PART III  SAAYAM SANDHYAA-VANDANAM, EVENING PRAYER

1.  Wash your feet, rinse your mouth, have kumkum or namam on forehead   and sit down to pray facing East. Then Chant the following: “Apavitrah pavitroe vaa sarva avasthaam angatoe-pivaa | Yas smaret pundareeka-akshaam sabaahyaabhyantarah   suchih”

[Under all circumstances performer of the ritual gets purified however impure he may be by recalling the name of the lotus eyed Lord]

Some schools of thought mention of facing north, the path to heaven as it is dark. But Sun is ever present and earth misses Sun at certain places due to its own rotation.

2. Do Aachamanam (sip the water after chanting each mantra)—Keep the right hand in a cup form; hold water poured from the spoon from left hand; drink after chanting each mantra (3 mantras)—a) Om Achyutaaya Namah (sip) b) Om Anantaaya Namah (sip)  c) Om Govindaaya Namah (sip).  Then touch the various parts of the body with the fingers chanting each mantra as indicated: “ A) Om Kesavaaya Namah (right cheek with the thumb); B) Om Narayanaaya  Namah (left cheek with the thumb); C) Om Maadhavaaya  Namah (right eye with ring finger);  D) Om Govindaaya Namah (left eye with the ring finger); E) Om Vishnave Namah (right nose with index finger);  F) Om Madhusoodanaaya Namah (left nose with index finger);  G) Om Trivikramaaya Namah (right ear with little finger);  H) Om Vaamanaaya  Namah (left ear with little finger) ;  I) Om Sridharaaya Namah  (right shoulder with middle finger); J) Om Hrisheekesaaya Namah (left shoulder with middle finger) K) Om Padmanaabhaaya Namah (belly button with four fingers leaving the thumb) L) Om Daamoedaraaya Namah (top of head with all fingers).

[These are obeisance to twelve emanations of Vishnu]

3. Do Praanaayaama: This is breathing exercise and chanting. Close the left nostril with little finger and ring finger and release the breathe (exhale); then close the right nostril   firmly with thumb; breath in from the left nostril. Close both the nostrils and hold the breathe, close the mouth and chant the following mantra—“Om  Bhuh, Om Bhuvah, Om Suvah, Om Mahah, Om Janah, Om Tapah, Ogum Satyam, Om Tatsavitur Varenyam, Bhargoe Devasya Dheemahi Dheeyoe Yoe Nah Prachoedayaat Om Aapoe Jyoetee Rasoe Amritam Brahma Bhoor Bhuvas Suvaroem”. (Please remember this mantra and Aachamana mantra as these will be repeated many times). 

[Om is Earth.  Om is Sky.  Om is Heaven. Om is Middle region. Om is Place of Birth. Om is Mansion of the Blessed. Om is Abode of Truth. May we meditate on the adorable Light of that Generator (OM) who quickens our thinking power.. Om is water, light, flavor, ambrosia, and also the three worlds Bhooh, Bhuvah and Suvah. He who is denoted by Pranava(OM) is all the above.]

4. Sankalpa (Religious resolution to do the ritual)—“Sri Bhagavad aajnyayaa Sri bhagavad kainkarya roopam Sriman Narayana preetyartham saayam Sandhyaam Upaasishye. (This is for evening prayer).

[As ordained by the Lord I undertake to perform my evening prayers in Lord’s service and to the pleasure of the Supreme Lord Narayana.]

5. Please chant and with your right hand sprinkle water from the vessel on head: “Om aapoehishthaa mayoebhuvah—taana oorje dadhaatana—maheranaaya chakshase-yoe vas-sivatamoe rasah || tasya bhaajayate ha nah—usateeriva maatarah—tasmaa aranga maamavah”.  Next chant the following sprinkling water on the feet “yasyaa kshayaaya jinvatha”. (what juice you seek to be immortal). Then chant the following sprinkling water on body: “aapoe jana yathaa cha nah” (Oh water deity! Make us worthy of birth to be good) and “Om bhoor bhuvahs suvah”. (The three worlds Bhooh,  Bhuvah and Suvah  are Brahman alone!)

[Oh Water Deities! You are enchanting, great and keepers of health in every individual. Please keep us food to radiate our vital forces. Please make the same Lord, who is auspicious and blissful to you be friendly towards us in this very life. Oh Water Divines! We are craving to attain that Supreme Principle whom you adore. Oh Water Divines make us worthy of attaining the knowledge of that Brahman! Water is essential for life on earth. The subtle part of the body is life’s vital forces called PanchaPraanas. Oh Lord! with the auspicious fluid flush us out  of all impurities and purify our body and soul!]

