The Eleventh Book. Chapter 16
The Eleventh Book
Chapter Xvi
On The Description Of Sandhy Upsn
p. 1098
1-24. Nryana said :-- Now I am speaking of the very holy Sandhyopsan method of Sandhy worship of Gyatr, the Presiding Deity of the morning, midday and evening, and of the twice-born. Listen. The greatness of using Bhasma has been described in detail. No further need be stated on the subject. I shall talk, first of all, of the morning Sandhy. The morning Sandhy is to be done early in the morning while the stars are visible. When the Sun is in the meridian, the midday Sandhy is to be performed; and while the Sun is visibly going down, the
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evening Sandhy is to be recited over. Now again, the distinctions are made in the above three Sandhys :-- The morning Sandhy with stars seen is the best; with stars disappeared, middling; and with the Sun risen above the horizon, inferior. So the evening Sandhy, again, is of three kinds :-- best, middling, and inferior. When the Sun is visibly disappearing, the evening Sandhy is the best; when the Sun has gone down the horizon, it is middling and when the stars are visible, it is inferior. The Brhmanas are the root of the Tree, the Sandhy Vandanam; the Vedas are the branches; the religious actions are the leaves. Therefore its root should be carefully preserved. If the root be cut, no branches or leaves of the tree will remain. That Brhmana who knows not his Sandhy or who does not perform the Sandhys is a living Sdra. That Brhmana after his death verily becomes a dog. Therefore the Sandhys must be observed every day. Otherwise no right comes at all to do any action. At the sunrise and the sunset the time for Sandhy is two Dandas (48 minutes) and if Sandhy be not done or rather neglected in the interval, the Pryaschitta (penance) is to he paid duly (performed duly). If the proper time for Sandhy expires, one more offering of Arghya is to be made in addition to the three Arghayas daily made or the Gyatr is to be repeated one hundred and eight times before the Sandhy is commenced. In whichever time any action ought to be done, worship, first of all, the Sandhy Dev, the Presiding Deity of that time and do the actions proper to that time afterwards. The Sandhy performed in dwelling houses is ordinary; the Sandhy done in enclosures of cows is middling and on the banks of the rivers is good and the Sandhy performed before the Devs temple or the Devs seat is very excellent. The Sandhyopsan ought to be done before the Dev, because that is the worship of the very Dev. The three Sandhys done before the Dev give infinitely excellent fruits. There is no other work of the Brhmanas better than this Sandhy. One can rather avoid worshipping Siva or Visnu; because that is not daily done as obligatory; but the Sandhyopsan ought to be done daily. The Gyatr of the Great Dev is the Essence of all the mantras in the Vedas. In the Veda Sstras, the worship of Gyatr is most definitely pronounced. Brahm and the other Devas meditate in the Sandhy times on this Dev Gyatr and make a japam of that. The Vedas always make japams of Her. For this reason the Gyatr has been mentioned as the object of worship by the Vedas. The Brhmanas are called Sktas inasmuch as they worship the Primal Sakti (Force) Gyatr, the Mother of the Vedas. They are not Saivas nor Vaisnavas.
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Firstly make the ordinary chaman three times, and, while inhaling, drink a little of the water of chaman, repeating "Om Kesavya Svh, Om Nryanya Svh, Om Mdhavya Svh." Then wash your two hands, repeating "Om Gobindya Namah, Om Visnave Namah." Then by the root of the thumb rub the lips repeating "Om Madh sdanya Namah, Om Trivikramya Namah." So rub the mouth, repeating "Om Vmamya Namah, Om Srdharya Namah." Then sprinkle water on the left hand, saying "Om Hriskesya Namah." Sprinkle water on the legs, saying "Om Padmanbhya Namah." Sprinkle water on the head, saying "Om Dmodarya Namah." Touch the mouth with the three fingers of the right hand, saying "Om Samkarsanya Namah." Touch the nostrils with the thumb and forefinger saying "Om Vsudevya Namah, Om Pradyumnya Namah." Touch the eyes with the thumb and ring-finger, saying "Om Aniruddhya Namah, Om Purusottamya Namah." Touch the ears with the thumb and ringfinger saying "Om Adhoksajya Namah, Om Nrasimhya Namah." Touch the navel with the thumb and little finger saying "Om Achyutya Namah." Touch the breast with the palm, saying "Om Janrdanya Namah." Touch the head saying "Om Upendrya Namah." Touch the roots of the two arms saying "Om Haraye Namah, Om Krisnya Namah."
