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This document discusses why Sandhyavandan, a daily Hindu prayer ritual, is an important holistic meditation practice. It begins by noting that standard explanations for why it should be performed are not always convincing to younger generations. It then explores correlating Sandhyavandan with medical science by examining how its components like mantra meditation, pranayama, and focusing on deities can positively impact brain activity, hormones, and mental well-being. The document emphasizes that Sandhyavandan, when properly practiced with understanding of its meaning and benefits, can result in deeper meditation compared to other techniques.
This document discusses why Sandhyavandan, a daily Hindu prayer ritual, is an important holistic meditation practice. It begins by noting that standard explanations for why it should be performed are not always convincing to younger generations. It then explores correlating Sandhyavandan with medical science by examining how its components like mantra meditation, pranayama, and focusing on deities can positively impact brain activity, hormones, and mental well-being. The document emphasizes that Sandhyavandan, when properly practiced with understanding of its meaning and benefits, can result in deeper meditation compared to other techniques.
This document discusses why Sandhyavandan, a daily Hindu prayer ritual, is an important holistic meditation practice. It begins by noting that standard explanations for why it should be performed are not always convincing to younger generations. It then explores correlating Sandhyavandan with medical science by examining how its components like mantra meditation, pranayama, and focusing on deities can positively impact brain activity, hormones, and mental well-being. The document emphasizes that Sandhyavandan, when properly practiced with understanding of its meaning and benefits, can result in deeper meditation compared to other techniques.
Dedicated to Sri Sudheendra Teertha Swamiji Ceaselessly propounded Sandhyavandan anushtanana Clarification Sandhyavandan not just for men Even women No Veda mantra No Gayatri Can do Dhayana and Japa procedure for Krishna shadakshara Goal of this session Everybody tells to do Sandhyavandan No answers are convincing to younger generation In this Session, we will Bust some pseudo science cited as reasons for Sandhyavandan Provide some hypothesis based on correlation with Medical science Cite short term benefits Explore Dhyana, Japa, Gayatri, Pranayama Compare with other meditation techniques Show that Sandhyavandan is the most holistic approach Why Sandhyavandan Standard Responses
.. Etc.. Etc.. Citing Smruti after Smruti Wrong Approach !!! Doesnt Work Problems with the approach Barking up the wrong tree You are citing pramana to a person that Isnt inherently convinced about the authenticity of Pramana Believes Rituals are meaningless or made for dim intellects Believes in treading his/her own path Believes or has experienced the efficacy of other meditational techniques Listener may nod and keep quiet Silenced but not convinced d Title Bigger problems Sandhyavandan taught today is superficial Age factor exists But still mechanically taught Sandhyavandan done by majority adults is Superficial Or Incorrect No stress on quality of Gayatri meditation Mind fully into the count Biggest Bummer : No idea who Gayatri is Reasons for knowing WHY Saying Mantra without knowing what and why Yields no results or close to no results Is as meaningless as toads croaking in monsoon Says Veda Knowing and doing helps to get maximum results
Says Upanishad (Funny) reasons for doing Sandhyavandan Ayurveda tells to drink little water each time. So we do Achamana Great. But drinking 2 liter water daily @ 2ml per consumption? Good luck with that Pranayama is good for health How many pranayam in Sandhyavandan? We give arghya by standing up. Morning sun rays good for health Wrong for 2 reasons Morning arghya should happen even before sun rise Person walking dog can catch more sun rays than giving arghya Walking dog is better than giving arghya? More (funny) reasons Applying Sri Mudra is Accupressure Do we hit ourselves with mudra and put pressure ? Applying naama keeps chakra cool and triggers Kundalini Great. So why not apply naama generously? Thick paste? Whole body Mud pack to keep Cool Cool Cool Problems with the funny reasons No scientific or scriptural backing Said by people having No idea of pramana AND Zero understanding of science Spread through social networks Backfires when educated and intelligent GSB listens Please STOP No need to fit EVERY ritual in scientific framework at any