Sandya vandanam - a Nithya Karmam ?

[basu008]

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Hello All
With Avani avatar around the corner, I keep getting asked this question by younger lads about what is this ritual of Avani Avittam and what is the purpose behind Sandhya Vandanam being a nithya karmam.

Scholars and experts on the topic , kindly enlighten the rest !!

om gayathri devyai namaha !!!

 

[cpchandrasekaran]

Hello Basu008
Before the experts give their views, I would like to share with you what I have learnt. One is that Avani avittam was a day of the new academic year for veda adhyayanam (vedarambam) along with honouring Rishis who have been the pioneers in the respective veda (Rishi tharpanam and Brahma yagnam). Changing Poonal was incidental to these as a matter of purification. In fact, poonal can be changed any time. It is an excellent example of the decline of the essence of a practice leaving only a ritual. Second, I do not know whether any other worship is allowed for a brahmin who has not finished sandhya vandhanam on that day. It is the only thing which links us with the past. Sandhyavandhanam consists of everything a person can hope to do in a religion from Pranayama to Japa to Worship of sun. All other worships can be specialisation but can noway equal the sandhya. One would tend to advise that we do not stray from it from treating it as a nithyakarma. When a muslim says "I want to pray now" it is considered a good thing and we would appreciate him but when a brahmin says" I have to do sandhya" he is considered and eccentric person by our own people. This is the indication of the respect brahmins give to their own practices.

 

[sangom]

Sandhyaa Vandanam (SV for short) is prayer to sandhya, as per the word meaning. Sandhya is the meeting place (time) of day and night and so, naturally, there ought to have been only two SVs per day—morning and evening, but, for reasons not quite clear (the scriptural explanation follows below), we have been told to do a third Sandhya at noon also! There is no meeting between day and night at noon, however.

The scriptural explanation given (and vaadhyaars usually echo mantras of this part during the eating of Sraaddham meals, etc.) is that a group of Asuras known as mandEhaas (மந்தேஹாள் என்னும் அஸுராள்) attack the Sun every morning, trying to prevent the Sun from rising. When brahmins and other high caste people perform SV and offer the arghyam, the water so offered transforms magically into potent vajraayudhas, attack and kill the mandehaas and the Sun is thus enabled to come up and shine for the world. By the evening, the mandehaas are back in full swing, not one less in number, and attack the setting sun—dor what, I don't know myself, but they do. Again, our brahmins and high caste people perform their evening SV, offer arghyams which become vajraayudhas and attack and defeat the mandehaas which some how helps the Sun in some way. Next day, the drama repeats exactly identically and this has been going on for thousands, if not lakhs of years! We have been unable to exterminate these mandehaals once and for all.

You may (I think, will) get further posts from others which will try to justify SV and the above story in different imaginative reasoning and straw man arguments, but for a school-going child who is taught that the Sun does not actually rise or set, but only the earth rotates and hence creates the days and nights experience for us, will mostly get confused and will be in a quandary which one to believe. If you are a true brahmana you will have to convince your son about mandehaals and all that and tell him that what science tells is all lies concocted by western scholars to defame the true genius of our ancestral rishis and sages! Wish you all success in that endeavour!

 

[kgopalan]

இந்த உலகமும், நாமும், மற்ற ஜீவ ராசிகளும் நீர், நெருப்பு, காற்று, ஆகாயம், பூமி என்ற ஐந்து பூதங்கலின் கலப்பில் உண்டானவை. கலப்பு proportion தான் வித்தியாசம். இவைகளினால் இயக்கம் நடை பெறுகிறது. இதில் சிறிய அளவு நெகடிவ் உண்டாகி விடுகிறது. இது கெடுதலை செய்கிறது. இந்த கெடுதலினால் பூகம்பம், சுனாமி, தீவிரவாதிகள் , நாத்திகம் அதிக மாகும். இதை தடுக்க மக்களின் ஒரு பகுதியினர் வேதம் ஓதுதல், வேதம் கற்ற்ல்; வேதம் கற்பித்தல் . வேள்விகள் செய்தல் இம்மாதிரி வேலைகளில் முக்கிய கவனம் செலுத்தி அதயே செய்து வந்தால் நெகடிவிசம் குறையும். ஆதலால் ப்ராமணர்கள் என்ற ஒரு பகுதி மக்கள் இதை செய்ய வேண்டும்.என்று அக்காலத்தில் ஏற்படுத்தினார்கள். மூன்று வேதங்களின் சாரமே காயத்ரி மந்திரம். இந்த காயத்ரி மந்திரம் சொன்னால் கூட போதும் தினமும் .குரைந்த பக்ஷமாக.

