Yajur Veda Sandhyavandhanam · ஸந்த்யாவந்தனம்

✦ Introduction & Timing அறிமுகம்

Sandhyavandhanam (सन्ध्यावन्दनम्) is the obligatory daily worship performed by dvijas (twice-born) at the three junctions of day — dawn, noon and dusk. It consists of Marjanam, Arghya Pradanam, Gayatri Japa, Upasthana and Abhivadana.

🌅

Pratah Sandhya

பிரதஃ ஸந்த்யா

Before sunrise — up to 48 minutes after

☀️

Madhyahna Sandhya

மத்யாஹ்ன ஸந்த்யா

Around solar noon (±30 min of transit)

🌆

Sayam Sandhya

ஸாயம் ஸந்த்யா

48 minutes before sunset to sunset

ℹ️ This text follows Krishna Yajur Veda, Apastamba Sutra — the tradition of most Tamil Smartha Brahmins. Baudhayana tradition has minor variations in Sankalpam wording.

1 Achamanam · ஆசமனம்

💧 Sip a small amount of water from the right palm after each of the first three Names. Touch body parts with right-hand fingers on the remaining Names.

ॐ अच्युताय नमः । (sip)
ॐ अनन्ताय नमः । (sip)
ॐ गोविन्दाय नमः । (sip)

Om Achyutāya Namaḥ · Om Anantāya Namaḥ · Om Govindāya Namaḥ

ஓம் அச்யுதாய நமஃ · ஓம் அனந்தாய நமஃ · ஓம் கோவிந்தாய நமஃ

केशव नारायण माधव गोविन्द विष्णो मधुसूदन ।
त्रिविक्रम वामन श्रीधर हृषीकेश पद्मनाभ दामोदर ॥

Keśava (right cheek) · Nārāyaṇa (left cheek) · Mādhava (right eye) · Govinda (left eye)
Viṣṇo (right ear) · Madhusūdana (left ear) · Trivikrama (right shoulder) · Vāmana (left shoulder)
Śrīdhara (right chest) · Hṛṣīkeśa (left chest) · Padmanābha (navel) · Dāmodara (head)

Touch each body part as indicated while reciting the corresponding Name.

2 Pranayama · பிராணாயாமம்

🌬️ Close the right nostril with the right thumb. Inhale through the left nostril reciting the Vyahritis silently. Hold breath and recite the Gayatri once mentally. Exhale through the right nostril reciting the final line. Repeat 3 times.

ॐ भूः । ॐ भुवः । ॐ सुवः । ॐ महः । ॐ जनः । ॐ तपः । ॐ सत्यम् ।
ॐ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ।
ॐ अपो ज्योतिरसोऽमृतम् ब्रह्म भूर्भुवः स्वरोम् ॥

3 Sankalpam · ஸங்கல்பம்

🙏 Hold water in the right palm with a darbha grass. State your cosmic time coordinates and express your resolve to perform the sandhya.

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥

Śuklāmbaradharaṁ Viṣṇuṁ śaśivarṇaṁ caturbhujam | Prasannavadanaṁ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ||

Meditate on Vishnu — dressed in white, moon-complexioned, four-armed, serene-faced — for the removal of all obstacles.

ममोपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयद्वारा श्री परमेश्वर प्रीत्यर्थम् ।
प्रातः सन्ध्यामुपासिष्ये ॥

Mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā Śrī Parameśvara prītyartham | Prātaḥ sandhyāmupāsiṣye ||

மம உபாத்த ஸமஸ்த துரித க்ஷய த்வாரா ஶ்ரீ பரமேஶ்வர ப்ரீத்யர்தம் ப்ராதஃ ஸந்த்யாம் உபாஸிஷ்யே

For the destruction of all sins accumulated by me, and for the pleasure of Sri Parameswara, I shall worship the morning Sandhya.

4 Marjanam · மார்ஜனம்

💦 Sprinkle water on yourself while reciting. For the last 5 verses, pour water over the head.

ॐ आपो हिष्ठा मयोभुवः । (sprinkle)
तान उर्जे दधातन । (sprinkle)
महेरणाय चक्षसे । (sprinkle)
यो वः शिवतमो रसः । (pour on head)
तस्य भाजयते ह नः । (pour on head)
उशतीरिव मातरः । (pour on head)
तस्मा अरङ्गमामवः यस्य क्षयाय जिन्वथ । (pour on head)
आपो जनयथा च नः ॥ (pour on head)

RV 10.9.1–3 — O Waters, you are the source of happiness. Give us the life-force for the great vision. Your most auspicious essence — let us partake of it, like eager mothers. Grant us what brings prosperity; may you beget life for us.

