Sama Veda Sandhya Vandanam
Shri P.R.Ramachander
1 Argya Pradhanam
1.1 Aachamanam
After chanting each of the following mantras take a small quantity of water in your right palm
and sip.
Om Govindaya Namah
Then, using only your right hand
FT
Om Achyuthaya Namah,
Om Ananthaya Namah,
1. Using your thumb, touch the right cheek while chanting the first word of the mantra and
the left cheek while chanting the second
RA
Kesava - Narayana
2. Using your ring finger, touch the right eye while chanting the first word of the mantra and
the left eye while chanting the second
Madhava - Govinda
3. Using your index finger, touch the right side of the nose while chanting the first word of
the mantra and the left side while chanting the second
D
Vishno - Madhusoodana
4. Using your little finger, touch the right ear while chanting the first word of the mantra and
the left ear while chanting the second
Trivikrama - Vamana
5. Using your middle finger, touch the right shoulder while chanting the first word of the
mantra and the left shoulder while chanting the second
1
Sreedhara - Hrishikesa
6. Touch the navel (belly button) with all fingers, saying
Padmanabha
7. Touch the top of the head with all fingers, saying
Damodara.
1.2 Ganapathi Dhyanam
Chant the following mantra while gently tapping your temples/outer forehead with your knuck-
les
Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashi
Varnam ChathurBhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dyayeth
Sarva Vigna Upa Shanthaye.
1.3 Pranayamam
Figure 1: Position of fingers for Pranayama
While reciting the following mantra, control your breathing by controlling the flow of air through
your nostrils. Use the thumb, little and ring fingers of your right hand (as shown in Fig. 1 and
detailed in the footnote) 1 --
1 The forefinger and the middle finger are folded into the palm; the thumb presses against the right side of the nose
controlling the flow of air into the right nostril, while the ring finger and the little finger together press the left side of
2
1. Breathe through the left nostril while reciting
Om Bhoohoo
Om Bhuvaha
Om Suvaha
Om Mahaha
Om Janaha
Om Thapaha
Om Sathyam
2. Close both nostrils while reciting
Om Tat-savithur varenyam
Bargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yona prachodayath
3. Breathe through the right nostril while reciting
Om Apa
Jyothi rasa
Amritam brahma
Bhoorbuvasuvarom
The transitions should be smooth and quick.
Chant OM three times. Each time you say "OM", touch your ear lobes with both hands.
Om, Om, Om
1.4 Sankalpam
Rest your left palm on your right thigh. Cover the left plam with the right plam, and chant the
following mantra:
Mamo partha samastha duritha kshaya
dwara
Sri Parameshwara preethyartham
In the morning (typically between 4 am and 8 am -- Pratah Sandhya)
Pratah sandhyam upasishye
During the day (typically between 8 am and 4 pm -- Madhyannikam)
Madhyaynikam karishye
In the evening (typically between 4 pm and 8 pm -- Sayam Sandhya)
Sayam sandhyam upasishye
the nose, controlling air into the left nostril. Inhale through the left nostril by pressing the thumb firmly against the
right side of the nose blocking the right nostril while simultaneously relaxing the pressure on the left side of the nose
allowing air to flow in and out of the left nostril. Similarly, by relaxing the thumb while increasing the pressure with the
index-little finger combine, one can control the flow of air through the right nostril while blocking the left. By applying
pressure simultaneously on both sides of the nose, one can hold one's breath. Inhalation is called Puraka, the retention
Kumbhaka and the exhalation Rechaka. the durations of these three (viz. Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka) should
be in the ratio 1: 3: 2
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1.5 Marjanam
a) Chant
Sri Kesavaya Namah
and write OM in water with the ring finger of the right hand.
