Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,056

Date uploaded in London – 5 August 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

Sandhya Vandana

Sandhya Vandana is a daily Vedic ritual performed at dawn, noon, and dusk. The key practices involve Achamanam (water-sipping), Marjanam (purification), and Japa (recitation of the Gayatri Mantra)

Valmiki Ramayana says that all castes did this ritual, my be the contents or rituals differed.

This ceremony explodes Aryan Migration argument. Hindus use water for this ceremony and all their ceremonies. They couldn’t have done it if they came from colder regions.

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Sandipani

Sandipani was an ancient sage and guru in Hindu tradition, as well as the modern educational and spiritual institution named in his honour. Maharishi Sandipani was the revered teacher who educated Lord Krishna, Balarama, and Sudama in various ancient arts, sciences, and scriptures. Traditionally the Sandipani Ashram is  located in Ujjain, India (near Mangalnath Road), which remains a place of historical and religious significance.

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Sanga /association

Sangam is a Sanskrit word; though banned by the oldest Tamil book Tolkappiam, Tamils are very fond of this Sanskrit word. No word should begin with ‘Sa’ in Tamil according to Tolkaapiam. But Tamils believe that they had their first Tamil Academy called Sangam 10,000 years ago. It is an exaggeration. (I have explained it in my article several years ago; please see the link at the bottom).

But Tamils had and have Sangam, an academy for languages. It was an assembly of poets. Nowadays it is just an association. Depending upon who runs it, we have third rate  show by rubbish film actors or talk by highly intellectual Tamils.

The word has been used by Panini, world’s first linguist and grammarian, in his book Ashtadhyaayi (also called Panineeyam). Sangam like organisation was in Greece as well 2000 years ago.

Panini lived in seventh century BCE according to Goldstucker and famous Sanskrit scholars of India. He lists various Sangams. There was also a Dravida Jain Sangam in Tamil Nadu around 450 CE (may be a religious Sangam like Buddhists’).

Though Sangam poets had high moral principles 2000 years ago, the condition deteriorated later to a low level and God Shiva had to interfere in it according to Tiru Vilayadal Puranam. All the fake poets were thrown into water when they sat on a Sacred Plank called ‘Sanga Palakai’. Another device was also set up. The poets were asked to recite their verses in front of a Divine Dumb boy. If he sheds tears (of joy), then they were  considered genuine poets. Moral standards were also very low and many famous poets were associated with the courtesans.

Panini lists the following Sanghams :-

Panini speaks of ‘Sangha’ as a generic term, applied to the following –

Firstly, sangha means a ‘multitude’ as in the expression ‘graamya-  pasu- sangha’ , a herd of domestic cattle . in the same sense it is also applied to  a multitude of human beings.

Secondly,  a sangha was a term for a ‘nikaaya’, which is termed by panini  as a corporate body where the distinction of upper and lower does not exist 3-3-42

(may be compared to Liberty, Equality and Fraternity of France)

‘Sanghe chanauttaraadharye’

This applied to a religious sangha functioning as a fraternity  without distinctions of high ‘Uttara’ and low ‘adhara’.

Thirdly, there is the ‘suutra samgh-odghau gana-prasamyoh 3-3-86, which speaks of the political sangha technically known as Gana.

Sangha and Gana were used as synonymous words for a republic. Panini speaks of Yaudheyas as a Sangha, whereas they refer to themselves as a Gana on their coins, albeit in the post- Paninian period.

The religious Sangha treated all equal, but political Sangha  vested power in their families. In the post Buddha period there were 18 Sanghas.

The Sangha spirit in Panini’s time had influenced every sphere of public life political, economic, religious, social and educational .

Ayudhajivi sanghas

Panini mentioned Ayudhajivi Sanghas by name in sutras 5-3-115 to 117 and in three Ganas of these sutras — Daamanyaadi, Parsvaadi, Yaudheyaadi

They were martial tribes who cultivated military art as a way of life (They made a living by the profession of Arms) mostly Kshatrias, but Brahmanas are also mentioned in 5-3-114 in the group

(I think Gurus like Dronacharya ,commanders like Asavttama and may be Parasurama come under this category; Drona and others are from Punjab where the Ayudhajivis lived)

In sutra 5-1-58, Panini refers to the numerical strength of a Sangha which Patanjali explains as consisting of five, ten or twenty members. This seems to refer to the Executive of a Sangha ( a democratic set up).

Sath Sangham (assembly/gathering of Good People) is a word used by Adi Sankara in his Bhaja Govindam .