25-50. While sipping the chaman water on the right hand, touch the right hand with your left hand; otherwise; the water does not become pure. While doing chaman, make the palm and the fingers all united and close, of the form of a Gokarna (the ear of a cow) and spreading the thumb and the little finger, drink the water of the measure of a pea. If a greater or less quantity be sipped, then that would amount to drinking liquor. Then thinking of the Pranava, make the Prnyma, and repeat mentally the Gyatr with her head and the Turya pda, i.e., pojyotih rasomritam Brahm Bhurbhuvah svarom. Inhale the air by the left nostril (Prak), close both the nostrils (Kumbhak) and exhale the air, by the right nostril (Rechak). Thus Prnyma is effected. While doing Prak, Kumbhak and Rechak repeat the Gyatr every time; hold the right nostril with the right thumb and hold the left nostril with the ringfinger and little finger (i.e., dont use forefinger and middle finger).
The Yogis who have controlled their minds say that Prnyma is effected by the three processes Praka, Kmbhaka and Rechaka. The external air is inhaled in Praka; air is not exhaled nor inhaled (it is retained inside) in Kmbhaka; and air is exhaled in Rechaka. While
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doing Praka, meditate on the navel, the four-armed high-souled Visnu, of the blue colour (Syma) like the blue lotus. While doing Kmbhaka, meditate in the heart lotus the four-faced grandsire Brahm Prajpati, the Creator seated on the lotus and while doing Rechaka meditate, on the fore-head, on the white sin-destroying Sankara, pure as crystal. In Praka, the union with Visnu is obtained; in Kmbhaka, the knowledge of Brahm is attained and in Rechaka, the highest position of svara (Siva) is attained. This is the method of chaman according to the Purnas. Now I am speaking of the all sin destroying Vaidik chaman. Listen. Reciting the Gyatr mantra "Om Bhurbhuvah," sip a little water; this is the Vaidik chaman after repeating the seven great Vyhritis Om Bhuh; Om Bhuvah, Om Svah, Om Mahah, Om Janah, Om Tapah, Om Satyam, repeat Gyatr and the head of the Gyatr pojyoti Rasomritam Brahm Bhurbhuvah svarom and practise Prnyma three times. Hereby all sins are destroyed and all virtues spring. Now another sort of Prnyma Mudr is described :-- The Vnaprasths and Grihasthas would do Prnyma with five fingers, holding the tip of the nose; the Brahmchris and Yatis would do Prnyma with the thumbs, little finger, and ring finger (avoiding middle and fore). Now I am speaking of the ghamasana Mrjana mantra. Listen. The Mantra of this Mrjana is "pohisth Mayobhuvah, etc." There are three mantras in this. There are three Pdas in every mantra, prefix Om to every pda (thus nine times Om is to be prefixed); at the end of every pda sprinkle water on the head with the sacrificial thread and the Kusa grass. Or at the end of every mantra do so. By the above Mrjana (cleaning) the sins of one hundred years are instantly destroyed. Then making chaman (taking a sip of water to rinse the mouth before worship), repeat the three Mantras "Om Sryascha m manyuscha, etc." By this act, the mental sins are destroyed. As mrjana is done with Pranava, Vyrhitis, and Gyatr, so make Mrjana by the three mantras pohisth, etc." Make your right palm of the shape of a cows ear; take water in it and carry it before your nose and think thus :-- "There is a terrible sinful person in my left abdomen, his colour is dark black and he is horrible looking." Recite, then, the mantras "Om ritamcha satyamchbhdhyt, etc." and "Drupddiva Mumuchna, etc." and bring that Sinful Person through your right nostril to the water in the palm. Dont look at that water; throw it away on a bit of stone to your left. And think that you are now sinless. Next, rising from the seat, keep your two feet horizontal and with the fingers save forefinger and thumb, take a palmful of water and with your face towards the Sun, recite the Gyatr three times
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and offer water to the Sun three times. Thus, O Muni! The method of offering the Arghyas has been mentioned to you.
51-80. Then circumambulate, repeating the Srya Mantra. The one thing to be noted in offering Arghyas is this :-- Offer once in the midday, and three times in the morning and three times in the evening. While offering the Arghya in the morning, bend yourself a little low; in offering the arghya in the midday, stand up; and while offering the arghya in the evening, it can be done while sitting. Now I will tell you why the Arghya is offered to the Sun. Hear. Thirty Koti Rksasas known as the Mandehas, always roam on the path of the Sun (the mental Sun also). They are great heroes, treacherous and ferocious. They always try to devour the Sun, while they assume terrible forms. For this reason the Devas and the Risis combined offer the water with their folded hands to the Sun, while they perform the great Sandhy Upsan. The water thus offered, becomes transformed into the thunderbolt and burns the heads of the cruel demons (and throws them on the island Mandehruna) Therefore the Brhmanas daily do their Sandhyopsana. Infinite merits accrue from this Sandhy Upsan. O Nrada! Now I am speaking to you of the Mantras pertaining to the Arghya. No sooner they are pronounced the full effects of performing the Sandhys are obtained. I am That Sun; I am That Light; I am That tman (Self); I am Siva; I am the Light of tman; I am clear and transparently white; I am of the nature of all energy; and I am of the nature of Rsa (the sweetness, all the sweet sentiments). O Dev! O Gyatr! O Thou! Who art of the nature of Brahm! Let Thee come and preside in my heart to grant me success in this Japa Karma. O Dev! O Gyatr! Entering into my heart, go out again with this water. But Thou wouldst have to come again. Sit thus on a pure seat and with a single intent repeat the Gyatr, the Mother of the Vedas. O Muni! In this Sandhyopsan, the Khhechar Mudr ought to be done after practising the Prnyma. Hear now the meaning of the Khhechri Mudr. When the soul of a being leaves the objects of senses, it roams in the ksa, i.e., it becomes aimless when the tongue also goes to the ksa and roams there; and then the sight is fixed between the eyebrows; this is called the Khhechri Mudr. There is no sana (seat) equal to Siddhsana and there is no Vyu (air) equal to the Khumbaka Vya (suspension of air in the body).
O Nrada! There is no Mudr equal to the Khhechri Mudr. One is to pronounce Pranava in Pluta (protracted) accents like the sound of a bell and, suspending his breath, sit quiet motionless in Sthirsana without any Ahamkra (egoism). O Nrada! I am now talking of
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Siddhsana and its characteristic qualities. Hear. Keep one heel below the root of the genital and the other heel below the scrotum; keep the whole body and breast straight and motionless; withdraw the senses from their objects and look at the point, the pituitary body, between the eyebrows. This posture is called the Siddhsan and is pleasant to the yogis. After taking this seat, invoke the Gyatr. "O Mother of the Vedas! O Gyatr! Thou art the Dev granting boons to the Bhaktas. Thou art of the nature of Brahm. Be gracious unto Me. O Dev! Whoever worships Thee in the day gets his day sins destroyed and in the night, night sins destroyed. O Thou! Who art all the letters of the alphabet! O Dev! O Sandhye! O Thou who art of the nature of Vidy! O Sarasvat! O Ajaye! O Thou immortal! Free from disease and decay. O Mother! Who art all the Devas! I bow down to Thee." Invoke the Dev again by the mantra "Ojosi, etc ," and then pray :-- "O Mother! Let my japam and other acts in Thy worship be fulfilled with success by Thy Grace." Next for the freedom of the curse of Gyatr, do the things properly. Brahm gave a curse to Gyatr; Visvmitra gave a curse to Her and Vasistha also cursed Her. These are the three curses; they are removed in due order by recollecting Brahm, Visvmitra and Vasistha. Before doing Nysa, one ought to collect oneself and remember the Highest Self; think in the lotus of the heart that Purusa (Person) who is Truth; who is all this Universe, who is the Highest Self and who is All knowledge and who cannot be comprehended by words. Now I am speaking of the Amganysa of Sandhy; Hear. First utter Om and then utter the mantra.
Touch the two legs, saying "Om Bhuhpdbhym namah"
Touch the knees, saying "Om Bhuva Jnubhym namah"
Touch the hip, saying "Om Svah Katibhym namah"
Touch the navel, saying "Om Maharnbhyai namah"
Touch the heart, saying "Om Janah Hridayya namah"
Touch the throat, saying "Om Tapah Kanthya namah"
Touch the forehead, saying "Om Satyam Laltya namah"
Thus perform the Vyrhiti nysa.
Next perform the Karmganysa thus :-- Om Tat savituh ramgusthbhym namah (referring to the thumb); Om Varenyam Tarjanbhym namah (referring to the forefinger); Om bhargo devasya madhyam bhym namah (referring to the middle finger); Om Dhmahi anmikbhym namah (referring to the ringfinger); Om dhyo yonah, Kanisthbym namah (referring to the little finger); Om prachodayt kara tal pristhbhym namah (referring to the upper part and lower part of the palm and all over the body).
81-106. Now I am speaking of the Amganysa. Hear. Om tat savitur Brahm tmane hridayya namah (referring to the heart.)
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Om Varenyam Visnv tmane Sirase namah (referring to the head); Om bhargo devasya Rudrtmane Sikhyai namah (referring to the crown of the head); Om dhmahi Saktytmane Kavachya namah (referring to the Kavacha); Om dhyoyonah Kltmane netratrayya namah (referring to the three eyes); Om prachodayt sarvtmane astrya namah (referring to the Astra or armour, protecting the body). Now I am speaking of the Varnanysa. O Great Muni! Hear. This Varnanysa is performed by the letters in the Gyatr mantra. If anybody does this, he becomes freed of sins.
