ಪ್ರಾತಸ್ಸಂಧ್ಯಾವಂದನಮ್

Salutations to Keshava! (sip water) | Salutations to Narayana! (sip water) | Salutations to Madhava! (sip water)

Salutations to Govinda!

Whether pure or impure, or in any state whatsoever, he who remembers the Lotus-eyed Lord (Pundarikaksha) becomes pure both externally and internally.

Repeat Achamanam as in step 1.

Rishi: Parabrahma | Devata: Paramatma | Chandas: Devi Gayatri | Application: Pranayama

Om! Earth! | Om! Atmosphere! | Om! Heaven!
Om! Greater world! | Om! World of beings! | Om! World of penance!
Om! World of Truth!

We meditate upon the most excellent radiance of the Divine Sun (Savitri). May He stimulate our intellect.

Om! Water, Light, Essence, Immortality, Brahman — Bhur-Bhuva-Suvar-Om!

For the destruction of all sins acquired by me, and for the pleasure of Sri Parameshwara, I shall perform the morning Sandhya worship.

O Waters, you are the source of happiness. Grant us nourishment, and grant us the vision of great joy. Share with us that most auspicious essence of yours, like loving mothers. We approach you eagerly for that purpose, for whose dwelling you give us life. O Waters, generate us anew!

May the Sun, the lord of anger, and the lords of anger protect me from the sins born of anger. Whatever sin I have committed during the night — by mind, speech, hands, feet, stomach, or body — may the night destroy that. Whatever evil is in me, I offer myself into the immortal source, the light of the Sun. Svaha!

Repeat Achamanam as in step 1.

I have sung the praise of Dadhikra, the victorious, swift horse. May he make our mouths fragrant and prolong our lives.

(Apo Hi Shtha mantra — same as in Marjanam: Hymn to the Waters seeking nourishment and auspiciousness.)

Those waters that are golden-hued, pure and purifying, in which Kashyapa and Indra were born, which hold fire (Agni) in their womb in many forms — may those waters be pleasant to us.

Those waters amidst which King Varuna moves, observing the truth and falsehood of people, which are honey-dripping, pure and purifying — may those waters be pleasant to us.

Those waters in heaven which the gods partake, which exist in many forms in the atmosphere, which flow bright on earth with nourishment — may those waters be pleasant to us.

O Waters, look upon me with your auspicious eye, touch my body with your benign form. I invoke all the fires that reside in the waters — deposit in me brilliance, strength, and vigor.

May it release me like one freed from a post! Like one who has bathed and become free of dirt, like clarified butter purified by a strainer — may the waters purify me of my sins!

Repeat Achamanam (step 1) and Pranayama (step 4) as before.

For the destruction of all sins and for the pleasure of Sri Parameshwara, I shall offer Arghya (water oblation) as part of the morning Sandhya.

The Gayatri Mantra: Om! We meditate upon the most excellent radiance of the Divine Sun. May He stimulate our intellect.

To atone for any delay in the prescribed time, I shall offer a prayaschitta arghya (expiatory offering).

Arise, O Goddess, it is time to go and return again. Be pleased, O Devi — being satisfied, O Gayatri, reside in my heart.

You are radiance! Place that radiance in me!

That Sun yonder is Brahman.

Repeat Achamanam as before.

I offer libations to: Aditya (Sun) | Soma (Moon) | Angaraka (Mars) | Budha (Mercury) | Brihaspati (Jupiter) | Shukra (Venus) | Shanaishchara (Saturn) | Rahu | Ketu

I offer libations to: Keshava | Narayana | Madhava | Govinda | Vishnu | Madhusudana | Trivikrama | Vamana | Sridhara | Hrishikesha | Padmanabha | Damodara

"Tarpayami" = "I satisfy / satiate." First the nine celestial bodies (Navagraha) are propitiated, then the twelve names of Lord Vishnu (Dwadasha Nama).

