Welcome to Adiyen Sri Ramanuja Dasan !
" Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha !"
The three strands also exhibit the presence of satwa, rajas and tamas gunas or characteristics of an individual. The deities installed help to improve our sattwa character. Though the installation of the deities is done only once before wearing, this charge is continued or recharged through recitation of gayatri everyday during sandyavandanam. Only a thread on which the deities have been installed will be yagnopavitham or sacred thread or charged thread.
The knot in the yagnopavitha is said to symbolise Pranava or Om which comprises the three letters namely Aa (denoting Vishnu) Uu (denoting Goddess Lakshmi) and Ma (denoting soul or self).
Vedas and Smrithis prescribe the age of upanayanam for Brahmins at seven. The age should not exceed sixteen in any case.
When to perform
The Vedas prescribe prayers at sunrise and sunset.. Sunrise constitues a change from darkness to light and hence a sandhya time (that is a time of junction). This is referred to as Pratha Sandhya. The Sun set constitutes a change from light to darkness and hence a sandhya time, this is referred to as Sayam Sandhya. To these two our sages have added a third known as Madhyanika or midday, constituting a change from an ascending sun to a descending sun in the sky. The addition of Madyanika has yet another significance, during this time we can see offer our prayers seeing the sun. The benefits of Pratah sandyavandanam is best when performed before sunrise and stars are visible; average when performed before sunrise but stars have disappeared; poor after sunrise. Similarly for 'Sayam sandyavandanam'; it is best before sunset; average after sunset but before stars appear and poor after stars appear.
The above view has also been reflected in the hymns forming part of sandyavandanam Samaveda hymns for upastanam the rising sun is saluted (udyantan thvaditya anudiyasam) in Pratha sandyavandanam, while setting sun is saluted (Pratithishtantam thvaditya anupratithistasam) in Sayam sandhyavandanam.
This pratah sandyavandanam should be started before sunrise and concluded at sunrise. Similarly the sayam sandyavandanam should be started before sunset and concluded at sunset (at local time) Again in Yajur veda Prasanam hymns, we have "Ratristadava lumpatu yatkunchaduritam mayi" (May the sins committed by me be wiped out by the deity controlling the night) in Pratah Sandyavandanam, while in Sayam Sandyavandanam it is 'Aahastadava lumpatu yatkincha duritam mayi" (May the sins committed by me be wiped out by deity controlling day).
Jai Srimannaryana !
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