1) Why is sandhya vandanam so important?
All vedic scriptures have given great importance to sandyavandanam. It is said that one who does not perform Sandyavandanam and Madhyaniham for more than three days, becomes impure and is thus rendered unfit to perform the vedic rites - the Nitya (daily) or Naimithica (occasional) duties prescribed in the scriptures.
2) How did it start?
Scriptural Authority (Pramanam):
There are references in the vedas regarding Sandyavandanam. A reference occurs in "Second prasna, Second Anuvaka of Thaithria Aranyaka (Yajur Veda)", explaining procedure of worship. The procedure of worship indicated is by offering "Arghya" (water in the palms of both hands thrown up), at the time of sunrise and sunset, meditating on Aditya (Sun).
Verses 15 & 16 of Ishvashya upanishad of Shukla Yajurveda also refers to Sun worship as above at sunrise and sunset.
Chandogya upanisad (Chapter 2 Section ix) discusses "Aditya vidya" explaining the importance of meditation of Sun or Aditya at sunrise and sunset, bringing out also the points mentioned above. Chapter 3, Section xii, of this upanishad explains meditation of aditya through gayatri. It also explains that the sun in the horizon outside and the sun element inside us are one and the same and there is no difference. The identity should be kept in mind while meditating through gayatri. This is the meaning of "Asavadityao brahma" recited during sandyavandanam.
These views are also echoed in Aditya Hridaya of the Yuddakanda of Ramayan. Agasthya explains to Sri Rama, the merits of worshipping Aditya. Aditya protects everyone, helps them in their duties, gives lustre, removes ignorance and provides happiness. He is friend of water and resides in every living thing.
Various Rishis set the procedures. Variations are there in Rig, Yajur and Sama Santhyavanthanam and Madhyaniham procedures. Various Sutras difined various procedures. Apastamba, Boudhayana, Parasara and Yajnvalkya sutras are some of them.
3) Methods of doing it, Yajur Veda Sandhyavandanam / Madhyanigam Procedure:
Purification:- Achamanam, pranayanam
Statement of purpose:- Sankalpah
Surrender and dedication:- Satvika Tyaga
Purification;- Prokshanam, Prasanam, Achamanam, Punya Prokshanam
Getting rid of demons:- Arghyam
Purification:- pranayanam
Apology for any delay:- Prayaschita Arghyam (skip this for Madhyanigam)
Purification:- achamanam
Thanks for benefits received:- Kesavadi Tarpanam
Purification:- Achamanam, japa vidhih
Preparation for gayatri:- Pranayaman mantra japa, gayatri aavahanam
Bringing in the Lord for protection:- Gayatri Japam
Purification:- Pranayamam
Realization of the the presence of the Lord:- upastanam
Salutations to the sandya gods:- sandyadi devata vandanam
Expression of one's lineage:- Abhivadanam
Salutations to the directional gods:- Dikvandanam
Expression of one's lineage:- Abhivadanam
Surrender and dedication:- satvika tyaga
Getting rid of demons:- arghyam
4) Meaning and Philosophical significance:
Aditya represents pure sattwa characteristics and He is bright (prakasa) and light (laghu). He is entrusted with the portfolio of health of souls (chetanas) in our planet as per the distribution of duties during the evolution of the universe. Our human body contains every element of the universe and they get subdued or become invisible due to the character (Rajoguna and tamoguna) of the individuals.
However, it is possible to culture any of the elements of the universe present within himself by providing suitable environment. Worship through Arghyam is a process by which the element of Aditya within us can be cultured and in turn acquire the qualities of Aditya - namely lustrous and health preserving quality of the body and mind., light body, high intellect with grasping power, high intuition, memory and many other qualities.
The arghya should be offered seeing the sun in the horizon and meditating (through gayatri) on aditya.
The Arghyas delivered skyward from the palms of the worshipper serve as missiles to destroy demons known as Mantehars attacking the sun. This statement in the vedas has a great significance. Vedas are also referred to as Thrayi - that is the statements have three meanings (external, internal and philosophical).
The philosophical meaning of this statement is important. The element of sun in our body is clouded by our "Rajoguna" and "Tamoguna". The Arghyams offerred as worship to Sun or Aditya at sunrise and sunset will help free the sun element in us. The word Manteha also means body, therefore the word mantehars refers to the devils in our body.
An Auto-suggestion, Suryopasthanam at noon:
"Pasyema saradassatam jivema saradassatam
Nandama saradassatam, modama saradassatam
Bhavama saradassatam, srinavama saradassatam
Prabravama saradassatam ajitasyama
Saradassatam jyok cha suryandrise
Ya udaganmahato arnavadvibhrajamanah
Sarirasya madhyat sama vrishabho lohitaksassuryo
Vipascvin manasa punatu"
'May we see and adore for a hundred years that orb of the Sun which rises in the east and looks after the welfare of the celestials like an eye. May we live thus for a hundred years. May we rejoice with our kith and kin for a hundred years. May we live gloriously for a hundred years. May we speak sweetly for a hundred years. May we live for a hundred years undefeated by the forces of evil. We desire to enjoy gazing at the Sun for a hundred years.'
May my whole mind be sanctified by the Sun who bestows all our needs, whose eyes are red, who is omniscient and who rises from amidst the waters of the ocean illuminating all the quarters.'