5 Punar Marjanam · புனர் மார்ஜனம்

💦 Sprinkle water all over the body.

दधि क्राव्णो अकारिषम् जिष्णोरश्वस्य वाजिनः ।
सुरभि नो मुखा करत् प्र ण आयूंषि तारिषत् ॥

Dadhi krāvṇo akāriṣam jiṣṇoraśvasya vājinaḥ | Surabhi no mukhā karat pra ṇa āyūṁṣi tāriṣat ||

ததி க்ராவ்ணோ அகாரிஷம் ஜிஷ்ணோரஶ்வஸ்ய வாஜினஃ | ஸுரபி நோ முகா கரத் ப்ர ண ஆயூம்ஷி தாரிஷத்

I have praised the vigorous Dadhikravan (a divine horse, representing purity). May he make our mouths fragrant and extend our lives.

6 Arghya Pradanam · அர்க்ய ப்ரதானம்

🌅 Morning: Face East. Cup both hands together and offer water by lifting it above the head and pouring it forward toward the Sun. Repeat 3 times, reciting the Gayatri Mantra each time.

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

Om Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ |
Tat Savitur Vareṇyam |
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi |
Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Pracodayāt ||

ஓம் பூர்புவஃ ஸ்வஃ | தத்ஸவிதுர்வரேண்யம் |
பர்கோ தேவஸ்ய தீமஹி | தியோ யோ நஃ ப்ரசோதயாத்

We meditate on that excellent glory of the Divine Sun (Savitri). May He stimulate our intellects.

असावादित्यो ब्रह्म ।

Asāv ādityo brahma —

That Sun yonder is Brahman. (Recite after each of the 3 arghyas.)

🔄 After the 3rd arghya, pour remaining water to the left saying "asāv adityo brahma". This is the arghya pariharanam (warding off the demonic effect of excess water).

7 Pashchad Achamanam · பஶ்சாத் ஆசமனம்

💧 Perform Achamanam again (same as Step 1) to purify before japa.

8 Japa Sankalpam

ममोपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयद्वारा श्री परमेश्वर प्रीत्यर्थम् ।
प्रातःसन्ध्यायाम् गायत्रीमहामन्त्रजपम् करिष्ये ॥

Mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā Śrī Parameśvara prītyartham | Prātaḥsandhyāyāṁ Gāyatrī mahāmantrajapam kariṣye ||

I shall now perform Gayatri Mahajapa as part of the morning Sandhya worship.

9 Gayatri Japa · காயத்ரி ஜபம் 108× or 10×

📿 Recite on rudraksha or tulsi mala. Minimum 10 times if pressed for time; 108 times is the ideal. Morning japa is performed facing East, touching the nose with the right hand (kara nyasa).

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

Om Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ |
Tat Savitur Vareṇyaṁ
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi |
Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Pracodayāt ||

ஓம் பூர்புவஃ ஸ்வஃ |
தத் ஸவிதுர்வரேண்யம்
பர்கோ தேவஸ்ய தீமஹி |
தியோ யோ நஃ ப்ரசோதயாத்

Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ — the three worlds (earth, mid-region, heaven) · Tat — that · Savitur Vareṇyam — most adorable light of the Sun (Savitri) · Bhargo Devasya — the divine radiance · Dhīmahi — we meditate upon · Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Pracodayāt — may He inspire our intellects

🕐 After japa: recite Gayatri Uttara Nyasam — touch head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, navel, chest and shoulders with corresponding mantras to complete the kara nyasa.

10 Surya Upasthana · ஸூர்ய உபஸ்தானம்

🌅 Morning: face East. Recite the Mitra Upasthana mantras. Then do a full prostration (sashtanga namaskara) facing East.

मित्रस्य चर्षणीधृतः श्रवो देवस्य सनसिम् ।
सत्यं चित्रश्रवस्तमम् ॥
मित्रो जनान् यातयति प्रजानन् मित्रो दाधार पृथिवीमुत द्याम् ।
मित्रः कृष्टीरनिमिषाभिचष्टे सत्याय हव्यं घृतवत्करोत ॥
प्र स मित्र मर्तो अस्तु प्रयस्वान् यस्त आदित्य शिक्षति व्रतानि ।
न हन्यते न जीयते त्वोतः नैनमंहो अश्नोति अन्तितो न दूरात् ॥

Mitrasya carṣaṇīdhṛtaḥ śravo devasya sanasim | Satyaṁ citraśravastamam ||
Mitro janān yātayati prajānan mitro dādhāra pṛthivīmuta dyām |
Mitraḥ kṛṣṭīranimiṣābhicaṣṭe satyāya havyaṁ ghṛtavat karota ||
Pra sa mitra marto astu prayasvān yasta āditya śikṣati vratāni |
Na hanyate na jīyate tvotaḥ nainamaṁho aśnoti antito na dūrāt ||

RV 3.59 — Mitra (the Sun as friend) upholds heaven and earth, watches over all beings with unblinking eyes. One who follows His laws is never harmed, never defeated — evil does not reach him near or far.