b) Chant the following (ten) mantras. While chanting the first seven sprinkle water on the head;
while chanting the eighth sprinkle water on your feet; for the ninth again, sprinkle on the
head, and chant the tenth by taking a little water in your right palm and sprinkling it around
your head clockwise
1 Aapo hishta mayo bhuva
2 Thana oorje dadha thana
3 Mahe ranaaya chakshase
4 Yova shiva thamo rasa
5 Thasya bhajaya thehana
6 Usatirava mathara
7 Thasma aranga mamava
8 Sprinkle water on your feet (or touch your feet with wet hands)
Yasya kshayaya jinwadha
9 Sprinkle on the head
Aapo janayadha jana
10 Taking a little water on your right palm, sprinkle water around your head clockwise (like a
pradakshinam)
Om Bhorbuvassuva
1.6 Praasanam
After the "swaha" at the end of the mantra, take a small quantity of water in your right palm and
sip it.
Pratah Sandhya Ahascha maa adithyascha punathu
swaha
Madhyahnikam Aapa punanthu prithweem
Prithwee pootha punathu maam
Punanthu brahmanaspathir brahma
pootha punathu maam
Yad uchishta mabhojyam yadhwa
ducharitham mama
Sarvam punanthu mamopa asatham
cha prathigraham swaha
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Sayam Sandhya Rathrischa ma varunascha punathu
swaha
1.7 Achamanam
Perform Achamanam. Use the procedure given in section 1.1
1.8 Punar Marjanam
Recite the following 14 mantras. While reciting the first eleven-sprinkle water on the head; while
reciting the twelfth touch your feet; while reciting the thirteen sprinkle on your head, and recite
the fourteenth by taking a little water in your right palm and sprinkling it clockwise around your
head :
1. Dadhi kravinno akarisham
2. Jishno raswasya vajina
3. Surabhino mukha karaath
4. Prana ayuhumshi tharishath
5. Aapo hishta mayo bhuva
6. Thana oorje dadha thana
7. Mahe ranaaya chakshase
8. Yova shiva thamo rasa
9. Thasya bhajaya thehana
10. Usatirava mathara
11. Thasma aranga mamava
12. Sprinkle water on your feet (or touch your feet with wet hands)
Yasya kshayaya jinwadha
13. Sprinkle on the head
Aapo janayadha jana
14. Taking a little water on your right palm, sprinkle water clockwise around your head (like a
Pradakshinam)
Om Bhorbuvassuva
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1.9 Argya Pradhanam
Join both hands, taking care not to let either thumb touch the other fingers. Gather sufficient
water in your palms. Pour the water through your fingers while reciting the following mantra --
Om Bhorbuvassuva
Tatsa vithur varenyam bhargo devasya
deemahi
Dhiyo yona prachodayath
Prathah Sandhya Face east and repeat thrice.
Madyannikam Face North and repeat twice.
Sayam Sandhya Face West and repeat twice.
1.10 Prayaschitha Argyam
1. Do Pranayama as detailed in section 1.3
2. Then offer one more Argyam. Join both hands, taking care not to let either thumb touch
other fingers. Gather sufficient water in your palms. Pour the water through your fingers
while reciting the following mantra --
Om Bhorbuvassuva
Tatsa vithur varenyam bhargo devasya
deemahi
Dhiyo yona prachodayath
This is a Prayaschitha (atonement) for doing the argya pradhanam late.
3. Take small quantity of water in your right hand and sprinkle it clockwise around your head
while reciting: (this is called Athma Parishechanam)
Prathah Sandhya Om yadathya gacha vruthrahan.
Udayaa abhisoorya sarvaan dathin-
dra they vache
Madyannikam Om uthkedthbhi sruthamagam
vrushabham naryabasim Astharameshi
soorya
Sayam Sandhya Om na thasya maya yachana
Ripureeseetha marthya yo agnaye
dathacha havyadathaye
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1.11 Ikya-anusandhanam
With both hands touch the middle of the chest. Close your eyes, focus your attention on the spot
between your eyebrows, and recite
AsaavadhityoBbrahma.