All vedic scriptures have given great importance to sandyavandanam. It is said that one who does not perform Sandyavandanam and Madhyaniham for more than three days, becomes impure and is thus rendered unfit to perform the vedic rites - the Nitya (daily) or Naimithica (occasional) duties prescribed in the scriptures.
2) How did it start?
Scriptural Authority (Pramanam):
There are references in the vedas regarding Sandyavandanam. A reference occurs in "Second prasna, Second Anuvaka of Thaithria Aranyaka (Yajur Veda)", explaining procedure of worship. The procedure of worship indicated is by offering "Arghya" (water in the palms of both hands thrown up), at the time of sunrise and sunset, meditating on Aditya (Sun).
Verses 15 & 16 of Ishvashya upanishad of Shukla Yajurveda also refers to Sun worship as above at sunrise and sunset.
Chandogya upanisad (Chapter 2 Section ix) discusses "Aditya vidya" explaining the importance of meditation of Sun or Aditya at sunrise and sunset, bringing out also the points mentioned above. Chapter 3, Section xii, of this upanishad explains meditation of aditya through gayatri. It also explains that the sun in the horizon outside and the sun element inside us are one and the same and there is no difference. The identity should be kept in mind while meditating through gayatri. This is the meaning of "Asavadityao brahma" recited during sandyavandanam.
These views are also echoed in Aditya Hridaya of the Yuddakanda of Ramayan. Agasthya explains to Sri Rama, the merits of worshipping Aditya. Aditya protects everyone, helps them in their duties, gives lustre, removes ignorance and provides happiness. He is friend of water and resides in every living thing.
Various Rishis set the procedures. Variations are there in Rig, Yajur and Sama Santhyavanthanam and Madhyaniham procedures. Various Sutras difined various procedures. Apastamba, Boudhayana, Parasara and Yajnvalkya sutras are some of them.
3) Methods of doing it, Yajur Veda Sandhyavandanam / Madhyanigam Procedure:
Purification:- Achamanam, pranayanam
Statement of purpose:- Sankalpah
Surrender and dedication:- Satvika Tyaga
Purification;- Prokshanam, Prasanam, Achamanam, Punya Prokshanam
Getting rid of demons:- Arghyam
Purification:- pranayanam
Apology for any delay:- Prayaschita Arghyam (skip this for Madhyanigam)
Purification:- achamanam
Thanks for benefits received:- Kesavadi Tarpanam
Purification:- Achamanam, japa vidhih
Preparation for gayatri:- Pranayaman mantra japa, gayatri aavahanam
Bringing in the Lord for protection:- Gayatri Japam
Purification:- Pranayamam
Realization of the the presence of the Lord:- upastanam
Salutations to the sandya gods:- sandyadi devata vandanam
Expression of one's lineage:- Abhivadanam
Salutations to the directional gods:- Dikvandanam
Expression of one's lineage:- Abhivadanam
Surrender and dedication:- satvika tyaga
Getting rid of demons:- arghyam
4) Meaning and Philosophical significance:
Aditya represents pure sattwa characteristics and He is bright (prakasa) and light (laghu). He is entrusted with the portfolio of health of souls (chetanas) in our planet as per the distribution of duties during the evolution of the universe. Our human body contains every element of the universe and they get subdued or become invisible due to the character (Rajoguna and tamoguna) of the individuals.
However, it is possible to culture any of the elements of the universe present within himself by providing suitable environment. Worship through Arghyam is a process by which the element of Aditya within us can be cultured and in turn acquire the qualities of Aditya - namely lustrous and health preserving quality of the body and mind., light body, high intellect with grasping power, high intuition, memory and many other qualities.
The arghya should be offered seeing the sun in the horizon and meditating (through gayatri) on aditya.
The Arghyas delivered skyward from the palms of the worshipper serve as missiles to destroy demons known as Mantehars attacking the sun. This statement in the vedas has a great significance. Vedas are also referred to as Thrayi - that is the statements have three meanings (external, internal and philosophical).
The philosophical meaning of this statement is important. The element of sun in our body is clouded by our "Rajoguna" and "Tamoguna". The Arghyams offerred as worship to Sun or Aditya at sunrise and sunset will help free the sun element in us. The word Manteha also means body, therefore the word mantehars refers to the devils in our body.
An Auto-suggestion, Suryopasthanam at noon:
"Pasyema saradassatam jivema saradassatam
Nandama saradassatam, modama saradassatam
Bhavama saradassatam, srinavama saradassatam
Prabravama saradassatam ajitasyama
Saradassatam jyok cha suryandrise
Ya udaganmahato arnavadvibhrajamanah
Sarirasya madhyat sama vrishabho lohitaksassuryo
Vipascvin manasa punatu"
'May we see and adore for a hundred years that orb of the Sun which rises in the east and looks after the welfare of the celestials like an eye. May we live thus for a hundred years. May we rejoice with our kith and kin for a hundred years. May we live gloriously for a hundred years. May we speak sweetly for a hundred years. May we live for a hundred years undefeated by the forces of evil. We desire to enjoy gazing at the Sun for a hundred years.'
May my whole mind be sanctified by the Sun who bestows all our needs, whose eyes are red, who is omniscient and who rises from amidst the waters of the ocean illuminating all the quarters.'
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