DRAFT

Sama Veda Sandhya Vandanam

Shri P.R.Ramachander

1 Argya Pradhanam

1.1 Aachamanam

After chanting each of the following mantras take a small quantity of water in your right palmand sip.

Om Achyuthaya Namah,Om Ananthaya Namah,Om Govindaya Namah

Then, using only your right hand

1. Using your thumb, touch the right cheek while chanting the first word of the mantra andthe left cheek while chanting the second

Kesava - Narayana

2. Using your ring finger, touch the right eye while chanting the first word of the mantra andthe left eye while chanting the second

Madhava - Govinda

3. Using your index finger, touch the right side of the nose while chanting the first word ofthe mantra and the left side while chanting the second

Vishno - Madhusoodana

4. Using your little finger, touch the right ear while chanting the first word of the mantra andthe left ear while chanting the second

Trivikrama - Vamana

5. Using your middle finger, touch the right shoulder while chanting the first word of themantra and the left shoulder while chanting the second

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Sreedhara - Hrishikesa

6. Touch the navel (belly button) with all fingers, saying

Padmanabha

7. Touch the top of the head with all fingers, saying

Damodara.

1.2 Ganapathi Dhyanam

Chant the following mantra while gently tapping your temples/outer forehead with your knuck-les

Shuklambaradharam Vishnum ShashiVarnam ChathurBhujamPrasanna Vadanam DyayethSarva Vigna Upa Shanthaye.

1.3 Pranayamam

Figure 1: Position of fingers for Pranayama

While reciting the followingmantra, control your breathing by controlling the flow of air throughyour nostrils. Use the thumb, little and ring fingers of your right hand (as shown in Fig. 1 anddetailed in the footnote) 1 --

1The forefinger and the middle finger are folded into the palm; the thumb presses against the right side of the nosecontrolling the flow of air into the right nostril, while the ring finger and the little finger together press the left side of

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1. Breathe through the left nostril while reciting

Om BhoohooOm BhuvahaOm SuvahaOmMahahaOm JanahaOm ThapahaOm Sathyam

2. Close both nostrils while reciting

Om Tat-savithur varenyamBargo devasya dhimahiDhiyo yona prachodayath

3. Breathe through the right nostril while reciting

Om ApaJyothi rasaAmritam brahmaBhoorbuvasuvarom

The transitions should be smooth and quick.

ChantOM three times. Each time you say "OM", touch your ear lobes with both hands.

Om, Om, Om

1.4 Sankalpam

Rest your left palm on your right thigh. Cover the left plam with the right plam, and chant thefollowing mantra:

Mamo partha samastha duritha kshayadwaraSri Parameshwara preethyartham

In the morning (typically between 4 am and 8 am -- Pratah Sandhya)

Pratah sandhyam upasishye

During the day (typically between 8 am and 4 pm --Madhyannikam)

Madhyaynikam karishye

In the evening (typically between 4 pm and 8 pm -- Sayam Sandhya)

Sayam sandhyam upasishyethe nose, controlling air into the left nostril. Inhale through the left nostril by pressing the thumb firmly against theright side of the nose blocking the right nostril while simultaneously relaxing the pressure on the left side of the noseallowing air to flow in and out of the left nostril. Similarly, by relaxing the thumb while increasing the pressure with theindex-little finger combine, one can control the flow of air through the right nostril while blocking the left. By applyingpressure simultaneously on both sides of the nose, one can hold one's breath. Inhalation is called Puraka, the retentionKumbhaka and the exhalation Rechaka. the durations of these three (viz. Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka) shouldbe in the ratio 1: 3: 2

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1.5 Marjanam

a) Chant

Sri Kesavaya Namah

and writeOM in water with the ring finger of the right hand.

b) Chant the following (ten)mantras. While chanting the first seven sprinkle water on the head;while chanting the eighth sprinkle water on your feet; for the ninth again, sprinkle on thehead, and chant the tenth by taking a little water in your right palm and sprinkling it aroundyour head clockwise

1 Aapo hishta mayo bhuva

2 Thana oorje dadha thana

3 Mahe ranaaya chakshase

4 Yova shiva thamo rasa

5 Thasya bhajaya thehana

6 Usatirava mathara

7 Thasma aranga mamava

8 Sprinkle water on your feet (or touch your feet with wet hands)

Yasya kshayaya jinwadha

9 Sprinkle on the head

Aapo janayadha jana

10 Taking a little water on your right palm, sprinkle water around your head clockwise (like apradakshinam)

Om Bhorbuvassuva

1.6 Praasanam

After the "swaha" at the end of the mantra, take a small quantity of water in your right palm andsip it.