May the spirits dwelling on this earth depart. May those spirits that cause obstacles be destroyed by Lord Shiva's command. May all such beings that burden the earth move away. Without conflict with any of them, I commence this sacred rite (Brahma Karma).

Rishi: Meruprishtha | Devata: Urmi | Chandas: Sutalam | Application: Purification of seat.

O Earth Goddess, the worlds are supported by you, and you are supported by Lord Vishnu. Please support me too, O Goddess, and make this seat pure.

Salutations to Ananta (the infinite serpent) as the seat. Salutations to Kurma (the tortoise) as the seat. Om Ghat!

Rishis: Atri, Bhrigu, Kutsa, Vasishtha, Gautama, Kashyapa, Angirasa.
Metres: Gayatri, Ushnik, Anushtup, Brihati, Pankti, Trishtup, Jagati.
Deities: Agni, Vayu, Savitri, Brihaspati, Varuna, Indra, Vishvedeva.
Om Ghat!

May the boon-granting Goddess come, who is the imperishable Brahman. O Gayatri, mother of all metres, accept this worship of mine. Whatever sin is committed during the day, from that one is freed by day. Whatever sin is committed at night, from that one is freed by night.

O Mahadevi of all hues, O Saraswati of twilight wisdom — You are vigor, you are power, you are strength, you are brilliance. You are the abode of the gods. You are all, you are the life of all. I invoke Gayatri, Savitri, and Saraswati...

This section describes the complete identity of Gayatri — her Rishi (Vishwamitra), deity (Savita), metre (Gayatri), and her cosmic form.

"Tat Savituh" — to the Brahma-spirit — salutations with the thumbs.
"Varenyam" — to the Vishnu-spirit — salutations with the index fingers.
"Bhargo Devasya" — to the Rudra-spirit — salutations with the middle fingers.
"Dhimahi" — to the Truth-spirit — salutations with the ring fingers.
"Dhiyo yo nah" — to the Knowledge-spirit — salutations with the little fingers.
"Prachodayat" — to the Universal-spirit — salutations with palms and backs of hands.

"Tat Savituh" (Brahma-spirit) — to the heart, Namah.
"Varenyam" (Vishnu-spirit) — to the head, Svaha.
"Bhargo Devasya" (Rudra-spirit) — to the crown tuft (shikha), Vashat.
"Dhimahi" (Truth-spirit) — to the armour (chest), Hum.
"Dhiyo yo nah" (Knowledge-spirit) — to the three eyes, Vaushat.
"Prachodayat" (Universal-spirit) — to the weapon (astra), Ghat.

With "Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah," the directions are sealed — creating a sacred protective boundary around the worshipper.

I worship Gayatri whose five faces shine with the hues of pearl, coral, gold, sapphire, and white. She wears a jewel-studded crown bound with the crescent moon. She embodies the essence of all truths. In her ten hands she holds the gestures of boon-granting and fearlessness, a goad, a whip, a white skull, a rosary, a conch, a discus, and two lotuses.

Alternatively: Meditate on Gayatri in the morning as a young maiden seated in the rising sun, adorned in red, red-complexioned, presiding over the earthly realm, four-faced, holding the gestures of fearlessness, a staff, a rosary, and a water-pot, youthful, seated on a swan, fragrant with red sandalwood, with Brahma as her deity, and possessing eight eyes.

The 24 sacred mudras (hand gestures) to be shown to Gayatri: Sumukham, Samputam, Vitatam, Vistritam, Dvimukham, Trimukham, Chatuh-panchamukham, Shanmukham, Adhomukham, Vyapakanjalikam, Shakatam, Yamapasham, Grathitam, Unmukham, Pralambam, Mushtikam, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Simhakrantam, Mahakrantam, Mudgaram, Pallavam.

These mudras always please Gayatri and are auspicious. Those who do not know these mudras — their Gayatri japa becomes fruitless.

For the removal of all accumulated sins and for the pleasure of Sri Parameshwara, I shall perform the Gayatri Mantra Japa as part of the morning Sandhya.

