002 : THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SANKALPA

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION SERIES 002.

 யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ்வையகம்.

LET ME SHARE THE BLISS I ATTAINED WITH THE WHOLE WORLD.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SANKALPA

Sanatana Dharma advises the followers to commence any यज्ञं, in other words ritual with a formal Sankalpa i.e. firm declaration and commitment.  When we hear the word ritual, the thought of Homas and Yaagas only come to our mind.     Homas are Smaarta-Yagnas and others are Shrauta-Yagnas; like Ashwamedha, Vaajapeya, etc.  That is the only difference.  Even the chanting of Vishnu Sahasra-Naama Stotra should be considered a यज्ञं or ritual.   (यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि vide Bhagavad-Geeta ch.10, verse 25.  As no Himsa or injury is involved in Japa-Yagna it is considered even superior to Dravya-Yagna where inadvertent blemishes are likely to occur.)  Japa-Yagna falls under the category of Gyaana-Yagna like Saptaaha-Shravanam, the ritual intended to bestow ज्ञानम् or knowledge of the Self or Atman in the long run, whereas the other category of rituals falls under the division of Dravya-Yagna.  All these acts should be commenced with a formal Sankalpa.

 

Any ritual commenced with the blessings of Lord Vighneshwara with a formal Sankalpa binds the doer to bring the ritual to a formal and proper close also.  He cannot withdraw himself from the ritual at any intermediate stage.  Therefore, it reciprocally becomes a binding on God to ward off all the unforeseen impediments and to enable the doer to bring the ritual to a proper close.  Even if the doer's Praarabdha-Karma comes to a close before the ritual is completed, the god of death, Yama, cannot interfere in such a case.  He has to wait till the ritual is formally completed and till the doer becomes recipient of the reward of the ritual.  After that only Yama can do his duty.  So much of information and importance is implied in a formal Sankalpa. Just try to comprehend the farsightedness and omniscience of our Shaastra-Kaaras.  OM. 

யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ்வையகம்.

LET ME SHARE THE BLISS I ATTAINED WITH THE WHOLE WORLD.