Pratah Sandhya Ahascha maa adithyascha punathuswaha

Madhyahnikam Aapa punanthu prithweemPrithwee pootha punathu maamPunanthu brahmanaspathir brahmapootha punathu maamYad uchishta mabhojyam yadhwaducharithammamaSarvam punanthu mamopa asathamcha prathigraham swaha

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Sayam Sandhya Rathrischa ma varunascha punathuswaha

1.7 Achamanam

Perform Achamanam. Use the procedure given in section 1.1

1.8 Punar Marjanam

Recite the following 14mantras. While reciting the first eleven-sprinkle water on the head; whilereciting the twelfth touch your feet; while reciting the thirteen sprinkle on your head, and recitethe fourteenth by taking a little water in your right palm and sprinkling it clockwise around yourhead :

1. Dadhi kravinno akarisham

2. Jishno raswasya vajina

3. Surabhino mukha karaath

4. Prana ayuhumshi tharishath

5. Aapo hishta mayo bhuva

6. Thana oorje dadha thana

7. Mahe ranaaya chakshase

8. Yova shiva thamo rasa

9. Thasya bhajaya thehana

10. Usatirava mathara

11. Thasma aranga mamava

12. Sprinkle water on your feet (or touch your feet with wet hands)

Yasya kshayaya jinwadha

13. Sprinkle on the head

Aapo janayadha jana

14. Taking a little water on your right palm, sprinkle water clockwise around your head (like aPradakshinam)

Om Bhorbuvassuva

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1.9 Argya Pradhanam

Join both hands, taking care not to let either thumb touch the other fingers. Gather sufficientwater in your palms. Pour the water through your fingers while reciting the following mantra --

Om BhorbuvassuvaTatsa vithur varenyam bhargo devasyadeemahiDhiyo yona prachodayath

Prathah Sandhya Face east and repeat thrice.

Madyannikam Face North and repeat twice.

Sayam Sandhya Face West and repeat twice.

1.10 Prayaschitha Argyam

1. Do Pranayama as detailed in section 1.3

2. Then offer one more Argyam. Join both hands, taking care not to let either thumb touchother fingers. Gather sufficient water in your palms. Pour the water through your fingerswhile reciting the following mantra --

Om BhorbuvassuvaTatsa vithur varenyam bhargo devasyadeemahiDhiyo yona prachodayath

This is a Prayaschitha (atonement) for doing the argya pradhanam late.

3. Take small quantity of water in your right hand and sprinkle it clockwise around your headwhile reciting: (this is called Athma Parishechanam)

Prathah Sandhya Om yadathya gacha vruthrahan.Udayaa abhisoorya sarvaan dathin-dra they vache

Madyannikam Om uthkedthbhi sruthamagamvrushabham naryabasim Astharameshisoorya

Sayam Sandhya Om na thasya maya yachanaRipureeseetha marthya yo agnayedathacha havyadathaye

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1.11 Ikya-anusandhanam

With both hands touch the middle of the chest. Close your eyes, focus your attention on the spotbetween your eyebrows, and recite

AsaavadhityoBbrahma.Brahamaivahamasmi

1.12 Achamanam

Perform Achamanam (see section 1.1)

1.13 Deva Tharpanam

Prathah Sandhya Squat facing east.

Madyannikam Squat facing east/north.

Sayam Sandhya Squat facing north.

For each of the following mantras, take a little water in your right palm and let it flow down yourfinger-tips.

1. Aadithyam tharpayami

2. Somam tharpayami

3. Angarakam tharpayami

4. Budham tharpayami

5. Brahaspathim tharpayami

6. Shukram tharpayami

7. Sanaiswaram tharpayami

8. Rahum tharpayami

9. Kethum tharpayami

10. Kesavam tharpayami

11. Narayanam tharpayami

12. Madhavam tharpayami

13. Govindam tharpayami

14. Vishnum tharpayami

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15. Madhusoodhanam tharpayami

16. Trivikramam tharpayami

17. Vamanam tharpayami

18. Sreedharam tharpayami

19. Hrishikesam tharpayami

20. Padmanabham tharpayami

21. Damodharam tharpayami

1.14 Achamanam

Perform Achamanam. Use the procedure given in section 1.1

2 Japam

2.1 Japa Sankalpam

1. Recite the following mantra while gently tapping your temples/outer forehead with yourknuckles --

Shuklambaradharam Vishnum ShashiVarnam ChathurBhujamPrasanna Vadanam DyayethSarva Vigna Upa Shanthaye.

