Good day to everyone. I had my upanayanam done at 7 years of age (apasthamba, kashyapa gotra, yajur-vedi) but I have not done regular sandhyavandhanam for the past years (I am now 23). I wish to restart my duties of trikaala sandhyavandhana but none of my recent ancestors (father, maternal or paternal grandfathers, the last person that performed it was my maternal great grandfather) have done daily sandhyavandhana, hence I have had some basic queries that have remained unanswered:
1. About length of yagnopaveetha: what must one do if it is too long? Some videos online show them looping and knotting it, but I remember reading some resource which says there must be no other knot except the brahma-mudichu.
2. As someone who hasn't done the sandhyavandhana in 16 years, is there anything else I can do except get another upanayana done for me, to be eligible for study of vedas?
I want to assure you that you can restart the daily ritual anytime.
Sandhyavandanam is considered a
Nithya Karma (a daily ritual) and is therefore prescribed as a duty for everyone. Anyone leading a
satvic lifestyle is encouraged to study the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. To learn the ritualistic and
upasana (worship or meditative) sections of the Vedas, however, it is essential to have a teacher. This teacher ensures that the chanting is accurate and can guide you effectively. Such teachers are often more rigid in their outlook, having been trained in the dos and don'ts of these practices throughout their lives.
Nithya Karma refers to duties performed without expecting any results or rewards.
Adi Shankaracharya, in his commentaries, discussed the non-performance of
Nithya Karma. He addressed whether such omissions lead to
Pratyavaya Dosha (a specific kind of fault or consequence). He concluded definitively that there is no possibility of such a
dosha. Therefore, if someone has neglected their daily duties or failed to perform
Shraddham (ritual offerings to ancestors), there are no resulting faults. However, it is always beneficial to resume these prescribed practices immediately, as they contribute to personal growth. There is no need to worry about past non-performance.
If possible, take the time to learn the meanings and significance of each step in these practices. At the very least, begin chanting the
Gayatri Mantra Japam daily, ideally in the morning. While there are traditionally prescribed counts for this chant, the emphasis should be on the quality of the meditative chanting rather than merely focusing on the numbers.
All the best!
PS: Get Upaveetham soon but it is not necessary to begin the practice of Sandhyavandhanam
