Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

SANKALPA A PROPOSAL IN A VEDIC WAY

Traditionally in Hindu religion before performing any work we undertake sankalpa
which is a kind of declaration to ourselves and to the God within us. The Vedas says
that the whole Universe is evolved through a Sankalpa of Lord SriManNarayana.
Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning a resolution, free will or determination. The
word sankalpa itself means good intention, an oath or a resolution to do something, a
solemn pledge to do something good. In Sanskrit San means good and Kalpa means
a Shastra, or a Veda. Sankalpa means proposing to do something good in a Vedic or a
Shastric way. In any religious ceremony/ritual generally we observe a person takes a
sankalpa (a firm resolve) to achieve the purpose of the ceremony. Sankalpa literally
means taking a firm decision to accomplish one particular thing in spite of facing
troubles in its achievement.
Sankalpa cannot come all of a sudden. It is conception of a deep routed strong desire
formed in the inner heart of hearts that gets manifested. All Yagnas and worships are
accomplished after taking a vow for its performance. Sankalpa is nothing but the
expression of the feeling which the Saadhaka (doer) has for the accomplishment of a
Saadhana (task). By making a pledge a person becomes committed towards the
accomplishment of his goal. Taking an oath means becoming committed to something.
We would have observed all political leaders, Government officers all over the world
taking a pledge or oath of secrecy, in the name of God before taking charge of their
offices. Before elections political parties release their manifesto (sankalpa). In the
courts before commencement of trial the witnesses are asked to a take pledge in the
name of God. In Hindu culture it is believed that when a person speaks something
after taking an oath it becomes true. At the time of induction an employee is asked to
sign an oath of secrecy. In a Corporate world it is the sankalpa of the promoter that
gets manifested and results into a Company. All these are nothing but sankalpa in
different forms and for different causes.
Mere sankalpa alone is not sufficient to accomplish the deeds. Besides sankalpa one
should have strong dedication, determination (will power), discipline, accompanied
by sincere hard work and persuasion. Sankalpa acts as a foundation in accomplishing
the task or reaching the goal. When Divinity is added to the sankalpa it gains strength
and gets proper direction. We have many mythological and historical examples of the
power of sankalpa. Achievement of Lord Hanuman is the best example. Other
examples are that of Bhakta Prahlada, Bhakta Dhruva, Bhakta Markandeya,
Bhageeratha, Sathi Savithri etc. Nearest historical example is that of Mahatma Gandhi
who could achieve freedom for India with his strong sankalpa.

Sankalpa sloka and its Significance

Sankalpa is usually done by taking some flowers and rice in the right hand and
dropping it using water. A Vedic Sankalpa consists of the elements of time, location,
almanac, lineage, purpose, (wish/desire), target (Deity), and nature/mode of karma.
It starts with,
Sri Govinda Govinda! shubhe shobana muhurthe, Sri MahaVishnor Aagnaaya,
Pravarthamanasya

Time Element: (Reckoning of time with reference to Lord Brahma)

Aadya Bramhane Dwiteeya Parardhe:
That means first half of the life time of Lord Brahma is over and we are in the 2nd
half called Dwiteeya Parardhe in the 51st year of Lord Brahma (50 years of Lord
Brahma is equal to 155.52 trillions human years)
Sri Swetha Varaaha Kalpe
That means we are in the first day (only day) called Swetha Varaha Kalpa in the 51st
year of Lord Brahma the day on which Lord Sri ManNarayana took the form of Swetha
Varaha (White Boar)
Vaivaswatha Manvanthare
In Swetha Varaha Kalpa (first day of Lord Brahma) after passing through 6
Manvantharas out of 14 we are currently in the 7th Manvanthara called Vaivaswatha
Manvanthara.
Astavinshatitame (28) Kaliyuge Kali Prathama Charane
In the current Manvanthara (Vaivasvatha) we have passed through 27 Maha Yugas out
of 71 and we are currently in the 28th Maha Yuga. In this 28th Maha Yuga after passing
through Krita, Thretha and Dwapara Yugas we are currently in the Kaliyuga in its first
quarter after passing through 5110 years
Bauddhavathare: In the time when Lord SriManNarayana has taken birth as Buddha
Salivahana Sakhe Further reckoning down based on the concept of Sakha, after
passing through the Yudhistira and Vikrama Sakhas we are currently in the Salivahana
Sakha1931 years since its beginning in 78 AD.

Geographical-Element
Jambudweepe: Out of the seven Dweepas in this Universe we are in the
Jambudweepa (island) on the Earth (Bhumandala) surrounded by the Sea (Lavana
Samudra)
Meror Dakshina bhage (parsve) - To the south of mountain called Meru Parvatha
which is in the centre of Jambu Dweepa.

Bhaaratavarshe: There are nine Varshas in this Universe out of which we are in the
Bhaarathavarsha which is in the southern region of Meru Parvatha.
Bharathakhande: In the land ruled by King Bharatha Asethu Himachala Paryantham
(the present India).
Godavari Dakshina theere: To the south of river Godavari (Depending on the location
this may change)
Mama Swagruhe (own house) or Sobhana Gruhe (staying in rented house) - This may
change depending on the place where one is performing the karma.
Devata Sannidhau: In the presence of God dwelling in my house. Depending on the
place where one is performing the karma this may differ.

