Inspirational Sayings of the Great on Sandhya-Upasana

(II)

Brahmibhuta Sri Ramananda Sarasvati Svaminah

(Picked from The Hindu Ideal (1969), pp 129-40)

"Let us consider the grand old ideal and at the same time witness around ourselves the actual state of things. Where are our Brahmanas? Certainly we many of the Brahmanas of today have our treads on and we daily go through the farce of Sandhya worship. ... The Brahmana, having almost lost the inner light, the light which had made him Brahmana, would forget his own duties but would still preserve his dignity as Brahmana. ...

Our Brahmanyam hangs by a fine thread. ... He has considerably crippled his Brahmanyam within by failing to perform even the most necessary sastraic duties of his, in the proper manner. ...

You Brahmanas are the trusted custodians of the Vedas. ... You swerved from your lofty duty. ... Your consequent neglect of even our nityakarma, the necessary and compulsory portion of your daily svadharma has wrought so much confusion. ... It is very necessary and urgent that you Brahmanas should improve yourselves first. ... 

Our Brahmanyam will be secure in us ... will be safe and intact if we, each of us individual Brahmanas, keep up at least the minimum observance of the sastraic rules of acara, of our nitya and naimittika karmas. ... We must perform Sandhyavandanam and Madhyanhikam strictly in the mode prescribed. It is even enough if Gayatri is repeated ten times on each occasion. ... You are bound to come up if you only seriously engage yourselves in the right direction.

Forget not, you are the direct descendants of the mighty Brahmarsis of old. ... Fear not. No cloud of ignorance, mistake or perversion on the part of other, however dense and dark, can long stand before the mighty spiritual sun of your Gayatri Upasana.

Sleep not, wake up and work on. Isvara is always within you. Some say, Brahmanyam has fallen on evil days. It is not so. Brahmanyam is being rightly and strictly tested for its eternal preservation. ..."

Inspirational Sayings of the Great on Sandhya-Upasana

(I)

Jagadguru Sri Sankarachary of Kanchi

Brahmibhuta Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Mahasvaminah

(Picked from the Acharya’s Call (1971), pp. 74-77)

“The Sandhya period is a time when Isvara performs his cosmic dance and draws all creatures towards Him. At the setting of the sun, birds flock back to their nests and cattle return to their sheds. An atmosphere of peace and calm prevails. When Isvara dances at such a time, bliss-generating peace radiates around Him. Those watching the dance get permeated with that peace and their mind and heart get merged with the Supreme. ...

Sri Paramesvara destroyed Tripura by the smile that appeared on His face on a contemplation of the humour of the situation. In relation to ourselves, the Tripura is the physical body in the three states of sthuala, sukshma and karana. The consciousness of these three states of our body can be overcome only when we realise the Supreme Bliss that radiates from Isvara. To attain this bliss, Sri Adi Sankara has asked us to study the Vedas, perform the anusthanas enjoined therein, in a spirit of dedication to God, and to practice devotion without any thought of asking for favours.

वेदो नित्यमधीयतां तदुदितं कर्मस्वनुष्ठीयताम् ।

तेनेशस्य विधीयतामपचितिः ...

[vedo nityam adhiyatam 
taduditam karma svanusthiyatam

tenesasya vidhiyatam apacitih ...]

In the Kural [350], it is stated that to get free of attachment, we should attach ourselves to the unattached.

பற்றுக பற்றற்றான் பற்றினை அப்பற்றைப்

பற்றுக பற்று விடற்கு.

[patruka patratraan patrinai appatraip

patruka patru vidarku]

Both these ideas are contained in a song of Sri Sambandar [Tirumurai, 1.80] about Chidambaram. He asserts that if we perform our anusthanas properly, Kali or evil can come nowhere near us.

கற்றாங் கெரியோம்பிக் கலியை வாராமே

செற்றார் வாழ்தில்லைச் சிற்றம் பலமேய

முற்றா வெண்திங்கள் முதல்வன் பாதமே

பற்றா நின்றாரைப் பற்றா பாவமே.

[katrang keriyompik kaliyai varame

setrar vazh tillaic citrampalameya

mutra ventingal mutalvan padame

patra ninraraip patra pavame.]

