Sanjhi

Sanjhi

Sanjhi leela is celebrated for 14 days as sanjhi and on Ashwin Krushna Amavasya, Kot aarti is performed (which is the last day of Sanjhi).

The gopikas create beautiful pictures on the ground/walls depicting the places, leelas, characters etc of Vraja and other places. After that, they do the poojan of these pictures and thus the poojan of Sanjhi.

They did the poojan with the objective of getting Shree Krishna as her husband. These pictures were created by Flowers, natural colors, leaves of bananas and in water. These are the four types of Sanjhi that are done in pushtimarg.

During sanjhi, shree prabhu goes to Barsana to pluck and gather flowers from the forests of Barsana to do the poojan of Sandhya Devi. Shree Prabhu disguises as Shayama Sakhi (the form of a Gopi)

Vrajbhaktins did the poojan of this devi during this period for 14 days and as a result, got Shree Vrajraj Shree Krishna in Maharaas. This is called as "Sanjhi" or "Sandhya".

Why it is named as Sanjhi?

Once, Shree Brahmaji was doing meditation (dhyaan) and from his meditation, appeared the manas putri (daughter) of Shree Brahmaji. She bowed before him and asked Brahmaji about her duty. Brahmaji replied "Tap Tap Tap". Shree Vasistha muni arrived and initiated this sandhya devi with mantra "Namo Bhagawate Vasudevay". Sandhya devi performed penance excessively in the forest.  Pleased with her meditation, Shree Vishnu with Garuda appeared before her. He was satisfied with her penance and asked her to seek some boon. At that time, Sandhya Devi seeked 3 boons from Lord Shree Vishnu. 1. A Jeeva must not get the Kaam Vasna (carnal desires) during the birth, and during his/her complete life. 2. Her Pati Vrat remains as it is. 3. The one who does the aradhana of her, his/her all desires must get fulfilled.

Shree Vishnu did some changes in the first boon that Jeeva will not get carnal desires at his/her childhood and old age. Shree Vishnu bestowed her all other rest of boons. Shree Vishnu now told to Sandhya devi that, as initially, she had the desire to quit her body, She should enter into the Holy fire of Yagya done at the banks of River Chandrabhaga by Maharshi Megha. By doing so, she will become the daughter of Agnidev.

But when Sandhya devi did that per the advise of Lord Shree Vishnu, She waas taken by Sauryadev after she entered the holy fire of Yagya and quit her body.  Suryadev took her to Surya mandal, his abode.  There she assumed the form of "TRIKAAL SANDHYA". Then she became "ARUNDHATI'.

Sanjies at Nathadwara

 Punam – Vishram ghat – depicting arch of the main ghat, stairs, arti, trees, Baithakji

1^st – Madhuvan, talvan – depicting killing demons, herding cows, picnic, Baithakji, monkeys, Krushna and Radhaji, Girirajji

2^nd – Bahulavan, Shantanu kunda – depicting water tank, temple, cows, Baithakji, swastika, killing of Putana, lion, Girirajji

3^rd – Kumudvan –

4^th Krushna kunda, Radha kunda – depicting foot prints of the Lord, 2 / 4 bangalas, cows, herdsmen, Girirajji, baithakji

5^th – Danaghati – depicting bangalas, Krushna breaking the pots of gopies, trees, monkeys, peacocks

6^th – Kusum sarovar, Chandra sarovar, Raasa – depicting various water tanks, trees, monkeys, Krishna and gopies in a rasa mandal

7^th – Giriraji, Gulal kunda – depicting Girirajji, trees, monkeys, Baithakji, bangalas, a water tank with red / pink waters (gulal kunda)

8^th - Bhojanthali, Charan pahadi – depicting plates and bowls of food, Jariji, picnic, Mahadevji, pond / water tank

9^th – Nandagava, Barasana – depicting the two towns by various bangalas, various ponds, Baithakji, gopies, peacocks, monkeys

10^th – Karalavan, Kokilvan – depicting trees, birds, peacocks, Baithkji

11^th – Lalbaag, Nathadwara – depicting the various gates, buildings, ponds, trees, guards in the Lalbaag outside Nathadwara

12^th – Chiraghat – depicting Shri Yamunaji, trees, monkeys, peacocks, Baithakji

13^th – Vrindavan, Sheshsai – depicting trees, peacocks, monkeys, Baithakji, cows, herdsmen, gopies

14^th – Shri Dauji, Gokul – depicting Shri Dauji’s temple, Baithakji, various banglas, temples, cows, gopies, herdsmen

Amas – Kotaki sanji – depicting the temple of ShriNathji, its various buildings, cows, bulls, elephants, horses, guards, vaishnavs, gopies, gopas, peacocks, monkeys.