FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS/ DOUBTS

Uttama tu Sannakshatra madhyama luptataraka. Adhama Surya Sahita pratah Sandhya tridha mata

☀ The best phalan/merits of Sandhyavandanam will be when you perform it when stars are still shining (San-nakshatra) in the early morning or pre-dawn. Medium phalan/merits/benefits will be there when stars are gone and Sun is about to rise, and lower phalan or merits will be when you perform Sandhyavandana after Sun has fully risen.

☀In the evening, Sandhya time starts 48 minutes before sunset. And best phalan will be when Sun is still shining, medium when sun has set and lower if you perform after the stars appear.

📖 There is a concept in Dharma Shastra that the karma should not go waste. So it says that not doing Sandhyavandana will incur maha paapam. So even if we get lower phalan, still perform Sandhya whatever the time is, so that the daily duty is discharged, although it may carry lower merits.

It is like being promoted to the next class with just-pass marks (35%), whereas doing Sandhyavandanam on time is similar to passing exams with flying colours (95-100%). The high-scoring people get admission in the best colleges, best companies as their karma phalan is more (they worked hard, they stuck to the time-table to study).

🙏🏼 Therefore perform Sandhyavandana even if you are late.

Samashti Upanayana is nowhere recommended in Shastras. So we should avoid this. Our Rishis never recommended anything like Samashti Upanayana

The reason for this is that, to fix a Muhurtha for Upanayana for a single boy, it would take a minimum of 4 hours looking into so many aspects starting from the Janma Nakshatra of the boy and his father, the compatibility with the thithi of the day, nakshatra etc, lagna, planetary positions during Brahmopadesham, Bhava shuddhi, Tarabalam, Chandra balam ….and so on. So one common date chosen for all boys doesn’t take into consideration, any of these detailed aspects of Muhurtha Shastra.

Also, Upanayana is not a public affair, it’s an individual affair relating to the father and son

No doubt Mahaperiyava Himself instructed Samashti Upanayana, but for only very poor families who don’t have the capacity to perform the Samskara in the proper way. But now even well-to-do families are opting for Samashti Upanayana, which is totally wrong. We should avoid this and perform Upanayanam for boys individually only.

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BHAKTI, AN EXCUSE FOR NITYA KARMAS?

(Jagadguru Sringeri Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal)

Shishya:- What use is it to perform the nitya karmas such as the Sandhyavandanam? Is it not better to use this time for bhajans, meditation, etc to please the Lord?

Guru:- Nowadays it is very common to see people involving themselves in bhajans & the like while ignoring their nitya karmas like the Sandhyavandanam. The idea possessed by such people is that their bhakti is so great that it can overcome the sins of skipping nitya karmas. Unfortunate for them is the fact that this is absolutely wrong! It is unquestionable that bhakti can do wonders & that chanting the names of the Lord has its own benefits, but it is never an excuse for performing ordained tasks. A simple example to explain this:-

A master is pleased only when his servant does the job he is given with absolute sincerity. Instead, if the servant sits in front his master & sings praises of him in the time he should be hard at work, will the master be pleased? Certainly not! However if he does so after completing his job, his master would certainly be pleased. Likewise the Lord is pleased by a true bhakta who engages himself in performing his ordained task with the highest priority. Ignoring the Lord’s words, if he chooses to do otherwise & then expect to reap the former’s grace, what can be said about his foolishness?

However, if the bhakta finishes his ordained task & then sits doing bhajans, meditation, etc then would the Lord not be happy? For a Brahmin, the most fundamental task ordained by the Lord himself is to perform the Sandhyavandanam. If he ignores that & expects the Lord to shower him with grace for his singing, meditation, etc would there be a bigger fool than him? Indeed it is the karmas such as Sandhyavandanam which are the most important for a Brahmin.

1. Fall at his feet like a stick (Dandavat) – Shashtaanga Namaskaram

2. Then get up and do Abhivadanam

3. Then another Dandavat (Shashtaanga Namaskaram)

4. You should then offer a plate filled with betel leaves, betel nuts (pan/supari in even numbers), fruits, flowers, samith bundle and other useful items as you may feel.

To learn such nuances of Dharma Shastra, join Brihat Veda Ghosham Kaksha class, click here to register.

It is to signify to the Guru that ‘I am like these dry sticks without any Gyana rasa or Juice of knowledge. You put me in the fire 🔥 of your knowledge & burn my ignorance away to ashes.’

Dharma Shastram

In Ancient times there were strict Punishments for non performance of Nitya Karma.

☀ As per Dharma Shastra, in the evening as well as morning, the Brahmana who doesn’t perform Sandhyavandanam, the Raja/King of that Desha should assign him work of servants

🌷 People in ancient India had immense self control due to performance of Nitya karma anushtana. This was contrary to today where there is hardly any control. The self control has been diminishing steadily and it is dreadful to imagine how our future generations would be. Every father has to discipline his son and should ensure that the father and son together perform Sandhyavandana.

In ancient times anyone who didn’t perform Sandhyavandana will be summoned by the King and the King would address the Brahmana thus “Oh Vipra, your wealth was Sandhyavandana and Gayatri japa which gave you the status of Brahmana in the society. Since you have left performing Sandhyavandanam, all the wealth of the penance that you had has diminished. Hence I appoint you as a servant in my palace to do menial jobs”

Shantis  are Vedic rites to ward off small problems even upto death. People born on amavasya or no moon day should get #darshajananashanti performed as per shastras. This is to ward off future problems in life.

Not only this People born under Ashlesha (Ayilyam) , Jyeshta (Kettai) , Mula (Moolam) & Chitra (Chithirai) nakshatras should mandatorily get Shanti performed as per shastras. This is to ward off future problems in life.

Celebrate your birthday as per shastra with a life extending Elixir (drink) as per Rishis.

A very simple drink prepared with Sesame seeds, milk and jaggery to be made and charged with a mantra and to be drunk for long life.

How to prepare the drink?

1. Add 2 pinches of white sesame seeds in a glass
2. Add a small ball of jaggery (size smaller than gooseberry) to it.
3. Add boiled, cooled milk that fits in one hand of yours- (roughly less than half a glass of milk) to it.
4. Stir well.
5. Sit in front of the pooja room and Chant the mantra as given in the video here.

Then drink the same.

As per Sashtras, What should/ should not be done on Birthdays?

1. Do not cut hair or nails on your birthday.
2. Do not go outside on your birthday.It should be spent in prayer at home
3. Do not fight /argue with anyone.
4. Perform ayush homam or chiranjeevi homam.

To know more , click here

As per Dharma Shastra which are Rishi vaakyaas, similar to Nakshatra birthday or janma dinam, the Nakshatra Vivaha Dinam every year must be taken into consideration. English wedding anniversary dates have no relevance in Dharma Shastra.

Below are the prescribed Anushtaana to be followed by the couple every year on the same maasa nakshatra in which the Vivaha muhurtha was conducted.

Vivaha nakshatra dina anushtaana:

1. Uma Maheshwara Shodashopachaara pooja

2. Dampati pooja to a Vedic Brahmin couple

3. Brahmana Bhojanam – cook and serve food to Vedic Brahmins at home

Recommended days for visiting a person’s house where death has happened to offer condolences: Sunday, Thursday preferable. Wednesday as 2nd choice. Can visit on day of death & 10th day, not other days. 13th day visit by only relatives or person who helped in cremation