"Om Tat namah" on the two toes; (touching them).
"Om Sa namah" on the two heels; (touching them).
"Om Vi namah" on the legs;
"Om Tu namah" on the two knees;
"Om Va namah" on the two thighs;
"Om re namah" on the anus;
"Om ni namah" on the generative organ;
"Om ya namah" on the hip;
"Om bha namah" on the navel;
"Om Rgo namah on the heart;
"Om De namah" on the breasts;
"Om va namah" on the heart;
"Om sya namah" on the throat;
"Om dh namah" on the mouth;
"Om ma namah" on the palate;
"Om hi namah" on the tip of the nose;
"Om dhi namah" on the two eyes;
"Om yo namah" on the space between the eye-brows;
"Om yo namah" on the forehead;
"Om nah namah" to the east;
"Om pra namah" to the south;
"Om cho namah" on the west;
"Om da namah" on the north;
"Om y namah" on the head;
"Om ta namah" on the whole body from head to foot.
Some Jpakas (those who do the Japam) do not approve of the above nysa. Thus the Nysa is to be done. Then meditate on the Gyatr or the World-Mother. The beauty of the body of the Gyatr Dev is like that of the full blown Jav flower. She is seated on the big red lotus on the back of the Hansa (Flamingo); She is holding the red coloured garland on Her neck and anointed with red coloured unguent. She has four faces;
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every face has two eyes. On her four hands are a wreath of flowers, a sacrificial ladle, a bead, and a Kamandalu. She is blazing with all sorts of ornaments. From the Dev Gyatr has originated first the Rig veda. Brahm worships the virgin Gyatr; on the idea of Sr Paramesvar Gyatr has four feet. The Rig Veda is one; the Yajurveda is the second, the Smaveda is the third and the Atharva veda is the fourth foot. The Gyatr has eight bellies; the east side is the one; the south is the second; the west is the third; the north is the fourth; the zenith is the fifth; the nadir is the sixth; the intermediate space is the seventh and all the corners are the eighth belly. Gyatr has seven Siras (heads); Vykaranam (Grammar) is one; Siks is the second (that Amga of the Veda, the science which teaches the proper pronunciation of words and laws of euphony); Kalpa is the third (the Vednga which lays down the ritual and prescribes rules for ceremonial and sacrificial acts); Nirukta is the fourth (the Vednga that contains glossarial explanation of obscure words, especially those occurring in the Vedas); Jyotish or astronomy is the fifth; Itahsa (history) and Purnas is the sixth head; and Upanisadas is the seventh head. Agni (fire) is the mouth of Gyatr; Rudra is the Sikh (the chief part); Her gotra (lineage) is Smkhyyana; Visnu is the heart of Gyatr and Brahm is the armour of Gyatr. Think of this Mahesvar Gyatr in the middle of the Solar Orb. Meditating on the Gyatr Dev as above, the devotee should shew the following twenty-four Mudrs (signs by the fingers, etc., in religious worship) for the satisfaction of the Dev :-- (1) Sanmukh; (2) Sampt; (3) Vitata (4) Vistrita; (5) Dvmukha; (6) Trimukha; (7) Chaturmukha; (8) Panchamukha; (9) Sanmukha; (10) Adhomukha; (11) Vypaka; (12) Anjali; (13) Sakata (14) Yamapsa; (15) fingers intertwined end to end; (16) Vilamba (17) Mustika; (18) Matsya; (19) Krma; (20) Varha; (21) Simhkrnta; (22) Mahkrnta; (23) Mudgara; (24) Pallava. Next make japam once only of one hundred syllabled Gyatr. Thus twenty-four syllabled Svitr, "Jtavedase sunavma, etc.," forty-four syllabled mantra; and the thirty two syllabled mantra, "Tryamvakam Jajmahe, etc." These three mantras united make up one hundred lettered Gyatr. (The full context of the last Mantra is this :-- Om Haum Om yum sah - Trayamvakam yajmahe Sugandhim Pusti Vardhanam. Urbhrukamiva bandhann mrityo mksiya ma mritt Bhur Bhhuvah. Svarom Yum Svah Bhurbhuvah Svarom Haum.) Next make japam of Bhurbhuvah Svah, twenty four lettered Gyatr with Om. O Nrada! The Brhmanas are to perform daily the Sandhyo psn repeating Gyatr, completely adopting the rules above prescribed and then he will be able to enjoy completely pleasures, happiness and bliss.