Buddhists formed Sanghas after Buddha’s death.

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Sani- Saturn– Sanaischaran

Śani (शनि).—(ŚANAIŚCARA-SATURN) Śani is the son of Sūrya by Chāyā, the maid-servant of Saṃjñā. Sūrya had three sons by Chāyā, Manu, Tapatī and Śani. represented as of a black colour or dressed in dark coloured clothes. His vahana is crow.

Śani (शनि) refers to the planet Saturn. Sanivar is Saturday.

Sani Dasa (or Shani Mahadasha) is a major 19-year astrological planetary period governed by Saturn (Shani), the planet of karma, discipline, and justice. It tests endurance, forces hard work, and brings long-term rewards or structural life corrections based on personal actions

Favourable Placement (Strong/Exalted Shani): Brings stable career growth, high authority, recognition, acquisition of property, financial discipline, and deep inner maturity.

Unfavourable Placement (Weak/Afflicted Shani): Causes severe delays, heavy work pressure, mental stress, joint or bone health issues, and feelings of isolation.

Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa is good when a person undergoes unfavourable period. A person’s horoscope will show the good or bad period depending on the position of Sani/Saturn in the person’shoroscope.

He receives special worship on Saturdays. South Indian temple have Navagraha Shrines (Nine Planets). Thiru Nallaru, and Thirunaraiyur have special shrines for him.

The Thirunaraiyur Saneeswaran Temple, located near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India, is a unique shrine dedicated to Lord Saneeswara (Saturn), where he appears alongside his two consorts, Manda Devi and Jyeshta Devi, and two sons, Mandhi and Kuligan.

Though Saneeswara is popular, correct spelling is Sanais Charan, who moves “slowly” and takes 30 years to complete the solar orbit. Fact is more distance from Sun more time to complete one orbit.

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Sanjaya

Sanjaya (Sanskrit: संजय, meaning “victory”) or Sanjaya Gavalgani is a character from the epic Mahabharata. Sanjaya, was born from the portions of Rishi Gavalgana (Adi Parva, Chapter 68, Verse 93), and was Dhritarashtra’s advisor and charioteer. He was a disciple of sage Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa .

Sanjaya was telling Dhritarashtra every thing that was taking place in the battle-field without leaving even the smallest events in the order of their occurrence. Sanjaya was able to do this because of the boon granted by Vyasa.

Before the great war broke out, Sanjaya had gone to Yudhishtira as the Ambassador of Kauravas to negotiate on behalf of them and advises both Yudhishtira and Dhritarashtra against the war (Udyoga Parva, Mahabharata).

During the war, Sanjaya had the unpleasant duty of breaking the news to Dhritarashtra, of the fall of all his army commanders in chiefs (Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Shalya) as well as the death of Dhritarashtra’s hundred sons at the hands of Bhima at different points of time in the battle, and offers the sorrowing king solace in his darkest hours. Despite Sanjaya’s devotion to Dhritarashtra, he never hid any of the violence from him and is known to be brutally frank in his recital of the day’s battle events and his own opinions, which usually would predict the utter destruction of the Kauravas at the hands of the Pandavas. Almost the entire war-Books (Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva) were narrated to Dhritarashtra by Sanjaya.

When Duryodhana was killed, the cry of Ashvatthama grew louder. Sanjaya who heard this cry early in the morning, ran to the battlefield with a broken heart. With the death of Duryodhana the boon of inward eye given to Sanjaya by Vyasa was lost. (, Sauptika Parva, Mahabharata).

In the Bhagavad Gita, passages often start with the Sanskrit words “Sanjaya uvāca:” (“Sanjaya said:”). The entire Bhagavad Gita is Sanjay’s recital to Dhritarashtra of the conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. Sanjaya was the first person apart from Arjuna to listen to the Gita as it was being instructed.

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Sankara /Shankara

Known also as Aadi Sankara; he was born at Kaladi in Kerala. Mastered all the Vedas and Upanishads at very young age; walked length and breadth of India teaching Advaita philosophy; he defeated many scholars in arguments and thus won a great number of devotees and followers. A great writer who composed a lot of hymns like Bhaja Govindam and Viveka Chudamani; greatest organiser India has ever witnessed; established four Mutts in four corners of India (Joshimath, Dwaraka, Puri and Sringeri); he attained Mukti at the age of 32 in Kanchi according to one version and in the Himalayas according to another version. Next to Vyasa he was the one who wrote lakhs of words in the form on Upanishad Commentaries, Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Sahsranama commentaries etc. Some Mutts accept his date as 732 CE, but Kanchi Mutt believes he was a Pre  Buddhist philosopher.