We can move fast only when we sail with the wind. The Sandhyakala is the time when the Cosmos is ripe to respond to correct vibrations emanating from us. Is it proper on our part to waste such a propitious time, either in eating houses or in clubs? A majority of those belonging to the new religions observe prayers at the prescribed hours. But we who belong to this ancient religion have neglected our duty. Therefore, at the approach of Sandhya, wherever we may be, we must wash our hands and feet, wear vibhuti, perform our anushthana and spend a little time in praying to Isvara.”

SHASHTYABDAPURTI

षष्ट्यब्दपूर्तिः

-- Sandhya Anand

The Shashtyabdapurti or completion of 60th birth anniversary is considered as an important event in the Sanatana way of life and culture. It is worthy to note that in the mundane life too the retiring age is set around age 60. Saying good-bye to the active official work, a person retires and from this age on he/she may prefer to pursue his/her left out chores -- pilgrimage and the like. Spiritual seekers seriously take up learning and associated dharmic practices. They know that the ultimate aim is to merge with Isvara or the Supreme Reality. It is undoubtedly difficult to achieve this goal but it is definitely possible by constant (abhyasa) practice and by (vairagya) detachment. Here comes the need to have a healthy body. "To fulfill your dharma, first start with the body" says Kalidasa. 

The normal life expectancy of a healthy person according to the Veda is 100. Jyotisha-sastra under the Ududasa system calculates it to be 120 years. The Upanishad allots 116 years. Bhagavan Krishna, though beyond age, is said to have lived in human form for 125 years in this earth. 

As we age, the body exhibits degenerative changes in all its functions. By age 60 (half of full span 120), the body becomes susceptible to diseases. It can be challenging times. Our sastras have foreseen the degenerative nature the body, mind and intellect may undergo and advises us to invoke Isvara-anugraha through performance of purificatory and pacificatory rites called Santhi and Pushti-karmas. Shashtyabdapurti-santhi is one among the rites for ensuring physical and mental well being. Here it would be beneficial to have a look at the different santi-karmas in general and the time for their performance. 

(1)

Ugraratha-santhi : 

On completion of 59 and beginning of 60.

(2)

Shashtyabdapurti-santhi : 

On completion of 60 and beginning of 61.

(3)

Bhimaratha-santhi : 

On completion of 69 and beginning of 70.

(4)

Vijaya-santhi : 

On completion of 77 and and beginning of 78.

(5)

Sathabhiseka-santhi : 

On completion of 100, or on completion of 80 years and 8 months.

(Sahasra-chandra-darshana) done in Uttarayana, Shuklapaksha.

(6)
Kanakabhisheka :
When there are four generations of first born sons in the family.

We enter into this world with a big karmic baggage called Prārabdha taken out of the past Sanchitha karmas (heap). It can be exhausted only by undergoing the effects. By doing these ordained rituals, the negative effects of prārabdha will get obliterated to a certain extent, giving relief, leading to a new spark of energy. According to the Dharma and Jyotisha-sastras the period between beginning and ending of 60 years is considered harsh and critical. The planetary positions, gantantha, etc. generally may not be favourable at this period. 

In Sanskrit, shashti means 60, abda denotes year, poorti means completion. The ritual is conducted in the same 60 year Hindu calendric cycle, month and the day of the nakshatra the person is born. It is elaborate and is completed in two days. The devatas who are meditated, worshiped and prayed are:

1. Mrtyunjaya, 2. Brahma, Vishnu, Eleven Rudras, 3. Markandeya, 4. Navagrahas, 5. Seven Chiranjeevis, 6. Aayuh, 7. Samvatsara-devatas, 8. Nakshatra-devatas, 9. Dikpalakas, 10. Sapta-rishis.

To mark it as an event, the 60th birthday, nowadays, is celebrated with great pomp and extravagance. The children extend the invitation for the functions and in a way we can say that it's a kind of insurance they take on their parents for ensuring a relaxed life full of peace.

In the modern world a kind of remarriage of the couple is enacted but it has no sanction in the scriptures.

Aum Santih Santih Santih.

ओम् 

श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः । 

श्री महागणपतये नमः । 

भव शंकरदेशिक मे शरणम् ।

 Be Thou my refuge, O Acharya, Sankara!

This blog is dedicated to my beloved 
Mother 
and Devi Sarasvati, the Goddess of learning, literature and music.

प्रणो देवी सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती । धीनामवित्र्यवतु ।
(Rgveda, 6.61.4; Taittiriya-samhita,1.8.22.3)

Being a student of the divine language Samskrtam, I had the opportunity to go through several of the classical texts from my school days till my post-graduation years. I graduated in Microbiology followed by a Master's in Music and Master's in Samskrtam.