2. Do Pranayamam (refer section 1.3)

3. Sankalpam Rest your left palm on your right thigh. Cover the left plam with the rightplam, and chant the following mantra:

Mamo partha samastha duritha kshayadwaraSri Parameshwara preethyartham

Prathah Sandhya Prathahh sandhya gayathri mahamantra japam karishye

Madhyannikam Madhyaynika gayathri maha mantrajapam karishye

Sayam Sandhya Sayam sandhya gayathri maha mantrajapam karishye

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2.2 Pranava Japam

1. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)

Pranavasya Rishi Brahma

2. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip

Devi gayathri Chandaha

3. Touch the middle of your chest

Paramathma devatha

4. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)

Bhooradhi saptha vyahruteenam athri -brugu - kuthsa - vasishta - gowthama -kasyapa - aangeerasa rishayaha

5. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip

Gayathree -ushnik - anushtup -brahathi- pankthi- trushtup- jagathi - chandamsi

6. Touch the middle of your chest

Agni - vayu - arka - vageesa - varuna -indra - viswe deva - devatha

2.3 Pranayamam

Do Pranayama ten times (see section 1.3)

2.4 Gayathri Avahanam

1. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)

Aayaathu Ithi anuvakasya vamadevarishi

2. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip

Anushtup chanda

3. Touch the middle of your chest

Gayathri devatha

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4. Perform the Avahani mudra (see Fig 2)

Aayathu varada devi aksharambrahmasamhithamGayathri chandasam mathedambrahma jushaswanaOjosi, sahosi,balamasi, brajosiDevaanaam dhama naamaasiViswamasi viswayus sarvamasi sar-vayurabhipooromGayathrim avahayamiSavithrim avahayamiSaraswathim avahayami

(For each of the last threemantras, i.e., after chanting avahayami, bring your palms closetogether with only the little fingers touching; slowly rotate your wrists, bringing the fingerstowards you -- as though you were beckoning someone)

Figure 2: Avahani Mudra

2.5 Gayathri Nyasam

1. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)

Savithriya rishi Vishwamitraha

2. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip

Nichrud-gayathri chandaha

3. Touch the middle of your chest

Savitha devatha

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2.6 Gayatri Japam

Figure 3: Namaste Mudra

Chant the Gayathri mantra 108 times2 facing East in themorning and afternoon,andWest in theevening

Prathah Sandhya Stand or sit facing East, palms joined in namaste mudra (see Fig. 3) andheld in front of the face

Madhyannikam Stand or sit facing East, palms joined in namaste mudra and held in front ofthe chest

Sayam Sandhya Sit facingWest, palms joined in namastemudra and held in front of the naval

Om Bhur Vhuvah SvahTat Savitur VarenyamBhargo Devasya DheemahiDhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

2.7 Gayathri Upasthanam

Do Pranayamam

Stand up facing the direction given below (same as the direction for the Gayatri Japam). Joinpalms in the Namaste mudra, and chant

Prathah Sandhya Facing East

Prathahha sandhya upasthanam kar-ishye

Madhyannikam Facing East

Adithyo upasthanam karishye254 or 27 when rushed

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Sayam Sandhya Facing West

Sayam sandhyo-upasthanam karishye

Next, chant

Uthame shikare devi bhoomyam par-vatha moordhiniBrahmanebhyo hyanugyanam,gachcha devi yatha sukham

2.8 Surya Upasthanam

Without changing posture (standing up, facing a specified direction)

Prathah Sandhya: Yaso aham bhavami brahmananaamYaso ragnam yaso visaamYasa sathyasya bhavamiBhavami yasasaam yasaAdithya naava maroksham poornam-paripadinimAchithram bharayishnaveemsatharithraam swasthye om NamahadithyayaUdyantham dwa aadithyanu deeyasam

Madhyannikam: Aadhithya navamaroksham poornamaparipaddhineemAcchithram bharayishnaveemsadarithraam swasthayeOm Namah Adithyaya, Namah ad-hithyaya, Namah adhithyayaUduthyam jatha vedasam devam va-hanthi kethava|| Drushye vishwayasooryamChithram devaanam udaga-daneekamchakshur-mithrasya varunasyagnehAa pra dyava prithvi anthareekshasoorya athma jagatas-thu-shachaThachakshur deva-hitham purasthach-chukramuchcharthOm bhorbuvaswaromSoorya iva drishya bhooyasam ag-neeriva thejasaVayuriva pranenaSoma iva ganthenaBrahaspathhir iva budhyaAswina iva roopenaIndragni iva balenaBrahma bhaga evaham bhooyasampaap mabhaga me dwishantha

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Sayam Sandhya: Yaso aham bhavami brahmananaamYaso ragnam yaso visaamYasa sathyasya bhavamiBhavami yasasaam yasaAdithya naava maroksham poornam-paripadinimAchithram bharayishnaveemsatharithraam swasthyeOm Namah adithyaya, Namah ad-hithyaya, Namah adithyayaPrathi thishtantham thavar adhithyaanu prathi thishtassam

2.9 Samashti Abhivadanam

Starting from the direction facing which the Japam (see section 2.6) was done turn, 90 degreesto the right after each mantra.

