SANKALPA VIDHI (Concept & Significance)

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
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Om! Hum! Hanumathe Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!

SANKALPA – a proposal in a Vedic way...

Traditionally in Hindu religion before performing any work we undertake sankalpa which is a kind of declaration to ourselves and to the God within us. The Vedas says that whole Universe is evolved through a Sankalpa of Lord SriManNaaraayana.

Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning a resolution; a free will or a determination. The word Sankalpa itself means good intention, an oath or a resolution to do something, a solemn pledge to do something good. In Sanskrit ‘San’ means good and ‘Kalpa’ means a Saasthra or a Veda. Sankalpa means proposal to do something good in a Vedic or a Saasthric way. In any religious ceremony or ritual generally we observe a person taking a sankalpa (firm resolve) to achieve the purpose of the ceremony. Sankalpa literally means taking firm decision to accomplish one particular thing in spite of facing troubles in its achievement.

Sankalpa cannot come all of a sudden. It is conception of a deep routed strong desire formed in the inner heart of hearts (subconscious mind); a seed that one consciously plant in his psyche. All Yagnas and worships are accomplished after taking a vow for its performance.  Sankalpa is nothing but an expression of feeling which the Saadhaka (doer) has for accomplishment of a Saadhana (task). By making a pledge a person becomes committed towards the accomplishment of his goal. Taking an oath means becoming committed to something.

One would have observed that all elected political leaders; Government officers all over the world take pledge or oath of secrecy in the name of God before taking charge of their offices. Before elections political parties release their manifesto which is nothing but their sankalpa. In courts before commencement of a trial the witnesses are asked to take pledge in the name of God. In Hindu culture it is believed that when a person speaks something after taking an oath it becomes true. At the time of induction an employee is asked to sign an oath of secrecy. In a Corporate world it is the Sankalpa of the promoter that gets manifested and results in the birth of a Company. All these are nothing but Sankalpa in different forms for different causes.

Mere Sankalpa alone is not sufficient to accomplish the deed. Besides sankalpa one should have strong dedication; determination (will power); discipline; accompanied by sincere hard work; persuasion to accomplish. Sankalpa acts as a foundation in accomplishing the task or reaching the goal. When Divinity is added to the Sankalpa; it gains strength and gets proper direction. We have several pouranic and historical examples of the power of Sankalpa. Achievements of Lord Hanuman are best example. Other examples are that of Bhakta Prahlada, Bhakta-Dhruva, Bhakta-Markandeya, Bhagiratha, Sathi-Savithri etc. Nearest historical example is that of Mahatma Gandhi who could achieve freedom for India with his strong Sankalpa.

Sankalpa sloka and its Significance…

Sankalpa is performed by sitting in Padmasana by clasping the right palm over the left; rested on the right thighs near the knee. After chanting Sankalpa manthra usually some flowers and rice taken in the right hand palm are dropped in the Arghya pathra using water.  Sometimes only water is used. A Vedic Sankalpa generally comprises of the elements of Time; Location; Almanac (Panchanga); Lineage; Purpose; Wish or desire; Target (the Deity); and nature or mode of karma.  It starts with...

Sri Govinda Govinda! subhe sobana muhurthe; Sri MahaVishnor Aagnaaya; Pravarthamaanasya…

Time Element: (Reckoning of time with reference to Lord Brahma)

Some of the terms used in Sankalpa sloka that we recite contain the time element viz. Aaadhya Brahmana, Dwiteeya Parardhe, Swetha Varaha Kalpe, Vaivaswatha Manwanthare, Kaliyuge, Prathama Pade, Salivahana Sakhe. In these words there is reckoning of the current date as per Vedamana since the birth of Lord Brahma. As such, Hindu time element is embedded in Sankalpa (San+Kalpa)

Aadya Bramhane Dwiteeya Parardhe: that means first half of the life time of the current Brahma is over and we are in the 2nd half called Dwiteeya Parardhe; in the 51st year of Lord Brahma (50 years of Lord Brahma is equal to 155.52 trillion human years)

Swetha Varaaha Kalpe: that means we are currently in the first day (only day) called Swetha Varaaha Kalpa in the 51st year of Lord Brahma; the day (Kalpa) in which Lord Vishnu took the form (incarnation) of Varaaha (great Boar)

Vaivaswatha Manvanthare: that means in Swetha Varaha Kalpa (1^st day of Lord Brahma) after passing through six Manvantharas out of 14; we are currently in 7th Manvanthara called Vaivaswatha Manvanthara. In terms of number of years after taking into account the sandhi Kalas, we have passed through 185.2416 crores human years (4320000 x 71 x 6) + (1728,000 x 7) during the previous six Manvantharas.

