Noon · Around local solar noon
Rigveda Mādhyāhnika Sandhyāvandanam
Ṛgveda · Āśvalāyana sūtra · Smārta
Follow the English ritual instructions and recite the Sanskrit mantras in Roman transliteration.
This follows the selected family procedure on this site. Counts, posture, nyāsa and some readings vary: follow your guru’s instruction.
How to pronounce the Sanskrit
The mantra uses IAST, a precise Roman transliteration of Sanskrit. Read the marked letters as Sanskrit sounds. Recite the Sanskrit block.
- a / ā, i / ī, u / ū: short / long vowels. Hold ā, ī and ū about twice as long. Keep e and o pure and long; ai and au are diphthongs.
- ṛ: a syllabic r, not the English word “ree.” ṝ is its long counterpart. ḷ in the Rigvedic mṛḷaya is a retroflex lateral consonant.
- c: like ch in “church”; j: like j in “judge.” ś: a palatal sh; ṣ: sh with the tongue curled back; s: a dental s.
- ṭ, ṭh, ḍ, ḍh, ṇ: curl the tongue back. For t, th, d, dh and n, place it near the upper teeth.
- kh, gh, ch, jh, th, dh, ph, bh: one consonant released with a breath. Sanskrit th is not English “thin,” and ph is not f. Keep both sounds in clusters such as kṣ and jñ.
- ṅ: ng as in “sing”; ñ: a palatal nasal. ṃ: anusvāra, a nasal sound whose realization depends on the next sound and the recitation tradition. ḥ: visarga, a breath after a vowel; its linked pronunciation depends on what follows.
- ' marks an elided a, not a pause. Spaces help reading; do not insert a pause at every space. For example, bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ is linked as bhūr bhuvas suvaḥ. Double consonants are held longer. The bars | and || mark textual divisions.
Vedic svara: pitch accents and special Vedic nasal realizations are not encoded here. Use the oral recitation taught by your guru for pitch, breath, and connected chanting. IAST alone cannot supply those features.
1. Ācamana — sipping water
Sit facing east. Place a small quantity of clean water in the right palm and sip once for each of these three names.
Sanskrit · IAST
acyutāya namaḥ | anantāya namaḥ | govindāya namaḥ |
Wipe the lips and clean the hand as taught. Begin aṅgavandana by saying the first four names and touching the indicated places with the right hand.
| Name to recite | Finger | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Keśava | Thumb | Right cheek |
| Nārāyaṇa | Thumb | Left cheek |
| Mādhava | Ring finger | Right eye |
| Govinda | Ring finger | Left eye |
2. Aṅgavandana — touching the limbs
Continue with the remaining eight names, using the right hand.
| Name to recite | Finger | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Viṣṇu | Index finger | Right nostril |
| Madhusūdana | Index finger | Left nostril |
| Trivikrama | Little finger | Right ear |
| Vāmana | Little finger | Left ear |
| Śrīdhara | Middle finger | Right shoulder |
| Hṛṣīkeśa | Middle finger | Left shoulder |
| Padmanābha | Four fingers | Chest |
| Dāmodara | All five fingers | Head |
3. Gaṇapati meditation
Sanskrit · IAST
śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam |
prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ||
Gently tap both sides of the forehead five times with the hands, following the method taught.
A meditation verse used here for Gaṇapati.
4. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath
Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūḥ oṃ bhuvaḥ oṃ svaḥ oṃ mahaḥ oṃ janaḥ oṃ tapaḥ oṃ satyam |
oṃ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
oṃ āpo jyotī raso ’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om ||
Touch the right ear at the end.
5. Saṅkalpa — intention for this worship
Sit facing east. Rest the right hand over the left palm on the right thigh and state the intention.
Sanskrit · IAST
mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
mādhyāhnika sandhyām upāsiṣye |
Then touch water with the ring finger and place a water mark on the forehead while reciting:
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ śrī keśavāya namaḥ |
6. Mārjana — sprinkling water
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
āpohiṣṭheti tṛcasya sindhudvīpa ṛṣiḥ | gāyatrī chandaḥ | āpo devatā | apāṃ prokṣaṇe viniyogaḥ |
Āpo hi ṣṭhā: a prayer to the Waters, also found in Ṛgveda 10.9.1–3.