Adi Shankara, one of the great philosophers, says that gods (Devas) left the earth after becoming fed up with the demands of the human beings. They lost their character and made too many demands and so the Devas vacated the earth, says Shankara.

Hundreds of popular hymns in Sanskrit are attributed to him. Millions of Hindus recite them every day.

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Sanat kumara

The four sons of Brahma, known as the Four Kumaras, are Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara (sometimes listed with Sanat or Sanand). They are mind-born sons (manasaputras) created from Brahma’s mind to aid in the creation of the universe

Sanatkumāra (सनत्कुमार):—[=sanat-kumāra] [from sanat > sana] m. ‘always a youth’ or ‘son of Brahmā’, Name of one of the four or seven sons of Brahmā (cf. sanaka; he is said to be the oldest of the progenitors of mankind [= vaidhātra q.v.], and sometimes identified with Skanda and Pradyumna, he is also the supposed author of an Upa-purāṇa and other works.

They chose to remain in the form of children, embodying absolute purity and innocence.

They declined Lord Brahma’s request to engage in worldly procreation, preferring a life of total celibacy (naishtika brahmacharya) and devotion.

They are supreme ascetics and knowers of the ultimate truth (Brahman), often depicted traveling the cosmos imparting spiritual knowledge.

According to the Bhagavata Purana, the four Kumaras visited Vaikuntha (the abode of Lord Vishnu) but were blocked by the gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya, who mistook them for young children. Angered by the disrespect, the sages cursed the gatekeepers to be born on Earth as mortals (demons) for three lifetimes before returning to divinity.

They primarily dwell in Tapoloka (the realm of spiritual ascetics just below Brahmaloka) and frequently travel across the material and spiritual universes.

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Sapta rishi

Seven Vedic Rishis; Seven stars in Great Bear constellation are named after these Seven Sages

Sangam age Tamils worshipped these Seven Rishis 2000 years ago according to Narrinai 231.

Hindus including Sangam Tamils worship Arundhati Star, a double star system in the same Ursa Major constellation

Brahmin’s daily ceremony includes Gayatri worship. It is the second and most important part. Before the actual recitation of Gayatri Mantra, they invoce Goddess Gayatri from the hilltop in to their hearts/mind. While inviting Goddess to enter his mind/heart he worships seven seers (Sapta Rishis in Northern Great Bear/ Ursa Major constellation).

The wonder of wonders is that a Panini Sutra gives the names of Rishis in the same order as we say it today, three times a day.

At least for 2700 years Brahmins are doing this recitation. I was surprised to find the same order in a grammar book where he explained only to teach grammar and not religion or ritual.

A brahmin who does Sandhya Vandana (Sun Worship) every day, touching his forehead, says the names of Seven Seers:-

Atri, Brhu, Kutsa, Vasistha, Gautama, Kashyapa, Angirasa.

Some Brahmins use one or two different names but they belong to the same clan (Gotra). So it is not considered a deviation.

And the referred sutra is in Ashtadhyayi of Panini:-

2-4-65 atribrhukutsavasistha gotamaangirasobhyas ca

Here he explains the rules about elision .

We are not concerned about the grammatical rules here.

What I want to show is that the same order is in grammatical rule and Brahmin’s say it in day to day ritual!

So we know that it has been there from Panini’s time or even before that.

Later Buddhists formed Sanghas.

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Saraswathi

Name of Hindu Goddess of Education, Knowledge, Wisdom;

Also the name of the most famous Vedic River, now dried up.

All Hindus worship her every day before starting their studies.

As soon as they get up they look at right hand palm and recite a mantra which includes her name.

She is the wife of Brahma, God in charge of Creation.

She was the patron of all arts including music, poetry etc; also called Savitri, gayatri, Brahmani, or Satarupa.

Now Hindus believe that Sarasvati river runs underground and meets ganga and Yamuna at Sangam, also known as Prayag

She is always shown in white colour; her favourite bird is white swan, favourite flower white lotus.

Most of the south Indian temples have special shrine for her. In Tamil Nadu Koothanur Saraswathi Temple  is a famous temple.

In Tamil Kumara Guruparar’s Sakala Kala Valli Malai is a famous hymn on her. In Sanskrit we have many hymns.

To be continued……………………….

Tags- Sarasvati, Sandhya Vandana, HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL 92; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-92