Ashtavimshatitamey Kaliyuge - Kali Prathama Charane: that means in the current Manvanthara (Vaivasvatha) we have passed through 27 Maha Yugas out of 71; currently passing through the 28th Maha Yuga. Again in this 28th Maha Yuga after passing through Krutha, Thretha and Dwaapara Yugas; we are currently in Kali Yuga in its first quarter after passing through 5115 years (as on 31.03.2014).  As per scripts it is said that Kali Yuga had commenced in the year 3102 BC. Counting from the beginning of Kalpa it is (185.24 + 11.67 + 0.39 + 0.005) =197.30 crores human years since commencement of creation by Lord Brahma.

Bauddhavathare: that means in the time when Lord SriManNaaraayana has taken birth as Buddha…

Saalivahana Sakhe: further reckoning down based on the concept of Sakha, after passing through the Yudhishtira and Vikrama Sakhas we are currently in Saalivaahana Sakha; 1936 years since its beginning in 78 AD.

Geographical Element...

Jambudweepe: 

Out of seven Dweepas in this Universe, we are in Jambudweepa (island) on the Earth (Bhumandala) surrounded by the Sea (Lavana Samudra)

Meror Dakshina Bhaage (paarsve): that means…

To the south of Meru Parvatha a mountain which is in the center of Jambu Dweepa.

Bhaaratavarshe:

There are nine Varshas in this Universe, out of which we are in Bhaarathavarsha which is in the southern region of Meru Parvatha.

Bharathakhande:

In the land ruled by King Bharatha Aasethu Himaachala Paryantham (present India);

Godaavari Dakshina Theere:

To the south of the holy river Godavari (depending on location this may change)

Mama Swagruhe (own house) or Sobhana Gruhe (rented house) - This may change depending on the place where one is performing the karma.

Devata Sannidhau:

In the presence of the God dwelling in my house; depending on the place where one is performing the karma this may differ.

Current Day Element (Description of the day)

Asmin Vartamaanena: At the present time…

Vyavahaarike – Chaandramaanena: As per present calendar that is in vogue.

Samvatsare:

There are sixty years as per Lunar Calendar which gets repeated cyclically starting from Prabhava and ending with Akshaya.

Aayane:

The year is divided into two based on the transit of Sun into Makara raasi called Uttarayana and Karkataka raasi called Dakshinayana.

Ruthau:

The year is again divided into six seasons starting from Vasantha followed by Greeshma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemantha and Sisira...

Maase:

Each season or ruthu comprises of two months each named after the star present on the full Moon day of the month as per Lunar Calendar starting from Chaitra and ending with Phalguna. According to solar calendar it is referred as per the transit of Sun into each Zodiac (Raasi) starting from Mesha (Aries) and ending with Meena (Pisces)

Pakshe:

Each month (Maasa) is again divided into two fortnights; based on the Moon’s position (waxing Moon or waning Moon) called Sukla Paksha (starting from Prathama to Pournami) and Krishna or Bahula Paksha (starting from Prathama to Amavasya)

Thithau:

Each paksha comprises of 15 thithis out of which; 14 gets repeated in both pakshas and the 15th one will be either Pournami or Amaavaasya.

Vaasare:

There are seven days in a week starting from Sunday which gets repeated cyclically.

Nakshatre (Constellation):

There are twenty seven (27) stars in the almanac which are placed in 12 sings (raasis) of the zodiac. These stars cyclically get repeated starting from Aswini and ending with Revathi.

Yoge:

There are 27 yogas in the almanac starting from Vishkumbha and ending with Vaidruthi. These Yogas also get repeated cyclically.

Karane:

There are eleven (11) Karanas out of which seven gets repeated and four occurs on specific days viz. Sukla Prathama, (Kimsthugna), Bahula Chaturdasi (Sakuni), and Amaavaasya (Chatushpaath, Naagava). In practice the names of Yoga and Karana are not spelled out. Instead it is just mentioned as Subha Yoge, Subha Karane. On some occasions it is mentioned as Vishnu Yoge and Vishnu Karane…

Evam guna visheshana vishitayaam – Subha thitau…

Element of Lineage (Gothra)...