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Here ends the Sixteenth Chapter of the Eleventh Book on the description of Sandhy Upsn in the Mahpurnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgvatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
Chapter Xvi
On The Description Of Sandhy Upsn
p. 1098
1-24. Nryana said :-- Now I am speaking of the very holy Sandhyopsan method of Sandhy worship of Gyatr, the Presiding Deity of the morning, midday and evening, and of the twice-born. Listen. The greatness of using Bhasma has been described in detail. No further need be stated on the subject. I shall talk, first of all, of the morning Sandhy. The morning Sandhy is to be done early in the morning while the stars are visible. When the Sun is in the meridian, the midday Sandhy is to be performed; and while the Sun is visibly going down, the
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evening Sandhy is to be recited over. Now again, the distinctions are made in the above three Sandhys :-- The morning Sandhy with stars seen is the best; with stars disappeared, middling; and with the Sun risen above the horizon, inferior. So the evening Sandhy, again, is of three kinds :-- best, middling, and inferior. When the Sun is visibly disappearing, the evening Sandhy is the best; when the Sun has gone down the horizon, it is middling and when the stars are visible, it is inferior. The Brhmanas are the root of the Tree, the Sandhy Vandanam; the Vedas are the branches; the religious actions are the leaves. Therefore its root should be carefully preserved. If the root be cut, no branches or leaves of the tree will remain. That Brhmana who knows not his Sandhy or who does not perform the Sandhys is a living Sdra. That Brhmana after his death verily becomes a dog. Therefore the Sandhys must be observed every day. Otherwise no right comes at all to do any action. At the sunrise and the sunset the time for Sandhy is two Dandas (48 minutes) and if Sandhy be not done or rather neglected in the interval, the Pryaschitta (penance) is to he paid duly (performed duly). If the proper time for Sandhy expires, one more offering of Arghya is to be made in addition to the three Arghayas daily made or the Gyatr is to be repeated one hundred and eight times before the Sandhy is commenced. In whichever time any action ought to be done, worship, first of all, the Sandhy Dev, the Presiding Deity of that time and do the actions proper to that time afterwards. The Sandhy performed in dwelling houses is ordinary; the Sandhy done in enclosures of cows is middling and on the banks of the rivers is good and the Sandhy performed before the Devs temple or the Devs seat is very excellent. The Sandhyopsan ought to be done before the Dev, because that is the worship of the very Dev. The three Sandhys done before the Dev give infinitely excellent fruits. There is no other work of the Brhmanas better than this Sandhy. One can rather avoid worshipping Siva or Visnu; because that is not daily done as obligatory; but the Sandhyopsan ought to be done daily. The Gyatr of the Great Dev is the Essence of all the mantras in the Vedas. In the Veda Sstras, the worship of Gyatr is most definitely pronounced. Brahm and the other Devas meditate in the Sandhy times on this Dev Gyatr and make a japam of that. The Vedas always make japams of Her. For this reason the Gyatr has been mentioned as the object of worship by the Vedas. The Brhmanas are called Sktas inasmuch as they worship the Primal Sakti (Force) Gyatr, the Mother of the Vedas. They are not Saivas nor Vaisnavas.
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Firstly make the ordinary chaman three times, and, while inhaling, drink a little of the water of chaman, repeating "Om Kesavya Svh, Om Nryanya Svh, Om Mdhavya Svh." Then wash your two hands, repeating "Om Gobindya Namah, Om Visnave Namah." Then by the root of the thumb rub the lips repeating "Om Madh sdanya Namah, Om Trivikramya Namah." So rub the mouth, repeating "Om Vmamya Namah, Om Srdharya Namah." Then sprinkle water on the left hand, saying "Om Hriskesya Namah." Sprinkle water on the legs, saying "Om Padmanbhya Namah." Sprinkle water on the head, saying "Om Dmodarya Namah." Touch the mouth with the three fingers of the right hand, saying "Om Samkarsanya Namah." Touch the nostrils with the thumb and forefinger saying "Om Vsudevya Namah, Om Pradyumnya Namah." Touch the eyes with the thumb and ring-finger, saying "Om Aniruddhya Namah, Om Purusottamya Namah." Touch the ears with the thumb and ringfinger saying "Om Adhoksajya Namah, Om Nrasimhya Namah." Touch the navel with the thumb and little finger saying "Om Achyutya Namah." Touch the breast with the palm, saying "Om Janrdanya Namah." Touch the head saying "Om Upendrya Namah." Touch the roots of the two arms saying "Om Haraye Namah, Om Krisnya Namah."