By learning different subjects, I believe that I have been exposed to various facets of languages and subjects often leading to mixed thoughts and sometimes crossroads lending to my generalist view. A keen interest and passion in some segments has given me a meaningful thrust to pursue them with utmost sincerity and dedication, shaping my personality as a generalist in some subjects and specialist in few others. This blog is an attempt to document the uncommon things I have heard, read, learnt, seen in different segments or experienced in different aspects of life bringing a whole new perspective to my outlook. This has rendered a character to my thought process and my personality.

"Many of the obstacles, at every step occur for something good and auspicious" -- cautions a Purana:

श्रेयांसि बहुविघ्नानि सम्भवन्ति पदेपदे ।
sreyamsi bahuvighnani sambhavanti pade-pade.
(Garuda, 2.21.9)

From those involved in ignoble deeds, even obstacles stay away! -- says another verse:

अश्रेयसि प्रवृत्तानां दूरं यान्ति विनायकाः ।
asreyasi pravrttanam duram yanti vinayakah.

Gave a thought again, should I commence? Warning of Visnusarman echoed:

"The first sign of intelligence is not to initiate any action. Having initiated, the second sign of intelligence is to carry it forward to completion."

अनारम्भो हि कार्याणां प्रथमं बुद्धिलक्षणम् ।
आरभस्यान्तगमनं द्वितीयं बुद्द्धिलक्षणं ॥  
anarambho hi karyanam 
prathamam buddhi-laksanam
arabhdhasyantagamanam 
dvitiyam buddi-laksanam
(Pancatantra, 3.127)

Both the negative options appeared to be unacceptable. Heart of hearts a desire was there to accomplish something. Then, how could one build confidence?

Finally, the great Bhartrhari came to my rescue. He whispered: 

There are three categories of people who think deeply before embarking upon an under-taking. Test your strength. Be the third. Do not lose heart.

“Weak minded people never commence a task for fear of encountering obstacles. The mediocre ones begin an assignment but abandon it when faced with impediments. But ideal persons though repeatedly hindered by hurdles do not give up, once they have begun.”

प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्नभयेन नीचैः 

प्रारभ्यविघ्नविहता विरमन्ति मध्याः ।

विघ्नैः पुनः पुनरपि प्रतिहन्यमानाः 
प्रारब्धमुत्तमगुणाः न परित्यजन्ति ॥

prarabhyate na khalu vighnabhayena nicaih

prabhya vighnavihata viramanti madhyah
vighnaih punah punarapi pratihanyamanah
prarabdham uttamagunah na parityajanti.
(Nitisatakam, 1.27)

"The gods derived neither satisfaction from the precious gems nor fright from the fierce poison, of the great (milky) ocean; (samudra-manthanam) they did not desist until they obtained the amrta (nectar). (Indeed), the courageous never swerve from their set target."

रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न देवाः न लेभिरे भीमविषेण भीतिम् ।
सुधां विना न प्रययुर्विरामं न निश्चितार्थाद् विरमन्ति धीराः ॥

ratnair mahabdhes tutusur na devah 
na lebhire bhimavisena bhitam

sudham vina na prayur viramam 
na niscitarthad viramanti dhirah.

(Nitisatakam, 1.80)

I grouped myself into the third category designed by Bhartrhari to enter and see it through, praying my ista-devas, for its continuity and success. 

Ultimately, the Veda instilled CONFIDENCE.

Prajapati desired, 'May I create offspring.' He did penance, he created serpents. He desired, 'May I create offspring.' He did penance a second time, he created birds. He desired, 'May I create offspring.' He did penance a third time, he saw this speech of the consecrated, he spoke it. Then indeed did he create offspring.

प्रजापतिरकामयत, प्रजाः सृजेयेति, स तपोऽतप्यत, स सर्पानसृजत, सोऽकामयत, प्रजाः सृजेयेति, सः द्वितीयमतप्यत, स वयांस्यसृजत, सोऽकामयत प्रजाः सृजेयेति, स तृतीयमतप्यत, स एतं दीक्षितवादमपश्यत्, तमवदत्, ततो वै स प्रजा असृजत, ...

(Taittiriya-samhita, 3.1.1)

Even the progenitor Brahma tried thrice to achieve his goal of creation of mankind! This is a message.

Thank you. 

SriSankara Jayanti

Vaisakha-Suddha-Pancami

Thursday, May 9, 2019