Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Sandhya Vandanam as Per Shaiva Tantra

Let us understand Sandhya vandanam itself in detail.

Firstly, what is Sandhya?

Sandhya is defined as the junction between two time period. When one period of time overlaps the other, that junction is sandhya.

Night - dawn: 

Daytime - afternoon: 

Daytime - night: 

Sandhyā is a devatā.

Vandanam on the other hand means 'worship'. So, Sandhya vandanam is the worship done during the junction between two time periods.

Brāhmī is the deity who is the embodiment and śakti of Lord Brahmā (creation). At dawn, the energy of creation is active. Hence, this sandhyā between night and daytime is called Brāhmī sandhyā.

In our culture, every sandhyā is seen as a devatā. We have to recite and meditate upon the dhyāna śloka of every sandhyā devatā to invoke Her presence within us. When we can invoke the devī within us, we can also reflect the invocation externally.


Dhyāna Śloka for Brāhmī:

रक्तभूषांबरां रक्तां
जटा यज्ञोपवीतिनीम् ।
हंसपद्मासना बालां
चतुर्वक्त्रां चतुर्भुजाम् ॥

स्रुकक्षमालिकां दक्षे
वामे दण्डकमण्डलुम् ।
ब्राह्मीं अष्टत्रिशीं ध्यायेत्
प्रातः सारपीताम्बरे ॥

raktabhūṣāṃbarāṃ raktāṃ
jaṭā yajñopavītinīm ।
haṃsapadmāsanāṃ bālāṃ
caturvaktrāṃ caturbhujām ॥

srugakṣamālikāṃ dakṣe
vāme daṇḍakamaṇḍalum ।
brāhmīṃ aṣṭatriśīṃ dhyāyet
prātaḥ sārapītāmbare ॥

Meaning and commentary:

रक्त-भूषांबरां (rakta-bhūṣāṃbarāṃ) – Adorned with red ornaments and garments

रक्तां (raktāṃ) – Red in complexion

जटा-यज्ञोपवीतिनीम् (jaṭā-yajñopavītinīm) – Wearing matted hair and a sacred thread (yajñopavīta)

हंस-पद्मासनाम् (haṃsa-padmāsanām) – Seated on a swan and a lotus

बालाम् (bālām) – Appearing as a young maiden

चतुर्वक्त्राम् (caturvaktrām) – Having four faces

चतुर्भुजाम् (caturbhujām) – Having four arms

स्रुक-अक्षमालिकाम् (srug-akṣamālikām) – Holding a sacrificial ladle (sruk) and a rosary (akṣamālā)

दक्षे (dakṣe) – In the right hand

वामे (vāme) – In the left hand

दण्ड-कमण्डलुम् (daṇḍa-kamaṇḍalum) – Holding a staff (daṇḍa) and a water vessel (kamaṇḍalu)

ब्राह्मीम् (brāhmīm) – The Goddess Brāhmī

अष्टत्रिशीम् (aṣṭatriśīm) – Eight-eyed

ध्यायेत् (dhyāyet) – One should meditate upon

प्रातः (prātaḥ) – In the morning

सारपीताम्बरे (sārapītāmbare) – Wearing a refined golden-yellow garment

Meaning: One should meditate upon Goddess Brāhmī, Who is adorned with red ornaments and garments and is of red complexion. She has matted hair and wears the sacred thread (yajñopavīta). She is seated on a swan and a lotus, appearing as a young maiden. She has four faces and four arms. In her right hands, she holds a sacrificial ladle (sruk) and a rosary (akṣamālā), and in her left hands, she carries a staff (daṇḍa) and a water vessel (kamaṇḍalu). She has eight eyes. One should thus  meditate upon her in the morning

For the madhyāhna sandhyā (afternoon sandhyā), the energy is that of preservation, as embodied by Lord Viṣṇu. His śakti is Vaiṣṇavī. The Sandhyā Devatā here is Vaiṣṇavī.

