Summary meaning of Sandhya Vandhanam in English

1. Aachamanam

This is a preliminary purification ceremony. Gods Achyutha, Anantha and Govinda are saluted and then chanting the twelve names of Vishnu purifies the self.

2. Ganapathi dyanam (this is not done by Vaishnavites)

This is a prayer to the God Ganapathi who is supposed to remove all obstacles on our way in performance of any rite, in this case, "Tharpanam"

Dressed in white thou art,
Oh, all pervading one,
And glowing with the colour of moon.
With four arms, thou art, Vishnu.
I meditate on thine ever-smiling face,
And pray, "Remove all obstacles on my way"

3. Pranayamam (Holy meditation )

This manthra is a guide to a breathing exercise as also a prayer. While chanting Om bhoo,Om Bhuva, Ogum Suva, Om Maha, om jana, om thapa, ogum satyam we are supposed to keep the left nostril closed and inhale through the right nostril. While chanting, "Om tat sa vithur varenyam bargo devasya dhee mahi, dhi yo yona prachothayad", we are supposed to close both nostrils and hold the breath. After this the left nostril is opened and air exhaled till the end of the manthra.

Hindus believed that that there were six holy worlds above the earth. These along with earth are remembered in the first part. These worlds are bhooloka, bhuvarloka, suvarloka, maharloka, janaloka, thapaloka and satya loka. The second part is the famous Gayathri manthram. It means

"I meditate on that savitha (the sun or the enlightenment within ourselves) which helps us in our though process, that god which is within me and that all engulfing power."

Or

" I meditate on the most holy shining aspect of that God, who helps in brightening our thought process."

Then the third part means "Om is water, it is the light, it is the earth which gives the food, it is the air which supports life, and it is the ether which is spread all around .It is also the holy seven worlds."

By touching the nose the hands are supposed to get polluted and this is removed by touching the ears thrice.

4. Sankalpam (our reason for the action)

This is a preliminary rite in every Vedic action. We tell why we are doing what we do .

We chant " To become dear to the Lord Parameshwara (in case of Vaishnavas it is Lord Vishnu) and to destroy all the effects of sins committed by me, I pray the Goddess of dawn (noon, dusk)"

5. Marjanam (Holy bath by sprinkling water)

Salutations to Lord Kesava. It is well known that you Gods of water are the source of greatness in life. Please grant us the ethereal vision. Like the holy and dear mothers , grant us please the ultimate essence of happiness that you have. We are praying you for that essence of happiness to posses, which you are personification of pleasure. You gods of water should through knowledge help us to be born holy in the next birth.

6. Prasanam(drinking water powered by Manthras)

Morning (Really at dawn)

Let the sun God, the anger that makes every one its slave and the powers of God, which control anger save me from the sins committed while being angry. Let the God of night remove the sins done by me using my mind, my voice, my hands, my legs, my belly and my penis and also any other sins that remain with me. I offer myself to the great light of sun, after the purifications of my sins as a result of this prayer. Let this offering be done well

Noon

Let the god of water purify the earth, which is its source, and let the earth thus purified purify me. Let it also purify my teacher who is the source of Vedas to me. Let Vedas, which are ever holy, purify me. Let the god of water purify me of my action in eating the remnants of food eaten by some one else, which are fit not to be eaten and also my bad habits, which are within me. Let it also purify me of my action in following the actions of bad people. I offer myself to thee God.

Evening (really dusk)

Let the God of fire, the anger that makes every one its slave and the powers of God, which control anger save me from the sins committed while being angry. Let the God of day remove the sins done by me using my mind, my voice, my hands, my legs, my belly and my penis and also any other sins that remain with me. I offer myself to the great light, which gives Holy Communion with the ever shining, after the purifications of my sins as a result of this prayer. Let this offering be done well

7. Aachamanam (same as 1)

8. Punar Marjanam (repetition of the Holy bath by sprinkling water)

I salute that great God who holds the earth, who rules the world, who measures the world, who is victorious, and who has taken the form of Hayagreeva (a form of Human with horses head) who is the source of all knowledge and who is speed himself. Let him make my face and all other organs smell good. Let him manage my life without problems.

Salutations to Lord Kesava. It is well known that you Gods of water are the source of greatness in life. Please grant us the ethereal vision. Like the holy and dear mothers , grant us please the ultimate essence of happiness that you have. We are praying you for that essence of happiness to posses, which you are personification of pleasure. You gods of water should through knowledge help us to be born holy in the next birth.

9. Argya pradhanam ( Offering of water)

The God who is OM, I meditate on that glittering form of God who sharpens the intellect of those in the world of earth, the ether world of Bhuvar and the heaven Suvar and who has created all of us.

10. Prayaschitha Argyam (same as 9 for offered for the delay)

11. Ikkyanusandhanam (meditating on the oneness of truth)

This Sun god, this Brahmam and myself are one and the same.

12. Deva Tharpanam (satisfying the devas)

I satisfy the sun, moon, mars, mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Kethu, I satisfy Lord Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusoodhana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sreedhara, Hrishikesa, Padmanabha and Damodhara, which are the different forms of Lord Vishnu. Ruling over the twelve different months.

Sandhya Vandhanam-Part I- Argya pradhanam

Sandhyavandhanam Part II Japam
Sandhyavandhanam Part II Japam(Summary in English)