நாள் ஆனால் வேதங்கள் பழமை ஆகி விடும். அதற்காக ஆவணிஅவிட்டத்தன்று வேதம் சொல்லி, வேதம் கண்டுபிடித்து கொடுத்த் ரிஷிகளுக்கு தர்பணமும் செய்து வேதத்திற்கு பழமை தோஷம் வராமல் செய்யவே . ஆவணி அவிட்டம்.

 

[tks]

Hello All
With Avani avatar around the corner, I keep getting asked this question by younger lads about what is this ritual of Avani Avittam and what is the purpose behind Sandhya Vandanam being a nithya karmam.

Scholars and experts on the topic , kindly enlighten the rest !!

om gayathri devyai namaha !!!

basu008 ji - You will find many threads and posts on Sandhyavandhanam from the archives of this forum (I am saying this since you are new to the forum).
You may want to learn how to use search function. If that does not work, you can use google search as well with one of the words as tamilbrahmins for example.

All the best

PS: You have to learn as to which posts to ignore over time. Like the proverbial swan which is mythologically stated to separate milk from water, one has to learn to which posts have substance given that some posts may deceptively appear to be well written and even appear logical but is full of nonsense!

 

[vishviyer]

Vanakkam, THE purpose of Sandhya Vandanam is to offer Arghyam to Gnana Sooriyan and not the planet sun. We aim at planet sun but the mantra laden water reaches gnana sooriyan, as the negative forces are in constant battle to prevent the Gnana Sooriyan from manifesting. Kanchi Paramacharyal used to define Asthram as even a blade of grass that is empowered with mantras that it can destroy negativity. Also, Sandhya Vandhanam is NOT the prerogative of any caste. ALL humans are supposed to do it. There are several aspects to performing Sandhya Vandhnam as well, but please perform the ritual three times a day before analyzing it. And please do not offer Arghyam after sunset as it facilitates the negative forces. Please refer to Kanchi Mahaperiyaval's teachings on this.

 

[sangom]

Shri basu ji,

My prediction was correct and you have now got 2 posts!

I forgot to tell about Avani avittam. This is known also as SrAvaNa pourNami (ச்ராவண பௌர்ணமி) and is the exact counterpart of school/college reopening of the present times. In the days of the vedas, young boys belonging to brahmana, kshatriya and vaisya groups were taken to competent gurus, and left under the care of that guru to study veda/s. The student could study one or more vedas; in north India, you will find people with surnames like Dwivedi (Dube), Trivedi, Chaturvedi (Chaubey) and these indicate that some remote ancestor of theirs had successfully completed the study of two, three or four vedas, respectively.

The ancient system had been to observe this Avani avittam at the beginning of the rainy season when the seeds had begun to sprout, and this coincided with SrAvan pournami which is the pournami in August/Sept. now. The rainy season has undergone time change during all the intervening millenia but the SrAvan poornima continues unchanged. The AvaNi aviTTam ceremony was known, once upon a time long ago, as "ChhandasAm upAkarman" or gathering of the Chhandases or vedas. This meant revising the veda/s learned by students in the previous year in the presence of the guru and hence the ChhandasAm upAkarman was applicable only to the gurukulas. The householders did not have to do anything.

But the householders tended to forget whatever they had learned in gurukul in their younger days and so the householders also were required to join the AvaNi aviTTam ceremony, at a later stage. The idea was to start refreshing the veda learned in the previous year and bring the studies to a close in the ceremony called ChhandasAm utsarjana which was done on the full moon day of Pausha/Magha (February or March). But we people are very clever and sincere and so we begin the study and also put a stop to it, on the same day, now!