Dhyāna Śloka for Vaiṣṇavī:

शुक्लाम्बर-धरां शुक्लां
वनमालोप-वीतिनीम् ।
तार्क्ष्य-पद्मासनासीनां
उद्भिन्न-नव-यौवनाम् ॥

शङ्ख-चक्र-धरां वामे
दक्षिणे सकदाभयाम् ।ध्यायेत् माध्यन्दिने देवीं

वैष्णवीं सर्व-भूषणाम् ॥

śuklāmbara-dharāṃ śuklāṃ
vanamālopa-vītinīm ।
tārkṣya-padmāsanāsīnāṃ
udbhinna-nava-yauvanām ॥

śaṅkha-cakra-dharāṃ vāme
dakṣiṇe sakadābhayām ।

dhyāyet mādhyandine devīṃ

vaiṣṇavīṃ sarva-bhūṣaṇām ॥

Meaning and commentary:

शुक्लाम्बरधरां (śuklāmbara-dharāṃ) – Wearing white garments

शुक्लां (śuklāṃ) – White in complexion

वनमालोपवीतिनीम् (vanamālopa-vītinīm) – Wearing a garland of forest flowers (vanamālā) and a sacred thread (upavīta)

तार्क्ष्य-पद्मासनासीनां (tārkṣya-padmāsanāsīnāṃ) – Seated on Garuḍa (Tārkṣya) and a lotus

उद्भिन्न-नवयौवनाम् (udbhinna-nava-yauvanām) – Radiating fresh youthful energy

शङ्ख-चक्र-धरां (śaṅkha-cakra-dharāṃ) – Holding a conch (śaṅkha) and a discus (cakra) in her left hands

वामे (vāme) – In the left hand

दक्षिणे (dakṣiṇe) – In the right hand

सकदाभयाम् (sakadabhayām) – Bestowing both boons (vara) and fearlessness (abhaya)

ध्यायेत् (dhyāyet) – One should meditate upon

माध्यन्दिने (mādhyandine) – At midday

देवीं (devīṃ) – The Devi

वैष्णवीं (vaiṣṇavīṃ) – The Devi Vaiṣṇavī (the Śakti of Viṣṇu)

सर्वभूषणाम् (sarva-bhūṣaṇām) – Adorned with all kinds of ornaments

Meaning: One should meditate upon Devi Vaiṣṇavī, who wears white garments and has a white complexion. She is adorned with a garland of forest flowers (vanamālā) and the sacred thread (upavīta). She is seated on Garuḍa (Tārkṣya) and a lotus, radiating fresh youthful energy. She holds a conch (śaṅkha) and a discus (cakra) in her left hands, while her right hands grant boons (vara) and dispel fear (abhaya). She is adorned completely with ornaments. One should meditate upon Her at midday.

The last sandhyā is Raudrī Sandhyā. She is the śakti or energy of Rudra. Rudra is the energy of saṃhāra or dissolution. It is the mūla (source) that pulls back everything—verily born out of it—into itself.

Dissolution (saṃhāra) is not the same as destruction. Destruction refers to vadha (annihilation or killing), whereas saṃhāra is the process of returning everything to its original source, completing the cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Dhyāna Śloka for Raudrī


नीलोत्पलदलाभासां
किञ्चित् चलितयौवनाम् ।
चतुर्भुजां त्रिनेत्रां च
जटाखण्डेन्दुमण्डिताम् ॥

त्रिशूलाक्षधरां दक्षे
वामे चाभयशक्तिकाम् ।
रौद्रीं ध्यायेत् वृषाभ्यस्तां
कालेरधार्तवितारुणे ॥

कृष्णाजिनधराः सर्वाः
साक्षिण्यः सर्वकर्मणाम् ।
तत्रभा मण्डलाभोग
प्रविष्टां स्वतनुं स्मरेत् ॥

nīlotpaladalābhāsāṃ
kiñcit calita-yauvanām ।
caturbhujāṃ trinetrāṃ ca
jaṭākhaṇḍendu-maṇḍitām ॥

triśūlākṣadharāṃ dakṣe
vāme cābhaya-śaktikām ।
raudrīṃ dhyāyet vṛṣābhyastāṃ
kālerdhārta-vitāruṇe ॥

kṛṣṇājina-dharāḥ sarvāḥ
sākṣiṇyaḥ sarva-karmaṇām ।
tatrabhā-maṇḍalābhoga
praviṣṭāṃ svatanum smaret ॥

Meaning and commentary:

नीलोत्पल-दलाभासां (nīlotpala-dalābhāsāṃ) – Resembling the hue of a blue lotus petal

किञ्चित् चलित-यौवनाम् (kiñcit calita-yauvanām) – Slightly youthful in appearance

चतुर्भुजाम् (caturbhujām) – Having four arms

त्रिनेत्राम् (trinetrāṃ) – Having three eyes

जटा-खण्डेन्दु-मण्डिताम् (jaṭā-khaṇḍendu-maṇḍitām) – With matted locks adorned with the crescent moon

