-adharma is called " Brahmana " . By

knowing the ultimate reality, one becomes a Brahmana. By becoming a

Brahmana, one's life is fulfilled. The second stage is Dwija and the

third stage is Vipra.

 

Veda converts an unrefined person into a refined person. Therefore,

Veda becomes the mother. If mother is to give birth, a father is

required. Here, the Acharya is the father. The mother can give birth

to a child only with the help of the father. Veda can be conveyed

only with the help of an Acharya. The first janma takes place from

the natural mother. For the second birth, the mother is `Mathu

Gayatri' - the Veda Mata. The father is the teacher or Guru. The

Upanayanam marks the transference from the first stage to the second

stage.

 

The Upanayana samskara becomes a purificatory rite also for the study

of the scriptures because the scriptures are so holy that to study

them, one must become holy.

 

Vedic discipline involves Karma. This Vedic karma is particularly

classified into five Karmas,i.e. Nitha Karma - Compulsory regular

acticity; Naimittika karma - compulsory but conditional Karma,

(Grahana etc.); kaamya Karma - activities to fulfill desires;

Nishiddha Karma - actions which are prohibited and therefore should

be avoided; Prayaschitta Karma-rites prescribed for making amends.

 

Sandhyavandana is a prescribed `nityakarma'. It varies according to a

person's Varna and Veda. It is different for Brahmanas, Kshatriyas

and Vaisyas.

 

What are the benefits we get out of Sandhyavandanam? According to

Veda, Nityakarmas are to be done purely for the sake of spiritual

upliftment. If done regularly, we will get spiritual progress -

Chitta Suddhi, Bhagavad-anugraha and Chitta Visaradha. Even though we

are not supposed to ask for material benefit, still there are many

material benefits through Sandhyavandanam. In the prayers that form

part of the Sandhyavandanam, we ask the Lord for long life, health

and prosperity and ultimately, we ask for more jnana. All these are

included in the mantra. The very performance itself gives the result.

 

The second benefit is, since Pranayama and Japam are involved,

physical health is gained. It has been proved that Pranayama is very

good for physical health. To-day Pranayama is taught as a therapy.

The greatest problem is stress. Sandhyavandanam is the best method

because Pranayama not only helps the physical system but also helps

the mind. It is a relaxation exercise, a tension relieving exercise.

But we are not supposed to do that for that purpose. Relaxation

should be a by-product; the primary purpose should be spiritual

benefit.

 

What is the meaning of the word Sandhyavandanam? Vandanam means

worship. Both worship and meditation are involved in Sandhyavandanam.

What is the meaning of Sandhya? Sandhya means the time of union. The

time which relates to the union of two things, i.e. the time between

the night and morning (first junction Dawn), between forenoon and

afternoon (second junction Noon) and between afternoon and evening

(third Jn. Dusk); Sandhya means dawn, noon and dusk. Sandhyavandanam

means a ritual done at the time of three junctions, Dawn, Noon and

Dusk.

 

 

 

Sandhyavandanam is a junction between the devotee and the Lord.

Between Jeevathma and Paramathma.