Conduct of PANCHASANDHA a systematic recital of “YAJURVEDA” in five different ways

The chanting of “YAJURVEDA” panchasandha in  Sree Koodal Manikyam Temple, which is an ancient shrine dedicated to Bharatha, and incarnation of Vishnu, is scheduled to commerce on Shuklapaksh (bring half of moon) Panchami, ie.2^nd November,2008 (Tulam 17 Malayalam era) Sunday. About 25 vedic scholars will participate in this event and the symbolic worship involving the chanting of Vedas will last fpr 3 1/2 to 4 month. The recital will be conducted only on sadhyaya days which means the days on which Vedas cannot be chanted such as Amavasya, pournami, prathama etc. Will be excluded. Commencing at 5.30 in the morning, tha chanting will end at 12.30 midnight, where 17 hours of continual recital take place. During this period of continual recital, the temple will be open and devotees can visit and pray to Lord Bharatha. The panchasandha event will be conducted in the Namaskara Mandapam. This unique event of panchasandha is being held after a period of 92 years. In the days of yore, this mode of worship used to be conducted once in 36 years. Sri Koodal Manikyam who is the embodiment of Vedas as well as sacrifice (yanja) greatly appreciates this mode of worship. “Derelication in the conduct of panchasandha, as well as the other temple rites which used to be practiced in Koodal manikyam temple with unflinching and implacable codes of conduct” had perhaps engendered the calamities witnessed in recent years, opine noted astrologers. Since the continuous recital of Vedas for 17 hours calls for an intense discipline and hard ship our ancient scholars had prescribed a different life style to those engaged in this glorious mode of worship, in order to sustain the privations of such a regimen.

YAJURVEDA PANCHASANDHA

The term “Veda” has sprung from the word “vid”- which means “to know” or knowledge. Vedas are not created by man. Since Vedas have manifested through intense meditation of ancient Rishi the Vedas are timeless and incomprehensible to mundane intellect.

It is known that in the foregone Yugas, The Vedas existed in one bulk which, towards the end of the last Dwapara Yuga, Veda Vyasa Maharshi divided and condifide into 4 parts known as the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vadas. Veda also means mixture of “Mantra and Bhrahmanam”. Yejurveda is againdivided into Krishna and Sukla’ Yejurvedas, both of which contain  several shakkas (Branches). Of these, Taithirya Sakka which is a part of Krishna Yajur Vada is prevalent in Kerala, in which Brahmanam as well as Mantras appear in a conjoined pattern.

Yejurveda is again sundivided into 4 Padas and 7 Kandas. These 7 Kandas contain 44 prasnas. Over 600 Anuvakas are available in these 44 prasnas. In kerala Anuvaka is knownas “Oath” Each Anuvaka contains several Padas. One “Panchadi” Contains 50 such padas in a particular Anuvaka. After deducting 50 padas and making a Panchadi, even if the remaining words do not measure upto a 50, it is still known as a Panchadi. The 50^th padam in a Panchadi is known as a ‘Kuduma’.

Panchasandha

The chanting of Yajurveda in the pattern of Samhitha, Kottu, Padam, Nettoth Samhita, Nettoth padam involving an intricate mosaic of different styles of rendering the Vedic text is called the Panchasandha.

Samhita

In the mode of samhita recital, I person recites recites one panchadi in a protracted or lengthy manner which the other co-participants intone in ordinary style 5 times.

Kottu

Kottu has usually 4 padas. If one person recites one kottu in ordinary style, the co- participants should recite it in the same mode 3 times. Kottu is also known as Ghosham, merely as an embellishment of the word Kottu.

Padam

One person recities a panchadi in the normal style and co- participants chant this panchadi in the same mode 5 times. This known as padam.

Nettith Samhita

One entire Anuvaka (Oath) is recited by a person in an elongated style which his partners recite in an intermediate or different style. This is known as “Nettoth”.

Nettoth padam

Here the entire ‘Oath’ or Anuvaka is recited in the normal style which the others will intone in the same patteren once.

Thus the stage is set for an elaborate vedic chant lasting for a period of nearly four months. No doubt, the power of Vedas being incomparable, the recital will benefit humanity, and usher in an era of peace, tranquility and well-being.