Episode # 86 – Why should we perform the “SANDHYA-VANDANA” during “Dawn” & “Dusk”? Sage Paraashara explains!!!

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We’re amidst a very important and informative discussion with regards to Sage Paraashara’s detailed accord on how Bhagawan Soorya’s movement impacts various aspects of time in the world. We’ve seen in due course of yesterday’s episode as to how the sun’s forward or northward movement (also referred to as “Uttharaayana”) gives longer day times and shorter night times. Similarly, the “Dakshinaayana” or the southward movement of the sun gives us shorter days and longer nights. The “Uttharaayana” period is normally the first six months of the English calender year (Roughly from mid-January to mid-July) and the “Dakshinaayana” period takes over from mid-July till the mid of January next year. This is an important point for all of us to note and understand with respect to the sun’s movement. In due course, we’ve also witnessed nine important paths for Bhagawan Soorya to traverse through. In this, we’ve seen that the northern paths (three in number) are the paths that take us to the “Archiraadhi Maarga” or “Moksha”. Whereas, the southern paths (Again, three in number), are those that take us towards the “Naraka Lokha” or the “Yama Patna” wherein Yama-Dharma-Raja resides. 

Moving on thus, Sage Paraashara talks about an important point – he talks about the “Sandhya-Kaala” and the auspicious timings for performing the “Sandhyavandanam”. This is again something that we’ve to make note of very keenly here. Normally, we already know that the merging time between the night and the day is called the “Sandhya-Kaala” and this happens twice a day – Once in the morning and the other in the evening. This is what we refer to in English as “Dawn” and “Dusk”. The “Dawn” period is the sunrise time, and the “Dusk” is referred to as the sunset time. Here, Sage Paraashara talks about a group of “Raakshasas” by name “Mandegas”. These Mandegas are the ones who oppose the movement of Bhagawan Soorya’s chariot. These Raakshasas gain immense power during the sunrise and sunset times. Thus, the Mandegas come with a huge army and try stopping Bhagawan Soorya’s chariot from moving forward. It is at this time, all the Brahmins should perform the “Sandhyavandanam”. The main purpose of performing the “Argya-Pradhaanam” with water, (as part of the “Sandhyavandanam”) is that, the water that Brahmins use for this, goes and attacks these “Mandegas” like Indra’s “Vajraayudha” (A fierce weapon that Indra uses for fighting) and defeats them. This would thus enable the free movement of Bhagawan Soorya’s chariot in the forward direction. Thus, we’ve to understand here that the important purpose of performing the “Sandhyavandanam” every morning and evening is to defeat the “Mandegas” and kill them, which would enable the free movement of Bhagawan Soorya’s chariot. 

As we’re discussing this, we might have a question in our minds thus – “Oh! I would have performed the “Sandhyavandanam” yesterday evening too, and I would have hence killed the “Mandegas” then and there, isn’t it? If that is the case, why should I perform the “Sandhyavandanam” henceforth from today morning? They’re already killed, isn’t it?” Here is an important answer – If we, the common people have this smart a thought process, won’t the Mandegas have a smarter thought process too? They immediately went to Bhagawan Brahma and asked for a boon – “Every evening when we get killed by the Sandhyavandanam, we should again take re-birth next morning within twelve hours!” This is why, the “Mandegas” never get killed permanently. Even if we kill them today morning, they would be alive again by evening. Similarly, if we kill them by evening, they would again be up and running by the next morning. This is why we’ve to keep performing the “Sandhyavandanam” every day, without failure. It is only with our “Argya-Pradhaanam”, the “Mandegas” keep getting defeated every time and this would enable Bhagawan Soorya to chug along. 

This is the reason why we say that the morning quota of the “Sandhyavandanam” should be performed before the sunrise time, that is, before Bhagawan Soorya makes his appearance for the day. Similarly, the afternoon quota should be performed when Bhagawan Soorya is at the middle of his path. The evening quota should be performed when Bhagawan Soorya is still appearing during the dusk time. We should not wait till the sun sets completely. 

So for today, let us understand these important points and let us realize the significance of performing the “Sandhyavandana”. We shall wait till the next episode to continue with this important and interesting discussion of Sage Paraashara! Stay tuned! 🙂