31 Aug 2024
O Learned and Devoted Servants of God
[Shri Ramakanth asked:- Swami, Padma Padayoh Namaskaromi, Dattaya Tiruvadigale sharanam, PaadaNamaskaram Swami. Swami, I have the below questions. Please show Your divine grace in eradicating my ignorance. Jai Guru Datta Swami.]
1. What is the importance of Sandhyaa Vandanam?
Swami replied:- Sandhyaa means twilight in the morning and evening when the radiation of sun is very low making it a pleasant atmosphere. Such atmosphere brings fresh mind to a human being. With such fresh mind without worldly thoughts, you are expected to pray God with your clean and strong mind. For worshipping God, atmosphere is not so important because if the mind is not pure even in such a pleasant atmosphere, there is no use of Sandhyaa Vandanam. Once Kanchi Paramaacaarya asked a scholar “Why haven’t you done Sandhyaa Vandanam today?” The scholar replied “Today, my mind is not clean and pure”. Shri Paramaacaarya was very much pleased with that reply. Hence, the word Sandhyaa indicating the external atmosphere is not important. Whenever your mind is fresh and pure, then only the time can be called as Sandhyaa. The Gita says that you must perform any action after sharp analysis only (Jñātvā kurvīta karmāṇi…). Even twilight can be created in a room with closed doors and windows and lighting a mild lamp or switching on a zero light bulb!
2. Can I do Sandhyaa Vandanam late?
[Are few processes like prayaschittam (Punarh Argyam samarpanam) for Sandhyaa Vandanam late acceptable? Usually since I would be in the office, I can't do sandhyaa vandanam. So, once I reach home no matter how late, I am doing it.]
Swami replied:- Where is the question of early and late if you have read My above answer? All these concepts are introduced by the elders to inculcate some discipline in the mind of a devotee. One scholar told “God is always shining in my heart and He neither rises nor sets. How can I do Sandhyaa Vandanam when there is no question of the twilight or Sandhyaa? (Hṛdākāśe cidādityaḥ, sadā bhāsati bhāsate, Nodeti nāsta metyeva, kathaṃ sandhyā mupāsmahe?)”. Paadyam means giving water to Sadguru to wash His feet and Arghyam means the water to be given to wash His hands. Except this one context, does your sharp analysis find these two words applicable in any other context of worship?
3. Is ‘Trikala’ Sandhya Vandanam mandatory or can we do it just in the morning and in the evening?
Swami replied:- By this time, you must have understood the actual spiritual knowledge. You know that the saint is respected by all the humanity to the climax extent. Such a saint throws away his cross belt (Yajnopaviitam) and does not perform Sandhyaa Vandanam at all. But, the saint is not at all condemned and is considered to be the highest by all classes of people! All these ritualistic procedures are meant only for the beginners. The saint leaves Sandhyaa Vandanam because it is a selfish ritual aimed at personal progress. The saint propagates spiritual knowledge in the society for the upliftment of this creation created by God. Sandhyaa Vandanam is a daily routine action (Nitya Karma), which has no fruit, but is insisted on a beginner to lead him to the real level in course of time. God is very much pleased with the propagation of true spiritual knowledge. Shankara threw the cross belt and left Sandhyaa Vandanam at His 8th year for the sake of God’s work, which is propagation of true spiritual knowledge. If you are still a beginner of LKG class, you must continue this ritual in very strict sense.
4. What is the importance of leaving ‘Tarpanas’ for each Keshavadi naamam?
Swami replied:- Tarpanam means satisfying the Sadguru by supplying water during His meal. People are doing Tarpanam to the departed souls. But, the soul reaching God does not require food or water. The soul reaching heaven does not require food or water since it lives on the rays of sun (Sūryoṣma pāyinaḥ) (Ubhe tīrtvā aśanāyā pipāse - Veda). The soul reaching Pitru Loka does not require food or water since it lives on the rays of moon (Nirviṣṭa sārāṃ pitṛbhir himāṃśoḥ). The soul reaching hell is not allowed to take either food or water (Jāyasva mriyasva - Veda). In all these four ways, neither food nor water is required by the soul since it lives in an energetic body that is taking food from cosmic energy only. Only the materialistic body on this earth like the human body of Sadguru requires food (Naivedyam) and water (Tarpanam). Hence, concentrate on spiritual knowledge and strong devotion to God without falling in the grip of these childish rituals meant for beginners. Any system in the beginning stage is defective like the fire in the beginning kindling state is covered by smoke, which in course of time shines without smoke like a saint in the final spiritual stage (Sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa, Dhūmenāgni rivāvṛtāḥ - Gita).
5. Is the following mantra not indiciative of aspiration for fruit?
[One of the mantras say - "Mama Bramhatva Sidhyardham pratah/madhyana/Sayam kaale yadhaa sakthi Gayatri Mantra Japam Karishye". Is this not aspiration for fruit? Please clarify Swami.]
Swami replied:- If you take Sandhyaa Vandanam as mere worship of God as per your liking with free will, Gayatrii as singing songs in the praise of God and take the reason of worship as the personality attraction to God without aspiring anything in return from God, you have reached the climax level of your true spiritual effort (Saadhana).
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