Description of Rishi lineage in which one is born which is generally known from forefathers. Here one’s Gothra Pravara to be spelled out.

Namadheyasya: name by which one is called by (Vyavaharanaama xyz…)

Purpose element: 

Purpose may differ according to the desire; need; cause. It could be for one’s self materialistic benefits or for family reasons or for self Gyana Bhakti Vairaagya prapthyartham or for performing sacred rites or for the sake of society etc...

How it is being performed? 

Self or with the help of a learned Purohit; if it is self, Bhagavat preranaya prapta vidya anusaarena yatha Shakthi; if it is through a Purohit, Aachaarya Mukhena…

Reference to the specific Deity: Addressing whom (Deity) the specific ritual is being performed.

Reference to the name, nature and mode of ritual (Karma): 

The ritual could be Nitya or Naimittika Karma or any specific ritual; pooja; vratha; Homa; Remedy; Seva; Pitru Kaarya; Dana etc.

Example of a typical Sankalpa...

(with reference to the current day)

Sri Govinda Govinda! subhe sobana muhurtha…

Sri MahaaVishnor Aagnaaya, Pravarthamaanasya, Aadya Bramhane, Dwiteeya Paraardhe, Sri Swetha Varaaha Kalpe, Vaivaswatha Manvanthare, Kaliyuge, Kali Prathama Charane, Bauddhaavathare, Saalivaahanasakhe…

Jambudweepe, Meror Dakshina bhage, Bhaaratavarshe, Bharatha Khande, Godavari Dakshina theere, Sobhana Gruhe, Devata Sannidhau…

Asmin Varthamaane, Vyavahaarike, Chaandramanena, Sri Jayanaama Samvatsare, Dakshinaayane, Ghreeshma Ruthau, Aashaada Maase, Krishna Pakshe, Panchami Thithau, Soumya Vaasare, Satabhisha Nakshatre, Soubhagya Yoge, Baalava Karane...

Evam guna visheshana visistayaam… subha thithau…

Srimaan Aatreya Archanaanasa Syaavaasya Pravaranvita, Aatreya Gothrothpanna, Krishna Bhagavan Namadheyasya…

Mama Gyaana Bhakthi Vairaagya praapthyartham…

SriBharathee Ramana Mukhya Praananthargatha Sri Lakshmi Naarayaana Preethyartham, Bhagavat preranaaya; praapta Vidyaa anusaarena;

Yatha Sakthi… Sri Lakshmi Naaraayanasya Dhyaana-Aavaahanaadi Shodasa Upachaara Poojam Karishye…

Thus a Vedic sankalpa has so much of meaning and significance behind its words. During sankalpa we meditate on the Supreme form that has come into existence trillions of years ago. No work can be successfully accomplished without dedication. For successful completion of any aaradhana; Divine blessings is a must which can be obtained with sincere devotion and complete surrender.

Without Sankalpa no objective can be accomplished. No remedies, pooja or karma yields results without Sankalpa. One must always start a work with a proper Sankalpa; with proper understanding of its meaning and significance. The idea behind praying for the sankalpa is to eradicate the feeling of doer-ship or ahankaara. Therefore, before making a Sankalpa one should always bear in mind that, Sankalpa will not result into harming of anyone’s feelings or intentionally done to hurt anybody.

As said earlier, Sankalpa is a deep routed desire that gets registered with the soul. If sankalpa cannot be completed in one life time, the desire will not get vanished after the death. The desire will remain as a poorva janma vaasana (samskara) that gets manifested at some point of time in future births. The soul takes many births to accomplish the unfinished task and it continues to take births till it finally gets detached from the desire.

Sankalpa being uttered by everyone in Hindu religion has percolated down from ancestors and taught by forefathers in every family since time immemorial. It is the specialty of Aaryan culture that a tradition started by our ancestors thousands of years ago is still alive. The greatest significance of the ritual Sankalpa lies in its effort to preserve the Aaryan tradition.

Bharathee Ramana Mukhya Praanantargatha; 

Sri Lakshmi Naaraayana priyathaam preetho varado Bhavathu…

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

Related posts (Links)…

Aachamana Vidhi (Concept & Significance)

http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/2009/04/aachamana-vidhi-its-significance.html

Kaala-Ganana (Concept & Significance of Hindu Time)

http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/2009/03/kalpa-hindu-time-element.html