The Gayatri Mantra:
Om! In the three worlds (Earth, Atmosphere, Heaven) —
We meditate upon the most excellent radiance of the Divine Sun (Savitri).
May He stimulate and inspire our intellect.

Repeat Karanyasa and Hridayadinyasa as in steps 21 & 22.

With "Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah," the seal on the directions is released.

At the end of japa, show the closing mudras: Surabhi, Jnana Chakra, Yoni, Shankha, Pankaja (Lotus), Linga, and Niryana. These mudras please Gayatri at the conclusion of chanting.

For the removal of all sins and for the pleasure of Sri Parameshwara, I shall perform the morning Sandhya Upasthana (hymn of adoration).

O Goddess born on the highest mountain peak, permitted by the Brahmanas, go as you please. Praised by me, O boon-granting Mother of the Vedas, inspiring the twice-born — grant me long life on earth, wealth, and the brilliance of Brahman, and then proceed to Brahmaloka.

Hymn to Mitra (the Sun as Friend): Mitra is upheld by all people. The glory of this god is true and most wonderful to hear.

Mitra guides all people with wisdom. Mitra supports the earth and heaven. Mitra watches over all beings without blinking. Let us offer oblations to Truth, rich as clarified butter.

May that mortal prosper who is guided by Mitra. He who follows Mitra's vow is not slain, not conquered — no sin reaches him, neither from near nor from far.

Om! Salutations to the Eastern direction and the deities dwelling therein.

Salutations to the Southern, Western, Northern, Upper, Lower, and Intermediate directions and all their deities.

Salutations to those who dwell between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers — may they extend my life.

Om! Salutations to Sandhya, Savitri, Gayatri, Saraswati, to all deities, to mothers, to fathers, to teachers...

Om! Salutations to Lord Vasudeva!

Shiva is in the form of Vishnu; Vishnu is in the form of Shiva. Vishnu is the heart of Shiva; Shiva is the heart of Vishnu. I see no difference between them — may this grant me well-being and long life.

Salutations to Krishna, the benefactor of cows and Brahmanas, the welfare of the universe. Salutations to Govinda!

O Vasudeva, all three worlds are pervaded by Your fragrance. You are the dwelling place of all beings — salutations to You!

Salutations to the Infinite One with a thousand forms, feet, eyes, heads, and arms. Salutations to the Eternal Being with a thousand names, the bearer of a thousand crores of yugas.

Just as water that falls from the sky ultimately reaches the ocean, all salutations offered to any deity reach Keshava (Vishnu).

Whatever merit lies in all the Vedas and all the holy places — that fruit a person obtains by praising Lord Janardana.

May this be true before Heaven and Earth. O Father and Mother, what I declare here — may it become the very nourishment of the gods through the waters. May we know this encompassing, generous one.

May auspiciousness prevail for the cows and Brahmanas unto the four oceans!

I introduce myself: I am of the Atreya lineage, with the three sages as my Pravara, of Atreya Gotra, following the Apastamba Sutra, a student of the Yajurveda, known as Sri Vishnu Sharma.

Repeat Achamanam as before.

By whose mere remembrance and utterance of name, any deficiency in austerity, Sandhya, or ritual becomes complete — I salute that Achyuta (the infallible Lord).

O Janardana, whatever I have done that is deficient in mantra, in ritual action, or in devotion — may it become complete by Your grace, O Lord.

May the all-pervading Lord Sri Vasudeva be pleased by this morning Sandhyavandana.

Achyutaya Namah | Anantaya Namah | Govindaya Namah!

Whatever I do — by body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, soul, or by force of nature — all that I offer to the Supreme Narayana.

Repeat Achamanam as before.

O Divine Savitri (Sun God), grant us progeny, wealth, and prosperity today! Drive away all bad dreams. O God Savitri, drive away all evils. Bestow upon us all that is auspicious!