WHAT IS SANDHYAVANDANA ?

06 FACTS--

1-(Sanskrit: संध्यावन्दन, sandhyāvandana) is a mandatory religious ritual performed, traditionally, by Dvija communities of Hindus.The Vaidika sandhya is the rite performed by the twice-born castes thrice a day, at morning, midday, and evening. The morning sandhya is preceded by the following acts. On awakening, a mantra is said in invocation of the Tri-murtti and the sun, moon, and planets, and salutation is made to the Guru.

2-The Hindu dvija then recites the miantra: "I am a Deva. I am indeed the sorrowless Brahman. By nature I am eternally free, and in the form of existence, intelligence, and Bliss." He then offers the actions of the day to the Deity, confesses his inherent frailty, and prays that he may do right. Then, leaving his bed and touching the earth with his right foot, the dvija says, "Om, 0 Earth! salutation to Thee, the Guru of all that is good."

3-After attending to natural calls, the twice-born does achamana (sipping of water) with mantra, cleanses his teeth, and takes his early morning bath to the accompaniment of mantra. He then puts on his caste-mark (tilaka) and makes tarpanam, or oblation of water, to the Deva, Rishi, and Pitri. 4-The sandhya follows, which consists of achamana (sipping of water), marjjana-snanam (sprinkling of the whole body with water taken with the hand or kasha-grass), pranayama (regulation of prana through its manifestation in breath), agha-marshana (expulsion of the person of sin from the body; the prayer to the sun, and then (the canon of the sandhya) the silent recitation (japa) of the Gayatn mantra, which consists of invocation (avahana) of the Gayatri-Devi; rishi-nyasa and shadanga-nyasa , meditation on the Devi-Gayatri in the morning as Brahmani; at midday as Vaishnavi; and in the evening as Rudrani; japa of the Gayatri a specified number of times; dismissal (visarjana) of the Devi, followed by other mantra.

5-The Sandhyavandanam is the oldest extant liturgy in world religion. As a practice, it may be descended from the much older daily Agnihotra ritual.

Sandhyavandanam literally means "salutation to Sandhya". Sandhya, in turn, has traditionally been interpreted either as "the transition moments of the day" (namely the two twilights dawn and dusk), or as "the solar noon". Thus, Sandhyavandanam may be defined as the ritual "salutation to twilight or the solar noon".

6-The term sandhyā, when used by itself in the sense of "daily practice", may also refer to the performance of these rituals at the opening and closing of the day.

THE STEPS OF SANDHYAVANDANA---

O8 POINTS--

The steps in the Sandhyavandan always include the following essential components:

1-Āchamana consists of Nama Sankirthana - taking the names of the Lord 2-Prāṇāyāma is the ritual purification of internals via breathing exercises 3-Mārjana is a ritual self-purification 4-Mantra Prokshanam is a prayer for atonement of sins. 5-Aghamarshana (performed by some schools, especially Rig Vedins) is a prayer for forgiveness of sins 6-Gāyatri japa is meditation 7-Upastānam is a prayer to the Hindu deities Mitra (performed during the morning prayer) and Varuna (performed during the evening prayer) 8-Abhivādana is a salutory introduction offered to all deities. It usually follows a prostration to the deities in each direction . MAIN COMPONENTS OF SANDHYAVANDANA-----

16 FACTS-- 1-Āchamana and Angavandanam - Sipping water three times + purifying parts of the body 2-Ganapathi Dhyanam - Requesting Lord Ganeshaa for cessation of obstacles 3-Prāṇāyāma - (Prāṇā) Breathing (āyamaha) regulation exercise controls pranamayakosha ("physiological aspect"). The Pranamaya kosha includes five systems - Prana (respiratory system), apana (excretory system), vyana (circulatory system), samana (digestive) and udana (reversing system). Influences Anamayakosha (Anatomical aspect) and Manomayakosha (Emotional aspect). There are 2 types: Kevala pranayama (Done silently - focus is on body) and Sagarbha pranayama (recommended) With mantra ) health improves but we remain detached from body). Done 3 times to 10 times. 4-Meaning of Mantra - Pranava - Om means eeswarah (implying that God is everything). Vyahrithihi) - Bhu, bhuvaha etc. refer to 7 upper lokas (other 7 lower lokas are implied) are all God. Gayatri - Simple meaning - I meditate upon the light of the sun which activates our intelligent) Gayatri shiras (again says that God is everything - All waters (aapo), lights (jyothi), essences/nourishment(raso), God's nourishment (amrutham) is God).

5-Sankalpam - Taking the resolve - has benefit of auto-suggestion (telling yourself that this is your focus for next 15 odd minutes). 6-Prokshanam - 7-Jalaprashanam or Marjanam 8-Arghya pradanam 9-Navagraha Kesavathi Tarpana OR MANTRA JAP 10-Gayatri japam 11-Upasthaanam 12-Dik-Vandhanam 13-Abhivadanam 14-Samarpanam 15-Chanting of the Gayatri mantra, traditionally, is done 32, 64 or 108 times (it depends on the person doing sandhyavandana; he can chant any number of times. In addition, one of the most important rituals of Sandhyavandanam involves worshiping the Sun as Mitra in the morning and worshiping Varuna, in the evening.Navagraha tarpana are offerings made every day to each of the nine planets.

16-Each Shakha of the holy Veda has its own unique way of sandhyavandanam. Shatatapa Smriti says a Dwija who doesn't do sandhyavandanam at least once will be a dog in the next birth. During Ashoucham (during death of any relative or birth of a child) sandhyavandanam is done without water and Darbham (Kusha grass). On Trayodashi, during sayam sandhya minimum gayatri japam and silence is prescribed by some vedik scholars.

TANTRIC SANDHYAVANDANA-----

The Tantriki-sandhya, may be performed by all. The general outline is similar; the rite is simpler; the mantra vary; and the Tantrika-vijas or "seed" mantras are employed.

1-IN TANRA-----There is no meaning of pure & impure because SHIVA (nirgun Brahaman) is present everywhere .THE TRISANDHYA are one hour before sun rise & one hour after sun rise & the third one is at night --11.30 p.m. to 2.00 a.m. 2-The jap of PRANAV or BRAHAMAN MANTRA (Om Sat Chid Eikm Brahman) is allowed everywhere, to all the people & any time. .......SHIVOHAM.....

SHIVOHAM-