cost Impact of Meditation Increases Grey matter in brain Cortical thickness in areas related to concentration and attention Improves Memory Ability to multitask Ability to introspect Relieves Depression Decreases Stress and Anxiety Main constituents of Sandhyavandan In decreasing order of priority 1. Gayatri mantra - Dhyana and Japa 2. Any other mantra - Dhyana and Japa (Narayana Astaxara, Krishna Shadaxara etc.) 3. Arghya 4. Upasthaana All other earlier steps for cleansing Minor surgery requires local cleansing Bypass surgery requires whole body sterilization We need to revisit how much time we spend on all ? Some scriptural rules around anustana Upanayana done at Garbhastama (Around 7.5 yrs of age) Getting up a Brahmi Muhurta (Roughly 3:30 -4:15) Early morning Adhyayana, Anustaana Avoiding certain foods Why? A hypothesis in addition to the and clauses Disclaimer (for next 5 slides) Individual observations are backed by clinical studies Correlation is pure inference. Not pramana Still correlation between two is unlikely accidental Meditation and scriptural injunctions correlate well to Memory, Critical analysis Neurotransmission, Brain activity Other goodies Matches the daily cycle, lifecycle and impact of Serotonin and Melatonin Endocrine sy Serotonin, Melatonin Two more hormones from brain Serotonin 90% in gastro-intestinal tract Brain produces and consumes only local Production induced by light Improves neurotransmission and hence brain activity Increases concentration Prevents Depression Possible Role in preventing Alzheimers Indicators exist it influences other endocrine glands Converted to melatonin in Pineal gland Affected by Food and exercise Induced by light. But a worker in sun is not the most brainy. Why? Melatonin Brain serotonin converted to Melatonin Increases memory and Critical thinking Influences other hormones e.g. corticotropin Popular as sleep inducer Circadian rhythm controller Body clock regulator Melatonin Inhibits Gonadotropin i.e. sex hormones Regular Pineal calcification starts at age 8 Coincides with decrease in production of Melatonin Starts progress towards sexual maturity Coincides with upanayana at garbhastama Adhyayana & Meditation keeps desires at bay by slowing Pineal decalcification?? And thus sustaining melatonin production Calcification is irreversible process. Hence advised to start anustana early in life This is apart from other factors for starting early Melatonin Melatonin variation in Circadian rhythm Max melatonin in daily cycle at 3:30 am Coincides with Brahmi muhurta Also coincides with sweet sleep Utilize the melatonin for getting maximum concentration Studies and Meditation Meditation perhaps causes positive feedback (??) Meditation and Brain waves Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta waves Electrical activity Beta waves predominantly emitted in wakeful state Alpha waves emitted in milder meditation state i.e. wakeful rest Delta waves This state has greatest receptivity to learning Also in deep dreamless sleep Theta waves Deep relaxation in highly experienced meditation practitioners Meditation Techniques Controlling Chittavrutti or Emptying mind ?? Focusing on slowed rhythmic breath Focusing on internal chakra and naadi Kundalini Practice focus by Hatayoga Trataka Focusing on any symbol Symbols doesnt matter. God is a symbol So say modern meditative techniques propagators Then what?? Sandhyavandan The NEXT step Short term benefits (Secondary) Mental peace Increased brain activity Longevity (Manu smruti) Healthy Life Secondary benefits always there Cow giving milk is main benefit. Cowdung is secondary benefit. Growing paddy gives rice. Paddy grass is secondary benefit Aim for the main benefits. Rest follows BUT People not doing Sandhyavandan also are intelligent Sandhyavandan improves whatever we are Shruti Smruti compliant Dhyana God Centric God is not symbol God is not insentient ANY object Harder to do than other meditation mechanism Needs more patience and practice Takes beyond mental peace Guna anusandhana Example with Gayatri comes in a few slides How to do The form Vishnu from toe to head Doing dharana as ramp up Bhagavata Kapila Gita example Attributes Pick an attribute (or related attributes) from Veda/ Upanishat/ Purana/ Vishnu Sahasra Nama etc. Go deep Silently recollect Itihasa Purana incidents reflecting the attribute Hybrid way of attribute recollection Associate Vishnus body parts to attibutes using abundant incidents of Purana Go from toe to top Watch every part intensely Recollect attributes. The focus should get so intense that one should be oblivious even if one stands near and shouts Possible in bursts This meditation needs backing of shastra adhyayana More on Guna anusandhana Chaturguna Upasana Sat Chit Ananda Atma Guna Upasamhara Converging any attributes into one of the 4 Do we do Meditation in Sandhyavandan We throw around a whole lot of water We chant mantra repetitvely and call it Japa Japa is not meditation !!! I find more peace in XYZ meditation technique What is Japa Is not express mechanical chanting Japa is Mantra artha chintana
