Brahmanas and other traivarnika males who have undergone upanayana and wearing
yagnyopaveeta are expected to do three times sandhyavandana, everyday and also
perform other prescribed religious / spiritual activities like vaishwadeva,
and pancha maha yagnya which are considered as nitya karma or daily activities.
Sandhyavandana as a Nitya karma is a duty that they are supposed to do for the good
of the world. There is no personal or individual benefit arising from this activity. Or it
can be said that the individual good is included in the universal good that results from
these activities. So they don't get any puNya or merit for doing this. But they accumulate
pratyavAya papa or (sin for non-performance) when they do not perform these nitya
karma. This is similar to the traffic rules. There is no tangible reward for following
the traffic rules. But there is punishment for not following it.
Every Veda mantra has a Rishi (Seer), Chandas (metre) and Devata (deity).
By the proper performance of Sandhyavandana and other Nitya karmas all the Rishis,
Chandas and Devatas who are the spirit souls behind every entity in nature are worshiped
and humble offering of holy water is made to all devatas and the supreme Brahman
residing in the Sun. This is followed by japa or mental repetition of Gayatri mantra, which
is a plural mantra that brings good to the person meditating as well as all those associated
with him. Finally it is concluded with the chanting of mantras for the good of all. All these
chanting, offerings and meditations are actually made on behalf of all humans and in return
devatas bless humans with proper and timely rains, harvest and material sumptuousness
which benefits the entire society. This is called dharma chakra or the wheel of dharma which
should be kept in motion through performance of prescribed duties and Nitya karma.
This is explicitly taught in the Bhagavad Gita, which involves mutual recognition, respect
and service based on pure love that obtains between devatas and humans. The importance
and respect for Brahmanas in the society is solely because of this and nothing else. The effect
or results of the nitya karma performed by brAhmanNAs is reaped by all, in the form of
proper rains and harvest and all the sumptuousness in nature. The rest of the society is
therefore expected to take care of Brahmanas and provide for their needs thereby indirectly
participating in their nityakarma.
Dharma or religion which is a journey towards spiritual perfection is always two fold.
The first one is to serve the world according to one's capacity which goes by the name
of Pravrutti and the second is to withdraw oneself and meditate or worship the indwelling
God/Brahman through pure Bhakti, which goes by the name of Nivrutti. Both Pravrutti
and Nivrutti form one holistic path of Dharma for all humans. While Nivrutti is common
for all, Pravrutti is different according one's nature and capability.
Q: What is the reason for restricting women and sudras from doing sandhyavandana?
A: As already explained in the Vedic Hindu view pravrutti dharma varies according to one's
varna and gender but Nivrutti dharma is the same for all. Performance of prescribed pravrutti
dharma gives the eligibility to engage in nivrutti dharma.
Sandhyavandana and Nitya karma is the pravrutti dharma prescribed for traivarnika males.
That alone gives them the eligibility to engage in the Nivrutti dharma or pure bhakti through
service to a realized Guru and the supreme God or Ishwara.
On the other hand, Women and Sudras are exempted from the performance of sandhyavandana
and niyta karmas and they are eligible to directly engage in Nivrutti or pure bhakti. Great
examples like Shabari, DharmavyAdha, Vidhura and so on can be given from scriptures like
Ramayana and Mahabharata.
There is philosophical reason also to support this difference in pravrutti darma. From the
Vishishtadvaitic point of view the Supreme God, nArAyaNa is the spirit Soul/Self who
pervades the entire universe of jiva (individual self) and jada (matter) and indwells in it,
just like every individual soul/self that pervades and indwells in the body. Every part of the
body is different and has its own duty or function. But the purpose of all is to serve the
indwelling being.
Similarly, as the entire society and the universe is the body of Narayana, every individual
who forms a part of the universal body of God has it's own duty according to its nature
and capability. Thus the duty of a Brahmana and others differs but ultimately they all
culminate in the service of Narayana.
So good natured or sattvic Women and Sudras in the world could be considered as realized
souls who are eligible to directly engage in Bhakti or loving service to Narayana. It is said
that pure jnana/bhakti/vairagya/love for Narayana arises only through sincere study of Vedas
under an able Acharya/teacher. Accordingly all pious Women and Sudras, in their previous
lives, would have born as traivarnika males and sincerely completed Vedic studies and
performed their prescribed duties or Nitya karma.
As already mentioned Traivarnika males do not get any individual merits or Punya for the
performance of Sandhyavandana. They only accrue sin if they do not do it. Women and
Sudras are totally unaffected by this. Also the benefits of Nitya karma is reaped by all as
already explained.
