Reg. Sandhyavandhanam

[Guest guest]

Respected Sirs,

 

I have small doubt regarding practicing Sandhyavandhanam.

 

1) Whether ' Praatha Sandhyavandhanam ' can be performed before taking bath?

2) Is it proper to perform ' Maadhyaanigam ' in the morning with Praatha Sandhyavandhanam as office-goers donot have time to perform in the afternoon?

3) Also can we perform ' Saayam Sandhyavandhanam ' even after 8 PM?

 

why i have this doubt is because our elders have observed that Sandhyavandhanam should be performed ,

 

(1) Before seeing the Sun ('kaanaamal')

(2) Standing Straight seeing the Sun ('konaamal')

(3) Before Sun Set ('Kandu')

 

can anybody clarify my above doubts?

 

regards

 

A.Sridhar Plus - For a better Internet experience

[Guest guest]

Respected Sir:

 

What elders have said stands.

 

However, since time does not stand, today, all said and done it imay not

be possible for many to adhere to what the elders have said because the

time when the elders made this statement, it was a different age and era.

People in those times were staying in Agraharams and doing the Sandhya full

time with Veda practices etc. unlike the fast modern life we all are

presently leading.

 

Having said this, what is important is that the 'performance with

dedication'. This writer repeats. Performance with dedication. Just as an

example, but not with any sense of personal pride, this writer reaches home

many times after office at 11 in the evening. He still takes bath and does

the Sayam Sandhya. Some 'elderly' people, note not Elders which you refer

i.e. our purvacharyas, and vaidika anushtanam dedicated Elders of the

golden era, but current 'elderly'people, some priests etc. have told this

writer that after sunset and that too close to midnight it is not right.

 

But one of his Gurus has stressed that Sandhya involves Gayathri and the

one of the purpose, among many reasons, is to seek more light to our mind

and also refresh our thoughts, nerve cells and seek divine protection and

blessings from all problems, evil forces. So it was suggested that even if

it is done at such a late time it does not matter and may not harm

definitely. Whether any benefit is got or not, one is not sure but the

writer can at least have a fitful dreamless sleep and morning he wakes up

with a fresh mind. This is a personal experience and may or may not hold

true to all, and may be dependent on body state, mental state, level of

stress, how much work one has done in office, travel tiredness etc. but

this is a general observation.

 

Similarly, this writer cannot do the Madhyanikam as he is in office. So one

may couple with the morning Sandhya. These are modern day variations which

an intelligent and devouted sincere mind will try. The basic reason is

" come what may this should not be given up " . Since there is a clarity of

attitude, what remains is only procedural details as to timing etc.

 

And what matters in the end is clarity of attitude. For instance a man

without arms was keen to do the Sandhya and asked about how he can. Yes he

too can, with his mind. Following the other general rules etc. he can sit,

ask his wife or relation etc. to keep the water and spoon etc. and mentally

pray and go through the whole ritual. It is a perfectly valid Sandhya.

 

Another person who was a diabetic wanted to do the Sandhya after taking his

routine coffee which was his habit from childhood. Now strictly if we go

by what our elders have said during those days there was no coffee/tea or

morning tea habit as many of us have today. But this guy tried strictly

following the old rule and by the time he was halfway through the Sandhya,

he felt weak because he did not have his usual coffee. The doctors had

advised him not to go empty stomach for long. Some of the more

knowledgeable elders and acharyas informed him that he can still have his

coffee and afterwards do the Sandhya. Again, this is not

 

As regards your query on bathing. It is preferable because bathing is an

act of cleansing. You can experience for yourself. Everytime your mind is

sluggish, lazy, sleepy, just have a bath. The blood circulation starts

happening strongly and you feel light inside the head. There is a general

feeling of cleanliness inside you. This helps in the Sandhya.

The other reason is : What are you trying to do when you are about to Start

the Sandhya ? You are approaching the Greatest of the Greatest, Supreme and

are sort of chatting with the Gods, Lords, higher beings. What do you do

when you have a very important meeting in the office and you are invited,

or there is a conference where the big bosses in the office are there. Will

you go without combing or grooming yourself with unpolished shoes or a

shirt without a button?

 

Please do not mind these references. No insult is intended. The point is,

we try to be our best in looks, personality, dress, attitude and smile etc.

on important occasions like marriage, bethrothal, big gatherings, meetings,

important conferences, so why not give the same level of importance to

those things which are higher than these worldy things?

 

Why our own beloved Shriman Naryanan is well known to be an " Alankara

priyar " . He is always dressed in the best of robes and jewellery and in

temples everyday, the old flowers are taken off and fresh ones put. So when

HE HIMSELF is setting the example, it is our DUTY to obey and take cues

from HIM. The minimum we can do immediately is to take a good bath and

dress in clean clothes and then approach HIM during Sandhya.

 

When a person is suffering from fever, or hospitalised etc. and in a

position whereby physically he is unable to do without bath then these are

natural circumstances. However, whatever be the state, with or without

bath, keep at the back of the mind the 'attitude' of total surrender and

single minded focus which should not waver. On this sole count there is no

excuse, exception or compromise whatever.

 

Last but not the least, the above is a general outline, You have to

necessarily get these clarified by your Guru, acharya or spiritual

teacher/Elders who guide you/your family in all spiritual matters.

 

Om Tat Sat

Tat tvam Asi

 

 

 

Sridhar

Aravamuthan andavan

<getsridhara@yah cc:

oo.co.uk> Reg.

Sandhyavandhanam

 

08/01/03 08:58

AM

Please respond

to andavan

 

 

 

 

 

Respected Sirs,

I have small doubt regarding practicing Sandhyavandhanam.

 

1) Whether ' Praatha Sandhyavandhanam ' can be performed before taking

bath?

2) Is it proper to perform ' Maadhyaanigam ' in the morning with Praatha

Sandhyavandhanam as office-goers donot have time to perform in the

afternoon?

3) Also can we perform ' Saayam Sandhyavandhanam ' even after 8 PM?

 

why i have this doubt is because our elders have observed that

Sandhyavandhanam should be performed ,

 

(1) Before seeing the Sun ('kaanaamal')

(2) Standing Straight seeing the Sun ('konaamal')

(3) Before Sun Set ('Kandu')

 

can anybody clarify my above doubts?

 

regards

 

A.Sridhar

 

 

 

Plus - For a better Internet experience