Brahamaivahamasmi
1.12 Achamanam
Perform Achamanam (see section 1.1)
1.13 Deva Tharpanam
Prathah Sandhya Squat facing east.
Madyannikam Squat facing east/north.
Sayam Sandhya Squat facing north.
For each of the following mantras, take a little water in your right palm and let it flow down your
finger-tips.
1. Aadithyam tharpayami
2. Somam tharpayami
3. Angarakam tharpayami
4. Budham tharpayami
5. Brahaspathim tharpayami
6. Shukram tharpayami
7. Sanaiswaram tharpayami
8. Rahum tharpayami
9. Kethum tharpayami
10. Kesavam tharpayami
11. Narayanam tharpayami
12. Madhavam tharpayami
13. Govindam tharpayami
14. Vishnum tharpayami
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15. Madhusoodhanam tharpayami
16. Trivikramam tharpayami
17. Vamanam tharpayami
18. Sreedharam tharpayami
19. Hrishikesam tharpayami
20. Padmanabham tharpayami
21. Damodharam tharpayami
1.14 Achamanam
Perform Achamanam. Use the procedure given in section 1.1
2 Japam
2.1 Japa Sankalpam
1. Recite the following mantra while gently tapping your temples/outer forehead with your
knuckles --
Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashi
Varnam ChathurBhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dyayeth
Sarva Vigna Upa Shanthaye.
2. Do Pranayamam (refer section 1.3)
3. Sankalpam Rest your left palm on your right thigh. Cover the left plam with the right
plam, and chant the following mantra:
Mamo partha samastha duritha kshaya
dwara
Sri Parameshwara preethyartham
Prathah Sandhya Prathahh sandhya gayathri maha
mantra japam karishye
Madhyannikam Madhyaynika gayathri maha mantra
japam karishye
Sayam Sandhya Sayam sandhya gayathri maha mantra
japam karishye
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2.2 Pranava Japam
1. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)
Pranavasya Rishi Brahma
2. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip
Devi gayathri Chandaha
3. Touch the middle of your chest
Paramathma devatha
4. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)
Bhooradhi saptha vyahruteenam athri -
brugu - kuthsa - vasishta - gowthama -
kasyapa - aangeerasa rishayaha
5. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip
Gayathree - ushnik - anushtup - brahathi
- pankthi- trushtup- jagathi - chandamsi
6. Touch the middle of your chest
Agni - vayu - arka - vageesa - varuna -
indra - viswe deva - devatha
2.3 Pranayamam
Do Pranayama ten times (see section 1.3)
2.4 Gayathri Avahanam
1. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)
Aayaathu Ithi anuvakasya vamadeva
rishi
2. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip
Anushtup chanda
3. Touch the middle of your chest
Gayathri devatha
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4. Perform the Avahani mudra (see Fig 2)
Aayathu varada devi aksharam brahma
samhitham
Gayathri chandasam mathedam
brahma jushaswana
Ojosi, sahosi,balamasi, brajosi
Devaanaam dhama naamaasi
Viswamasi viswayus sarvamasi sar-
vayurabhipoorom
Gayathrim avahayami
Savithrim avahayami
Saraswathim avahayami
(For each of the last three mantras, i.e., after chanting avahayami, bring your palms close
together with only the little fingers touching; slowly rotate your wrists, bringing the fingers
towards you -- as though you were beckoning someone)
Figure 2: Avahani Mudra
2.5 Gayathri Nyasam
1. Touch the top of your head with four fingers (thumb excluded)
Savithriya rishi Vishwamitraha
2. Touch the gap between your nose and upper lip