Changing of the sacred thread was originally only an insignificant minor detail but has become the main thing today!
Being the start of a new academic year, the guru in the gurukul was supposed to give a sumptuous feast to all the students, including fresh admissions, on this day. We faithfully follow this part, even today!

I can write much more details about AvaNi aviTTam but even this much may be useless for today's youngsters. So, I stop here.

 

[Velan]

Simple terms.....World is cycle.
Change over of day, night and mid (maximum - uccham too much sun's domination) called SV, there are lot of hormonical occurance happening those time in the universe. It so easy meditate to get co-partner with them naturally. Scientifically it impact us all way (body, mind, reason of mind) not limited to what I told. It can't be showable nor able to see, continuous doing will make you feel like a air.

As vishiyer said it's for everyone shoud do to get benefit.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

the only thing most of us Brahmins diligently do is changing/renewing poonool during avani avittam.

we don't do sandyavandanam daily.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

imho any person who pursues to know brahman (unmai param porul) is a brahmin.

would mere diligently, mechanically performing and adhering to rituals like sandhyavandhanam, avani avittam, changing of poonool, vegetarianism etc make one a brahmin?

i think a brahmin is who he is and not what he does.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

all the mahanu baavulus has mentioned so many things about sandhyavandanam, avani avittam etc, which eludes the limited wisdom of this gnana sunyam.

i humbly request only one thing. could any one please tell me, will all these doing sandhi, poonool renewing etc, change my character to reflect the character of bhagwan almighty?

 

[renuka]

PS: You have to learn as to which posts to ignore over time. Like the proverbial swan which is mythologically stated to separate milk from water, one has to learn to which posts have substance given that some posts may deceptively appear to be well written and even appear logical but is full of nonsense!

Its best not to ignore any post..we learn from every kind of post..even in Nonsense..we should only choose to see SENSE.

The Swan supposedly separating milk from water story..come to think of it..unless the Swan is making Highly Dense Greek Yogurt..even the milk would have a fairly good amount of water in it.

So technically there is nothing in this world which is 100% sense or 100% nonsense.

Its just our deceptive mind that chooses to harshly divide everything into positive and negative.

 

[yesmohan]

Shri Sangom ji,

Thank you very much for the posts. My basic knowledge in Sanskrit is next to nothing despite the fact that I studied Sanskrit as second language up to graduation level. I used to answer Sanskrit papers almost, only in English. I have got enlightened in one area.

I have one doubt.

Many brahmins conduct Upanayanam at the age age of 8 years for their sons.

Even small kids are reciting "Praachchanam" as part of " nithya karmaas" all the three times.
Is there, these manthraas have any relevance to the small kids?
They recite them without knowing the meaning ?
whether this part is compulsory for the kids also?

 

[rskumar45]

Sandya Vandanam is known as Trikala Sandya Vandanam.

It has to be performed thrice daily.
To get the benefits of this ritual , it should to performed at the following times:

Morinng - 20 mins either side of Sunrire. Eg. If Sunrise is at 6 AM local time. Ideal time to do is between 540 AM to 620 AM
The approximation is 20 degrees on either side of the Sun in the hoziron.

Afternoon - When the Sun is shining exactly above your head. That is you cannot see your shadow.

Evening - 20 mins either side of Sunset. Eg. If Sunset is at 6 PM local time. Ideal time to do is between 540 PM to 620 PM
The approximation is 20 degrees on either side of the Sun in the hoziron.

 

[sangom]

Shri Sangom ji,

Thank you very much for the posts. My basic knowledge in Sanskrit is next to nothing despite the fact that I studied Sanskrit as second language up to graduation level. I used to answer Sanskrit papers almost, only in English. I have got enlightened in one area.

I have one doubt.

Many brahmins conduct Upanayanam at the age age of 8 years for their sons.

Even small kids are reciting "Praachchanam" as part of " nithya karmaas" all the three times.
Is there, these manthraas have any relevance to the small kids?
They recite them without knowing the meaning ?
whether this part is compulsory for the kids also?

Shri yesmohanji,

I am not able to understand what you are referring to by "Praachchanam"; is it 'prASanam'? Kindly elucidate.

