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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

Sandhyavandanam

 

Shri Mani's present series on Sandhyavandanam is most informative. Here are a 
few more points- as adiyen has been out of touch with the lists forsome time, 
please do pardon adiyen if the following is a repetition.

 

"Adou VedA: pramANam", Vedas are the first and foremost pramanam for 
everything. And almost all the rituals we perform today have their roots in the 
Vedas, in some form or the other. In fact, there are two prasnAs in theYajur 
Veda, (Mantra Prasnam) devoted to the mantras to be uttered for performing 
various vaidIka karmas, be it upanayanam, vivAham, chouLam, or the apara kriyAs.

 

SandhyAvandanam too is dealt with in the Taittiriya Aranyaka, in the third (or 
is it the fourth?) prasna of ArunA. In two anuvAkAs, (beginning with 
"RakshAgumsi ha vA purOnuvAkE tapOgram") the Veda Purusha describes thereason d 
etre" of Sandhyavandanam.

 

Once upon a time the asurAs performed sincere and intense penance or tapas. 
PrajApati appeared before them and queried them as to their wishes. The AsurAs 
told Prajapati that they wished to fight with AdityA. "So be it," pronounced 
Prajapati. From that day, the Asuras started fighting with Soorya at every 
sunrise and sunset. Due to this constant battle, Adiya started weakening. 
Concerned at the disastrous consequences to the universe of Soorya being 
disabled, Prajapati devised a way of saving Soorya from gradual decline.

He ordered Brahmins to perform Sandhyavadanam at sunrise and sunset, with the 
important component of "arghya pradAnam", that of throwing water held in joined 
palms at the Sun. This concerted throwing of water by all brahmins, turns into 
a weapon as powerful as the VajrAyudhA , and attacks the asurAs, bundling them 
off to a remote island known as the "MandEhAruNa dveepam",where they lie 
vanquished. However, this defeat is not permanent, and is only till the next 
SandhyA, so that the boon granted by Prajapati to the asurAs does not go waste. 
Come the next Sunrise, the asurAs are back in full vigour to fight with the Sun.

Again, the Brahmins perform Sandhyavandanam and the concerted arghyA banishes 
the asurAs to the aforesaid island. And the process goes on infinitely.

 

We often hear people say that Sandhyavandanam does not bestow any special merit 
on the doer, but its non-performance results in sin, ("akaraNE pratyavAya 
janakam") this being an "AgyA kainkaryam", or one that we are ordained to 
perform. However, the Aranyaka says that every Brahmin, who performs 
Sandhyavandanam and japam at all sunrises and sunsets, is blessed with all that 
is auspicious ("sakalam bhadram asnutE"), is freed from all sin ("tEna pApmAnam 
avadhoonvanti") and attains the Ultimate ("BrahmApyEti").

 

Thus Sandhyavandanam occupies a very high place in our list of priorities, and, 
as should be clear from the aforesaid, is done for the benefit of society. This 
is why the Shastras prescribe this karma as a preliminary to all others, 
without the performance of which the yajamAna does not acquire eligibility to 
do anything else-

"SandhyA heenO asuchi: nityam, anarha: sarva karmasu"-

A person who does not do Sandhyavandanam is perennially impure and is 
ineligible to perform any karma, vaidIka or otherwise. 

 

The story narrated above also emphasizes the need for the timely performance of 
this important ritual, for, it is precisely at sunrises and sunsets that the 
Sun is at danger from the asurAs, and only timely arghya pradAnam would 
vanquish the latter.

 

Adiyen has a question to the learned bhagavatas of the list- the aforesaid 
anuvAkAs deal with prAtah: and SAyam sandhyavandanam, but say nothing aboutthe 
"MAdhyAhnikam" that we perform regularly. What is the pramANA in the Vedas for 
this? "MadhyAhnikam appears to have the sanction of Smriti (Dharma Sutras, etc) 
and of "SishtAchAram" (the practice of great people), which should be enough 
for us. However, is there a mention about it in the Vedas?

 

Srimate SriLakshmINrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatkopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

------dasan, sadagopan.