More details are available in in the blog: Women and Sudras.
So this is not a discrimination as many half baked pseudo scholars want us to believe.
Q: In countries other than India there are no Traivarinika males and so no Sandhyavandana
or Nitya karma happens there. But still they get rains and harvest. So how credible is this
belief? What is the guarantee that Devatas exist behind the workings of nature?
A: It can be said that performance of sandhyavandana by traivarnika males in India
is bringing proper rains and harvest in India and even outside as needed. Veda mantras
bring good for all the three worlds of - gods, humans and sub-human.
Hindu view of existence of devatas behind all entities in nature is based on the belief in
the Vedas. Why should one accept Vedas while there are so many other scriptures in the
world? This itself is a huge topic and is discussed in detail in the following blogs:
1. Authentic Scripture
2. Validity of Vedas
Also for those who want to think independently, here are some thoughts:
Every human experience involves the following three entities:
1) subject/seer/enjoyer/conscious self
2) object/seen/enjoyed/matter
3) The relationship or the third entity or devata that oversees and unites them.
Every perception or experience involves the coming together of the conscious self and matter.
The need for a devata or divinity as a third entity arises to explain the union of the conscious
self (purusha) and matter (prakriti) as they are two distinct and separate entities. This third entity
that unites all is recognized as God or the supreme Ishwara or Brahman who pervades and indwells
in the entire world of subject and object. As there are many entities in nature, that one all
pervading God is said to manifest as many devatas who are the controlling divinities operating
behind every particular sense organs and their corresponding sense objects in nature.
Thus every entity in nature stands for a particular god/devata and the universe as a whole is
the manifestation of that One supreme God or Brahman. These devatas also exist in all of us
as divinities who oversee and enable the functionalities of all the sense organs. As all kinds
of material sumptuousness is a blessing from these divinities, there is great a need for humans
to recognize and worship them as a gesture of thankfulness. Thus all Nitya karmas are essentially thanks giving acts for the favors received by the devatas.
Thus engaging in Nityakarma which is nothing but service to the universe according to one's
nature and capability culminates in the service of indwelling God. The benefit of this selfless
service is reaped by all.
Hope this provides some level of credibility to all pious Hindus who would like to engage in
their sva-dharma in the form of Sandhyavandana and other Nitya karma.
Namaste
Suresh
yagnyopaveeta are expected to do three times sandhyavandana, everyday and also
perform other prescribed religious / spiritual activities like vaishwadeva,
and pancha maha yagnya which are considered as nitya karma or daily activities.
Sandhyavandana as a Nitya karma is a duty that they are supposed to do for the good
of the world. There is no personal or individual benefit arising from this activity. Or it
can be said that the individual good is included in the universal good that results from
these activities. So they don't get any puNya or merit for doing this. But they accumulate
pratyavAya papa or (sin for non-performance) when they do not perform these nitya
karma. This is similar to the traffic rules. There is no tangible reward for following
the traffic rules. But there is punishment for not following it.
Every Veda mantra has a Rishi (Seer), Chandas (metre) and Devata (deity).
By the proper performance of Sandhyavandana and other Nitya karmas all the Rishis,
Chandas and Devatas who are the spirit souls behind every entity in nature are worshiped
and humble offering of holy water is made to all devatas and the supreme Brahman
residing in the Sun. This is followed by japa or mental repetition of Gayatri mantra, which
is a plural mantra that brings good to the person meditating as well as all those associated
with him. Finally it is concluded with the chanting of mantras for the good of all. All these
chanting, offerings and meditations are actually made on behalf of all humans and in return
devatas bless humans with proper and timely rains, harvest and material sumptuousness
which benefits the entire society. This is called dharma chakra or the wheel of dharma which
should be kept in motion through performance of prescribed duties and Nitya karma.
This is explicitly taught in the Bhagavad Gita, which involves mutual recognition, respect
and service based on pure love that obtains between devatas and humans. The importance
and respect for Brahmanas in the society is solely because of this and nothing else. The effect
or results of the nitya karma performed by brAhmanNAs is reaped by all, in the form of
proper rains and harvest and all the sumptuousness in nature. The rest of the society is
therefore expected to take care of Brahmanas and provide for their needs thereby indirectly
participating in their nityakarma.
Dharma or religion which is a journey towards spiritual perfection is always two fold.
The first one is to serve the world according to one's capacity which goes by the name
of Pravrutti and the second is to withdraw oneself and meditate or worship the indwelling
God/Brahman through pure Bhakti, which goes by the name of Nivrutti. Both Pravrutti
and Nivrutti form one holistic path of Dharma for all humans. While Nivrutti is common
for all, Pravrutti is different according one's nature and capability.
