120 - The worship of Sandhyä

Varãha said:

1. O Earth, I shall tell you the great secret of crossing the worldly existence which you asked me about.

2. My devotees, duly taking bath, approach me with full control of mind and eating but a trifle of food.

3. O blessed one, my form is eternal. I am the one that permeates all beings.

4. It is I that is above, below and the sides, as also at the quarters and sub quarters.

5. Obeisance should, therefore, be made to all these by the devotees desirous of salvation.

6. I shall also tell you this secret that by worshipping these my followers acquire great fame.

7. With concentration of mind, the devotee should turn to east and take water in both hands held together.

8. He should then say Om namo näräyanäya (Bow to Näräyana) and then utter:

9. ‘‘I bow to that great and merciful primordial man, the most important in all the worlds, Näräyana the origin of dharma. I offer sacrifice to him”.

10. Then turning to west and similarly holding water he should utter Dvädašhäkshara (0m namo bhagavate väsudeväya) and then the mantra:

11. “I extol that eternal being, the most ancient, whose desire is never in vain, the first creator who manifests himself in all objects”.

12. Then holding water in the same manner he should turn to the north and uttering Om namo nãräyanäya recite the mantra:

13. offer sacrifice to that most divine being, the most ancient without beginning or end, of eternal form, the originator. of life and the world, the most tranquil, unique, the liberator from the woes of worldly life”

14. Then immediately turning to the south (similarly holding water in the hands) he should utter Om namah Purushottamäya and recite the mantra:

15. “I offer sacrifice to the great being of endless forms, the first, the truth, the righteous, of the form of time, for liberation from worldly life”

16. Then remaining steady like wood and fully controlling the senses and concentrating the mind on Vishnu, he should utter the mantra.

17. “I offer sacrifice to the lord of the worlds, with the sun and moon as his eyes, the foremost of all in the worlds, the drinker of soma juice, the liberator from death and worldly existence”.

18. The devotee of mine who desires beatitude may do this wisely and sincerely during morning, moon and evening.

19. This is the secret of all secrets, the highest of yoga and the best of Säñkhya.

20. This should not be imparted to the dunce, the cheat or the crooked; it can be imparted only to the good, initiated disciple.

21. These secret instructions given by Vishnu should be well borne in mind and never be forgotten even at the time of death.

22. He who learns this well and follows the instructions, always finds a place in my mind.

23. He who worships the sandhyä in this manner, whatever be his form here, reaches my abode.