उद्वयं तमसस्परि ज्योतिष्पश्यन्त उत्तरम् ।
देवं देवत्रा सूर्यमगन्म ज्योतिरुत्तमम् ॥

Ud vayaṁ tamasaspari jyotiṣpaśyanta uttaram | Devaṁ devatra sūryamaghanma jyotirottamam ||

உத்வயம் தமஸஸ்பரி ஜ்யோதிஷ்பஶ்யந்த உத்தரம் | தேவம் தேவத்ரா ஸூர்யமகன்ம ஜ்யோதிருத்தமம்

Rising above the darkness, we behold the higher light. We have come to the divine Sun among the gods — the supreme light.

चित्रं देवानामुदगादनीकं चक्षुर्मित्रस्य वरुणस्यग्नेः ।
आ प्रा द्यावापृथिवी अन्तरिक्षं सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्थुषश्च ॥

Citraṁ devānāmudagādanīkaṁ cakṣurmitrasya varuṇasyāgneḥ | Ā prā dyāvāpṛthivī antarikṣaṁ sūrya ātmā jagatastashthuṣaśca ||

The brilliant face of the gods has risen — the eye of Mitra, Varuna and Agni. He has filled heaven, earth and sky. The Sun is the soul of all that moves and is still.

11 Digdevata Vandana · திக்தேவதா வந்தனம்

🧭 Turn in each direction as indicated and bow with folded hands.

ॐ नमः प्राच्यै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (East)
ॐ नमो दक्षिणायै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (South)
ॐ नमः प्रतीच्यै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (West)
ॐ नम उदीच्यै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (North)
ॐ नम ऊर्ध्वायै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (Above)
ॐ नमो अधरायै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (Below)
ॐ नमोऽवान्तरायै दिशे याश्च देवता एतस्यां प्रतिवसन्ति ताभ्यश्च नमः ॥ (All directions)

Om Namaḥ Prācyai diśe yāśca devatā etasyāṁ prativasanti tābhyaśca namaḥ — repeated for each of the eight directions.

Salutation to the deity of the East (South, West, North, Above, Below, All directions) and to all the deities that dwell therein.

✦ ✦ ✦

☀️ The midday Sandhya follows the same sequence as Pratah with two differences: only 1 Arghya is offered (not 3), and a different Upasthana (Aditya Upasthana) is recited. All other steps — Achamanam, Pranayama, Sankalpam, Marjanam, Punar Marjanam, Japa — are the same.

3 Sankalpam (Madhyahna) · மத்யாஹ்ன ஸங்கல்பம்

ममोपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयद्वारा श्री परमेश्वर प्रीत्यर्थम् ।
माध्यन्दिन सन्ध्यामुपासिष्ये ॥

Mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā Śrī Parameśvara prītyartham | Mādhyandina sandhyāmupāsiṣye ||

I shall worship the midday Sandhya.

6 Arghya Pradanam (1×)

☀️ Face South (or East). Offer water once only, reciting the Gayatri Mantra.

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

Om Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ Tat Savitur Vareṇyam | Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Pracodayāt ||

10 Aditya Upasthana · ஆதித்ய உபஸ்தானம்

☀️ Face South. Recite the Aditya Upasthana mantras and prostrate.

आ कृष्णेन रजसा वर्तमानो निवेशयन्नमृतं मर्त्यं च ।
हिरण्ययेन सविता रथेन देवो याति भुवनानि पश्यन् ॥

तच्चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुच्चरत् ।
पश्येम शरदः शतं जीवेम शरदः शतम् ।
शृणुयाम शरदः शतम् प्रब्रवाम शरदः शतम् ।
अदीनाः स्याम शरदः शतम् भूयश्च शरदः शतात् ॥

Ā kṛṣṇena rajasā vartamāno niveśayann amṛtaṁ martyaṁ ca | Hiraṇyayena savitā rathena devo yāti bhuvanāni paśyan ||
Taccakṣurdevahitaṁ purastācchukramuccharat | Paśyema śaradaḥ śataṁ jīvema śaradaḥ śatam | Śṛṇuyāma śaradaḥ śatam prabruvāma śaradaḥ śatam | Adīnāḥ syāma śaradaḥ śatam bhūyaśca śaradaḥ śatāt ||

The Sun (Savita) traverses through the dark regions, placing the immortal gods and mortal beings in their proper stations, riding his golden chariot, beholding all worlds. May we see, live, hear and speak for a hundred years — healthy and happy beyond a hundred autumns.