Nichrud-gayathri chandaha
3. Touch the middle of your chest
Savitha devatha
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2.6 Gayatri Japam
Figure 3: Namaste Mudra
Chant the Gayathri mantra 108 times2 facing East in the morning and afternoon,and West in the
evening
Prathah Sandhya Stand or sit facing East, palms joined in namaste mudra (see Fig. 3) and
held in front of the face
Madhyannikam Stand or sit facing East, palms joined in namaste mudra and held in front of
the chest
Sayam Sandhya Sit facing West, palms joined in namaste mudra and held in front of the naval
Om Bhur Vhuvah Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
2.7 Gayathri Upasthanam
Do Pranayamam
Stand up facing the direction given below (same as the direction for the Gayatri Japam). Join
palms in the Namaste mudra, and chant
Prathah Sandhya Facing East
Prathahha sandhya upasthanam kar-
ishye
Madhyannikam Facing East
Adithyo upasthanam karishye
2 54 or 27 when rushed
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Sayam Sandhya Facing West
Sayam sandhyo-upasthanam karishye
Next, chant
Uthame shikare devi bhoomyam par-
vatha moordhini
Brahmanebhyo hyanugyanam,
gachcha devi yatha sukham
2.8 Surya Upasthanam
Without changing posture (standing up, facing a specified direction)
Prathah Sandhya: Yaso aham bhavami brahmananaam
Yaso ragnam yaso visaam
Yasa sathyasya bhavami
Bhavami yasasaam yasa
Adithya naava maroksham poornam-
paripadinim
Achithram bharayishnaveem
satharithraam swasthye om Namah
adithyaya
Udyantham dwa aadithyanu deeyasam
Madhyannikam: Aadhithya navamaroksham poorna
maparipaddhineem
Acchithram bharayishnaveem
sadarithraam swasthaye
Om Namah Adithyaya, Namah ad-
hithyaya, Namah adhithyaya
Uduthyam jatha vedasam devam va-
hanthi kethava|| Drushye vishwaya
sooryam
Chithram devaanam udaga-daneekam
chakshur-mithrasya varunasyagneh
Aa pra dyava prithvi anthareeksha
soorya athma jagatas-thu-shacha
Thachakshur deva-hitham purasthach-
chukramuchcharth
Om bhorbuvaswarom
Soorya iva drishya bhooyasam ag-
neeriva thejasa
Vayuriva pranena
Soma iva ganthena
Brahaspathhir iva budhya
Aswina iva roopena
Indragni iva balena
Brahma bhaga evaham bhooyasam
paap mabhaga me dwishantha
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Sayam Sandhya: Yaso aham bhavami brahmananaam
Yaso ragnam yaso visaam
Yasa sathyasya bhavami
Bhavami yasasaam yasa
Adithya naava maroksham poornam-
paripadinim
Achithram bharayishnaveem
satharithraam swasthye
Om Namah adithyaya, Namah ad-
hithyaya, Namah adithyaya
Prathi thishtantham thavar adhithya
anu prathi thishtassam
2.9 Samashti Abhivadanam
Starting from the direction facing which the Japam (see section 2.6) was done turn, 90 degrees
to the right after each mantra.
• Sandhyayai Namah
Turn right
• Savithryai Namah
Turn right
• Gaythryai Namah
Turn right
• Saraswathyai Namah
Then chant with palms in the namste mudra, facing the same direction as the Japam
Sarvebhyo devathabhyo namo Namah
Kamo karshed manyura karshed namo
Namah
2.10 Abhivadaye Namaskara
Face the direction in which you did the Japam(see section 2.6). Touch both ears, bow slightly
and chant (fill the blanks)
Abhivadaye name of your Rishis number of Rishis Risheya
your Pravara or blank pravaranvitha
your Gothra gothra
your Suthra Suthra
your Veda shaka adhyayi
Sri your Name sarmanama aham asmibhoh
After this touch your feet with both hands and do Namaskaram.
See Appendix for a table of some common Pravara Rishis.