25-50. While sipping the chaman water on the right hand, touch the right hand with your left hand; otherwise; the water does not become pure. While doing chaman, make the palm and the fingers all united and close, of the form of a Gokarna (the ear of a cow) and spreading the thumb and the little finger, drink the water of the measure of a pea. If a greater or less quantity be sipped, then that would amount to drinking liquor. Then thinking of the Pranava, make the Prnyma, and repeat mentally the Gyatr with her head and the Turya pda, i.e., pojyotih rasomritam Brahm Bhurbhuvah svarom. Inhale the air by the left nostril (Prak), close both the nostrils (Kumbhak) and exhale the air, by the right nostril (Rechak). Thus Prnyma is effected. While doing Prak, Kumbhak and Rechak repeat the Gyatr every time; hold the right nostril with the right thumb and hold the left nostril with the ringfinger and little finger (i.e., dont use forefinger and middle finger).
The Yogis who have controlled their minds say that Prnyma is effected by the three processes Praka, Kmbhaka and Rechaka. The external air is inhaled in Praka; air is not exhaled nor inhaled (it is retained inside) in Kmbhaka; and air is exhaled in Rechaka. While
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doing Praka, meditate on the navel, the four-armed high-souled Visnu, of the blue colour (Syma) like the blue lotus. While doing Kmbhaka, meditate in the heart lotus the four-faced grandsire Brahm Prajpati, the Creator seated on the lotus and while doing Rechaka meditate, on the fore-head, on the white sin-destroying Sankara, pure as crystal. In Praka, the union with Visnu is obtained; in Kmbhaka, the knowledge of Brahm is attained and in Rechaka, the highest position of svara (Siva) is attained. This is the method of chaman according to the Purnas. Now I am speaking of the all sin destroying Vaidik chaman. Listen. Reciting the Gyatr mantra "Om Bhurbhuvah," sip a little water; this is the Vaidik chaman after repeating the seven great Vyhritis Om Bhuh; Om Bhuvah, Om Svah, Om Mahah, Om Janah, Om Tapah, Om Satyam, repeat Gyatr and the head of the Gyatr pojyoti Rasomritam Brahm Bhurbhuvah svarom and practise Prnyma three times. Hereby all sins are destroyed and all virtues spring. Now another sort of Prnyma Mudr is described :-- The Vnaprasths and Grihasthas would do Prnyma with five fingers, holding the tip of the nose; the Brahmchris and Yatis would do Prnyma with the thumbs, little finger, and ring finger (avoiding middle and fore). Now I am speaking of the ghamasana Mrjana mantra. Listen. The Mantra of this Mrjana is "pohisth Mayobhuvah, etc." There are three mantras in this. There are three Pdas in every mantra, prefix Om to every pda (thus nine times Om is to be prefixed); at the end of every pda sprinkle water on the head with the sacrificial thread and the Kusa grass. Or at the end of every mantra do so. By the above Mrjana (cleaning) the sins of one hundred years are instantly destroyed. Then making chaman (taking a sip of water to rinse the mouth before worship), repeat the three Mantras "Om Sryascha m manyuscha, etc." By this act, the mental sins are destroyed. As mrjana is done with Pranava, Vyrhitis, and Gyatr, so make Mrjana by the three mantras pohisth, etc." Make your right palm of the shape of a cows ear; take water in it and carry it before your nose and think thus :-- "There is a terrible sinful person in my left abdomen, his colour is dark black and he is horrible looking." Recite, then, the mantras "Om ritamcha satyamchbhdhyt, etc." and "Drupddiva Mumuchna, etc." and bring that Sinful Person through your right nostril to the water in the palm. Dont look at that water; throw it away on a bit of stone to your left. And think that you are now sinless. Next, rising from the seat, keep your two feet horizontal and with the fingers save forefinger and thumb, take a palmful of water and with your face towards the Sun, recite the Gyatr three times
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and offer water to the Sun three times. Thus, O Muni! The method of offering the Arghyas has been mentioned to you.
