After having taken a full bath or at least after having washed your hands, feet and face, sit in a clean place on a prayer mat or cloth. A comfortable posture such as siddhaasana (cross-legged) or vajraasana (kneeling) should be chosen, being sure to keep your back straight. Before beginning with the Sandhya Mantras, three praanaayaamas should be performed silently. This is done by forcefully expelling the breath out of your nostrils and holding it out for as long as possible. Then, as much fresh air as possible should be inhaled and retained for as long as is comfortable. This should be repeated three times to achieve a state of mental calm.
GAAYATRII MANTRA
When your mind is relatively calm, begin by reciting the Gaayatrii Mantra.
OM bhuur bhuvaha svaha
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhiimahi
dhiyo yo naha prachodayaat
O God! O Self-Existent Lord of All That Is and All That Is To Be! O Initiator of Life, Best of All Beings! May we attain Your Divine Glory, O Ye Who rightly guideth our thoughts and prayers!
ACHAMANA
Now pour a spoonful of water into your right hand. Sip the water three times after reciting the following mantra.
OM shanno deviirabhistaye
aapo bhavantu piitaye
shanyorabhi sravantu naha
O God! O Illuminator of All! Grace us with the fulfillment of our proper end. May we drink the life-giving waters. May they always flow to us in peace.
INDRIYA SPARSHA
Now pour a spoonful of water into your left hand. With the tips of the middle and ring fingers of your right hand, anoint the following body parts while reciting the appropriate mantras as listed below.
Anoint the corners of your mouth.
OM vaak vaak
O God! May my voice be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint both nostrils.
OM praanah praanah
O God! May my breath be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint both eyes.
OM chakshuhu chakshuhu
O God! May my eyes be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint both ears.
OM shrotram shrotram
O God! May my ears be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint the area near your navel.
OM nabhihi
O God! May my abdomen be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint the area near your heart.
OM hridayam
O God! May my heart be blessed with power and strength.
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Anoint your throat.
OM kanthaha
O God! May my throat be blessed with power and strength.
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Anoint the crown of your head.
OM shiraha
O God! May my head be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint your shoulders.
OM baahubhyaam yashobalam
O God! May my arms be blessed with power and strength.
*
Anoint the palms and backs of your hands.
OM karatala karaprishthe
O God! May my hands be blessed with power and strength.
MAARJANA
Take a second spoonful of water in your left hand and again anoint the following body parts while reciting the appropriate mantras as listed below.
Anoint your head.
OM bhuuh punaatu shirasi
O God! O Fundament of All Existence! May my thoughts be purified.
*
Anoint both eyes.
OM bhuvah punaatu netrayoho
O God! O Origin of All Becoming! May my perception be purified.
*
Anoint your throat.
OM svaha punaatu kanthe
O God! O Self-Existent One! May my voice be purified.
*
Anoint the area near your heart.
OM mahah punaatu hridaye
O God! O Infinitely Great One! May my emotions be purified.
*
Anoint the area near your navel.
OM janah punaatu naabhyaam
O God! O Source of All Creation! May my desires be purified.
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Anoint both feet.
OM tapah punaatu paadayoho
O God! O Source of All Movement! May my step be purified.
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Anoint your head.
OM sattyam punaatu punaha shirasi
O God! O Fountain of Truth! May my understanding be purified.
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Anoint your entire body.
OM kham brahma punaatu sarvatra
O God! O All-Pervading One! May I be entirely purified.
*
PRAANAAYAAMA
Next, perform praanaayaama by forcefully exhaling, holding out your breath for as long as is comfortable. Then, inhale gently and deeply while mentally reciting the following mantras. Upon reacing the last mantra, the lungs should be full. Hold this breath as long as is comfortable, letting the divine syllable OM resound in your mind. Then exhale. Repeat this process a minimum of three times. (Not more than 21 repetions should be performed without proper guidance.)
OM bhuuh
O God, Fundament of All Existence!
OM bhuvah
O God, Origin of All Becoming!
OM svaha
O God, Self-Existent One!
OM mahah
O God, Infinitely Great One!
OM janah
O God, Source of All Creation!
OM tapah
O God, Source of All Movement!
OM sattyam
O God, Fountain of All Truth!
AGHAMARSHANA
Now, emptying yourself of all other thoughts, turn your mind in contemplation towards God as the Creator of the Universe while reciting the following mantras.