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2.11 Dik-Devatha Vandhanam
With palms joined in the namste mudra offer salutations to the different directions --
1. Face East
Pracyai dishe Namah
2. Turn 90 degrees to the right to face South
Dakshinayai dishe Namah
3. Turn 90 degrees to the right and face West
Pradeechai dishe Namah
4. Turn 90 degrees to the right and face North
Udichyai dishe Namah
Then again face the direction in which did the Japam(2.6), and chant
1. Look up
Oordwaya Namah
2. Look down
Adharaya Namah
3. Look at the sky
Anthareekshaya Namah
4. Look at the earth
Bhoomyai Namah
5. Look straight ahead
Brahmane Namah
6. Vishnave Namah
7. Mrutuyuve Namah
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2.12 Yama Vandanam
Palms joined in namaste mudra, stand facing South and chant
Yamaya Namah
Yamaya dharma rajaya, mrutyuve cha
anthakaya cha
Vaivaswathaya kalaya sarva bhootha
kshayaya cha
Oudhumbharaya dhadhnaya neelaya
parameshtinay
Vrukodharaya chithraya chithra
gupthaya vai Namah
Chithra gupthaya vai Namah om Namah
ithi
2.13 Harihara Vandhanam
Palms joined in namaste mudra, stand facing West and chant
Ritam sathyam para brahma purusham
Krishna pingalam
Oordhwrethwam viroopaksham Viswa
roopaya vai Namah
Viswa roopaya vai Namah om Namah
ithi
2.14 Soorya Narayana Vandhanam
Palms joined in namaste mudra, stand facing the direction in which the Japam was done and
chant
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Namah savithre jagadeka chakshushe
Jagat prasoothi sthithi naasa hethave
Trayin mayaya trigunathma dharine
Virinchi Narayana sankara athmane
Dyeya sada savithru mandala Madhya-
varthi
Narayana sarasijasana sannivishta
Keyuravan makara kundalavaan
Kiriti haari hiranya vapur drutha
sankha chakra
Shanka chakra gadha pane dwaraka ni-
layachythe
Govinda pundarikaksha raksha maam
sharana-gatham
Aakasath pathitham thoyam
Yada gachathi sagaram
Sarva deva Namaskara
Sri kesavam prathi gachathi
Sri kesavam prathi gachathi om nama
ithi
2.15 Samarpanam
Take a small quantity of water in your palms, hold it while chanting the mantra, and then pour
it (flowing over your fingertips) onto the ground.
Kaye na vacha
Manasendriyair va
Budhyathma nava
Prakruthai swabhavat
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
Narayana yethi samarpayami
2.16 Achamanam
Perform Achamanam. Use the procedure given in section 1.1
2.17 Raksha
Sprinkle some water on the place where Japam was performed reciting the mantra below; then
touch the ground with the ring finger of your right hand, and place it between your eyebrows
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Adhya no deva savitha prajavath saav-
ihi soubhagam
Para dushswapnyam suva
Viswani deva savitha - durithani paraa
suva
Yad bhadram thanma asuva
Om
Appendix
A few common Rishi families (Gothras)
Gothra Pravara Rishiya
Athreya Athreya, Archanaanasa, Traya-Rishiya
Syavaaswa
Baradwaja Angeerasa, Barhaspathya, Traya-Rishiya
Bharadwaja
Chandilya Kashyapa, Aavathsara, Saptha Rishiya
Naidruva, Reba, Raibha,
Choundilya, Chandilya
Gargeya Aangeerasa, Chainya, Gar- Traya-Rishiya
gya
Aangeerasa, Barhaspathya, Pancha-Rishiya
Baradwaja, Chainya, Gargya
Gowthama Aangirasa, Aayasya, Traya-Rishiya
Gowthama
Haritha Aangeerasa, Ambareeksha, Traya-Rishiya
Younaswa
Koundinya Vasishta, Maithra-Varuna, Traya-Rishiya
Koundinya
Koushika Vaiswamithra, Aagamar- Traya-Rishiya
shana, Koushika
Naidruva Kashyapa Kashyapa, Avathsara, Traya-Rishiya
Naidruva
Sounaka Garthsamadha Ekarsheya
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