Sprinkle water on the head with the ring finger for the first seven phrases; at “yasya kṣayāya jinvatha” sprinkle the feet, and at “āpo janayathā ca naḥ” sprinkle the head again.
Sanskrit · IAST
āpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuvaḥ | tā na ūrje dadhātana | mahe raṇāya cakṣase ||
yo vaḥ śivatamo rasaḥ | tasya bhājayateha naḥ | uśatīr iva mātaraḥ ||
tasmā araṃ gamāma vaḥ | yasya kṣayāya jinvatha | āpo janayathā ca naḥ ||
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ |
Circle the head clockwise with water, as taught.
7. Mantra prāśana — purification by sipping
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
āpaḥ punantv ity anuvākasya viśvedevā ṛṣayaḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | āpo devatā | apāṃ prāśane viniyogaḥ |
Hold a little water in the right palm. Recite the entire mantra, then sip the water.
Sanskrit · IAST
āpaḥ punantu pṛthivīṃ pṛthivī pūtā punātu mām |
punantu brahmaṇaspatiḥ brahma pūtā punātu mām |
yad ucchiṣṭam abhojyaṃ yad vā duścaritaṃ mama |
sarvaṃ punantu mām āpo 'satāṃ ca pratigrahaṃ svāhā ||
The period-specific text is transmitted in the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka / Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad tradition.
Then repeat ācamana and aṅgavandana, from Acyuta through Dāmodara.
8. Punarmārjana — sprinkling again
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
dadhikrāvṇa ity asya mantrasya vāmadeva ṛṣiḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | dadhikrāvā devatā | apāṃ prokṣaṇe viniyogaḥ |
Sprinkle water on the head while reciting Dadhikrāvṇo.
Ṛgveda 4.39.6, addressed to Dadhikrāvan, the divine horse.
Sanskrit · IAST
dadhikrāvṇo akāriṣaṃ jiṣṇor aśvasya vājinaḥ |
surabhi no mukhā karat pra ṇa āyūṃṣi tāriṣat ||
Sanskrit · IAST
āpohiṣṭheti tṛcasya sindhudvīpa ṛṣiḥ | gāyatrī chandaḥ | āpo devatā | apāṃ prokṣaṇe viniyogaḥ |
Sprinkle water on the head with the ring finger for the first seven phrases; at “yasya kṣayāya jinvatha” sprinkle the feet, and at “āpo janayathā ca naḥ” sprinkle the head again.
Sanskrit · IAST
āpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuvaḥ | tā na ūrje dadhātana | mahe raṇāya cakṣase ||
yo vaḥ śivatamo rasaḥ | tasya bhājayateha naḥ | uśatīr iva mātaraḥ ||
tasmā araṃ gamāma vaḥ | yasya kṣayāya jinvatha | āpo janayathā ca naḥ ||
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ |
Circle the head clockwise with water, as taught.
9. Arghya — offering water
Stand facing east. Hold water in both cupped palms. Recite the complete mantra and offer the water 2 times, reciting once for each offering. Release the water into a clean place or the receiving vessel.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ |
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
The Sāvitrī verse addresses Savitṛ, the divine impeller; Ṛgveda 3.62.10. The offering count follows this guide’s selected practice.
10. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath
Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūḥ oṃ bhuvaḥ oṃ svaḥ oṃ mahaḥ oṃ janaḥ oṃ tapaḥ oṃ satyam |
oṃ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
oṃ āpo jyotī raso ’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om ||
Touch the right ear at the end.
11. Late-time expiation — only if the proper time has passed
If the proper Sandhyā time has passed, state this intention after prāṇāyāma. Otherwise continue to the next step.
Sanskrit · IAST
mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
mādhyāhnika sandhyā kālātīta prāyaścittārtham arghyapradānaṃ kariṣye |
Selected late-arghya verse: Ṛgveda 8.93.1.
Sanskrit · IAST
ud ghed abhi śrutāmaghaṃ vṛṣabhaṃ naryāpasam |
astāram eṣi sūrya ||
Stand facing east and offer water one additional time with this mantra.
12. Ātma-pradakṣiṇa — turning clockwise
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ |
With a little water in the hand, recite and turn clockwise around yourself once, releasing the water as taught.
13. Ātmānusandhāna — contemplation of the Self
Sit facing east. Contemplate the sun as brahman and yourself as brahman.
Sanskrit · IAST
asāv ādityo brahma brahmaivāham asmi |
Then repeat ācamana and aṅgavandana, from Acyuta through Dāmodara.
14. Navagraha and Keśavādi tarpaṇa
Sit facing east. For each “tarpayāmi,” release water through the fingertips into the receiving vessel.
Sanskrit · IAST
ādityaṃ tarpayāmi |
somaṃ tarpayāmi |
aṅgārakaṃ tarpayāmi |
budhaṃ tarpayāmi |
bṛhaspatiṃ tarpayāmi |
śukraṃ tarpayāmi |
śanaiścaraṃ tarpayāmi |
rāhuṃ tarpayāmi |
ketuṃ tarpayāmi |
keśavaṃ tarpayāmi |
nārāyaṇaṃ tarpayāmi |
mādhavaṃ tarpayāmi |
govindaṃ tarpayāmi |
viṣṇuṃ tarpayāmi |
madhusūdanaṃ tarpayāmi |
trivikramaṃ tarpayāmi |
vāmanaṃ tarpayāmi |
śrīdharaṃ tarpayāmi |
hṛṣīkeśaṃ tarpayāmi |
padmanābhaṃ tarpayāmi |
dāmodaraṃ tarpayāmi |
Then repeat ācamana and aṅgavandana, from Acyuta through Dāmodara.
15. Prayer
Pray facing east.
Sanskrit · IAST
namo brahmaṇyadevāya gobrāhmaṇahitāya ca |
jagaddhitāya kṛṣṇāya govindāya namo namaḥ ||
ā brahmalokād āśeṣād ālokālokaparvatāt |
ye vasanti dvijā devās tebhyo nityaṃ namo namaḥ ||
16. Bhūmi prayer — optional in some families
Recite this preliminary prayer if it belongs to the practice taught to you.
Sanskrit · IAST
apasarpantu te bhūtā ye bhūtā bhuvi saṃsthitāḥ |
ye bhūtā vighnakartāras te gacchantu śivājñayā ||
ugrabhūtapiśācādyā ye ca vai bhūmibhārakāḥ |
eteṣām avirodhena brahmakarma samārabhe ||
17. Gaṇapati meditation before japa
Sanskrit · IAST
śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam |
prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ||
Gently tap both sides of the forehead five times, as taught.
18. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath
Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūḥ oṃ bhuvaḥ oṃ svaḥ oṃ mahaḥ oṃ janaḥ oṃ tapaḥ oṃ satyam |
oṃ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
oṃ āpo jyotī raso ’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om ||
Touch the right ear at the end.
19. Saṅkalpa for Gāyatrī japa
Sanskrit · IAST
mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
mādhyāhnika sandhyā gāyatrī mahāmantra japaṃ kariṣye |
20. Nyāsa for the prāṇāyāma mantras
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
praṇavasya ṛṣir brahmā | devī gāyatrī chandaḥ | paramātmā devatā |
bhūrādi sapta vyāhṛtīnām atri-bhṛgu-kutsa-vasiṣṭha-gautama-kāśyapa-āṅgirasa ṛṣayaḥ |
gāyatrī-uṣṇig-anuṣṭub-bṛhatī-paṅkti-triṣṭub-jagatyaś chandāṃsi |
agni-vāyv-arka-vāgīśa-varuṇendra-viśvedevā devatāḥ |
prāṇāyāme viniyogaḥ |
sāvitryā ṛṣir viśvāmitraḥ | devī gāyatrī chandaḥ | savitā devatā |
gāyatrīśiraso brahmā ṛṣiḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | paramātmā devatā |
sarveṣāṃ prāṇāyāme viniyogaḥ |
21. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath
Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru. This guide uses 10 repetitions before japa; follow the number taught to you.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūḥ oṃ bhuvaḥ oṃ svaḥ oṃ mahaḥ oṃ janaḥ oṃ tapaḥ oṃ satyam |
oṃ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
oṃ āpo jyotī raso ’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om ||
Touch the right ear at the end.
22. Gāyatrī āvāhana — invocation
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
āyātv ity anuvākasya vāmadeva ṛṣiḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | gāyatrī devatā | gāyatrī āvāhane viniyogaḥ |
Recite the invocation. At each “āvāhayāmi,” bring the joined palms towards yourself in the gesture of inviting, as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
āyātu varadā devī akṣaraṃ brahma sammitam |
gāyatrīṃ chandasāṃ mātedaṃ brahma juṣasva naḥ ||
ojo 'si saho 'si balam asi bhrājo 'si |
devānāṃ dhāma nāmāsi viśvam asi viśvāyuḥ |
sarvam asi sarvāyur abhibhūr om ||
gāyatrīm āvāhayāmi | sāvitrīm āvāhayāmi | sarasvatīm āvāhayāmi |
23. Nyāsa for Gāyatrī japa
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
sāvitryā ṛṣir viśvāmitraḥ | nicṛd gāyatrī chandaḥ | savitā devatā |
gāyatrī mahāmantra jape viniyogaḥ |
24. Gāyatrī meditation
Sanskrit · IAST
muktāvidrumahemanīladhavalacchāyair mukhais trīkṣaṇaiḥ |
yuktām indukalānibaddharatnamakuṭāṃ tattvārthavarṇātmikām |
gāyatrīṃ varadābhayāṅkuśakaśāḥ śubhraṃ kapālaṃ gadāṃ |
śaṅkhaṃ cakram athāravindayugalaṃ hastair vahantīṃ bhaje ||
yo devaḥ savitāsmākaṃ dhiyo dharmādigocarāḥ |
prerayet tasya yad bhargas tad vareṇyam upāsmahe ||
These are meditation verses, distinct from the Vedic Sāvitrī mantra that follows.
25. Gāyatrī mantra japa
Sit facing east in the posture taught by your guru. This guide uses 32 repetitions for noon; follow the count given in your instruction.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ |
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
Seer: Viśvāmitra. Metre: Nicṛd Gāyatrī. Deity: Savitṛ.
26. Brahmayajña — this guide’s noon family practice
If you follow the original guide’s sequence, perform Brahmayajña here. Open the Brahmayajña guide (Tamil; new tab). Return to this tab afterwards and continue below.
This is the existing separate Rigveda Brahmayajña guide. Its placement here is a family practice.
27. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath
Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru.
Sanskrit · IAST
oṃ bhūḥ oṃ bhuvaḥ oṃ svaḥ oṃ mahaḥ oṃ janaḥ oṃ tapaḥ oṃ satyam |
oṃ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
oṃ āpo jyotī raso ’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om ||
Touch the right ear at the end.
28. Upasthāna intention and farewell to Gāyatrī
Sanskrit · IAST
mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
mādhyāhnika sandhyā upasthānaṃ kariṣye |
Sanskrit · IAST
uttama ity anuvākasya vāmadeva ṛṣiḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | gāyatrī devatā | gāyatrī udvāsane viniyogaḥ |
Stand, bend to touch the earth with the ring finger, recite the farewell, then stand upright.
Sanskrit · IAST
uttame śikhare devi bhūmyāṃ parvatamūrdhani |
brāhmaṇebhyo hy anujñānaṃ gaccha devi yathāsukham ||
29. Sūrya upasthāna — standing prayer
Stand facing east, with palms joined, and recite the passages in order.
For nyāsa, touch the head when naming the seer (ṛṣi), the tip of the nose for the metre (chandas), and the chest for the deity (devatā), as taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
udu tyam iti trayodaśarcasya sūktasya praskaṇva ṛṣiḥ | ādyā nava gāyatryaḥ | antyāś catasro 'nuṣṭubhaḥ | sūryo devatā | mādhyāhnika upasthāne viniyogaḥ |
Ṛgveda 1.50.1
Sanskrit · IAST
udu tyaṃ jātavedasaṃ devaṃ vahanti ketavaḥ |
dṛśe viśvāya sūryam ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.2
Sanskrit · IAST
apa tye tāyavo yathā nakṣatrā yanty aktubhiḥ |
sūrāya viśvacakṣase ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.3
Sanskrit · IAST
adṛśram asya ketavo vi raśmayo janāṃ anu |
bhrājanto agnayo yathā ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.4
Sanskrit · IAST
taraṇir viśvadarśato jyotiṣkṛd asi sūrya |
viśvam ā bhāsi rocanam ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.5
Sanskrit · IAST
pratyaṅ devānāṃ viśaḥ pratyaṅṅ udeṣi mānuṣān |
pratyaṅ viśvaṃ svar dṛśe ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.6
Sanskrit · IAST
yenā pāvaka cakṣasā bhuraṇyantaṃ janāṃ anu |
tvaṃ varuṇa paśyasi ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.7
Sanskrit · IAST
vi dyām eṣi rajas pṛthv ahā mimāno aktubhiḥ |
paśyañ janmāni sūrya ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.8
Sanskrit · IAST
sapta tvā harito rathe vahanti deva sūrya |
śociṣkeśaṃ vicakṣaṇa ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.9
Sanskrit · IAST
ayukta sapta śundhyuvaḥ sūro rathasya naptyaḥ |
tābhir yāti svayuktibhiḥ ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.10
Sanskrit · IAST
ud vayaṃ tamasas pari jyotiṣ paśyanta uttaram |
devaṃ devatrā sūryam aganma jyotir uttamam ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.11
Sanskrit · IAST
udyann adya mitramaha ārohann uttarāṃ divam |
hṛdrogaṃ mama sūrya harimāṇaṃ ca nāśaya ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.12
Sanskrit · IAST
śukeṣu me harimāṇaṃ ropaṇākāsu dadhmasi |
atho hāridraveṣu me harimāṇaṃ ni dadhmasi ||
Ṛgveda 1.50.13
Sanskrit · IAST
ud agād ayam ādityo viśvena sahasā saha |
dviṣantaṃ mahyaṃ randhayan mo ahaṃ dviṣate radham ||
30. Prayers following upasthāna
Continue with these four prayers. Use the nyāsa and hand gestures around the face, ears and hair tuft taught by your guru.
Ṛgveda 1.99.1
Sanskrit · IAST
kāśyapa ṛṣiḥ | triṣṭup chandaḥ | agniḥ devatā | sandhyopasthāne viniyogaḥ |
Sanskrit · IAST
jātavedase sunavāma somam arātīyato ni dahāti vedaḥ |
sa naḥ parṣad ati durgāṇi viśvā nāveva sindhuṃ duritāty agniḥ ||
Ṛgveda 1.133.5
Sanskrit · IAST
parucchepa ṛṣiḥ | gāyatrī chandaḥ | indraḥ devatā | sandhyopasthāne viniyogaḥ |
Sanskrit · IAST
piśaṅgabhṛṣṭim ambhṛṇaṃ piśācim indra saṃ mṛṇa |
sarvaṃ rakṣo ni barhaya ||
Ṛgveda 1.89.8
Sanskrit · IAST
gotama ṛṣiḥ | triṣṭup chandaḥ | viśvedevāḥ devatāḥ | sandhyopasthāne viniyogaḥ |
Sanskrit · IAST
bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devā bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhir yajatrāḥ |
sthirair aṅgais tuṣṭuvāṃsas tanūbhir vyaśema devahitaṃ yad āyuḥ ||
Ṛgveda 10.136.1
Sanskrit · IAST
jūti ṛṣiḥ | anuṣṭup chandaḥ | agniḥ devatā | sandhyopasthāne viniyogaḥ |
Sanskrit · IAST
keśy agniṃ keśī viṣaṃ keśī bibharti rodasī |
keśī viśvaṃ svar dṛśe keśīdaṃ jyotir ucyate ||
The deity assignments above follow this ritual nyāsa; these do not establish a single interpretation of every hymn.
31. Salutations to the Sandhyā deities
Turn clockwise through east, south, west, north, joining the palms in each direction. Then face east.
| Recitation | Direction |
|---|---|
| sandhyāyai namaḥ | | East |
| sāvitryai namaḥ | | South |
| gāyatryai namaḥ | | West |
| sarasvatyai namaḥ | | North |
Sanskrit · IAST
sarvābhyo devatābhyo namo namaḥ |
kāmo ’kārṣīn manyur akārṣīt namo namaḥ |
32. Abhivādana — stating lineage and saluting
Face east. Supply the pravara sages, their count, gotra and personal name exactly as taught in your family. Do not recite the bracketed English prompts. Then bow in the manner taught.
Sanskrit · IAST
abhivādaye [your pravara sages] [your pravara count] pravarānvitaḥ |
[your gotra] gotraḥ āśvalāyana sūtraḥ ṛkśākhādhyāyī |
[your name] śarmā nāmāham asmi bhoḥ ||
The personal fields are not guessed. Use your own instructed lineage formula.