त्रिशूलाक्षधरां (triśūlākṣadharāṃ) – Holding a trident (triśūla) and a rosary (akṣamālā) in her right hands

दक्षे (dakṣe) – In the right hand

वामे (vāme) – In the left hand

च-अभय-शक्तिकाम् (cābhaya-śaktikām) – Holding a protective gesture (abhaya) and a spear (śakti)

रौद्रीं (raudrīṃ) –  Raudrī

ध्यायेत् (dhyāyet) – One should meditate upon

वृषाभ्यस्तां (vṛṣābhyastāṃ) – Seated on a bull (Vṛṣabha)

कालेरधार्तवितारुणे (kālerdhārta-vitāruṇe)  The one who transcends the distress of time

कृष्णाजिन-धराः (kṛṣṇājina-dharāḥ) – Clad in a black deerskin

सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) – All-encompassing

साक्षिण्यः सर्व-कर्मणाम् (sākṣiṇyaḥ sarva-karmaṇām) – The witness of all actions

तत्रभा-मण्डलाभोग (tatrabhā-maṇḍalābhoga) – Entering the cosmic sphere

प्रविष्टां स्वतनुं स्मरेत् (praviṣṭāṃ svatanum smaret) – One should remember her divine form

Meaning: One should meditate upon Devi Raudrī, who has the deep blue hue of a lotus petal and appears slightly youthful. She has four arms and three eyes, with her matted locks adorned by a crescent moon. In her right hands, she holds a trident (triśūla) and a rosary (akṣamālā), while in her left hands, she displays the protective (abhaya) gesture and holds a spear (śakti).

Seated on a bull (Vṛṣabha), she transcends the distress of time (Kāla). She wears a black deerskin (kṛṣṇājina) and is the divine witness of all actions. She enters the cosmic sphere (maṇḍalābhoga), and one should remember her divine form in med8itation.

The 4th Sandhi.

Unknown to many, there is a caturtha sandhi. It occurs in the wee hours at past midnight. Brāhmī, Vaiṣṇavī, and Raudrī all merge into a shaft of pure effulgence, jyoti, in the state of absolute reality. The lord is meditated upon with the mūlamantra, and tarpaṇa is offered. This is done with Kuṇḍalinī yoga. This is not for those with dīkṣā. This is not even for Śivācārya. It is for an ācārya who is in the state of Parama-haṃsa.

As per the paddhati, the 4th Sandhyā devatā. She appears dark on the face, white on the heart region. Her lower limbs appear red. She sits on a lion in padmāsana posture. She holds triśūla, the pāśa, gadā, khaḍga, shield, bow, and arrow. She has a makuṭa. She has a divine smile. Her ears are adorned with beautiful ornaments like kuṇḍala and karṇa-patram. Beautiful, colourful ornaments adorn Her. She is referred to as Turīya sandhyā.

Yogajāma Āgama states that an ācārya who is pure through dīkṣā and saṃskāras, should perform this 4th kāla sandhyā-vandanam at the wee hours.

Performing Sandhya vandanam

After a shower, as you walk towards your puja space, sprinkle some water from the pancha patram with your hands uttering. You should only sprinkle once. You should wet all fingers except the thumb and sprinkle the water by tapping your hand downwards.



ॐ हः अस्त्राय फट्
oṁ haḥ astrāya phaṭ

This is to cleanse the pūjā space. This is the same as what you do in ācamanaṁ.

Next, do Gaṇapati vandanam by chanting:

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥

śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam ।

prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ॥

whilst doing the head knocking gesture as instructed here.

Thiis is followed by guru vandanam. Offer prārthanā to your Śaiva Āgama ācārya, who is contemplated upon as the very manifestation of Śiva chanting:

ॐ शिवगुरवे नमः
oṁ śivagurave namaḥ

Jala Śuddhi

Here, we are going to consecrate the water inside the pañcapātra into śiva tīrtha.

Using your ring finger and thumb, perform nyāsa to your two eyes by touching them while chanting:

ॐ शिवाय नमः
oṁ śivāya namaḥ

With your consecrated eyes, cast your sight unto the water chanting:

ॐ शिवाय नमः
oṁ śivāya namaḥ

Then, using the index finger, touch the water and sprinkle some on your head (once) as prokṣaṇa chanting:

ॐ हः अस्त्राय नमः
oṁ haḥ astrāya namaḥ

Then, using your index finger, tap the pañcapātra's mouth thrice chanting:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट् (३x)
oṁ astrāya phaṭ (3x)

Abhyukṣaṇam

Then, using the patāka mudrā (thumb bent inside palm with the other fingers extended), close the mouth of the pañcapātra, chant:

ॐ हैं कवचाय वौषट्
oṁ haiṁ kavacāya vauṣaṭ

Image: patāka mudrā

Jala Ākarṣaṇam

Next, visualize your third eye (bindu) as being abundant in amṛta (nectar). With the pāśa mudrā, use the index finger to hook out the amṛta from the third eye and pour it into the patra water. As you hook out the amṛta from the third eye, change the mudrā to the patāka mudrā as you approach the pañcapātra and close the lid, infusing the amṛta into the water.

Image: pāśa mudrā

Chant:

ॐ हैं कवचाय नमः
oṁ haiṁ kavacāya namaḥ

as you hook out the amṛta

Tāla Trayam

Then, with the index, middle, and ring fingers of the right hand, tap the left palm thrice chanting:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट् (३x)
oṁ astrāya phaṭ (3x)

Dig Bandhanam

With your index finger and thumb, snap around the patra in eight directions, starting from 1 o'clock position, clockwise, chanting:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट्
oṁ astrāya phaṭ
(with each snap)

Avakuṇṭhanam

Use your index finger to whirl around the patra chanting:

ॐ हैं कवचाय नमः
oṁ haiṁ kavacāya namaḥ

Image: 
Avakuṇṭhana mudra

Next, take an udharaṇī of water with your left hand, pour the water on your right hand and rinse the right hand, which you have performed avakuṇṭhana with.

Next, show the dhenu mudrā unto the pañcapātra, nectarizing the water chanting:

ॐ शिवाय वौषट्
oṁ śivāya vauṣaṭ




Then, using the patāka mudrā, cover the mouth of the patra chanting:

ॐ हैं कवचाय नमः
oṁ haiṁ kavacāya namaḥ

Then, recite all the saṁhitā mantras.

Whatever we have done now is referred to as śiva tīrtha karaṇaṁ.

Next, we perform the astra sandhya.

Astra Sandhya Vandanam

1. Prokṣaṇa  

ॐ हः अस्त्राय नमः
oṁ haḥ astrāya namaḥ

Sprinkle śiva tīrtha on yourself three times, chanting the above each time.

2. Tarpana 

ॐ हः अस्त्राय स्वाहा
oṁ haḥ  astrāya svāhā

Do this three times – pour water onto the right palm and let it flow down through the fingers to the ground. This is the way you perform tarpana with water. Tarpana simply means offering. Offer tarpana thrice reciting the astra mantra above.

3. Japa 

ॐ  हः अस्त्राय नमः
oṁ haḥ astrāya namaḥ

Chant the astra mantra, as given above ten times silently or aloud.

Then, do tarpana once again with:

ॐ हः अस्त्राय स्वाहा
oṁ haḥ  astrāya svāhā

Next, perform Ācamanaṁ.

Next, 

Kara Śuddhi (करशुद्धिः) 

With the left hand fingers on right palm. Swipe once (palmar side):

ॐ अस्त्राय फट्
oṁ astrāya phaṭ

Same on dorsal side:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट्
oṁ astrāya phaṭ

Repeat above for right hand fingers on left palm, twice (both palmar and dorsal once, and then palmar and dorsal for the second time)

With namaskāra mudrā, chant:

ॐ शिवाय नमः
oṁ śivāya namaḥ

Next, 

Bhasma dhāraṇam (as per paddhati)

First, energize the bhasma. Mix it with water and consecrate it with the Saṁhitā mantras.

Take a pinch of bhasma using your ring and thumb (divya mudrā) and sprinkle it from head to toe gently, like a bath, chanting the astra mantra:

ॐ अस्त्राय नमः

oṁ astrāya namaḥ

While doing this, you can also draw a line from the upper arm to the wrist, like a straight line, using the same divya mudra. This is called bhasma lepam.

Then, place some bhasma on your left palm. With your right hand, pour a drop of water into the bhasma chanting the hṛdaya mantra

ॐ हृदयाय वौषट्

oṁ hṛdayāya vauṣaṭ

This is to cleanse the bhasma.

Then, mix the bhasma with your ring finger chanting the kavaca mantra:

ॐ कवचाय नमः

oṁ kavacāya namaḥ

As you do this, rub both palms and smear the bhasma all over them.