OM rtam cha sattyam chaabhiid
dhaattapaso adhyajaayata
tato raatryajaayata
tataha samudro arnavaha
O God! This universe was manifested by Thy Almighty Will, the Source of All Movement, in accordance with the universal laws of creation. In the beginning, the primordial matter, which was lying dormant in the darkness, began to evolve. By virtue of this evolution, the vast, ocean-like expanse of matter began to gain momentum.
OM samudraadarnavaadadhi
samvatsaro ajaayata
ahoraatraani vidadhad
vishvasya mishato vashii
O God! By this movement of particles of matter through space, which themselves were combining to form stars and planets, time became manifest. Thereafter, Thou, the Governor of the Cosmos, effortlessly divided the day from the night.
OM suryaachandramasau dhaataa
yathaapurvamakalpayat
divancha prithiviim
chaantarikshamatho svaha
O God! Thou, the Sustainer of the Universe, hath created the sun and the moon, the earth and the heavens just as Thou hath done in past cycles of creation and just as Thou shallt do in future ones.
ACHAMANA
Again, pour a spoonful of water into your right hand. Sip the water three times after reciting the following mantra.
OM shanno deviirabhistaye
aapo bhavantu piitaye
shanyorabhi sravantu naha
O God! O Illuminator of All! Grace us with the fulfillment of our proper end. May we drink the life-giving waters. May they always flow to us in peace.
MAANASAPARIKRAMAA
Now, meditate on God's Omnipresence, turning the mind in the six directions (before, to the right, behind, to the left, below and above), giving thanks for the bounty He has bestowed upon us, while reciting the following mantras.
OM praachii dig agnir adhipatir
asito rakshitaa adityaa ishavaha
tebhyo namo adhipatibhyo
namo rakshitribyo
nama ishubhyo
nama ebhyo astu
yo asmaan dveshti
yam vayam dvishmas
tam vo jambhe dadhmaha
O God! O Glorious One! Thou art before us, our King and Protector, and the unfettered rays of the sun that shower life upon the earth are Thy Faithful Emissaries. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Benign Rule. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Kind Protection. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Gift of Life. For all these blessing we humbly thank Thee. That which could cause others to hate us and that which could cause us to hate others - this we abandon to destruction.
OM dakshinaa dig indro adhipati
stirashchirajii rakshitaa pitara ishavaha
tebhyo namo adhipatibhyo
namo rakshitribyo
nama ishubhyo
nama ebhyo astu
yo asmaan dveshti
yam vayam dvishmas
tam vo jambhe dadhmaha
O God! O Almighty One! Thou art to our right, our King and Protector, and the circuitous winds which cool and nurture the earth are Thy Faithful Emissaries. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Benign Rule. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Kind Protection. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Nurturing. For all these blessing we humbly thank Thee. That which could cause others to hate us and that which could cause us to hate others - this we abandon to destruction.
OM pratiichii dig varuno adhipatihi
pridaakuu rakshitaa nam ishavaha
tebhyo namo adhipatibhyo
namo rakshitribyo
nama ishubhyo
nama ebhyo astu
yo asmaan dveshti
yam vayam dvishmas
tam vo jambhe dadhmaha
O God! O Most Desirable One! Thou art behind us, our King and Protector, and the invigorating foods which sustain all living things are Thy Faithful Emissaries. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Benign Rule. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Kind Protection. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Sustenance. For all these blessing we humbly thank Thee. That which could cause others to hate us and that which could cause us to hate others - this we abandon to destruction.
OM udiichii dig somo adhipatihi
svajo rakshitaa shanir ishavaha
tebhyo namo adhipatibhyo
namo rakshitribyo
nama ishubhyo
nama ebhyo astu
yo asmaan dveshti
yam vayam dvishmas
tam vo jambhe dadhmaha
O God! O Peaceful One! Thou art to our left, our King and Protector, and the invisible currents of energy which maintain the life in all beings are Thy Faithful Emissaries. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Benign Rule. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Kind Protection. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Maintenance. For all these blessing we humbly thank Thee. That which could cause others to hate us and that which could cause us to hate others - this we abandon to destruction.
OM druvaa dig vishnu adhipatihi
kalmaasha griivo rakshitaa viirudha ishavaha
tebhyo namo adhipatibhyo
namo rakshitribyo
nama ishubhyo
nama ebhyo astu
yo asmaan dveshti
yam vayam dvishmas
tam vo jambhe dadhmaha
O God! O All-Pervading One! Thou art below us, our King and Protector, and the growing plants and trees which provide shade and comfort to all beings are Thy Faithful Emissaries. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Benign Rule. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Kind Protection. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Provision. For all these blessing we humbly thank Thee. That which could cause others to hate us and that which could cause us to hate others - this we abandon to destruction.
