Sandhyavandana - 1

Doing Sandhyavanada everyday is a discipline that I have been cultivating for the past few years. As a parent if you are looking to perform upanayana for your child, start practicing now and be the role model to the child. Understanding the meaning as a first step is not critical, however knowing the meaning and purpose can help perform the ritual with more commitment. I started writing this blog more for myself than anyone else so that I can help my son better.

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Sandhyavandana is a way to salute and thank the Sun for his role in our existence, and contribution to our life. Sun is an important diety and He is the first of all manifestations - He is the Aadi. That said, it is not just the external sun that we salute through Sandhyavandana. It is also the sun within, who sparks the life within. Note that sanatana dharma what is outside (bahya) is also within (antara). So whatever exists externally, also exists interally. So, whatever ritual we do externally is also to be internalized. 

What is "sandhya"? sandhya means the intersection, the union, the reflection, the twilight. There can be many "sandhyas" in any given day but 3 are prominent. 1) the intersection between the end of darkness and start of a bright day, 2) intersection between first half of a day and the second half, and 3) the intersection between a day and the start of night. "vandana" is salute, reverence, praise, show of respect or worship. So, someone who is on a spiritual pursuit should take moments to do self-reflections at least 3 times in a day by following a disciplined ritual. 

Sandhyavandanam involves multiple phases that may overlap with one another:

1. Purification: the process begins with purification - external (bAhya) through water and Internal (abhyantara - deep within) through bhagawad nAma (names of the Lord) and prANAyAma (controlling of breath). There is external purification of the body through water, an internal cleansing through sipping of water with the Lord's names, a mental cleansing through prANAyAma. These prepare us for the spiritual cleansing that happens through gAyatri mantra, the core of the sandhyAvandanam process.
   
   
2. Stating the intent and taking a vow: making the sankalpa (determination). There is a vow for why we are performing the sandhyavandanam, a vow to offer respectful homage (arghya), and a vow to chant gAyatri mantra with dedication and focus.  
     
3. Invocation and Welcome: preparing the stage and inviting the auspicious deities within; welcoming; giving the arghya (respectful reception of a "guest"). Arghya simply means "that which is worthy of being honored" or "venerable, respectful, deserving offering". arghya also means "that which is valuable", "that which deserves worship", or "one who is worthy of honorable reception". In the context of sandhyAvandanam it is the “symbolic offering of oneself", or "offering water for the respectful reception”, and is one of the 16 upachArAs offered to a deity. arghya should be offered thrice to the sun. 
• pAdya - for the feet
• arghya - for the hands and head
• aachamana - for the mouth 
  
  
4. Meditation or mantra japa: gAyatri japa is central to the sandhyavandana, and the above preparations are vital before doing gAyatri; offer oblations. 
   
   
5. Conclusion: thank all the deities, give a graceful sendoff, re-invite them the next time, extend apologies for any shortcoming and conclude by offering everything to the Lord, Sri Krishna.

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Here are some of the most important elements of Sandhyavanadana:

[start by purification process: external through water and internal through the Lord's names]

shuddhIkaraNa: external purification:

अपवित्रः पवित्रः वा सर्व अवस्थां गतॊपि वा । यः स्मरॆत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं सबाह्य अभ्यन्तर शुचिः ॥

Whether one is pure or impure (bathed or unbathed, wearing the sacred thread or not, sinful or sinless), whatever state (jAgrt / swapna / shushupti, bAla / kaumAra / yuva / vriddApya / mrityA, brahmacharya / grihasta / vAnaprastha / sanyAsa etc) one has reached, one who remembers (recollects, recites, thinks of, is mindful of) the Lotus Eyed One (the Lord, Sri Krishna, Sriman Narayana), he/she is purified (shines, glows, gleams) from outside and from within.

aachamana: internal purification  

Sipping of water for cleansing or rinsing the mouth; take sips of water three times accompanied by chanting the names of the Lord, and then wiping face, eyes, ears, nose, shoulders, breast etc. This act is called Ācamana.

केशवाय स्वाह | नारायणाय स्वाह | माधवाय स्वाह |

केशवाय स्वाह - offering to Lord kEshava, the Lord with the fine luxuriant hair (hair likened to the rays of the Sun; the Supreme Being) and the killer of the "kesi" demon, i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna
 

नारायणाय स्वाह – offering to Lord nArAyaNa, who pervades us from within (described as one who keeps the blood warm and responsible for circulation; He is described as the eye of the world, the world itself, the indestructible, supreme abode, eternal, unending, soul of the universe, last resort, the ultimate one who is to be known, the root, imperishable, supreme brahman, infinite, limitless, all knowing etc.), i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

माधवाय स्वाह – offering to Lord mAdhava, who is sweet like honey (the all attractive, the most fragrant one), i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna.

(offering made to the external aspect, the internal aspect and the deep inner core which is likened to honey)

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गोविंदाय नमः – Salutations to the one who gives pleasure to the senses (one who is the chief herdsman), i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

विष्ण्वॆ नमः – Salutations to the one who is all pervading, all embracing, i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

मधुसूदनाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who slayed Madhu demon, i.e. to Sri Krishna (who like the bee collects honey for the living beings to consume) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

त्रिविक्रमाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who strides over the 3 worlds (bhu, bhvah, suvah; who can push His devotee out of the 3 worlds and the 3 modes of material nature) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

वामनाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who came in the form of a dwarf (complementing trivikrama) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

श्रीधराय नमः – Salutations to the Lord of Fortune (one who is all splendor, intellect, fame, glory, grace, luster, virtuousness, excellence; posseses all wealth) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

ह्रिशिकॆशाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord of the organ of senses (one who delights, and creates happiness) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

पद्मनाभाय नमः – Salutations to the Lotus Navel'd Lord (the causal root of the entire creation) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

दामोदराय नमः – Salutations to the Lord with a rope around the waist (Sri Krishna) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

संकर्शणाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who beholds the entire universe (Lord from who all the manifestations or incarnations supposedly happen; Anantashesha, who is born as Lord Balarama) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

वासुदॆवाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord of Soul (vAsu: “The Soul”; the soul of the universe; the supreme being), the son of Vasudeva i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

प्रध्युम्नाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord of Intellect, of love, the per-eminently mighty one, who radiates or illuminates (also, the son of Krishna and Rukmini, and Krishna Himself) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

अनिरुद्धाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord one who cannot be suppressed, stopped, confined, i.e. who is self-reliant and self-willed (also, the son of Pradhyumna, said to have close resemblance to his grandfather Sri Krishna ) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

पुरुशोत्तमाय नमः – Salutations to the Supreme Spirit (highest being, best among all that is) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

अधोक्षजाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who never falls down or dishonored or undermined i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

नारसिम्हाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who is nArasimha (man-lion), the great warrior i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

अच्युताय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who is imperishable, firm, fixed, permanent; almighty being i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

जनार्दनाय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who excites, motivates, inspires all that is born; one who annihilates all that is born i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

उपेन्द्राय नमः – Salutations to the Lord who as the younger brother of Indra descended as vAmana; who is Indra Himself i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

हरये नमः – Salutations to the Lord (also the Lion, Indra, Brahma, beautiful, fire, wind, the sun) i.e. to Lord Sri Krishna

श्री कृष्णाय नमः – Salutations to Lord Sri Krishna (the all attractive; who is in essence all the above names and more).  

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Part 2: Sandhyavandanam