Arghya (Offering water back with both hands) to Ganga or Yamuna

shrImathe rAmAnujAya namah

arghya is one the fundamental process where one chants ( Brahma Gayathri by meditating on Aditya (Sun God / Surya nArAyaNa ) and releases the water into the river or holy water. arghya has been in practice since time immemorial where people belonging to upper 3 varnas used to do on a daily basis and is an integral part of sandhyavandhana which is popularly known. adiyen is humbly attempting to present the views of sandhyavanadhana which includes arghya n relevant references ..

There are references in the vedas regarding Sandyavandanam. A reference occurs in "Second prasna, Second Anuvaka of Thaithria Aranyaka (Yajur Veda)", explaining procedure of worship. The procedure of worship indicated is by offering "Arghya" (water in the palms of both hands thrown up), at the time of sunrise and sunset, meditating on Aditya (Sun).
Ishvashya upanishad of Shukla Yajurveda also refers to Sun worship as above at sunrise and sunset.
Chandogya upanisad (Chapter 2 Section 6) discusses "Aditya vidya" explaining the importance of meditation of Sun or Aditya at sunrise and sunset, bringing out also the points mentioned above. Chapter 3, Section 12 of this upanishad explains meditation of aditya through gayatri. It also explains that the sun in the horizon outside and the sun element inside us are one and the same and there is no difference. The identity should be kept in mind while meditating through gayatri. This is the meaning of "Asavadityao brahma" recited during sandyavandanam.
These views are also echoed in Aditya Hridaya of the Yuddakanda of Ramayan. Agasthya explains to Sri Rama, the merits of worshipping Aditya. Aditya protects everyone, helps them in their duties, gives lustre, removes ignorance and provides happiness. He is friend of water and resides in every living thing.
All vedic religions have given great importance to sandyavandanam. It is said that one who does not perform Sandyavandanam is ever impure and is thus rendered unfit to perform the vedic rites - the nitya (daily) or naimithica (occasional) duties prescribed in the scriptures. If however he did perform the duties once in a way in spite of self inflicted impurity (due to non performance of sandyavandanam regularly) the said performance will not yield any result. This point has also been brought out by Poigai alwar (Mudal Tiruvandadi stanza 3).

Hope this helps !!!

adiyen

Replies

prapanna setalUrkartIkasrIharsha April 1, 2014 at 4:07pm
shrImathe rAmAnujAya namah

arghya is one the fundamental process where one chants ( Brahma Gayathri by meditating on Aditya (Sun God / Surya nArAyaNa ) and releases the water into the river or holy water. arghya has been in practice since time immemorial where people belonging to upper 3 varnas used to do on a daily basis and is an integral part of sandhyavandhana which is popularly known. adiyen is humbly attempting to present the views of sandhyavanadhana which includes arghya n relevant references ..
- There are references in the vedas regarding Sandyavandanam. A reference occurs in "Second prasna, Second Anuvaka of Thaithria Aranyaka (Yajur Veda)", explaining procedure of worship. The procedure of worship indicated is by offering "Arghya" (water in the palms of both hands thrown up), at the time of sunrise and sunset, meditating on Aditya (Sun).
- Ishvashya upanishad of Shukla Yajurveda also refers to Sun worship as above at sunrise and sunset.
- Chandogya upanisad (Chapter 2 Section 6) discusses "Aditya vidya" explaining the importance of meditation of Sun or Aditya at sunrise and sunset, bringing out also the points mentioned above. Chapter 3, Section 12 of this upanishad explains meditation of aditya through gayatri. It also explains that the sun in the horizon outside and the sun element inside us are one and the same and there is no difference. The identity should be kept in mind while meditating through gayatri. This is the meaning of "Asavadityao brahma" recited during sandyavandanam.
- These views are also echoed in Aditya Hridaya of the Yuddakanda of Ramayan. Agasthya explains to Sri Rama, the merits of worshipping Aditya. Aditya protects everyone, helps them in their duties, gives lustre, removes ignorance and provides happiness. He is friend of water and resides in every living thing.
- All vedic religions have given great importance to sandyavandanam. It is said that one who does not perform Sandyavandanam is ever impure and is thus rendered unfit to perform the vedic rites - the nitya (daily) or naimithica (occasional) duties prescribed in the scriptures. If however he did perform the duties once in a way in spite of self inflicted impurity (due to non performance of sandyavandanam regularly) the said performance will not yield any result. This point has also been brought out by Poigai alwar (Mudal Tiruvandadi stanza 3).
Hope this helps !!!

adiyen

This reply was deleted.