Now we are going to apply it on 16 places.

With the bhasma, touch all the fingers of the right hand to form a beak. Touch the crown of the head three times chanting:

ॐ होँ ईशानमूर्धाय नमः

oṁ hoṁ īśānamūrdhāya namaḥ

If your hair is distracting, you can touch at the point at which the hairline begins.

Then, bend all fingers, extending only the index, middle, and ring fingers. Leave gaps between the fingers. The gap between the ring and middle finger represents Lord Gaṇeśa. The gap between the middle and index finger represents Skanda. The ring finger represents Brahmā, the middle finger Viṣṇu, and the index finger Rudra.

Apply the bhasma from one end of the forehead (use the end of the eyebrow as the landmark) to the other end. It should be 6 aṅgulas. Don't extend it up to the ears.

Recite the Tatpuruṣa mantra as you apply the bhasma on the forehead:

ओं हें तत्पुरुषवक्त्राय नमः

oṃ heṃ tatpuruṣavaktrāya namaḥ

As the paddhati quotes:

भ्रूवादि भ्रूपर्यन्तम्

Bhrūvādi bhrūparyantam

Meaning: Begin from the brow and end at the brow.

Then apply it for 6 aṅgulas at the chest. Use the nipple line as the mark, from one end to the other end. At the chest, recite the aghora mantra as you apply:

ओं हुं अघोरहृदयाय नमः

oṃ huṃ aghorahṛdayāya namaḥ

Apply on the shoulder, at the uppermost part of the deltoid, for 6 aṅgulas. Here, you can chant the hṛdaya mantra or the Sadyojāta mantra:

ओं हां हृदयाय नमः

oṃ hāṃ hṛdayāya namaḥ

or

ओं हं सद्योजातमूर्तये नमः

oṃ haṃ sadyojātamūrtaye namaḥ

You should only apply 6 aṅgula length on these 4 specified spots.

Next,

Apply 1 aṅgula length on the navel. Chant the Sadyojāta mantra:

ओं हं सद्योजातमूर्तये नमः

oṃ haṃ sadyojātamūrtaye namaḥ

Apply 1 aṅgula at the elbow. Chant the hṛdaya mantra or the Sadyojāta mantra. The same applies to the remaining parts:

  • 1 aṅgula at the wrists.

  • 1 aṅgula at both knees with Sadyōjāta mantra only.

  • 1 aṅgula at the flanks (at the back). The landmark is the depression you have at the lower back spine.

  • 1 aṅgula at the back, just below the neck.

  • 1 aṅgula at the throat.

A variation is instead of applying at the lower back flanks (2 spots), they apply at the ears.

There is also a count for the application (how many times you smear the bhasma from one end to the other):

  • Three times on the crown (Īśāna mantra). Here, you strike thrice

  • Three times on the forehead (Tatpuruṣa mantra). Rub from one end to another, go back, and return. A total of three smears.

  • Three times on the chest (Aghora mantra)

  • Once just above the navel (Vāmadeva mantra)

  • Apply on the knee once with the Sadyōjāta mantra

  • The other limbs can be applied with Hṛdaya mantra / Sadyōjāta mantra once

After applying, you should pour some water and wash off the bhasma. Do not discard the water. Cup the water in the palms. In kumbha mudrā, where you cup both hands, bring the hands above the crown and allow the bhasma residual water to trickle down on your head and body. Chant:

ॐ शिवाय स्वाहा

oṁ śivāya svāhā

Then, hit the left palm with the three fingers of your right hand chanting:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट्

oṁ astrāya phaṭ

Then, take an udharaṇi of water and rinse your hand chanting:

ॐ कवचाय नमः

oṁ kavacāya namaḥ

Terminology

1. tripuṇḍra dhāraṇam (mixing bhasma with water and applying lines).

2. Bhasma dhāraṇam is the general smearing of bhasma without water.

3. Uddhūlanam is when you apply it like powder. This is done when you are not in an ideal state to apply as per procedure. Let us say due to an illness.

Next, perform kara nyāsam and aṅga nyāsam

Next, perform prāṇāyāma

With the nyāsam, you are now sitting as the deity. As they deity, we are now going to energize the Śiva tīrtha with Śiva mantra. Earlier, the tīrtha was prepared without nyāsam. Now, it is done with nyāsam to the self.

The steps are similar to the earlier Śiva tīrtha karaṇam.