🌆 The evening Sandhya has no Arghya. The sequence is: Achamanam → Pranayama → Sankalpam → Marjanam → Punar Marjanam → Japa Sankalpam → Gayatri Japa → Varuna Upasthana → Digdevata Vandana → Abhivadana.

3 Sankalpam (Sayam)

ममोपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयद्वारा श्री परमेश्वर प्रीत्यर्थम् ।
सायंसन्ध्यामुपासिष्ये ॥

Mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā Śrī Parameśvara prītyartham | Sāyaṁsandhyāmupāsiṣye ||

I shall worship the evening Sandhya.

7 Varuna Upasthana · வருண உபஸ்தானம்

🌆 Face West. Recite the Varuna Upasthana and prostrate.

इमं मे वरुण श्रुधी हवमद्या च मृडय ।
त्वामवस्युरा चके ॥

तत्त्वा यामि ब्रह्मणा वन्दमानस्तदाशास्ते यजमानो हविर्भिः ।
अहेडमानो वरुणेह बोध्युरुशंस माऽन आयुः प्र मोषीः ॥

यच्चिद्धि ते विशो यथा प्र देव वरुण व्रतम् ।
मिनीमसि द्यवि-द्यवि ॥

यत्किञ्च इदं वरुण दैव्ये जने अभिद्रोहं मनुष्याश्चरामसि ।
अचित्ती यत्तव धर्मा युयोपिम मा नस्तस्माद्देनसो देव रीरिषः ॥

किताव इव दयुनं देव वरुण तद् द्यावापृथिव्यौ ।
यद् वयं देव वरुण व्रत तव क्षेम इव मनुष्याः ॥

Imaṁ me varuṇa śrudhī havamadhyā ca mṛḍaya | Tvāmavasyurā cake ||
Tattva yāmi brahmaṇā vandamānastadāśāste yajamāno havirbhiḥ | Aheḍamāno varuṇeha bodhyuruśaṁsa mā na āyuḥ pra moṣīḥ ||

இமம் மே வருண ஶ்ருதீ ஹவமத்யா ச ம்ருடய | த்வாமவஸ்யுரா சகே ||

O Varuna, hear my call today and be gracious. I approach you seeking refuge. The worshipper approaches you with hymns and oblations, not angering you, O Varuna. Please be aware and do not take away our lifespan.

✦ Abhivadana · அபிவாதனம்

🙏 Recite at the end of all three Sandhyas. Substitute your own Pravara Rishi names, Gotra, Sutra and Veda Shakha. The example below is for Bharadwaja gotra, Apastamba sutra.

अभिवादये भारद्वाजत्र्यार्षेयप्रवरान्वित
भारद्वाज–आङ्गिरस–बृहस्पत्य गोत्रः
आपस्तम्बसूत्रः
कृष्णयजुःशाखाध्यायी
[नाम] शर्मा अहं भोः अभिवादये ॥

Abhivādaye Bhāradvāja-tryārṣeyapravarānvita
Bhāradvāja–Āṅgirasa–Bṛhaspati Gotraḥ
Āpastamba-sūtraḥ
Kṛṣṇayajuḥśākhādhyāyī
[Name] śarmā ahaṁ bhoḥ abhivādaye ||

அபிவாதயே பாரத்வாஜ த்ர்யார்ஷேய ப்ரவரான்வித
பாரத்வாஜ–ஆங்கிரஸ–ப்ருஹஸ்பத்ய கோத்ரஃ
ஆபஸ்தம்ப ஸூத்ரஃ
க்ருஷ்ண யஜுஃ ஶாகாத்யாயீ
[பெயர்] ஶர்மா அஹம் போஃ அபிவாதயே

I salute — belonging to the three-rishi pravara of Bharadwaja, of Bharadwaja-Angirasa-Brihaspati gotra, follower of Apastamba sutra, student of Krishna Yajur Veda, I [Name] pay obeisance.

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा
बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतिस्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै
नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ॥

Kāyena vācā manasendryairvā | Buddhyātmanā vā prakṛtisvabhāvāt | Karomi yadyat sakalaṁ parasmai | Nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ||

காயேன வாசா மனஸேந்த்ரியைர்வா | புத்த்யாத்மனா வா ப்ரக்ருதிஸ்வபாவாத் | கரோமி யத்யத்ஸகலம் பரஸ்மை | நாராயணாயேதி ஸமர்பயாமி

Whatever I do with body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, soul, or by the natural impulses of my being — I offer it all to the supreme Lord Narayana.