Morning · Around sunrise

Yajurveda Prātaḥ Sandhyāvandanam

Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda · Taittirīya śākhā · Āpastamba 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. This is not a Śukla Yajurveda guide.

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	Fingers	Navel
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 suvaḥ 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 suvar 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 |
prātaḥ 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

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 suvaḥ |

Circle the head clockwise with water, as taught.

7. Mantra prāśana — purification by sipping

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

Sanskrit · IAST

sūryaś ca mā manyuś ca manyupatayaś ca manyukṛtebhyaḥ |
pāpebhyo rakṣantām | yad rātryā pāpam akārṣam |
manasā vācā hastābhyām | padbhyām udareṇa śiśnā |
rātris tad avalumpatu | yat kiñca duritaṃ mayi |
idam ahaṃ mām amṛtayonau | sūrye 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

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 ||

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 suvaḥ |

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 3 times, reciting once for each offering. Release the water into a clean place or the receiving vessel.

Sanskrit · IAST

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ |
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 |
prātaḥ sandhyā kālātīta prāyaścittārtham arghyapradānaṃ kariṣye |

Sanskrit · IAST

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ |
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||

Stand facing east and offer water one additional time with this mantra.

12. Ātma-pradakṣiṇa — turning clockwise

Sanskrit · IAST

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ |

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

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. Āsana prayer — preparing the seat

Join the palms in prayer to the Earth goddess, then touch the seat for japa and recite.

Sanskrit · IAST

pṛthvi tvayā dhṛtā lokā devi tvaṃ viṣṇunā dhṛtā |
tvaṃ ca dhāraya māṃ devi pavitraṃ kuru cāsanam ||

18. Gaṇapati meditation before japa

Sanskrit · IAST

śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam |
prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye ||

Gently tap both sides of the forehead five times, as taught.

19. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath

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

Sanskrit · IAST

Touch the right ear at the end.

20. Saṅkalpa for Gāyatrī japa

Sanskrit · IAST

mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
prātaḥ sandhyā gāyatrī mahāmantra japaṃ kariṣye |

21. 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

22. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath

Use the inhalation, retention and exhalation method taught by your guru. Follow the number taught to you.

Sanskrit · IAST

Touch the right ear at the end.

23. 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 |

24. 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 |

25. 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.

26. Gāyatrī mantra japa

Sit facing east in the posture taught by your guru. This guide uses 108 repetitions for morning; follow the count given in your instruction.

Sanskrit · IAST

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ |
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||

Seer: Viśvāmitra. Metre: Nicṛd Gāyatrī. Deity: Savitṛ.

27. Prāṇāyāma — regulated breath

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

Sanskrit · IAST

Touch the right ear at the end.

28. Upasthāna intention and farewell to Gāyatrī

Sanskrit · IAST

mamopātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā śrī parameśvara prītyartham |
prātaḥ 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. Mitra upasthāna — standing prayer

Stand facing east, with palms joined, and recite the passages in order.

Passage 1

Sanskrit · IAST

oṃ mitrasya carṣaṇīdhṛtaḥ śravo devasya sānasim |
satyaṃ citraśravastamam ||

Passage 2

Sanskrit · IAST

mitro janān yātayati prajānan mitro dādhāra pṛthivīm uta dyām |
mitraḥ kṛṣṭīr animiṣābhicaṣṭe satyāya havyaṃ ghṛtavad vidhema ||

Passage 3

Sanskrit · IAST

pra sa mitra marto astu prayasvān yas ta āditya śikṣati vratena |
na hanyate na jīyate tvoto nainam aṃho aśnoty antito na dūrāt ||

30. 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 |

31. 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 āpastamba sūtraḥ yajuśśākhādhyāyī |
[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 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

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 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.

37. 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.

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 ma ā suva ||

This completes Yajurveda Prātaḥ Sandhyāvandanam.

Sources and recitation notes

Smārta Āpastamba Sandhyāvandanam — selected ritual sequence and readings.
Shri Kainkaryam Kriya Trust — comparison of Yajurveda upasthāna texts; its sectarian intentions are not used here.
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.