Brahmamuhurta: do you practice sadhana at this time?

[Jainarayan]

Commenting in Wundermonk's post about information overload affecting our sadhana, I mentioned Brahmamuhurta. It prompted these thoughts:

It goes without saying I'm attempting to improve and raise my spiritual awareness and well-being. I meditate haphazardly during the day or in the evening, so I would like to establish a pattern whereby I can have the quiet time to meditate and even perform my small aarati when all is quiet at that time. Especially because Brahmamuhurta is an auspicious time. I understand that Brahmamuhurta is from 3:30 - 5:30 am. How long does it take to adapt to getting up at let's say 4:30 am in order to wash up, do japa and Surya Namaskar? Now, at this time, is it general meditation or japa or both that's done?

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

I just thought of one more thing, sorry.

I've seen the SOHAM mantra, and since I have no guru to give me a mantra I tried SOHAM and OM. Breathing and meditating with both of them has a very peaceful effect and is easy to do. The question is: does one meditate on these by time, say 10, 15, 30 mins., or can a mālā be used?

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté

First one needs to be mindful of what time brāhma-muhūrta begins. You can actually ~feel~ it if you are outside, you will sense this time as uplifting.

Brāhma-muhūrta begins 2 muhūrta before sunrise. We know that sun-rise changes by the day and season, yet one can adjust accordingly as it is easy to do.

So, 1 muhūrta equals 48 minutes; 2 muhūrta = 96 minutes or 1.6 hrs. before sunrise. For those studying jyotish, this time can also be measured in ghaṭikā-s , but we will leave that for another time.

praṇām

[philosoraptor]

I do my meditation during the brahma-muhurta. It's the best time, when the rest of the house is asleep and I'm well-rested and am not thinking about the previous day's stresses.

I'm curious though. How many of you who do sandhya-vandanam do it outside as opposed to indoors within your prayer room? I understand that doing it outdoors facing east (during prAtaH sandhya) is the correct procedure, but I wonder how many of those living outside India still follow that standard.

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté

Brāhma-muhūrta begins 2 muhūrta before sunrise.

Brāhma-muhūrta is part of saṃdhyopāsana: saṃdhyā + upāsana = saṃdhyopāsana. That is, when during the junction points of the day (saṃdhyā , some say saṃdhi) upāsana¹ is performed.

There are 3 times during the day : dawn ( and hence brāhma-muhūrta), noon & twilight. Each time has their entry point measured in muhūrta or in ghaṭikā-s.These 3 are sometimes known as traikālika saṃdhyā. Yet for some that are instructed where there is a 4th or chatur-saṃdhyā and this comes a midnight. We find those instructed with gāyatrī may have this 4th period. It is not for entry practitioners.


praṇām


1. upāsana - worship, spiritual endevors, meditation, etc.

[Jainarayan]

Namaste yajvan.

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namast�

First one needs to be mindful of what time brāhma-muhūrta begins. You can actually ~feel~ it if you are outside, you will sense this time as uplifting.

Brāhma-muhūrta begins 2 muhūrta before sunrise. We know that sun-rise changes by the day and season, yet one can adjust accordingly as it is easy to do.

So, 1 muhūrta equals 48 minutes; 2 muhūrta = 96 minutes or 1.6 hrs. before sunrise. For those studying jyotish time can also be measured in ghaṭikā-s , but we will leave that for another time.

praṇām

Thanks. I read somewhere that it is the 48 mins. before sunrise. But that doesn't leave much time for preparing for meditation, and meditation itself. Then I read the 2 hours, which seems to be just rounding off. I like your explanation better.

I also considered the time that sunrise changes as the seasons progress. My temple's calendar lists sunrises, as does the Vaishnava Calendar Services site. We recognize daylight saving time here. Tomorrow (6/6/12) sunrise is 05:28 by the temple's calendar. So I figure that Brahma muhūrta begins at roughly 04:00 here.

Yes, I have felt the difference in the morning at that time, when I worked overnights and went outside. There's a calmness and peace.

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté

If I may let me offer something additional from a past post...


One other thing that is less technical but very insightful is from the mahābhārata. Bhīṣma-ji is lying on a bed of arrows. As he prepares to exit the body, he praises kṛṣṇa-ji in multiple ways/names and forms. One attribute he says is the following: the saṁdhi's are thy joints.

We know that kṛṣṇa-ji is brahman ; Bhīṣma-ji also calls kṛṣṇa-ji the same, he says thou are the highest of the high, brahma¹ . So what does this tell us ? Saṁdhi is a joint , a connection point, a union point and is equal to saṁdhya. We have talked of it as being the 4 junction points of the day. That is a most attractive time for engaging in one's upāsana. From this information we can see why. It is that time that is close to brahma, Pure Being, kṛṣṇa-ji, the Divine, Pure Awareness. Yet there is more.
Kṛṣṇa-ji's time of the day are his joints (saṁdhi) but this also occurs between each yuga or age and at the end of each manvantara and kalpa. He is that perfect pause or rest ( another definiton of saṁdhi).

This pause or rest (saṁdhi) can also be found between each breath. It too is there. This pause or rest is found in madhya - central, middlemost, neither one or the other. Some say it is the 3rd.


This is one key principle found in the vijñāna bhairava of kaśmir śaivism. In this middle-most one can find nirvikalpaṃ or nirvikalpa - not wavering ; it also means not admitting an alternative , free from change or differences.


praṇām

1. brahma for brahman. - Note the following derivatives - brahma is used for the impersonal Supreme & brahmā for the personal Supreme

[devotee]

Namaste ,

Yajvan ji has given good insight to sandhi-kaal again. I do it (prayer/yogic exercises/meditation/Kriya) in the morning and also in the evening. Morning time starts at around 4:30/5:00 and lasts upto 6:00. In the evening I am not able to maintain the sandhi-kaal timing due to my office timing. And I do it slightly late in the evening. In fact, the morning time too somewhat goes beyond Sun rise !

OM

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

1. brahma for brahman. - Note the following derivatives - brahma is used for the impersonal Supreme & brahmā for the personal Supreme

I thought that was the case. I also read a reference to the time being devoted to Brahman, rather than the creator Lord Brahma, as one might interpret it.

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

Namaste ,

Yajvan ji has given good insight to sandhi-kaal again. I do it (prayer/yogic exercises/meditation/Kriya) in the morning and also in the evening. Morning time starts at around 4:30/5:00 and lasts upto 6:00. In the evening I am not able to maintain the sandhi-kaal timing due to my office timing. And I do it slightly late in the evening. In fact, the morning time too somewhat goes beyond Sun rise !

OM

How long did it take to adapt to rising so early? And how did you do it?

For example, I got home from temple last night about 8 pm. By 10:30 I was in bed. I woke up around 5 am this morning, but I remember thinking to myself that today would not be the day to do sadhana during brahma muhurta. I fell asleep until 6:15. I truly would like to be able to wake up, ready to go around 4-4:30 am, but I think the problem is I don't sleep well.

I admit that on the nights I go to temple, I have about 20 minutes from the time I get there until the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama starts at 6 pm. It gives me a chance to clear and calm my mind. Even during the chanting of the sahasranama by the priests (of which I do not understand a word), the chanting is conducive to meditating.

All bets are off any other time in the evening at home. I really have to find a way in the house (and using foam earplugs) that I can devote to meditation and prayers. I would prefer to do it at my shrine, but because it is in part of the "great room", a stupid architectural design in the US of combining the living room and dining room areas into one big open space, the tv is a great distraction, even with earplugs, because of the light and the flashing images on the screen.

I guess I'm asking for ideas on how to accomplish this given the disadvantages I'm up against.