51-80. Then circumambulate, repeating the Srya Mantra. The one thing to be noted in offering Arghyas is this :-- Offer once in the midday, and three times in the morning and three times in the evening. While offering the Arghya in the morning, bend yourself a little low; in offering the arghya in the midday, stand up; and while offering the arghya in the evening, it can be done while sitting. Now I will tell you why the Arghya is offered to the Sun. Hear. Thirty Koti Rksasas known as the Mandehas, always roam on the path of the Sun (the mental Sun also). They are great heroes, treacherous and ferocious. They always try to devour the Sun, while they assume terrible forms. For this reason the Devas and the Risis combined offer the water with their folded hands to the Sun, while they perform the great Sandhy Upsan. The water thus offered, becomes transformed into the thunderbolt and burns the heads of the cruel demons (and throws them on the island Mandehruna) Therefore the Brhmanas daily do their Sandhyopsana. Infinite merits accrue from this Sandhy Upsan. O Nrada! Now I am speaking to you of the Mantras pertaining to the Arghya. No sooner they are pronounced the full effects of performing the Sandhys are obtained. I am That Sun; I am That Light; I am That tman (Self); I am Siva; I am the Light of tman; I am clear and transparently white; I am of the nature of all energy; and I am of the nature of Rsa (the sweetness, all the sweet sentiments). O Dev! O Gyatr! O Thou! Who art of the nature of Brahm! Let Thee come and preside in my heart to grant me success in this Japa Karma. O Dev! O Gyatr! Entering into my heart, go out again with this water. But Thou wouldst have to come again. Sit thus on a pure seat and with a single intent repeat the Gyatr, the Mother of the Vedas. O Muni! In this Sandhyopsan, the Khhechar Mudr ought to be done after practising the Prnyma. Hear now the meaning of the Khhechri Mudr. When the soul of a being leaves the objects of senses, it roams in the ksa, i.e., it becomes aimless when the tongue also goes to the ksa and roams there; and then the sight is fixed between the eyebrows; this is called the Khhechri Mudr. There is no sana (seat) equal to Siddhsana and there is no Vyu (air) equal to the Khumbaka Vya (suspension of air in the body).
O Nrada! There is no Mudr equal to the Khhechri Mudr. One is to pronounce Pranava in Pluta (protracted) accents like the sound of a bell and, suspending his breath, sit quiet motionless in Sthirsana without any Ahamkra (egoism). O Nrada! I am now talking of
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Siddhsana and its characteristic qualities. Hear. Keep one heel below the root of the genital and the other heel below the scrotum; keep the whole body and breast straight and motionless; withdraw the senses from their objects and look at the point, the pituitary body, between the eyebrows. This posture is called the Siddhsan and is pleasant to the yogis. After taking this seat, invoke the Gyatr. "O Mother of the Vedas! O Gyatr! Thou art the Dev granting boons to the Bhaktas. Thou art of the nature of Brahm. Be gracious unto Me. O Dev! Whoever worships Thee in the day gets his day sins destroyed and in the night, night sins destroyed. O Thou! Who art all the letters of the alphabet! O Dev! O Sandhye! O Thou who art of the nature of Vidy! O Sarasvat! O Ajaye! O Thou immortal! Free from disease and decay. O Mother! Who art all the Devas! I bow down to Thee." Invoke the Dev again by the mantra "Ojosi, etc ," and then pray :-- "O Mother! Let my japam and other acts in Thy worship be fulfilled with success by Thy Grace." Next for the freedom of the curse of Gyatr, do the things properly. Brahm gave a curse to Gyatr; Visvmitra gave a curse to Her and Vasistha also cursed Her. These are the three curses; they are removed in due order by recollecting Brahm, Visvmitra and Vasistha. Before doing Nysa, one ought to collect oneself and remember the Highest Self; think in the lotus of the heart that Purusa (Person) who is Truth; who is all this Universe, who is the Highest Self and who is All knowledge and who cannot be comprehended by words. Now I am speaking of the Amganysa of Sandhy; Hear. First utter Om and then utter the mantra.
Touch the two legs, saying "Om Bhuhpdbhym namah"
Touch the knees, saying "Om Bhuva Jnubhym namah"
Touch the hip, saying "Om Svah Katibhym namah"
Touch the navel, saying "Om Maharnbhyai namah"
Touch the heart, saying "Om Janah Hridayya namah"
Touch the throat, saying "Om Tapah Kanthya namah"
Touch the forehead, saying "Om Satyam Laltya namah"
Thus perform the Vyrhiti nysa.
Next perform the Karmganysa thus :-- Om Tat savituh ramgusthbhym namah (referring to the thumb); Om Varenyam Tarjanbhym namah (referring to the forefinger); Om bhargo devasya madhyam bhym namah (referring to the middle finger); Om Dhmahi anmikbhym namah (referring to the ringfinger); Om dhyo yonah, Kanisthbym namah (referring to the little finger); Om prachodayt kara tal pristhbhym namah (referring to the upper part and lower part of the palm and all over the body).
81-106. Now I am speaking of the Amganysa. Hear. Om tat savitur Brahm tmane hridayya namah (referring to the heart.)
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Om Varenyam Visnv tmane Sirase namah (referring to the head); Om bhargo devasya Rudrtmane Sikhyai namah (referring to the crown of the head); Om dhmahi Saktytmane Kavachya namah (referring to the Kavacha); Om dhyoyonah Kltmane netratrayya namah (referring to the three eyes); Om prachodayt sarvtmane astrya namah (referring to the Astra or armour, protecting the body). Now I am speaking of the Varnanysa. O Great Muni! Hear. This Varnanysa is performed by the letters in the Gyatr mantra. If anybody does this, he becomes freed of sins.
