The Science of Sankalpa

In Sanskrit Sankalpa is a composite word ‘San’ means good and ‘Kalpa’ means a Sasthra

or a Veda.  The Vedas say that the whole universe is evolved through Sankalpa -- the ceaselessly acting impulsions of karma driven by cosmic Kama -- and hence it is only through Sankalpa that the universe retains its karmic structure, appearances, and continuance. In simple words Sankalpa is thought, intention, or will directed toward a specific outcome. Sankalpa is an Oath, before doing any Japa or Prayer. This is a best form of inform the creator on what we are going to Give and what we want for our effort. Will is greater than the Mind. For when wills, one reflects, then he utters Speech, then he utters it in Name. In the Name mantras become one; and in the mantras, the sacrifices become one. Sankalpa is a conception or idea or notion formed in the heart or mind, solemn vow or determination to perform, desire, definite intention, volition or will . In practical terms, the word, Sankalpa, means the one-pointed resolve to do or achieve; and both psychologically and philosophically, it is the first practical step by which the sensitivity and potentiality of the mind is increased; it is known as the capacity to harness the will-power and the tool to focus and harmonies the complex body-mind apparatus. In order to achieve a particular motive and to achieve a particular aim a specific resolve in the form of penance is necessary which should be accompanied by Sankalpa. The daily practice of Sankalpa Mudra is recommended to make that resolve firm and specific. Then the body and the mind become charged with special waves that make a person self-confident, resolute and motivated.

Jyothishya – The science of light

Jyothishya is the six auxiliary disciplines to support Vedic rituals. The word Jyothishya in Sanskrit is a composite word consisting of ‘Jyothi being light and ‘Isha’ being lord. Jyothishya thus translates into "the Lord of Light" or "the Knowledge of Light". This is “the Eye of the Vedas.” This is also the intricate personal science of the Seven Rays Of Light and Sound. The Grahas (planet) weave a web of light and sound upon us at the moment of our first breath into our earthly bodies.

Jyothishya is the study of the light that comes to us from the sun, moon, stars and planets. These visible things are fixed in nature, reflecting more the principle of what we might call fate. Inner light can be thought of as cognition or intuition—the elements beyond astronomy and mathematics that make up astrology. This inner light helps us perceive our true nature and activate our free will to see and shift obstacles in our path. Jyothishya gives us tools to cultivate our understanding of both inner and outer light. This is comprised of Six Branches. These are Gola, Ganita, Jataka, Prashna, Muhurta, and Nimitta.

 The first branch is Gola. Gola is observational astronomy.  Ganita is the second branch of Jyothishya. Ganita is calculation.  Jataka is the third branch of Jyothishya. Prasana is the fourth branch of Jyothishya. Prasana is a Sanskrit word that means “question” and its practice entails treating a question put to the astrologer as the moment of inception, similar to the moment of birth for a person. Muhurtha is the fifth branch of Jyothishya. Muhurtha is the Sanskrit word for “moment,” and is focused on picking an auspicious moment in which to begin a new endeavor. By picking the best moment, we can infuse the birth of the endeavor with the best possible astrological energy for success. Nimitta is the sixth and final branch of Jyothishya. Also called omenology, it is the art of studying and reading phenomena that occur at the time of a question, usually related to nature.

 Sankalpa sloka and its Significance…

A Vedic Jyothishya – The science of light and 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.

The Sankalpa is day’s guide. Panchanga is used for knowing the five basic characteristics of time for sankalpa, locating dates for Yagna, yagas, vratas, Locating dates of shraddhas, locating muhurtha and look for auspicious/inauspicious timings for the use of common public. The performer is well versed with day's Tithi (Lunar Day), Vara (Day), Nakshatra (Moon's Constellation), Yoga (Sun, Moon Combination), and Karana (Half of Tahiti), along with Moon's current Position and Chaitra Paksheeya, Ayanamsha. It also gives your day’s Tarabala, Chandra Bala, Ashtama Chandra, Ghata Vara, Rahukala, Gulika, Yamaganda Timings, varjyam, Durmhurtha, Quality of Tahiti, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, Sun rise, Moon rise timings and Raasi, Nakshatra change timings, Chowghati, Hora timings, Muhurtha timings along with day guide and predictions based on Tarabala.  This information is the process of selecting an auspicious moment to start any activity, is quite complex and needs a very good knowledge of Jyothishya. Panchanga is a tool for the application of this knowledge. Panchanga is a Sanskrit word, literally meaning "having five limbs“. These five limbs are linked to the five elements of fire, water, earth, air, and sky. The entire world is made up of these five elements or Panca Tattvas and the mind experiences the world through these elements.  The "five attributes" of the day or Vara are Tithi, Nakshatra, Raasi, Yoga, and Karana.

Vara is the lord of the day and is ruled by Mars, the ruler of the Fire element. Tithi is the lord of the lunar month or phase of the Moon and is ruled by Venus the ruler of the Water element. Karana is the lord of the half Tithi and is derived from the Tithi. It is ruled by Mercury the ruler of the Earth element. Nakshatra, Sanskrit for “night space or place” is the space the Moon travels thru in one day and is ruled by Saturn, the ruler of the air element.    Yoga is the combination of the movement of the Sun and the Moon and is ruled by Jupiter, the ruler of Space or the Sky element.

Hora is one hour. Hora Chakra to find auspicious and inauspicious timings for a day . The time duration of one day and one night is known as Ahora. There are 7 different Hora and total 24 Hora in a day. All seven Hora are cyclic and rotate in a constant fixed cycle throughout day and night. 

 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, and 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 “Aadya Bramhane Dwiteeya Parardhe” 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 (1st 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 inJambudweepa (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 Bharatavarsha 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 Chitra 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 Amavasya.

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 the Sankalpa 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.

Thus,

Sankalpa plays a significant role in the life of an individual, and it helps gaining back lost health and wealth, begetting offspring, divine help and assistance during difficult period in one’s life. In addition, keeps the performer active as walking encyclopedia of Jyothishya Shastra.

Sivkishen, Author, Kingdom of Shiva