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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<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> <?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">
</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"> <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"> </SPAN>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 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"> <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"> </SPAN>“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 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"> <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"> </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">
</SPAN>(beginning with “RakshAgumsi ha vA purOnuvAkE tapOgram”)the
Veda Purusha
describes the reason d etre” 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"> <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"> </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. “So be it,” pronounced Prajapati.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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"> </SPAN>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.<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"> <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, (“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
bhadramasnutE”),
is freed from all sin (“tEna pApmAnam avadhoonvanti”) and attains
the Ultimate
(“BrahmApyEti”).<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"> <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">“SandhyA heenO
asuchi:
nityam, anarha: sarva karmasu”-<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"> </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"> <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">
</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"> <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 “MAdhyAhnikam”that
we perform
regularly. What is the pramANA in the Vedas for this?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“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?<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"> <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"> </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"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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