"Om Tat namah" on the two toes; (touching them).
"Om Sa namah" on the two heels; (touching them).
"Om Vi namah" on the legs;
"Om Tu namah" on the two knees;
"Om Va namah" on the two thighs;
"Om re namah" on the anus;
"Om ni namah" on the generative organ;
"Om ya namah" on the hip;
"Om bha namah" on the navel;
"Om Rgo namah on the heart;
"Om De namah" on the breasts;
"Om va namah" on the heart;
"Om sya namah" on the throat;
"Om dh namah" on the mouth;
"Om ma namah" on the palate;
"Om hi namah" on the tip of the nose;
"Om dhi namah" on the two eyes;
"Om yo namah" on the space between the eye-brows;
"Om yo namah" on the forehead;
"Om nah namah" to the east;
"Om pra namah" to the south;
"Om cho namah" on the west;
"Om da namah" on the north;
"Om y namah" on the head;
"Om ta namah" on the whole body from head to foot.
Some Jpakas (those who do the Japam) do not approve of the above nysa. Thus the Nysa is to be done. Then meditate on the Gyatr or the World-Mother. The beauty of the body of the Gyatr Dev is like that of the full blown Jav flower. She is seated on the big red lotus on the back of the Hansa (Flamingo); She is holding the red coloured garland on Her neck and anointed with red coloured unguent. She has four faces;
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every face has two eyes. On her four hands are a wreath of flowers, a sacrificial ladle, a bead, and a Kamandalu. She is blazing with all sorts of ornaments. From the Dev Gyatr has originated first the Rig veda. Brahm worships the virgin Gyatr; on the idea of Sr Paramesvar Gyatr has four feet. The Rig Veda is one; the Yajurveda is the second, the Smaveda is the third and the Atharva veda is the fourth foot. The Gyatr has eight bellies; the east side is the one; the south is the second; the west is the third; the north is the fourth; the zenith is the fifth; the nadir is the sixth; the intermediate space is the seventh and all the corners are the eighth belly. Gyatr has seven Siras (heads); Vykaranam (Grammar) is one; Siks is the second (that Amga of the Veda, the science which teaches the proper pronunciation of words and laws of euphony); Kalpa is the third (the Vednga which lays down the ritual and prescribes rules for ceremonial and sacrificial acts); Nirukta is the fourth (the Vednga that contains glossarial explanation of obscure words, especially those occurring in the Vedas); Jyotish or astronomy is the fifth; Itahsa (history) and Purnas is the sixth head; and Upanisadas is the seventh head. Agni (fire) is the mouth of Gyatr; Rudra is the Sikh (the chief part); Her gotra (lineage) is Smkhyyana; Visnu is the heart of Gyatr and Brahm is the armour of Gyatr. Think of this Mahesvar Gyatr in the middle of the Solar Orb. Meditating on the Gyatr Dev as above, the devotee should shew the following twenty-four Mudrs (signs by the fingers, etc., in religious worship) for the satisfaction of the Dev :-- (1) Sanmukh; (2) Sampt; (3) Vitata (4) Vistrita; (5) Dvmukha; (6) Trimukha; (7) Chaturmukha; (8) Panchamukha; (9) Sanmukha; (10) Adhomukha; (11) Vypaka; (12) Anjali; (13) Sakata (14) Yamapsa; (15) fingers intertwined end to end; (16) Vilamba (17) Mustika; (18) Matsya; (19) Krma; (20) Varha; (21) Simhkrnta; (22) Mahkrnta; (23) Mudgara; (24) Pallava. Next make japam once only of one hundred syllabled Gyatr. Thus twenty-four syllabled Svitr, "Jtavedase sunavma, etc.," forty-four syllabled mantra; and the thirty two syllabled mantra, "Tryamvakam Jajmahe, etc." These three mantras united make up one hundred lettered Gyatr. (The full context of the last Mantra is this :-- Om Haum Om yum sah - Trayamvakam yajmahe Sugandhim Pusti Vardhanam. Urbhrukamiva bandhann mrityo mksiya ma mritt Bhur Bhhuvah. Svarom Yum Svah Bhurbhuvah Svarom Haum.) Next make japam of Bhurbhuvah Svah, twenty four lettered Gyatr with Om. O Nrada! The Brhmanas are to perform daily the Sandhyo psn repeating Gyatr, completely adopting the rules above prescribed and then he will be able to enjoy completely pleasures, happiness and bliss.
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Here ends the Sixteenth Chapter of the Eleventh Book on the description of Sandhy Upsn in the Mahpurnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgvatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