• Sandhyayai Namah

Turn right

• Savithryai Namah

Turn right

• Gaythryai Namah

Turn right

• Saraswathyai Namah

Then chant with palms in the namste mudra, facing the same direction as the Japam

Sarvebhyo devathabhyo namo NamahKamo karshed manyura karshed namoNamah

2.10 Abhivadaye Namaskara

Face the direction in which you did the Japam(see section 2.6). Touch both ears, bow slightlyand chant (fill the blanks)

Abhivadaye name of your Rishis number of Rishis Risheyayour Pravara or blank pravaranvithayour Gothra gothrayour Suthra Suthrayour Veda shaka adhyayiSri your Name sarmanama aham asmibhoh

After this touch your feet with both hands and do Namaskaram.See Appendix for a table of some common Pravara Rishis.

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2.11 Dik-Devatha Vandhanam

With palms joined in the namste mudra offer salutations to the different directions --

1. Face East

Pracyai dishe Namah

2. Turn 90 degrees to the right to face South

Dakshinayai dishe Namah

3. Turn 90 degrees to the right and face West

Pradeechai dishe Namah

4. Turn 90 degrees to the right and face North

Udichyai dishe Namah

Then again face the direction in which did the Japam(2.6), and chant

1. Look up

Oordwaya Namah

2. Look down

Adharaya Namah

3. Look at the sky

Anthareekshaya Namah

4. Look at the earth

Bhoomyai Namah

5. Look straight ahead

Brahmane Namah

6. Vishnave Namah

7. Mrutuyuve Namah

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2.12 Yama Vandanam

Palms joined in namaste mudra, stand facing South and chant

Yamaya NamahYamaya dharma rajaya, mrutyuve chaanthakaya chaVaivaswathaya kalaya sarva bhoothakshayaya chaOudhumbharaya dhadhnaya neelayaparameshtinayVrukodharaya chithraya chithragupthaya vai NamahChithragupthayavaiNamahomNamahithi

2.13 Harihara Vandhanam

Palms joined in namaste mudra, stand facing West and chant

Ritam sathyam para brahma purushamKrishna pingalamOordhwrethwam viroopaksham Viswaroopaya vai NamahViswa roopaya vai Namah om Namahithi

2.14 Soorya Narayana Vandhanam

Palms joined in namaste mudra, stand facing the direction in which the Japam was done andchant

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Namah savithre jagadeka chakshusheJagat prasoothi sthithi naasa hethaveTrayin mayaya trigunathma dharineVirinchi Narayana sankara athmane

Dyeya sada savithru mandala Madhya-varthiNarayana sarasijasana sannivishtaKeyuravan makara kundalavaanKiriti haari hiranya vapur druthasankha chakra

Shanka chakra gadha pane dwaraka ni-layachytheGovinda pundarikaksha raksha maamsharana-gathamAakasath pathitham thoyamYada gachathi sagaramSarva deva NamaskaraSri kesavam prathi gachathiSri kesavam prathi gachathi om namaithi

2.15 Samarpanam

Take a small quantity of water in your palms, hold it while chanting the mantra, and then pourit (flowing over your fingertips) onto the ground.

Kaye na vachaManasendriyair vaBudhyathma navaPrakruthai swabhavatKaromi yadyat sakalam parasmaiNarayana yethi samarpayami

2.16 Achamanam

Perform Achamanam. Use the procedure given in section 1.1

2.17 Raksha

Sprinkle some water on the place where Japam was performed reciting the mantra below; thentouch the ground with the ring finger of your right hand, and place it between your eyebrows

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Adhya no deva savitha prajavath saav-ihi soubhagamPara dushswapnyam suvaViswani deva savitha - durithani paraasuvaYad bhadram thanma asuvaOm

Appendix

A few common Rishi families (Gothras)Gothra Pravara RishiyaAthreya Athreya, Archanaanasa,

SyavaaswaTraya-Rishiya

Baradwaja Angeerasa, Barhaspathya,Bharadwaja

Traya-Rishiya

Chandilya Kashyapa, Aavathsara,Naidruva, Reba, Raibha,Choundilya, Chandilya

Saptha Rishiya

Gargeya Aangeerasa, Chainya, Gar-gya

Traya-Rishiya

Aangeerasa, Barhaspathya,Baradwaja, Chainya, Gargya

Pancha-Rishiya

Gowthama Aangirasa, Aayasya,Gowthama

Traya-Rishiya

Haritha Aangeerasa, Ambareeksha,Younaswa

Traya-Rishiya

Koundinya Vasishta, Maithra-Varuna,Koundinya

Traya-Rishiya

Koushika Vaiswamithra, Aagamar-shana, Koushika

Traya-Rishiya

Naidruva Kashyapa Kashyapa, Avathsara,Naidruva

Traya-Rishiya

Sounaka Garthsamadha Ekarsheya

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