Current Day Element (Description of the day)

Asmin Vartamanena: At the present time
Vyavahaarike Chaandramanena: As per the present calendar that is in vogue.
Samvastare: There are sixty years as per the Lunar Calendar which gets repeated
cyclically starting from Prabhava and ending with Akshaya.
Aayane: The year is divided into two based on the transit of Sun into Makara raasi
called Uttarayana and Karkataka raasi called Dakshinayana.
Ruthau: The year is divided into six seasons starting from Vasantha followed by
Greeshma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemantha, and Sisira
Maase: Each season/ruthau comprises of two months which are named after the star
falling on the full Moon day of the month as per Lunar Calendar starting from Chaitra
and ending with Phalguna. As per solar calendar it is referred as per the transit of Sun
into each Zodiac Raasi starting from Mesha (Aries) and ending with Meena (Pisces)
Pakshe: Each month (Masa) is again divided into two fortnights based on the Moons
position (waxing Moon /waning Moon) called as Sukla Paksha (starting from Prathama
to Pournima) and Krishna/Bahula Paksha (starting from Prathama to Amavasya)
Thithau: Each paksha comprises of 15 thithis out of which 14 thithis gets repeated in
both the pakshas and the 15th one will be either Pournima or Amavasya.
Vaasare: There are seven days in a week starting from Sunday which gets repeated
cyclically.
Nakshatre: There are twenty seven (27) stars in the almanac which are placed in 12

raasis of the zodiac. These stars cyclically get repeated starting from Aswini and
ending with Revathi.
Yoge: There are 27 yogas in the almanac starting from Vishkumbha and ending with
Vaidruthi. These yogas also get repeated cyclically.
Karane: There are eleven (11) Karanas out of which seven gets repeated and four
occurs on specific days of Sukla Prathama, (Kimsthugna), Bahula Chaturdasi (Sakuni),
and Amavasya (Chatushpath, Nagava)
In practice the names of Yoga and Karana are not spelled out. Instead it is just
mentioned as Subha Yoge, Subha Karane. On some occasion it is mentioned as Vishnu
Yoge and Vishnu Karane
evam guna visheshana vishitayaam Subha thitau
Element of Lineage (Gothra): Description of the Rishi lineage in which one is born
which is generally known from forefathers. Here ones Gothra pravara to be spelled
out.
Namadheyasya: the name by which you are called (xyz)
Purpose Element: Purpose may differ according to the desire/need/cause. It could
be for ones self materialistic benefits or for family reasons or for self Gyana Bhakti
Vairaagya prapthyartham or for performing sacred rites or for the sake of society,
How you are performing: Self or with the help of a learned Purohit. If it is self
Bhagavat preranaya prapta vidya anusaarena yatha shakthi, if it is through a Purohit,
AacharyaMukhena,
Reference to the specific Deity: Addressing whom (Deity) the specific ritual is being
performed.
Reference to the name, nature and mode of ritual (Karma): The ritual could be
Nitya
or
Naimittika
Karma
or
any
specific
ritual/pooja/vratha/
Homa/Remedy/Seva/Pitru Karya/Dana etc.
Thus a Vedic sankalpa has so much of meaning and significance behind its words.
During sankalpa we meditate on the Supreme form that has come into existence
trillions of years ago. No work can be successfully accomplished without dedication.
For successful completion of any aaradhana Divine blessings is a must which can be
obtained with sincere devotion and complete surrender.
Without sankalpa no objective can be accomplished. No remedies pooja or karma
yields results without sankalpa. One must always start a work with a proper sankalpa
with a proper understanding of its meaning and significance. The idea behind praying

for the sankalpa is to eradicate the feeling of doership or ahankara. Therefore before
making a sankalpa one should always bear it mind that the sankalpa will not result
into harming anyones feelings or intentionally done to hurt anybody.
As said earlier sankalpa is a deep routed desire that gets registered with the soul. If
the sankalpa cannot be completed in one life time the desire will not get vanished
after the death. The desire will remain as a poorva janma vaasana (samskara) that
gets manifested at some point of time in future births. The soul takes many births to
accomplish the unfinished task and it continues to take births till it finally gets
detached from the desire.
The sankalpa that is being uttered by every one in Hindu religion has percolated down
from ancestors and taught by forefathers in every family since time immemorial. It is
the specialty of Aryan culture that a tradition started by our ancestors thousands of
years ago is still alive. The greatest significance of the ritual Sankalpa lies in its effort
to preserve the Aryan tradition.

An example of a typical Sankalpa: (with reference to the current day)

Sri Govinda Govinda! shubhe shobana muhurthe, Sri MahaVishnor Aagnaaya,
Pravarthamanasya, Aadya Bramhane, Dwiteeya Parardhe, Sri Swetha Varaaha Kalpe,
Vaivaswatha Manvanthare, Kaliyuge, Kali Prathama Charane, Bauddhavathare,
Salivaahanasakhe, Jambudweepe, Meror Dakshina bhage, Bhaaratavarshe, Bharatha
Khande, Godavari Dakshina theere, Sobhana Gruhe, Devata Sannidhau, Asmin
Varthamane, Vyavahaarike, Chaandramanena, Sri Virodhi Nama Sanvastare,
Uttarayane, Greeshma Ruthau, Jyesta Maase, Sukla Pakshe, Panchami Thithau,
Bruhaspathi Vaasare, Pushyami Nakshatre, Dhruva Yoge, Baalava Karane, evam guna
visheshana visistayaam, subha thithau, Srimaan Aatreya Archananasa Syavaasya
Pravaranvita, Aatreya Gothrothpanna, Bhargavasarma Namadheyasya, Mama Gyana
Bhakthi Vairaagya prapthyartham, Sri Bharathee Ramana Mukhya Praananthargatha Sri
Lakshmi Narayana Preethyartham, Bhagavat preranaya prapta Vidya anusaarena Yatha
Shakthi, Sri Lakshmi Narayanasya Dhyanaavaahanadi shodasa upachaara poojam
karishye!
! Bharathee Ramana Mukhya Praanantargatha Sri Lakshmi Narayana
priyathaam preetho varado bhavathu!!

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma