Evening · Around sunset

Rigveda Sāyaṃ 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 north. 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 north. Rest the right hand over the left palm on the right thigh and state the intention.

Sanskrit · IAST

mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
sāyaṃ 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

agniś cety anuvākasya sūrya ṛṣiḥ | devī gāyatrī chandaḥ | agnir devatā | apāṃ prāśane viniyogaḥ |

Hold a little water in the right palm. Recite the entire mantra, then sip the water.

Sanskrit · IAST

agniś ca mā manyuś ca manyupatayaś ca manyukṛtebhyaḥ |
pāpebhyo rakṣantām | yad ahnā pāpam akārṣam |
manasā vācā hastābhyām | padbhyām udareṇa śiśnā |
ahas tad avalumpatu | yat kiñca duritaṃ mayi |
idam ahaṃ mām amṛtayonau | satye jyotiṣi juhomi 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

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ |

Circle the head clockwise with water, as taught.

9. Arghya — offering water

Stand facing west. Hold water in both cupped palms. Recite the complete mantra and offer the water 3 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

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 |
sāyaṃ sandhyā kālātīta prāyaścittārtham arghyapradānaṃ kariṣye |

Selected late-arghya verse: Ṛgveda 8.23.15.

Sanskrit · IAST

na tasya māyayā cana ripur īśīta martyaḥ |
yo agnaye dadāśa havyadātibhiḥ ||

Stand facing west 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 north. 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 north. For each “tarpayāmi,” release water through the fingertips into the receiving vessel.

Sanskrit · IAST

Then repeat ācamana and aṅgavandana, from Acyuta through Dāmodara.

15. Prayer

Pray facing west.

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

Touch the right ear at the end.

19. Saṅkalpa for Gāyatrī japa

Sanskrit · IAST

mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
sāyaṃ 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

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

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 west in the posture taught by your guru. This guide uses 64 repetitions for evening; 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. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath

Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru.

Sanskrit · IAST

Touch the right ear at the end.

27. Upasthāna intention and farewell to Gāyatrī

Sanskrit · IAST

mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
sāyaṃ 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 ||

28. Varuṇa upasthāna — standing prayer

Stand facing west, 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

imaṃ me tat tvā yāmīti mantrāṇāṃ śunaḥśepa ṛṣiḥ | gāyatrītriṣṭubhau chandāṃsi | varuṇo devatā | sāyaṃ sandhyopasthāne viniyogaḥ |

Ṛgveda 1.25.19

Sanskrit · IAST

imaṃ me varuṇa śrudhī havam adyā ca mṛḷaya |
tvām avasyur ā cake ||

Ṛgveda 1.24.11

Sanskrit · IAST

tat tvā yāmi brahmaṇā vandamānas tadā śāste yajamāno havirbhiḥ |
aheḷamāno varuṇeha bodhy uruśaṃsa mā na āyuḥ pra moṣīḥ ||

29. 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.

30. Salutations to the Sandhyā deities

Turn clockwise through west, north, east, south, joining the palms in each direction. Then face west.

Recitation	Direction
sandhyāyai namaḥ \|	West
sāvitryai namaḥ \|	North
gāyatryai namaḥ \|	East
sarasvatyai namaḥ \|	South

Sanskrit · IAST

sarvābhyo devatābhyo namo namaḥ |
kāmo ’kārṣīn manyur akārṣīt namo namaḥ |

31. Abhivādana — stating lineage and saluting

Face west. 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.

32. Digvandana — salutations to the directions

Begin facing west and turn clockwise for the four horizontal directions.

Recitation	Direction
pratīcyai diśe namaḥ \|	West
udīcyai diśe namaḥ \|	North
prācyai diśe namaḥ \|	East
dakṣiṇāyai diśe namaḥ \|	South

Sanskrit · IAST

Acknowledge above and below as taught; face south for Yama.

33. 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 |

34. 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 |

35. 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 |

36. Sūryanārāyaṇa vandana

Stand facing west, 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.

37. Samarpaṇa — offering all actions

Sit facing north. 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.

38. 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 Sāyaṃ 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.