 


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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&nbsp;
<P class=MsoBlockText><SPAN lang=EN-GB>Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta 
Desika 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN 
lang=EN-GB>&nbsp;<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 
12.0pt">Sandhyavandanam<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>Shri Mani&#8217;s 
present 
series on Sandhyavandanam is most informative. Here are a few more points- as 
adiyen has been out of touch with the lists for some time, please do pardon 
adiyen if the following is a repetition.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>&#8220;Adou VedA: 
pramANam&#8221;, 
Vedas are the first and foremost pramanam for everything. And almost all the 
rituals we perform today have their roots in the Vedas, in some form or the 
other. In fact, there are two prasnAs in the Yajur Veda, (Mantra Prasnam) 
devoted to the mantras to be uttered for performing various vaidIka karmas,be 
it upanayanam, vivAham, chouLam, or the apara kriyAs.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>SandhyAvandanamtoo is 
dealt with in the Taittiriya Aranyaka, in the third (or is it the fourth?) 
prasna of ArunA. In two anuvAkAs,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; 
</SPAN>(beginning with &#8220;RakshAgumsi ha vA purOnuvAkE tapOgram&#8221;)the 
Veda Purusha 
describes the reason d etre&#8221; of Sandhyavandanam.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>Once upon a time the asurAs performed 
sincere and intense penance or tapas. PrajApati appeared before them and 
queried 
them as to their wishes. The AsurAs told Prajapati that they wished to fight 
with AdityA. &#8220;So be it,&#8221; pronounced Prajapati.<SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>From that day, the Asuras started 
fighting with Soorya at every sunrise and sunset. Due to this constant battle, 
Adiya started weakening. Concerned at the disastrous consequences to the 
universe of Soorya being disabled, Prajapati devised a way of saving Sooryafrom 
gradual decline.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>He ordered Brahmins to perform 
Sandhyavadanam at sunrise and sunset, with the important component of 
&#8220;arghya 
pradAnam&#8221;, that of throwing water held in joined palms at the Sun. This 
concerted throwing of water by all brahmins, turns into a weapon as powerful as 
the VajrAyudhA , and attacks the asurAs, bundling them off to a remote island 
known as the &#8220;MandEhAruNa dveepam&#8221;, where they lie vanquished. 
However, this 
defeat is not permanent, and is only till the next SandhyA, so that the boon 
granted by Prajapati to the asurAs does not go waste. Come the next Sunrise, 
the 
asurAs are back in full vigour to fight with the Sun.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Again, the Brahmins perform 
Sandhyavandanam and the concerted arghyA banishes the asurAs to the aforesaid 
island. And the process goes on infinitely.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">We often hear people say 
that Sandhyavandanam does not bestow any special merit on the doer, but its 
non-performance results in sin, (&#8220;akaraNE pratyavAya janakam&#8221;) this 
being an 
&#8220;AgyA kainkaryam&#8221;, or one that we are ordained to perform. However, 
the Aranyaka 
says that every Brahmin, who performs Sandhyavandanam and japam at all sunrises 
and sunsets, is blessed with all that is auspicious (&#8220;sakalam 
bhadramasnutE&#8221;), 
is freed from all sin (&#8220;tEna pApmAnam avadhoonvanti&#8221;) and attains 
the Ultimate 
(&#8220;BrahmApyEti&#8221;).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Thus Sandhyavandanam 
occupies a very high place in our list of priorities, and, as should be clear 
from the aforesaid, is done for the benefit of society. This is why the 
Shastras 
prescribe this karma as a preliminary to all others, without the performance of 
which the yajamAna does not acquire eligibility to do anything 
else-<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&#8220;SandhyA heenO 
asuchi: 
nityam, anarha: sarva karmasu&#8221;-<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>A person who does not do Sandhyavandanam 
is perennially impure and is ineligible to perform any karma, vaidIka or 
otherwise. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The story narrated above 
also emphasizes the need for the<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; 
</SPAN>timely performance of this important ritual, for, it is precisely at 
sunrises and sunsets that the Sun is at danger from the asurAs, and only timely 
arghya pradAnam would vanquish the latter.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Adiyen has a questionto the 
learned bhagavatas of the list- the aforesaid anuvAkAs deal with prAtah: and 
SAyam sandhyavandanam, but say nothing about the &#8220;MAdhyAhnikam&#8221;that 
we perform 
regularly. What is the pramANA in the Vedas for this?<SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>&#8220;MadhyAhnikam appears to have the 
sanction of Smriti (Dharma Sutras, etc) and of &#8220;SishtAchAram&#8221; (the 
practice of 
great people), which should be enough for us. However, is there a mention about 
it in the Vedas?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Srimate SriLakshmINrisimha 
divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatkopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya 
Nama:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>------dasan, 
sadagopan.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 1in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB 
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 
12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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