Very well said by Sri Sarma Sastrigal. I would add to this and say that this is Brahmin’s #1 responsibility. It is our responsibility as there is a puranic background for this karma. Sri Dikshitar told this to us long back – I vaguely remember. Let met try – when we do “”Asavadithyo Brahma, Brahmaiva Satyam, Brahmaiva Aham asmi” – we sprinkle water twice over our head. It seems that by doing this we drive Rahul/ketu away from hiding Sun. That is our responsibility. I could be wrong. Anyways – do the sandhyavandhanam thrice a day and let us try to elevate ourselves in the spiritual journey.
Om Sri Gayathriyai Nama:
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Mr.Harihara I have a neatly compiled version IN DEVANAAGARI in big fonts and small fonts – actions required annotated in English – BUT this is AS PRACTICED in our family traditions and therefore BY ME – Aapasthamba soothram – TriaRishaya sampradaayam..- Chaandramaana sampradaayam. Smaller fonts itself is 4 pages. This versions contains swaritham, deerga swaritham, udhaththam (mathra intonations). SLightly loner version than what Tamil Brahmins practice. But shorter than what my garnd-dad did (which also contained MUDRAs). If this is useful, i can share
Due respects to all. In some of the discourses people have been saying that in this yuga Nama Sankheerthanam alone is enough. I had questioned one such lecturer if the daily Anushtanam was not needed to that she said it was very much needed. I could only request her to insists on Auushtanam as well in her lectures. In short, speakers should encourage and talk the significance of Anushtanam and Nitya karma in their talks repeatedly, only then it might ingrained in the minds.
This is a timely reminder, and no reminder is too many.
Over 60 years ago, Srivatsa Somadeva Sarma published a detailed book on Sandhyavandanam. It is more on the Sastric/theoretical aspects, but it gave details of dhyana on three aspects of Gayatri meant for the different times Sandhya is performed. The smaller book by ‘Anna’ Subrahmanya Iyer [ published by Ramakrishna Math, Chennai] is more directly useful as it gives the ‘prayogam’ for each step and also gives the meaning of the mantras, including the Upasthana mantras in a precise format.
The book by I.K. Taimni [ Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai] goes a step further and explains the Yogic and scientific significance of the mantras and also explains how the Gayatri becomes a supreme prayer. Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao has, in his small book Gayatri Mantra ( Sri Aurobindo Kapali Sastry Institute of Vedic Culture, Bangalore-11) pointed out some rare insights on Gayatri based on Vedic lore. For instance, he points out that a mantra in Rig Veda, Mandala 3 ( 3.53.12) declares that this mantra protects the Bharata people – people who take delight (rata) in the Light, those with affinity for Light. He also explains, on the basis of Yaska’s comments, that Gayatri is a camouflaged expression for ‘trigaya’ which means having three modes of articulation- that is it inspires our mental processes, speech behaviour and physical activities.He also refers to Shatapatha Brahmana( 14.8.15.7) which interprets Gayatri to signify that it protects the life principles (prana) . LIke this, this small book abounds in many insights and he cites all the original mantras in Samskritam.
Formerly, the old traditional astrologers ( following the Vedic, not Tantric systems) would invariably say that no parihara or remedies would work, including temple visits, in the case of Brahmins unless they performed Sandhya upasana first.
PLease share details of the books – Title of the book, Book store available, cost. We could buy and read.
The sandhyavandana slokas are to be recited with devotion and with bhava. Same way pranayama to be done with bhava only, so that the entire exercise is effective and meaningful.
The sandhyavandana slokas are to be recited with devotion and with bhava. Same way pranayama to be done with bhava only, so that the entire exercise is effective and meaningful.
//when we do “”Asavadithyo Brahma, Brahmaiva Satyam, Brahmaiva Aham asmi” – we sprinkle water twice over our head. It seems that by doing this we drive Rahul/ketu away from hiding Sun. That is our responsibility. I could be wrong.//
Asavadithyo Brahma Brahmaiva Satyam, Brahmaiva Aham asmi – This statement signifies Jeeva Brahma Abedham and has got nothing to do with Rahu and Kethu. During this very important step we need to contemplate on Brahmam by holding our palms inwards towards our chest for a couple of mins and think of Jeeva Brahma Abedham; and not rush this step through mechanically.
Sprinkling of water (once) above our head is Atma Parischenam (purifying ourselves outwardly and spiritually)
The significance of offering Arghyam (Water oblation, another important step in Sandhyavandnam) is to please Devas as well drive away a type of Rakshas called ‘Mandhekars’ who blocks Surya Bhagwan.
Navagraha Deva Tharpanam step comes at the end of the first part (before starting japam) where we offer tharpanam to Rahu and Kethu.
All these have been written in detail by the Sandhyavandanam book by Srivatsa Somadeva Sarma in 1950, a scholar highly regarded by Maha Periyava. Rama Rama
Sai –
I am very much aware of mahavakhyas. If you read my statement, I said that there is a puranic connection also which was narrated to us by Sri Yagnarama Dikshitar who was considered as a very learned person in US till two years back (he passed away 2 years back).
The statement above is not the actual Maha Vakya though it sounds close to “Aham Brahmasmi”. Also, We don’t sprinkle water twice over our head while saying this mantra. We fold our hands inwards. Rama Rama
It is not sprinkle. I don’t know how else to write this in English. Maybe when we talk I can explain.
Prajnanam Brahma, Aham brahasmi, tatvam asi, Ayam atma Brahma are mahavakhyas
Thanks Mahesh. I wanted to share the below links regarding this Nitya karma which contains the upanyasam of Sri Anantharama Dikshithar on its importance :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-YX40vPIJQ
Many thanks.
Instead of RAHU you wrote Rahul 😊 end of the day we need to even keep rahul away like rahu. My pun intended 🤐😂
The slokam mentioned here means “Jeeva-Brahma” ikyam(ஐக்யம்). The prayogam for this is to keep the fingers of both hand pointing to the heart ( right side , and not the blood pumper)and sit meditating upon the meaning of the sloka. The books normally mention this.
There are minor differences in the prayoga among sampradayas. While this mantra is meant to induce us to contemplate on jiva-Brahman aikya, the prayogam requires us to stand up facing the Sun, join palms together in Anjali hastha , with the joined thumbs touching the heart, and rest of the fingers pointing to the Sun. The heart here is the spiritual heart on the right side, and not the physical organ on the left, as you have rightly pointed out. In
Hello
Is there a sanskrit book which i can refer back to validate if I am doing it rightly
Thanks