Sandhyavandana Procedure from Garuda Purana

Garuḍa Purāṇa

Chapter 36 – Description of the method of Sandhya (Sandhyavandana procedure)

Lord Shri Hari said:

O Rudra! I will now enunciate upon the method of Sandhyā. Do listen. After doing the 3 prāṇāyāma, Sandhyā-snāna* should be done. With Pranava – Om and the Vyāhṛti – Bhur Bhuva Svah and the Gayatri mantra (tat savitur vareṇyaṁ…pracodayāt) – this mantra has to be said once each during inhalation of breath, retention and exhalation – this constitutes one pranayama. Whatver doshas done by mind, speech and body are destroyed by prāṇāyāma. Hence the sādhaka should always be diligent in doing the prāṇāyāma. (1-3)

In the evening, with “agniśca…” (agniśca māmanyuśca manyupatayaśca…juhomi svāhā), and in the morning with “sūryāśca…” and in the afternoon with “āpaḥ punantu…” mantras one should sip the water (one should take some water in one’s palm, chant the mantra and then sip the abhimantrit water) and then do ācamana. (4)

Thereafter with “āpohiṣṭā…” etc – three mantras one should sprinkle water on oneself with a kuśa. At that time adding “oṁ” and saying the mantra sprinkle water step by step at the doorway. (5)

Thus – doing 3 times (for each of 3 sandhyās), each of the following – prāṇāyāma (shloka 1-3), ācamana (shloka 4), āpomārjana (shloka 5) i.e. 3+3+3 = 9 – this 9 kāryas or actions destroys the 9 types of doshas, which are as follows:

1. Those arising by Rajas, Tamas gunas and by Moha or delusion. This adds to 3.

2. Those done in 3 states i.e jāgrat - waking state, svapna - dream state and in suṣupti - deep sleep

3. Those done by speech, mind and body. This adds to 3.

Thus the 9 types of pāpa or sins are destroyed. (6)

Rajas	Jāgrat	Speech
Tamas	Svapna	Mind
Moha	Suṣupti	Body

Comments:

*Sandhya-snāna: This refers to mārjana procedure – āpohiṣṭa etc mantras given below, where one sprinkles water upon oneself while doing the mantra. Prāṇāyāma has to be done after taking bath in the morning and in forenoon, evening – one should at least wash one’s hands, feet, face etc before doing mantras.

All the mantras would be given in a standard book on Sandhyavandana. Proper pronunciation with intonation as per vedic svaras should be learnt under a qualified Vedic panḍita.

Brackets at end of para give the shloka number from the text.