Today's Nithya Sankalpam
The sacred vow or resolution we make before starting any Puja, Vratam, or Sandhyavandanam is called 'Sankalpam'. It connects our mind, body, time, and the divine. You can get your personalized daily Sankalpam here based on your geographical location (country, state) and today's planetary positions.
- Sankalpam is the method of declaring before the divine exactly when, why, and where we are performing a spiritual activity such as a puja or vratam.
- It changes daily based on your location (country/state) and time (tithi, nakshatra).
- Anyone performing Sanatana rituals like daily pujas, vratas, or sandhyavandanam should recite this before starting the activity.
- This requires concentration, a little water, and akshatas (sacred rice).
Today's Sankalpam
evam guna visheshena vishishtayam asyam shubha tithau Sriman ----- gotrasya ----- naamadheyasya, (mama sahakutumbasya asmakam, sarvesham, sahakutumbanam, kshema, sthairya, vijaya, abhaya ayur arogya, aishwaryadi abhivrudhyartham, mama gruhe maha lakshmi nitya nivasa siddhyartham, mama ishtakamya phala siddhyartham, mama vyapara, vyavahara, udyogadinam dinadinabhivrudhi siddhyartham samasta mangalaa vyaaptam, shareere vartamanakala vartishyaman sakala roga parihara dwara kshipra arogya saukhya siddhyartham) - Pratah/Madhyahnika/Sayam Sandhyam, Gayatri Japam, aham karishye (or mention the name of the Puja/Vratam being performed).
Sankalpam Guide & FAQs
What is Sankalpam?
In simple terms, Sankalpam is 'a sacred decision'. Just as we set a destination in GPS before a journey, Sankalpam sets our spiritual destination before a puja. It grounds us in the present moment by verbally acknowledging the current yuga, year, season, tithi, weekday, and our exact location on earth before the Almighty.
Why should we do Sankalpam?
Reciting Sankalpam ensures that the complete spiritual merit (punyam) of the puja or vratam reaches you. It provides concentration by preventing the mind from wandering. It connects your personal identity (gotram, name) with the infinite cycle of cosmic time. Scriptures say any puja done without Sankalpam is incomplete.
Who should do it? When to do it?
Those who light a lamp daily at home, perform festival pujas, vratas (like Satyanarayana Swamy Vratam, Varalakshmi Vratam), or Trikala Sandhyavandanam must recite the Sankalpam. It should be recited right at the beginning of the ritual, immediately after Achamanam and Pranayamam.
What is needed for Sankalpam?
A pure mind is the main requirement. Physically, hold a little water in your right palm using an uddharina (spoon), or take some akshatas (yellow rice) and flowers, and recite the Sankalpam mantra. After completing the mantra, drop the water or akshatas at the Lord's feet or in a plate.