Daily Rituals Workshop

Sri Vysasa Madhva Samshodhana Pratishtha

Summary points from the Lecture on “Daily Rituals for Success of Men and Women” by Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya

Date: 15 January 2006, 2.00-6.00 pm Venue : Vijayabharathi High School, Girinagar

Purpose of this document

The purpose of this document is to bring out summary points from the lecture delivered by Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanajanacharya as a part of the “Madhvacharya for the Youth” series conducted under the auspices of Sri Vyasa Madhva Samshodhana Pratishthana. The purpose of the workshop was to bring out the relevance and meaning of the prayers that one needs to offer for overall upliftment. The focus of the lecture was on the performance of rituals like Sandhyavandane, Japa, recitation of basic shlokas and observation of certain disciplines in today’s routine life where we experience shortage of time and other constraints. This document is not a comprehensive account or accurate assimilation of the lecture delivered, but seeks to capture some salient points from the same. Any error in the process is seriously regretted.

Summary Points

Relevance of daily rituals and good conduct (achara)

§ The lecture started with paying obeisance to God, Vayu and Gurus.

§ The performance of daily rituals should be looked at from the perspectives of the shastras to see a new meaning emerge from the same.

§ In our shastras, it is said that Knowledge is the purest and most sublime thing. This is true even in our modern lives. The importance of a scholar or knowledge worker is greater than the richest of men. However if this knowledge is not supplemented and supported by good conduct, this knowledge can be harmful and perverted. To illustrate this, the most heinous crimes are committed by the most brilliant of men, but who have employed the intelligence for a bad cause. So, it is clear that knowledge has to be channeled in the right direction by good conduct.

§ For salvation (Moksha) it is knowledge that is useful but performance of the right action or duty is a critical support to the same.

§ Karma is performance of righteous duty (sadachara) and not a mere performance of some random actions.

§ To illustrate this further, we need a vessel to heat and store the milk, but it is the milk that consume. Our conduct (achara) is like the vessel and our knowledge (vichara) is like the milk.

§ Just as a farmer, purifies the soil where he plans to sow and reap the crops, one needs to purify the mind through one’s conduct and habits to elevate one’s thinking to a higher level.

§ Thus, Achara (good conduct) and Vichara (knowledge) go hand-in-hand.

Timing of rituals

§ In today’s life we face enormous challenges in cultivating both the achara and vichara. Hence we need to use the time available in an optimal manner, that is, we need to maximize the benefit that we get in the limited time.

§ One such powerful method is to perform the rituals at the correct and prescribed time. Even in our modern times, the concept of time is sacrosanct. In our student as well as our official lives, performance of activities has to be done in a time-bound manner, else the relevance is lost.

§ The start of our daily rituals should be performed early morning when the power to achieve the most is then. The mind is pure and devoid of any stress and confusions. As the day progresses the mind looses the purity as there is a lot of overlap amongst the different things. In the early morning the mind is pure and is fresh to grasp anything. Hence one should wake up early in the morning and pray to God during that time.

§ One should rise in the morning with a prayer to the God reciting the mantra – Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Then one should perform Dhyana or recollection of what one has studied the previous day.

Sandhyavandane- The Vedic Prayer

§ After bathing, one should perform the Sandhyavandanam, a vedic prayer that is to be done during the sandhyakala only. The purpose is to activate our mind and brain and then drive away the evil spirits that are active during that period with an intention to harm us.

§ Just like the water in a vessel can be stabilized by keeping the vessel stable, we must stabilize our mind by first sitting in a comfortable and stable manner. The yogic pose of Padmasana is recommended for this purpose.

§ The Sandhyavandanam is to be performed in the following order. Against each action is mentioned the meaning and significance.

Sl. No.	Activity	Method/Meaning	Significance
1.	Achamana	Drinking a small quantity of water (equal to size of urad dal)	Lubricates the entire food pipe and cleans it
2.	Pranayama	Takes in pure air and lets out impure air	Gets us the control of the entire body
3.	Sankalpa	Recollecting the date, time and place in which the activity is being performed	Develops the willpower required for a successful mindset
4.	Marjana	Sprinkling of water on one’s body	Completes the bathing ritual with the mantras
5.	Jalabhimantrana	Drinking the sacred water	Purification of the body
6.	Punarmarjana	Sprinkling of water on one’s body	Re-cleaning the body
7.	Suryarghya	Offering the sacred water to Lord Narayana residing in the sun god	Solar energy is recognized as having enormous powers in purification, ripening of fruits, medicinal powers in curing skin and other related diseases.
8.	Japa	Repetition of the Gayatri Mantra 10/100 /1000 or more no. of times and reciting the Narayana mantra three times the no. of times one has recited the Gayatri mantra	Sharpens the mind, leads to clear and sharp thinking, memory and leads to personal upliftment.
9.	Dignamskara	Prayer to the presiding deities of all the directions	To get protection and success in all the 10 directions
10.	Krishnarpana	Offering the actions at the feet of Lord Krishna	This completes the activity and gives it all the relevance. An action which is not offered on the feet of the Lord is useless and meaning less

For performing Sandhyavandanam, one does not have to observe too much madi. This does not require too much time and can be performed easily. Performance of Sandhyavandanam is mandatory for all men. Under no circumstances should one give up this activity. Women should recite Krishnamantra instead of the Gayatri mantra.
Meaning of the Gayatri Mantra

Word in the Gayatri Mantra	Meaning
Bhuhu	Lord Narayana, who is complete in all respects
Bhuvaha	One who is superior in all respects to Goddess Mahalakshmi
Svaha	One who is filled with all the auspicious qualities
Tat	One who is omnipresent
Savituhu	One who has created the universe
Varenyam	One who is prayed by all
Bhargo	One who sustains the universe
Devsya	One who has great qualities
Yaha	One who is filled with knowledge and light
Dhimahi	We pray to him
Dheeyo yonaha prachodayat	May he, Lord Narayana, lead us to the right path

After this one could recite three important and powerful shlokas- Sri Vishnusahasranamam composed by Sri Vedavyasa himself, Sri Dvadashastotra composed by Sri Madhvacharya and Sri Harivayustuti composed by Sri Trivikramapanditacharya. These can be recited in the evening also. However one should not perform the Punashacharana of these in the evening. It is estimated that it takes about 30 minutes in all to recite these shlokas. One is blessed with whatever one wishes on reciting these shlokas
On food- One should not consume food items which are prohibited (nishiddha) as they are harmful to one’s body and mind.

Benefits of performing rituals

The true benefit of performing the above mentioned rituals come when one does it persistently for a month. One should understand the meaning of the prayer that one recites. Knowing the meaning of what we recite gives the significance of the same and generates the interest in pursuing the same in a persistent manner. One will definitely realize the benefit of these-a stress-free life and efficiency in all quarters
If one does not get the opportunity to attend lectures (pravachana) or regular classes (patha) one should use the books and cassettes to obtain the knowledge on spiritual matters.
With the performance of the rituals, one’s mind and body are ready to gather the knowledge on all matters.

II Sri Krishnarpanamastu II