Is it prohibited in scriptures to sleep at the sandhya time?

Question

Is there any scripture asking not to sleep at sandhya time or giving reasons about why to not sleep at sandhya time?

https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/q/29899/661 – hanugm May 24 '22 at 15:13 — hanugm, May 24 '22 at 15:13

Rickross · Accepted Answer · 2022-05-24T16:50:28.060

9

Yes it is prohibited ..

I am giving below some relevant verses from Manu Smriti and a couple of other scriptures.

Manu smriti 2.219. A (student) may either shave his head, or wear his hair in braids, or braid one lock on the crown of his head; the sun must never set or rise while he (lies asleep) in the village

2.220. If the sun should rise or set while he is sleeping, be it (that he offended) intentionally or unintentionally, he shall fast during the (next) day, muttering (the Savitri).

2.221. For he who lies (sleeping), while the sun sets or rises, and does not perform (that) penance, is tainted by great guilt.

When the sun rises then it's the first Sandhya and when it sets it's the third.

Similar references from other Dharmasutras:

A man who is asleep when the sun rises or sets, or has bad nails or black teeth; a man whose younger brother gets married before him or who gets married before his older brother; a man who marries a younger sister whose older sister remains unmarried or an older sister whose younger sister is already married; a man who has extinguished his sacred fires or forgets the Veda–– these are sinners.

Vashishta Dharma Sutras 1.18

Someone who is asleep at sunrise should stand during that day, remaining chaste and without eating any food; while someone who is asleep at sunset should stand during that night reciting the Sa¯vitri¯ verse.

Gautama Dharmasutras 23.21

edited May 24 '22 at 16:50

answered May 24 '22 at 13:52

Rickross

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ji what is time of third sandhya at what time it starts and ends? – Harsh May 24 '22 at 14:01
@Harsh In the following link put your place and scroll down .. it will give the Sandhya timings for your place ... If we ignore the noon Sandhya then there are only 2 Sandhyas otherwise 3 (https://www.drikpanchang.com/panchang/day-panchang.html) – Rickross May 24 '22 at 14:38
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Interesting -- are accommodations made in high latitudes in summer where night can be very short (very late sunset and very early sunrise), so it would be difficult to get a full night's sleep at usual times without having to set alarm(s) and wake up in the middle? In this case, would it be typical to adjust one's schedule earlier or later so as to sleep entirely during daylight? Also, even at moderate latitudes, are accommodations made in summer (short nights) for children who may need longer sleep than adults? – nanoman May 25 '22 at 03:02
I am not aware of such accommodations given in the scriptures ... sleeping during daytime is not recommended too .. moreover for children, the aged and sick persons rules mostly don't apply. @nanoman – Rickross May 25 '22 at 06:40
@Rickross i have one doubt – Harsh May 26 '22 at 12:38
Yes you can ask @Harsh – Rickross May 26 '22 at 13:02
See this image (in relation to one of my previous comments) -- https://imgur.com/a/qk1oSa0 @Harsh – Rickross May 26 '22 at 13:07
@Rickross i have other doubt not related to this – Harsh May 28 '22 at 12:03
Oh ok ... @Harsh – Rickross May 28 '22 at 12:46
@Rickross i know this is silly question but does our scriptures tell anything about cramming? – Harsh May 28 '22 at 13:42
@Harsh cramming meaning this? --- study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination. – Rickross May 28 '22 at 13:58
@Rickross yes.. – Harsh May 28 '22 at 14:20
I doubt anything is mentioned about that in scriptures @Harsh – Rickross May 28 '22 at 14:26
Let us continue this discussion in chat. – Harsh May 28 '22 at 14:30
@Rickross plz attend my one doubt in chat – Harsh Jun 14 '22 at 04:34
@Rickross what is status of offspring from same gotra married parents? – Harsh Aug 01 '22 at 15:43
By status you meant caste? @Harsh – Rickross Aug 01 '22 at 16:20
@Rickross yes.. – Harsh Aug 01 '22 at 16:24
Caste is determined as usual from the caste of the parents (irrespective of the Gotras) .. but same Gotra sex is like incest .. @Harsh – Rickross Aug 01 '22 at 16:26
Oh could be true .. but I have no idea about it (have not read anything like that) @Harsh – Rickross Aug 01 '22 at 16:29

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 02 '22 at 05:50

Yes, sleep at sandhya time is prohibited as per Mahabharata: Anusasana Parva: Section CIV because this time is prescribed for meditation, if people sleep at this time then, they have their lives shortened:

[Bhishma to Yudhishthira]

One should wake up from sleep at the hour known as the Brahma Muhurta and then think of both religion and profit.

One should not, O king, sleep at the evening twilight. Nor should one study at such an hour for acquiring any branch of knowledge. The man of intelligence should never eat also at such an hour. By acting in this way one acquires a long life.

Sleep at day-time shortens life. To sleep after the sun has risen shortens life. They who sleep at any of the twilights, or at nightfall or who go to sleep in a state of impurity, have their lives shortened.

When the evening twilight comes, one should collect one's senses for meditation, without doing any act.

Is it prohibited in scriptures to sleep at the sandhya time?

2 Answers2