As we go through each word of the Mantra, think of its meaning Meaning is attribute of God itself was not said without any reason by Krishna Illustration with Gayatri follows Difference between Dhyana and Japa Dhyana is free flow of thoughts towards one entity i.e. mantra devata Mentally browsing form and attributes Together if possible Form is generally specified in dhyana shloka Generally superimposed on regular Form Japa stresses less on Form and concentrates more on the meaning of mantra exposing the attributes of the Lord Japa is like train on tracks. Dhyana is all terrain vehicle Dhyana can have Guna Upasamhara Japa can be more anupasamhara Constituents of Japa Viniyoga Pranayama Nyasa Dhyana Shloka & Dhyana Sankalpa Japa Dhyana Shloka & Dhyana Nyasa Pranayama Krishnarpana Things to note Japa is 10-12 steps unit It is not just Gayatari Japa It is Gayatri Dhyana AND Japa
(Agni Purana) Why Viniyoga Usage os a single mantra for many purpose Specifying which purpose Rishi Devata Chandas In the context of Gayatri Vishwamitra Rishi Gayatri Chandas Not a random multi headed Goddess Devasya Not stree linga Narasimha Purana Dhyana Shloka Shloka cited by Shakta and others not from any accepted agama Why Pranayama (1) Not a breathing exercise Not for health 3-4 pranayama in entire sandhyavandan not going to do health miracle Should be manasa Current way of doing pranayama is wrong No need for counting with fingers Totally against TantrasaraSangraha and as said elsewhere Also needs Moola and Jalandara Bandha 32:64:16 Puraka:Kumbhaka:Rechaka Why Pranayama (2) Ayama is controlling Cant control Vayu or Vishnu named Prana Winning them over with devotion And getting Jeevatma into Sushumna with their help Sandhyavandana Pranayam for controlling mind Body is Chariot. Sense Organs are horses Mind is charioteer. Pranayama is the whip
Nyasa Body is residence of evil also We need to place forms of God Sannidhana helps control Wandering mind Inflow of thoughts Unrelated desires Kaliyuga technically started when Duryodhana died Didnt kick in until Krishna left the worldly abode Desires and thoughts will stay at bay with God placed through nyasa Gayatri Dhyana and Japa Mantra artha from RgBhashya Dhyana form explanation Techniques to synch Gayatri dhyana shloka body parts with attributes Gayatri Mantra is 5 stop train. Not Rajdhani Express Single meaning throughout or many meanings Choice is yours Gayatri Mantra Meaning (for Japa)
- Correlating form and attributes in Gayatri Dhyana Krishnarpana Ending each Japa package of 10-12 steps To program the mind about ..... Difference in Gayatri and other Mantra Japa Gayatri form always envisioned in the surya pratima For all others Form is envisioned in the heart Form seen by mind in front as usual But awareness maintained in the heart As that is the emanation point for that and any other mantra devata Narayana Astaxara Thrice of Gayatri Krishna Shadaxara When does real dhyana happen? Real Dhyana Real Dhyana happens after Getting Antahakarana Shuddhi Understanding and internalizing very many tattva Good understanding of God Then gets a Niyata Guru Tattva Nischaya Dhyana along with Japa stressed for us common people Difference between Dhyana and Hari Smarana Hari Smarana in Kaliyuga Popular Statement Hari smarana is mantrartha chintana Can do anywhere Prasthaane pravaase vaa Cant remember the shloka Is not blind emotion Comes from shastra adhyayana Not an escape parachute to skip shaastra adhyayana Importance of Arghya Arghya to Narayana inside Surya Token of Respect Giving of Arghya to guest (God) in Devapuja Thanks giving
Offering of our karmas Importance of Upasthaana Upasthaana means Dhyana Relates well to Uddhava Gita on Vishnu prateeka Gayatri uses Sun as the medium Other mantra uses the bimba in heart as the medium Upastaana is praying Vishnu using Devatas of directions as medium Upastaana is the God present everywhere as the medium Namostvanantaaya sahasranaamne purushaya .. 3 Purushas Also praying to Vishnu with Brahmana as medium Wishing Good for all Conclusion Do Sandhyavandan the right way Not as a daily rigmarole Do Dhyana and Japa Get all the short and long term benefits Excel in whatever we do Experience the positive change in life
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