Visualize your third eye (बिन्दु, bindu) as being abundant in अमृत (amṛta, nectar). With the पाश मुद्रा (pāśa mudrā), use the index finger to hook out the अमृत (amṛta) from the third eye and pour it into the पात्रम् (pātram) water. As you hook out the अमृत (amṛta) from the third eye, change the mudrā to the पताका मुद्रा (patāka mudrā) as you approach the पञ्च पात्र (pañca pātra) and close the lid, infusing the अमृत (amṛta) into the water.

Chant:

ॐ हैं कवचाय नमः

oṃ haiṃ kavacāya namaḥ

as you hook out the अमृत (amṛta).

Close the lid with your palm and chant all the saṃhitā mantrā-s and also the śiva mantra :

ॐ हां हौं शिवाय नमः 

oṃ hāṃ hauṃ śivāya namaḥ

or 

ॐ शिवाय नमः 

oṃ śivāya namaḥ 10 times.

Then, do (tālatraya) to the tīrtha:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट्

oṃ astrāya phaṭ

Then, do avakuṇṭhana

ॐ हैं कवचाय नमः

oṃ haiṃ kavacāya namaḥ

Then, do digbandhanam to the 8 directions:

ॐ अस्त्राय फट्

oṃ astrāya phaṭ

Then, show the dhenu mudrā

ॐ शिवाय वौषट्

 oṃ śivāya vauṣaṭ

Dhyāna śloka

After this, recite the dhyāna śloka for that particular sandhyā devatā.

Do this with the namaskāra mudrā on the heart or with the divya mudrā on both hands, extended as resting on the thighs. Divya mudrā is done by touching the thumb with the ring finger.

After you chant, visualize yourself entering into the maṇḍala of that particular sandhyā devatā.

Then, pour some Śiva tīrtham with the udharaṇi on your right palm. Use about 2-3 udharāṇi. Then, do (prokṣaṇa) on yourself (head) with the Śiva tīrtham three times. Chant:

ॐ शिवाय वौषट्

oṃ śivāya vauṣaṭ

( with each sprinkle)

Mārjanam

Pour a considerable amount of Śiva tīrtham into your right palm. Then from the right hand, pour all the tīrtham into the left-hand palm. You will notice some dripping from the left hand. Using the right hand, sprinkle the dripping water onto yourself. Chant all the saṃhitā mantrā-s

After chanting all the saṃhitā mantrā-s and doing prokṣaṇa on yourself with the dripping water, transfer the residual water from the left palm to the right palm.

Then, bring the right palm close to your nose with the gokarṇi mudra, as if you are doing prāṇāyāma. Visualize yourself inhaling the Śiva tīrtha into your right nostril. The Śiva tīrtha, which has entered your body, now purifies your body by absorbing all the impurities. Visualize the water within you turning black and dirty.

Then, exhale out the water from your left nostril in visualization back to your palm. Then, discard the water to the southwest direction ( naiṛṛti ). Visualize a burning firewood there which burns off this impure water.

Next, 

Sprinkle Water at the southwest direction to extinguish the fire using the astra mantra:

ॐ हः अस्त्राय फट्

oṃ haḥ astrāya phaṭ

Wash your hands and cleanse of the residue with the kavaca mantra:

ॐ हैँ कवचाय नमः

oṃ haiṁ kavacāya namaḥ

Perform Ācamanaṁ again.

Kavaca Prokṣaṇa

Put some tīrtha on your right hand and let it drip around as you move your right palm around yourself, clockwise. Recite the kavaca mantra:

ॐ हैँ कवचाय नमः

oṃ haiṁ kavacāya namaḥ

Next, Contemplate yourself as Śiva, complete oneness.

As the paddhati quotes:

ॐ असौ साम्बसदाशिवः
oṃ asau sāmbasadāśivaḥ

He ( sadhaka ) is verily Sāmba Sadāśiva

You should chant:

ॐ साम्बशिवोऽहम्
oṃ sāmbaśivo'ham

I am verily Sāmbaśiva

Tarpanam

Add akṣata, candana, flowers, darbha tips into śiva-tīrtha.

Hold two darbhas in the right hand. With the left hand pour tīrtha onto the right so that it flows to the ground. Offer tarpanam to śivā first, three times:

ॐ शिवाय स्वाहा (3x)

oṃ śivāya svāhā (3x)

Tarpana with Saṁhitā Mantras

ॐ होम् ईशानमूर्धाय स्वाहा (3x)
oṃ hom īśānamūrdhāya svāhā (3x)

ॐ हे॒म् तत्पुरुषवक्त्राय स्वाहा (3x)
oṃ hem tatpuruṣavaktrāya svāhā (3x)

ॐ हुं अघोरहृदयाय स्वाहा (3x)
oṃ huṃ aghorahṛdayāya svāhā (3x)

ॐ हिं वामदेवगुह्याय स्वाहा (3x)
oṃ hiṃ vāmadevaguhyāya svāhā (3x)

ॐ हं सद्योजातमूर्तये स्वाहा (3x)
oṃ haṃ sadyojātamūrtaye svāhā (3x)

ॐ हाँ हृदयाय स्वाहा
oṃ hāṃ hṛdayāya svāhā

ॐ हीं शिरसे स्वाहा
oṃ hīṃ śirase svāhā

ॐ हुं शिखायै स्वाहा
oṃ huṃ śikhāyai svāhā

ॐ हैँ कवचाय स्वाहा
oṃ haiṃ kavacāya svāhā

ॐ हौं नेत्रेभ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ hauṃ netrebhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ हः हः अस्त्राय स्वाहा
oṃ haḥ haḥ astrāya svāhā

Tarpanam with Nāmāvali of Sadāśiva

ॐ भवाय देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ bhavāya devāya svāhā

ॐ शर्वाय देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ śarvāya devāya svāhā

ॐ ईशानाय देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ īśānāya devāya svāhā

ॐ पशुपतये देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ paśupataye devāya svāhā

ॐ रुद्राय देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ rudrāya devāya svāhā

ॐ भीमाय देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ bhīmāya devāya svāhā

ॐ महतोर्देवाय स्वाहा
oṃ mahatordevāya svāhā

Continue...

ॐ गणपतये स्वाहा
oṃ gaṇapataye svāhā

ॐ स्कन्दाय स्वाहा
oṃ skandāya svāhā

ॐ उमादेव्यै स्वाहा
oṃ umādevyai svāhā

ॐ शिवसूर्याय स्वाहा
oṃ śivasūryāya svāhā

ॐ आदित्येभ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ ādityebhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ वसुभ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ vasubhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ रुद्रेभ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ rudrebhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ साध्येभ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ sādhyebhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ मरुत्भ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ marutbhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ बृहद्भ्यः स्वाहा
oṃ bṛhadbhyaḥ svāhā

ॐ अङ्गिराभ्यः स्वाहा

 oṃ aṅgirābhyaḥ svāhā

इत्येत्य देवगणान् दत्ते
ity etya devagaṇān datte

That concludes tarpanam.

Yo can offer tarpanam to more deities, kula devata and pitṛ as you wish. When offering to pitṛ, you should use svadha instead of svāhā.

Now do ācamanaṁ.

Now, we will de-energize all the items we have consecrated and bring back the energy to our heart.

With the saṁhāra mudrā, collect the mantras you have placed into the pūjā items and move the mudrā to your heart, chanting:

ॐ हां हृदयाय वौषट्
oṁ hāṁ hṛdayāya vauṣaṭ

Image: saṁhāra mudrā

Next, we will perform the sun worship. Move to a comfortable place. Sit. Perform:

  1. शुक्लं बरधरं
    śuklaṁ baradharaṁ

  2. आचमनं
    ācamanaṁ

  3. प्राणायाम
    prāṇāyāma

Chant the dhyāna śloka of Sadāśiva:

इन्दुनिभं पञ्चमुखं हस्तदशयुक्तं शूलमृगटङ्कमसि वज्रमभयं स्यात् ।
पाशवरदान्कुशमणिज्वलनवामे श्वेतकमलासनं सदाशिवस्वरूपम् ॥

indu-nibhaṁ pañcamukhaṁ hastadaśayuktaṁ śūlamṛgaṭaṅkamasi vajramabhayaṁ syāt | pāśavaradāṅkuśamaṇijvalanavāme śvetakamalāsanaṁ sadāśiva-svarūpam ||

Meanings

Then, cover your right hand under your vastram / cloth and

Do the japa of Śiva mantra 10×:

ॐ शिवाय नमः
oṁ śivāya namaḥ

Use the thumb to count the numbers on your hand, under the veil of the cloth.

Video: Method of counting with the thumb

Then, do aṅga nyāsam

With the little finger and thumb joined, touch the heart centre with:

ॐ हां हृदयाय नमः
oṁ hāṁ hṛdayāya namaḥ

With the ring finger and thumb, touch the crown centre with:

ॐ हीं शिरसे नमः
oṁ hīṁ śirase namaḥ

With the middle finger and thumb, touch the tuft of hair with:

ॐ हूं शिखायै नमः
oṁ hūṁ śikhāyai namaḥ

Perform the kavaca mudrā, chanting:

ॐ ऐं कवचाय नमः
oṁ haim kavacāya namaḥ

Use the index, middle, and ring fingers to touch the right, middle, and left eyes with:

ॐ औं नेत्रेभ्यो नम:

oṁ hauṁ netrebhyo namaḥ

Perform tālatraya with:

ॐ हः अस्त्राय नमः
oṁ haḥ astrāya namaḥ

Next, perform the digvimokaḥ.

In digbandhanaṁ, you snapped clockwise to close all directions. Now you have to undo it. So snap anticlockwise chanting:

ॐ भूः भुवः सुवर्ॐ दिग्विमोकः
oṁ bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvar oṁ digvimokaḥ

Next, dhyānam:

इन्दुनिभं पञ्चमुखं हस्तदशयुक्तं शूलमृगटङ्कमसि वज्रमभयं स्यात् ।
पाशवरदान्कुशमणिज्वलनवामे श्वेतकमलासनं सदाशिवस्वरूपम् ॥

indu-nibhaṁ pañcamukhaṁ hastadaśayuktaṁ śūlamṛgaṭaṅkamasi vajramabhayaṁ syāt | pāśavaradāṅkuśamaṇijvalanavāme śvetakamalāsanaṁ sadāśiva-svarūpam ||

Then, stand up and perform namaskāra to all directions:

ॐ सन्ध्यायै नमः
oṁ sandhyāyai namaḥ (Face east)

ॐ सावित्र्यै नमः
oṁ sāvitryai namaḥ (Face south)

ॐ गायत्र्यै नमः
oṁ gāyatriyai namaḥ (Face west)

ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः
oṁ sarasvatyai namaḥ (Face north)

ॐ इन्द्राय नमः
oṁ indrāya namaḥ (Face east again)

ॐ अग्नेयाय नमः
oṁ agneyāya namaḥ (Face southeast)

ॐ यमाय नमः
oṁ yamāya namaḥ (Face south)

ॐ नृत्यै नमः
oṁ nṛttaye namaḥ (Face southwest)

ॐ वरुणाय नमः
oṁ varuṇāya namaḥ (Face west)

ॐ वायवे नमः
oṁ vāyave namaḥ (Face northwest)

ॐ कुबेराय नमः
oṁ kuberāya namaḥ (Face north)

ॐ ईशानाय नमः
oṁ īśānāya namaḥ (Face northeast)


Then face east again. Males are to perform a ṣaṣṭāṅga namaskāra to the Lord. For females, you have to only offer pañcāṅga namaskāra – touch the floor with your head, both hands, and both lower limbs. Chant:

ॐ उमा-महेश्वराभ्यां नमः
oṁ umāmaheśvarābhyāṁ namaḥ

Then, take some water from the pātraṁ, sprinkle it on the floor on which you performed japa, chanting:

ॐ हः अस्त्राय नमः
oṁ haḥ astrāya namaḥ

Then, with your ring finger, touch the water you have sprinkled on the floor. Place the wet ring finger on your forehead as if you are putting a tilakaṁ.

Next, offer namaskāra to Lord Sūrya with the Kāliṅga mudrā. See the Sun through the gap between your hands in the mudra.

Recite the Gāyatri of Lord Sūrya .

अश्वध्वजाय विद्महे पद्महस्ताय धीमही तन्नः सूर्यः प्रचोदयात्॥
aśvadhvajāya vidmahe padmahastāya dhīmahi tannaḥ sūryaḥ pracodayāt॥

aśvadhvajāya – to the one whose banner bears a horse
vidmahe – we contemplate / we come to know
padmahastāya – to the one who holds a lotus in his hand

dhīmahi – we meditate upon

tannaḥ – may that (Lord)
sūryaḥ – Sun God
pracodayāt – inspire / direct (our intellect)

Meaning: May we know the One who bears the horse as His banner. May we meditate on the One who holds the lotus. May Lord sūryaḥ enlighten me.


Image: Kāliṅga mudrā

This Sandhya Vandanam is followed by śiva sūrya pūja.

No comments:

Post a Comment