33. Digvandana — salutations to the directions
Begin facing east and turn clockwise for the four horizontal directions.
| Recitation | Direction |
|---|---|
| prācyai diśe namaḥ | | East |
| dakṣiṇāyai diśe namaḥ | | South |
| pratīcyai diśe namaḥ | | West |
| udīcyai diśe namaḥ | | North |
Sanskrit · IAST
ūrdhvāya namaḥ | adharāya namaḥ | antarikṣāya namaḥ |
bhūmyai namaḥ | brahmaṇe namaḥ | viṣṇave namaḥ | yamāya namaḥ |
Acknowledge above and below as taught; face south for Yama.
34. Yama vandana
Stand facing south.
Sanskrit · IAST
yamāya dharmarājāya mṛtyave cāntakāya ca |
vaivasvatāya kālāya sarvabhūtakṣayāya ca ||
audumbarāya dadhnāya nīlāya parameṣṭhine |
vṛkodarāya citrāya citraguptāya vai namaḥ ||
citraguptāya vai nama om nama iti |
35. Harihara vandana
Stand facing north, with palms joined.
Sanskrit · IAST
ṛtaṃ satyaṃ paraṃ brahma puruṣaṃ kṛṣṇapiṅgalam |
ūrdhvaretaṃ virūpākṣaṃ viśvarūpāya vai namo namaḥ ||
viśvarūpāya vai nama om nama iti |
36. Narmadā and serpent prayer — optional in some families
If this prayer belongs to your family’s practice, stand facing west and recite.
Sanskrit · IAST
narmadāyai namaḥ prātar narmadāyai namo niśi |
namo 'stu narmade tubhyaṃ trāhi māṃ viṣasarpataḥ ||
apasarpa sarpa bhadraṃ te dūraṃ gaccha mahāyaśāḥ |
janamejayasya yajñānte āstīkavacanaṃ smaran ||
jaratkāror jaratkārvāṃ samutpanno mahāyaśāḥ |
āstīkaḥ satyasandho māṃ pannagebhyo 'bhirakṣatu ||
pannagebhyo 'bhirakṣatv om nama iti |
37. Sūryanārāyaṇa vandana
Stand facing east, palms joined.
Sanskrit · IAST
namaḥ savitre jagadekacakṣuṣe |
jagatprasūtisthitināśahetave |
trayīmayāya triguṇātmadhāriṇe |
viriñcinārāyaṇaśaṅkarātmane ||
dhyeyaḥ sadā savitṛmaṇḍalamadhyavartī |
nārāyaṇaḥ sarasijāsanasanniviṣṭaḥ |
keyūravān makarakuṇḍalavān kirīṭī |
hārī hiraṇmayavapur dhṛtaśaṅkhacakraḥ ||
śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇe dvārakānilayācyuta |
govinda puṇḍarīkākṣa rakṣa māṃ śaraṇāgatam ||
ākāśāt patitaṃ toyaṃ yathā gacchati sāgaram |
sarvadevanamaskāraḥ keśavaṃ prati gacchati ||
keśavaṃ prati gacchatv om nama iti |
Repeat abhivādana and bow. Then repeat ācamana and aṅgavandana, from Acyuta through Dāmodara.
38. Samarpaṇa — offering all actions
Sit facing east. Hold a little water, recite, and release it at “brahmārpaṇam astu.”
Sanskrit · IAST
kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛteḥ svabhāvāt |
karomi yad yat sakalaṃ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ||
oṃ tat sat brahmārpaṇam astu |
Then repeat ācamana and aṅgavandana, from Acyuta through Dāmodara.
39. Japasthāna prokṣaṇa — completing the practice
Sprinkle a little water on the place where you sat for japa. Touch it with the ring finger, recite these prayers and place a water mark on the forehead.
Sanskrit · IAST
adyā no deva savitaḥ prajāvat sāvīḥ saubhagam | parā duḥṣvapnyaṃ suva ||
viśvāni deva savitar duritāni parā suva | yad bhadraṃ tan na ā suva ||
This completes Rigveda Mādhyāhnika Sandhyāvandanam.
Sources and recitation notes
- Rigveda Gurukulam — comparison of three-period mantras.
- Ṛgveda Maṇḍala 1, 3, 8 — Saṃhitā readings.
- Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad — related water, invocation and concluding texts; editions differ in some readings.
Nyāsa formulas and later prayer verses are identified separately from Saṃhitā verses. Spaces aid reading; pitch accents are not shown.