The Grihyasutras prescribe the age at which youngsters of brahmin, kshatriya and vaisya varnas have to be sent to a Guru for learning of vedas. Originally, the Upanayanam meant only the taking of the boy to the guru by a competent guardian (father, grandfather, etc.). The ceremonies and other items which now compose the Upanayanam ceremony were probably absent in the very early times.

Later on the smritis (grihya sutras) took over this upanayanam also as a compulsory "samskAra" and made it an elaborate ceremony or function. Brahmin boys are required to be taken to a guru at the age of 7.
Atharva Veda XI-7 Verse 6 tells us that the brahmachari wears the skin of a black antelope and has a long beard. This tells us clearly that there was some period when the upanayanam used to be done very late, may be before the grihyasutras took over!

I think most tabras at least, if not all brahmins today, do whatever brahminic rituals they do, without knowledge of Sanskrit and, in the process, with many mistakes and incorrect words and swaras, etc. It is 'blind following the blind', in many ways. But children doing certain rituals without knowing the meaning of the mantras need not be looked down upon, if you have some arrangement to teach them the correct meaning and import of the mantras and ritual actions at least when they have grown up.

Taking the prASana mantras, (presuming that you are referring to it by praachchana) it can easily be said that these are mantras praying to Surya (in the morning) and agni (in the evening) to deliver the Brahmachari free from the sins which he might have committed, knowingly or unknowingly by thoughts, words and deeds. As regards the portion "SisnA" it need not be explained nor word meanings detailed. The mantra in the mAdhyAhnikam, viz., Apa: punantu prithiveem...etc., it is a prayer for the water purifying the earth, the earth so purified making the brahmachAri pure, "brahman" purified by brahmanaspati making the brahmachari pure, and even the sin of eating left-overs or receiving benefits from people who are "asat" or evil, may be wiped out. I think therefore that even small boys may continue to do the prASanam, once they are fully convinced about the need and efficacy of performing SandhyAvandanam.

 

[B V RAAGHAVAN]

Namaskarams,
Shri Sangomji has explained the process in a beautiful manner. Why we choose the age as 8? At this age after the upanayanam the boy is to be sent to Gurukulavasam to learn his Sakas. At the Gurukulam he is away from the worldly matters and he concentrates only on his studies and attained vidwat. After the Gurugulavasam he will be directly put into the world to experiment his "Attained Bhuddhi". All our Veda mantras are the guiding factors. How to live, how to speak and how to earn ones livelihood etc. All these factors if you put in the mind of the child it will set there permanently and he will not forget these things in his life time. (Pasumaraththu Aani pol). Now a days we teach them only the Mantras and not the meanings. The new trend is neglecting our precious sanskrit language people are running behind German and French languages as a second language for their wards. People should know the treasures in our language and try to show them to our younger generation. Then only India will prosper. Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithaha.

 

[a-TB]

I heard women used to do Sandhyavandanam at one time many centuries ago and then stopped. Is there any truth to this?

 

[a-TB]

Its best not to ignore any post..we learn from every kind of post..even in Nonsense..we should only choose to see SENSE.

The Swan supposedly separating milk from water story..come to think of it..unless the Swan is making Highly Dense Greek Yogurt..even the milk would have a fairly good amount of water in it.

So technically there is nothing in this world which is 100% sense or 100% nonsense.

Its just our deceptive mind that chooses to harshly divide everything into positive and negative.

Realistically does anyone have time to read all the posts? Our mind has to choose, why is it harsh?

 

[sangom]

I heard women used to do Sandhyavandanam at one time many centuries ago and then stopped. Is there any truth to this?

The origins of sandhyavandanam (SV) are not very clear. It looks as if women of the three higher castes might also have been performing SV since Hanuman goes to the brook side in Asokavana to find Sita, on the assumption that she might be there doing SV.

Rigveda as such does not unambiguously talk about SV. All that can be gleamed from it are upanayanam, meaning taking your son to a guru and admitting him there, maunjee=the girdle made of darbhagrass (for brahmins only) which possibly functioned as a belt in modern times, ajinam=skin of a black buck, serving as a kind of 'uniform' to indicate that the person was a brahmachari, etc. Even the kudumi was to be given at the end of all the veda studies along with another rite called gOdAna.