OM urdhvaa dig brihaspatir adhipatihi
shvitro rakshitaa varsham ishavaha
tebhyo namo adhipatibhyo
namo rakshitribyo
nama ishubhyo
nama ebhyo astu
yo asmaan dveshti
yam vayam dvishmas
tam vo jambhe dadhmaha
O God! O Great One! Thou art above us, our King and Protector, and the falling rains which, for the benefit of all, water the fields and produce food are Thy Faithful Emissaries. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Benign Rule. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Kind Protection. We bow humbly in thanks for Thy Beneficence. For all these blessing we humbly thank Thee. That which could cause others to hate us and that which could cause us to hate others - this we abandon to destruction.
UPAASANAA
Next, meditate upon God's Presence while reciting the following mantras.
OM udvayam tamasaspari svaha
pashyanta uttaram
devam devatraa suuryam
aganma jyotir uttamam
O God! In search of Your Presence, we leave behind the lustrous wonders of this manifest world to meditate upon the even more wondrous Self. May we attain Your Presence, the Self-Existent, Self-Effulgent Illuminator of the heavenly bodies such as the sun and stars.
OM udutyam jaatavedasam
devam vahanti ketavaha
drishe vishvaaya suuryam
O God! All the objects of this manifest world are signs indicating Your Divine Existence, so that we may know Thee as surely as we know the sun in the sky. Verily, this is the true path for understanding this whole universe.
OM chittram devaanaam udgaadaniikam
chakshurmitrasya varunasyaagnehe
aapraa dyaavaaprithivii antariksham
suurya atmaa jagatasthushascha svaahaa
O God! Although all manifest objects indicate Thy Presence, Thou remainest wondrous above all. Realized in the heart, Thou art the Strength of the Learned. Thou art the Source of All Light, the Friend of All, the Most Desirable One, the Glorious One. Thou keepest the earth, the atmosphere and the heavens. Thou art immanent in all Thy Creation. Thou art the Divine Sun whose Light pervades all that moves and all that does not move. With my very Self, I attest to this truth.
OM tach chakshur devahitam
purastaach shukram uchcharat
pashyema sharadaha shatam
jiivema sharadaha shatam
shrinuyaam sharadaha shatam
pravravaam sharadaha shatam
adiinaaha syaama sharadaha shatam
bhuuyash cha sharadaha shataat
O God! Thou, the Divine Existence, the Seer of All Things, the Instructor of the Learned, residest in holy bliss, even before the creation of this universe. By Thy Grace may we retain the power of vision for a hundred years. By Thy Grace may we retain the power of vitality for a hundred years. By Thy Grace may we retain the power of hearing for a hundred years. By Thy Grace may we retain the power of speech for a hundred years. By Thy Grace may we retain the power of autonomy for a hundred years. By Thy Grace may we remain thus even beyond the passing of a hundred years.
GAAYATRII MANTRA
Now, recite the Gaayatrii Mantra three times.
OM bhuur bhuvaha svaha
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhiimahi
dhiyo yo naha prachodayaat
O God! O Self-Existent Lord of All That Is and All That Is To Be! O Initiator of Life, Best of All Beings! May we attain Your Divine Glory, O Ye Who rightly guideth our thoughts and prayers!
SAMARPANAM
In an attitude of full devotion, dedicate yourself entirely unto God while reciting the following mantra.
he ishvara dayaanidhe
bhavat kripayaanena
japopaasanaadi karmana
dharmaartha kaama mokshaanaam
sadyaha siddhir bhavennaha
O Lord! O Infinite Ocean of Mercy! By Thy Grace may we soon attain the boons of righteousness, wealth, pleasure and liberation through the repetition of Your Name, the practice of communion, and other good works.
NAMASKAARA
Offer final salutations unto God with the following mantra.
OM namah shambhavaaya cha
mayobhavaaya cha
namah shankaraaya cha
mayaskaraaya cha
namah shivaaya cha
shivataraaya cha
O God! We bow in humble reverence unto Thee, O Thou who art the Highest Bliss and the Giver of Bliss unto others. We bow in humble reverence unto Thee, O Auspicious One, O Munificent One. We bow in humble reverence unto Thee, O Best One, O Benevolent One.
SHAANTI MANTRA
End Sandhya with a prayer for peace by reciting the following mantra.
OM
shaantih
shaantih
shaantih
O God! Peace! Peace! Peace!
***
Thus ends Sandhya
(Index)