Q: What is the reason for restricting women and sudras from doing sandhyavandana?
A: As already explained in the Vedic Hindu view pravrutti dharma varies according to one's
varna and gender but Nivrutti dharma is the same for all. Performance of prescribed pravrutti
dharma gives the eligibility to engage in nivrutti dharma.
Sandhyavandana and Nitya karma is the pravrutti dharma prescribed for traivarnika males.
That alone gives them the eligibility to engage in the Nivrutti dharma or pure bhakti through
service to a realized Guru and the supreme God or Ishwara.
On the other hand, Women and Sudras are exempted from the performance of sandhyavandana
and niyta karmas and they are eligible to directly engage in Nivrutti or pure bhakti. Great
examples like Shabari, DharmavyAdha, Vidhura and so on can be given from scriptures like
Ramayana and Mahabharata.
There is philosophical reason also to support this difference in pravrutti darma. From the
Vishishtadvaitic point of view the Supreme God, nArAyaNa is the spirit Soul/Self who
pervades the entire universe of jiva (individual self) and jada (matter) and indwells in it,
just like every individual soul/self that pervades and indwells in the body. Every part of the
body is different and has its own duty or function. But the purpose of all is to serve the
indwelling being.
Similarly, as the entire society and the universe is the body of Narayana, every individual
who forms a part of the universal body of God has it's own duty according to its nature
and capability. Thus the duty of a Brahmana and others differs but ultimately they all
culminate in the service of Narayana.
So good natured or sattvic Women and Sudras in the world could be considered as realized
souls who are eligible to directly engage in Bhakti or loving service to Narayana. It is said
that pure jnana/bhakti/vairagya/love for Narayana arises only through sincere study of Vedas
under an able Acharya/teacher. Accordingly all pious Women and Sudras, in their previous
lives, would have born as traivarnika males and sincerely completed Vedic studies and
performed their prescribed duties or Nitya karma.
As already mentioned Traivarnika males do not get any individual merits or Punya for the
performance of Sandhyavandana. They only accrue sin if they do not do it. Women and
Sudras are totally unaffected by this. Also the benefits of Nitya karma is reaped by all as
already explained.
More details are available in in the blog: Women and Sudras.
So this is not a discrimination as many half baked pseudo scholars want us to believe.
Q: In countries other than India there are no Traivarinika males and so no Sandhyavandana
or Nitya karma happens there. But still they get rains and harvest. So how credible is this
belief? What is the guarantee that Devatas exist behind the workings of nature?
A: It can be said that performance of sandhyavandana by traivarnika males in India
is bringing proper rains and harvest in India and even outside as needed. Veda mantras
bring good for all the three worlds of - gods, humans and sub-human.
Hindu view of existence of devatas behind all entities in nature is based on the belief in
the Vedas. Why should one accept Vedas while there are so many other scriptures in the
world? This itself is a huge topic and is discussed in detail in the following blogs:
1. Authentic Scripture
2. Validity of Vedas
Also for those who want to think independently, here are some thoughts:
Every human experience involves the following three entities:
1) subject/seer/enjoyer/conscious self
2) object/seen/enjoyed/matter
3) The relationship or the third entity or devata that oversees and unites them.
Every perception or experience involves the coming together of the conscious self and matter.
The need for a devata or divinity as a third entity arises to explain the union of the conscious
self (purusha) and matter (prakriti) as they are two distinct and separate entities. This third entity
that unites all is recognized as God or the supreme Ishwara or Brahman who pervades and indwells
in the entire world of subject and object. As there are many entities in nature, that one all
pervading God is said to manifest as many devatas who are the controlling divinities operating
behind every particular sense organs and their corresponding sense objects in nature.
Thus every entity in nature stands for a particular god/devata and the universe as a whole is
the manifestation of that One supreme God or Brahman. These devatas also exist in all of us
as divinities who oversee and enable the functionalities of all the sense organs. As all kinds
of material sumptuousness is a blessing from these divinities, there is great a need for humans
to recognize and worship them as a gesture of thankfulness. Thus all Nitya karmas are essentially thanks giving acts for the favors received by the devatas.
Thus engaging in Nityakarma which is nothing but service to the universe according to one's
nature and capability culminates in the service of indwelling God. The benefit of this selfless
service is reaped by all.
Hope this provides some level of credibility to all pious Hindus who would like to engage in
their sva-dharma in the form of Sandhyavandana and other Nitya karma.
Namaste
Suresh