6. Then hold a spoonful of water in the right hand cup and chant: “Agnischa maamanyuscha  manyu patayascha manyu kritebhyah | Paapebhyoe rakshantaam—yadahna paapa makaarsham—manasaa vaachaa hastaabhyaam–padbhyaam udarena sisnaa—ahas tada valumpatu—yat kincha duritam mayi-idamaham maamruta yoenow |  satyae jyoetisha juhomi swaahaa || (so chanting drink the water).

[May Fire, Anger, Guardians of Anger guard me from the sins arising out of Anger!  May the day efface completely whatever sin I have committed on this day by thought, word, hands, feet, stomach and genital organ. Further, whatever sinful deed has been committed by me all that and myself I offer as an oblation into the Self-luminous Truth, the source of immortality. Hail to Lord Agni! Both Sun and Agni are aggregates (Vyaahriti)  of Brahman. In invoking Surya or Agni we are invoking that invisible Supreme Light, the light of all lights only.]

7.  Do Aachamana as in 2.

8. Chant the following: “Dadhikraavannoe akaarisham-jishnoer asvasya vaajinah-Surabhinoe mukhaakarat-prana aayoogamshi taarishat—aapoehishthaa mayoebhuvah—tana soorje dadhaatana-maheranaaya chakshase | yoevas sivatamoe rasah | tasya bhaajayateha nah—maheranaaya chakshase | tasma arangamaamavo yasya kshayaaya jinvatha | aapoejana yathaacha nah” and sprinkle the water on body as before. Then sprinkle water on body chanting: “Om Bhoor bhuvahs suvah”. Then take water in the cup of the right hand and chant: “drupadaadiva munchatu drupadaadi venmu-muchaanah-svinna-snaatvee-malaadiva | pootam-pavitrena eva-vaajyam | aapas-suddhantu mainasah” so chanting leave the water in your hand on the right side on the floor. (this last  mantra is omitted by many)

[I offer my prayers to the Supreme Lord who is always victorious, moves fast, Omni-present, ever interested in protecting his devotees and occupying the entire Universe. Please purify our faces meaning give us trouble free long life.]

[It is customary to offer curds as oblation to Fire God (Agni). Therefore Agni is known as Dadhikrava. Agni is an aggregate (Vyaahriti) of Brahman. So, Agni is worshipped as visible light that derives its power from that invisible light--Light of all lights.]

[Just as we are released from the log of wood to which our legs are tethered, just as we are relieved of the sweat from the body and purified and just as Ghee for oblation is purified by the sacred Kusa grass we pray to you to burn off all the impurities from within our body to get purified. This mantra is omitted by some.]

9. Arghyam (water oblation)--Do Praanaayaama as in 3 and get up. Arghyam and Japam in the evening is done facing west. Then Join both the hands and hold water in both the hands and chant Gayatri mantra: “Om Bhoor Bhuvas Suvah, Om Tatsavitur Varenyam, Bhargoe Devasya Dheemahi, Dheeyoe Yoe Nah Prachoedayaat”. Then release the water downwards looking at the Sun. (To hold water on both hands first pour water from left hand holding the vessel on to  the right hand cup maximum it can hold,  then keep the vessel down and join the left with the right; then evenly distribute the water to both cups of hands. (In old days they used to stand in the river and get water to both hands from the river or tank. By this act you are offering your prayers through the medium of water). This has to be done three times. If you are late to do your evening prayers you have to do this fourth time as indicated in 10 below.

10. Late performance-Do one Praanaayaama. Then chant Sri bhagavad aajnyayaa sri bhagavat kainkarya roopam Sriman naaraayana preetyartham kaalaateeta praayaschitta artham tureeya arghya pradaanam karishye’’ so saying repeat the Arghya as in 9 above.  

[As per the command of the Lord and in His service to the  pleasure  of Narayana I offer the fourth additional water oblation for not keeping up to the time schedule (repentance for being late).  

11. Tarpana—chanting the Mantra “Asaavaadityo Brahma” sprinkle water on your body. Then Make a cup on your right hand, pour water from a vessel from your left hand each time and release water from right hand chanting each mantra after the word “Tarpayaami”—Kesavam tarpayaami (release water); Naaraayanam tarpayaami; Maadhavam tarpayami; Govindam tarpayami; Vishnum tarpayaami; Madhsoodanam tarpayaami; Trivikramam tarpayaami; Vaamanam tarpayaami; Sreedharam tarpayaami; Hrisheekesam tarpayaami; Padmanaabham tarpayaami; Daamodaram tarpayaami. (These are the twelve names you chanted in Sankalpa above). Tarpana means satisfying. The deities are bening satisfied with water oblation called Tarpana.

{“Asavadityo brahma—This Lord Soorya is Brahman alone! May I be that Brahman! That Brahman is alone Truth!]

12. Gaayatri Japam—Do one Praanaanaayamya as in 3. Then chant “Aaasana mantrasya prithuvyaah Meruprishtha rishih sutalam chandah sri koormoe devata--koormaasane viniyogah | pruthvi tvayaa dhrutaa loekaa devi tvam vishnunaa dhrutaa | tvam cha dhaaraya maam devi pavitram kurucha aasanam ||”. (with this mantra you offer seat to Gayatree Deity with sacred grass invoking Lord Koorma)

Then sprinkle water on the seat and sit down for prayer.  Do three Praanaayamya as in 3 and say: “Sri bhagavad aajnyayaa bhagavat kainkarya roopam  sriman naaraayana preetyartham saayam sandhya Gayatreemantra japam karishye” “Pranavasya rishi brahma devee gaayatree chandah paramaatmaa devataa anushtup chandah |” atha dhyaanam; Fold your hands and say: “Arka mandala madhyastham sooryakoti samaprabham | brahmaadi sevya paadaabjam naumi brahma ramaa sakham” . After this do Gayatree pranayama as in 3 for 10 times.  Then chant: aayaatvitviti anuvaakasya vaamadeva rishih  anushtup chandah Gayatree devata, Gayatree Aavaahane viniyogah |(By this mantra you are inviting the Goddess Gayatri and others). Then with folded hands chant: “Aaayaatu varadaa devee aksharam brahma samitam | gayatreem chandasaam maatedam brahma jushasva nah || Oejoeci, sahoeci, balamaci, bhraajoeci, devaanaam dhaama naamaaci, visvamaci, visvaayuh, sarvamaci, sarvasayuh, abhi bhoorome Gaayatreem aavaahayami, Savitreem aavaahayaami, Sarasvateem aavaahayaami || “saavitryaah rishih visvaamitrah gayatree chandah savitaa devata” “yoe devas savitaa asmaakam dhiyoe dharmaadi gocharah| Prerayet tasya yad bhargah tad varenyam upaasmahe || “Gayatri japa Mantra: Om bhoor bhuvahs suvah, om tat savitur varenyam, bhargoe devasya dheemahi, dheeyoe yoe nah prachoedayaat—Close your eyes and chant this mantra 10 or 28 or 108 times as time permits. This is the main Mantra.

[Oh Goddess Gaayatree!  Thou art the essence of strength.  Thou art patience or the subduing power. Thou art physical capacity. Thou art splendor. Thou art the abode of gods. Thou art their celebrated name.  Thou art the insentient universe. Thou art the full span of life or the Lord of all.  Thou art every living thing. Thou art the life span of all. Thou art the vanquisher of all that is hostile to us. Thou art Truth denoted by Pranava, I invoke Gaayatree into my heart. I invoke Saavitree. I invoke the prosodies (Chandas). I invoke Rishis and the gods. I invoke the splendor of all gods. Of Gaayatree the meter is gaayatree, the sage or rishi is Viswamitra and the Deity is Savitr. Please come and receive our prayers.]

13. Do Praanaayaama as in 3 once. “Sri bhagavad aajnyayaa sri bhagavat kainkarya roopam sriman Naaraayana preetyartham saayam sandhya upasthaanam karishye”--(This is farewell to Gayatri Goddess). Stand up and with folded hands chant: “Uttame sikhare devi bhoomyaam parvata moordhani | brahmanebhyoe hyanu jnaanam gaccha devi yatha sukahm”.

[Oh Resplendent Gaayatree, please bid good bye to those Brahmins who constantly worship you! Then depart from the top of the sacred hills as per your convenience and comfort.]

“Imam may varuna srudheehavamadyaa cha mridhaya| tvaamasyuraachake | tatvaayaami brahmanaa vandamaanah tadaasaaste yajamaanoe  | ahedamaanoe varuneha bodhi urusagam samaana aayuh pramoesheeh | yacchchiddhite visoe yathaa pradeva varuna vratam | minee ma sidyavidyavi | yatkinchitedam varuna  daivyae janebhi droeham manushyaascharaamaci | achittee yattava dharmaayayopima maanas-tasmaadenasoe devareerishah | kitavaasoe yadri ripuh nadeevi yadvaaghaa satyamuta yanna vidma |  sarvathaa vishya sithirevan devaathaa te syaama varunah priyaasah ||

[OhVarunaa! Please listen to my prayer! I make you satisfied. For my self-protection I seek refuge in you who is praised by Veda mantras. Those who perform fire sacrifice seek eight-fold success from fagots offered. Oh Lord!  Please do understand us and without anger protect us! Oh Lord you are venerated by everybody you are reputed for your great fame, please do not shorten our lives! Make us serve you! You are always sportive; we often spoil with our ignorance even the one daily worship ritual directed to you.  Please forgive us for our lapses! Oh Lord! With our ignorance we do lot of harm to all the Divines; we commit lot of sins; we spoil all the acts of Dharma—please do not punish us for our sins! As hypocrites we often indulge in prohibited acts like your enemies with or without our knowledge. Please destroy those sin in bits and pieces and  then please welcome us according to your will and give us happiness.]

 14. Then offer a series of salutations with folded hands: “Sandhyaayai namah; Saavitryai namah; Gaayatrai namah, Sarasvatyai namah, sarvaabhyoe devataabhyoe namoe namah, kaamoekarsheen namoe namah”

 [We pray our obeisance to various deities mentioned in the Mantra]

15. You are standing facing  East . So salute the deity guards of all directions, space sky, earth, starting with east  “Praachyai disae namah (East) Dakshinaayai   disae  namah (North), Prateechayi disae namah (West ), Udeechyaii disae namah(North), Oordhvaaya  namah (Above), Adharaaya namah(Below), Antarikshaaya namah (Sky), Bhoomyai namah (Mother Earth), Vishnave (Lord) namah”

16. “Sankha chakra gadhaa paane dvaarakaa nilayachyuta | Govinda pundaree-kaaksha raksha maam saranaagatam”-- chanting this mantra do namaskaram prostrating on floor touching all parts of the body and then say your abhivaadana mantram.

[Obeisance to Lord of Dwaaraka who reveals to us carrying his weapons of distinction  conch, disc and mace; obeisance to that lotus eyed Govinda!]

ABHIVAADANA MANTRAM

Abhivaadaye Aatreya Archanaanasa Syaavaasva trayaarsheya pravaranvitah Aatreya Gotrah aapasthambha sootrah Yajus saakaaha-adhyaayee sri Vijay saraman naamaaham asmi bhoh”.  

[I Vijay is a descendant of the three sages, Aatreya, Aarchanaanasa and Syaavasva; I belong to the lineage of Atreya; I am student of Aapasthambasootra of Yajurveda. The devote thus declares his lineage giving his name.  The example given is for one who hails from Aatreya Gotra. Each one should know his Abhivaadanam as given at the time of Thread Ceremony or Upanayanam.]

FINAL SALUTATION

Then do aachamanam twice as in 2 and say “sarvam sri Krishnaarpanam astu”. Go round in circum-ambulation chanting: “Sriranga mangala manim karunaa nivaasam sri venkatadri sikharaalaya kaala megham | sri hasti saila sikharoejvala paarijaatam srisam namaami sirasaa yadusaila deepam”.

[Whatever deeds I have done knowingly or unknowingly I place all of them at the feet of  Lord Krishna. Then conclude the worship by final salutation to Lord Vishnu who is represented by none other than Ranganatha of Srirangam and Venkateswara of Tirupati.]

REFERENCES

·        Praacheena Samskrita Granthaprakatana Viswa Samsthe, Sandhyaavandana, Coronation Press, Mysore, India.(Kannada)

·        Lakshninarasimhacharya, Nityaanushtaana Kramam, The Little Flower Company, Chennai 600017, India. (Tamil)

·        Varadaraja Tirumale, Veda Maarga, Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Sevaa Trust, Bengluru 560010, India.(Kannada)

·        Ananta Rangacharya, Mahaa Naaraayana Upanishad, Bengaluru, India.

·        Anudinam.org, Internet.

·        Swami Vimalananda, Mahaanaaraayana Upanishad, Ramakrishna Math, Chennai,

India

·         Ramachandra Rao, S.K., Vishnu Kosha, Kalpataru Research Academy, Shankarmutt,

Sharada peetham,  Bengaluru 560004, India. 

·        Jagadguru Chandrasekharannda Sarswati, Dharma, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, India