KANCHI AND SRINGERI JAGADGURUS ON SANDHYAVANDANAM

 Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Mahaswamigal (1894 – 1994) was the 68^th Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. He is respectfully referred to as Mahaperiava. He was a fountain of wisdom about our Sanatana Dharma and Shastras. At the same time, he was equally knowledgeable about the contemporary world. He is regarded by many to be an Avatara of God Himself.

Jagadguru Sri Bharati Theertha Mahaswami is the 36^th Peethadhipati of Sringeri Sarada Peetham. His knowledge of the Shastras and his ability to expound our spiritual heritage and duties in a language that even common people can understand, are legendary.

It is our good fortune that such great Mahapurushas have been born in our times.

This brief article highlights Kanchi Mahaperiava’s and Sringeri Jagadguru’s messages about the importance of Sandhyavandanam.

The real name of what is commonly referred to as the “Hindu religion” is “Sanatana Dharma”. Sanatana means that which has neither a beginning nor an end – that which is eternal. Unlike other faiths which have a founder, and a starting date, there never was (and never will be) a time when Sanatana Dharma was not there.

The Sruti (Veda) and Smritis (which include the Dharma Shastras) are the Pramanas (foundation) of our Sanatana Dharma. There very definition of “Aastika” is “one who believes in “Veda Pramaanyam” – that is – the unquestioned authority of the Vedas.

Not only the great Acharyas of our time like Kanchi Mahaperiava and Sringeri Jagadguru, but Adi Sankara Himself – despite being an Avatara of Lord Siva – has said that the Vedas and Shastras are timeless, changeless and to be followed – irrespective of whether one understands them fully or not. Before the law of gravitation was “discovered”, the law already existed. The apple would have fallen on Newton’s head, whether he understood the law of gravitation or not. Similarly, merely because we have not made the effort to understand the Shastras, it doesn’t mean that the Shastras don’t apply. Just like the law of gravitation, the Shastras exist and are applicable, irrespective of whether we understand them at a point of time or not.

Of course, by resorting to the feet of the wise Acharyas, hearing their discourses and reading their works, one can also begin to understand that everything said by the Vedas and Shastras is logical.

Sringeri Jagadguru humorously cites the example of today’s worldly people who now and then approach him with a request, “Jagadguru, in today’s world, it is very difficult to live according to the Shastras, perform Trikaala Sandhyavandanam and other observances as enjoined in the Shastras. Who has the time in today’s fast world? These Shastras are now outdated. You are a powerful Peethadhipati. Can you not alter (customize?) the Shastras to suit today’s world, and provide some shortcuts?”

Jagadguru remarks, “Today’s people have time for chattering on the phone, TV, newspapers, aimless travel and gossip, but they don’t have time for Sandhyavandanam.” His Holiness made it clear that not just he, but even Adi Sankara Himself has merely expounded or explained the Shastras, without altering a single word. Our great Acharyas explain that Adi Sankara has entrusted the Peethams with Prachara (expounding for the welfare of the world) of Sanatana Dharma and its foundations of Vedas and Shastras; and that nobody has the power to alter the Shastras to suit their convenience. That would be like a thief altering the law to make stealing legal!

As Sanatana Dharma is eternal, it logically follows that the Vedas and Shastras, which are the foundation of Sanatana Dharma, are also Sanatana – eternal, timeless. There is no question of Shastras becoming outdated.

Whatever the great Acharyas expound and exhort us to do, is based on the Shastras.

Mahaperiava says that Trikaala Sandhyavandanam must be performed daily without fail by every male who wears the Yagnopaveetham (Poonal or sacred thread). The Gayatri Mantra is the most important part of Sandhyavandanam. The other parts of Sandhyavandanam are Angas (limbs). He makes it a point to add that this doesn’t mean we can take a short cut. We cannot say, “I will skip the Angas and only chant Gayatri.”

Yagnopaveetham and Sandhyavandanam are obligatory for every male Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaisya. What about Sudras and women? Mahaperiava, quoting the Shastras, makes it clear that no caste is superior or inferior to another. Similarly, women are in no way inferior to men. It is just that the duties prescribed for each category are different. Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself has said in the Bhagavad Gita that it is important to adhere to one’s own duty and do it to the best of one’s ability than to abandon one’s duty and try to do the duty prescribed for another.

The responsibility of those for whom Yagnopaveetham and Sandhyavandanam are obligatory is all the higher, because they need to perform regular Sandhyavandanam not only for their own good, but also for the welfare of those for whom it is not prescribed. Thus, it is like a sacred trust, as performance of regular Sandhyavandanam is obligatory upon us for the welfare of others too.

Kaala or time is very important in Sandhyavandanam. It must be performed at the right time – Pratah (morning) Sandhyavandanam in the morning around 5:30 a.m., Madhyanhikam around 11:30 a.m., and Saayam (evening) Sandhyavandanam in the evening around 5:30 p.m. Many people say that they are unable to perform Madhyanhikam because of office or school. Mahaperiava has clarified that such people may perform Madhyanhikam earlier – during Sangava Kaala, which is from about 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

In some countries, there is a prayer room in offices, schools and even airports. In our country, can we not have a prayer room – in our offices and schools – to allow people to perform Madhyanhikam or other prayers at the appropriate time? Perhaps some readers, who may be trustees or on the Board of such institutions, may take such an initiative and set an example for others to emulate.

Without Sandhyavandanam, learning or reciting other Mantras is futile. In fact, it is said that even a great Ashwamedha Yaaga done by a person who does not perform Sandhyavandanam will bear no fruit.

Mahaperiava says that the benefit we derive from Sandhyavandanam is Chittasuddhi (purification of the mind). He says that Sandhyavandanam must be done with full concentration. He quotes a stanza from Manu Smriti, which says that our great Rishis attained long life, knowledge / wisdom, fame and spiritual lustre – as a result of performing Sandhyavandanam regularly.

Sandhyavandanam washes away our sins. We commit sin knowingly and unknowingly through our mind (Manasa), speech (Vacha) and body or actions (Karmana). Mahaperiava explains how Sandhyavandanam washes away these sins, as it is performed with the same mind, speech and body. We utter the Mantras with our mouth, meditate on Gayatri with our mind, and performance rites such as Achamanam, Marjanam etc. with our body. By doing all this, we purify our mind, speech and body. Mahaperiava has said that Sandhyavandanam is Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Jnanayoga combined.

Let us heed the words of the Acharyas and perform regular, daily Trikaala Sandhyavandanam without fail.

As a small service to all those interested in learning more about how to actually perform Sandhyavandanam, we have brought out guide and demonstration videos of Sandhyavandanam.  It is recommended that you view the guide videos before the Sandhyavandanam demonstration videos. The links are given below:

ENGLISH Guide to Sandhyavandanam: https://youtu.be/PDmVBS1oZBE

TAMIL Guide to Sandhyavandanam: https://youtu.be/O1fFW6sgqMc

Pratah (morning) Sandhyavandhanam: https://youtu.be/KwDngi-plAY

Madhyanhikam (noon): https://youtu.be/2Hbd5a66VEw

Saayam (evening) Sandhyavandanam: https://youtu.be/ypcN18V0u64

(Article by Arun Hariharan)

 

REFERENCES

1.  HINDU DHARMA, The Universal Way of Life, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, First edition 1995. Pg. 551 – 557

2.  https://youtu.be/4caJt9LOGS0 (Discourse by Sringeri Jagadguru)

3. Bhagavad Gita 3.35