How to do Sankalpam in USA, step-by-step

The Sankalpa, or Sankalpam, is a mantra that Hindus say in the beginning of all pujas (rituals), like Ganesh Chaturthi, Satyanarayan puja, etc. It pinpoints the time and place that the individual conducting the puja occupies. It has 5 steps:

1. The location where the puja is being performed
2. The time when the puja is being performed
3. The people performing the puja
4. Why you’re performing the puja
5. Name of the puja

STEP 1: Describe the location of the puja, in the following order (example Sankalpam for USA below)

• Krauncha dweepam (the island of Krauncha)
• Ramanaka varshe (the region of Ramanaka)
• Aindra Khande (the continent of Aindra)
• Meru Pashchima Digbhaage (on the western side of Mount Meru)
• Uttara Americayam (North America)
• Atlantic Pacific Saagarayormadhya Deeshe (the country between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans)
• Rocky McKinley Parvathayormadhye (between the Rocky and McKinley mountain ranges)
• Mississippi Missouri ithyadi nadi parivaaha pranthe (in the region where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers flow)
• State and city you are in

STEP 2: Describe the time of the puja, in the following order (Sankalpam for today)

Use this tool for today’s time description. Or follow this detailed explanation below with 22^nd May 2019 as an example:

• Vikari naama samvathsare: name of the year 2019 (see list of names for the Telugu year till 2106)
• Uttara aayane: whether in the upper half (Uttara) of the year (Jan 13-Jun 13), or lower half (Dakshina) of the year (Jun 13-Jan 13)
• Vasantha rithou: name the season – Vasantha (Spring), Greeshma (Summer), Varsha (Rainy), Sharad (Autumn), Hemantha (Pre-Winter), Sisira (Winter/Fall)
• Jyeshthamu maase: name the Telugu month. Telugu month names:

Mar/Apr: Chaitramu	Apr/May: Vaishakamu
May/Jun: Jyeshthamu	Jun/Jul: Aashadhamu
Jul/Aug: Shravanamu	Aug/Sep: Bhadrapadamu
Sep/Oct: Ashvayujamu	Oct/Nov: Kaarthikamu
Nov/Dec: Maargashirshamu	Dec/Jan: Pushyamu
Jan/Feb: Maakhamu	Feb/Mar: Phaalgunamu

• Krishna pakshe: whether in the first (Shukla) or second fortnight (Krishna) of the lunar month
• Chaturthi shubha tithou: the actual day within the fortnight (see full list of thithis)
• Soma vaasare: name of the weekday – Sunday-Aadi, Monday-Soma, Tuesday-Mangala, Wednesday-Budha, Thursday-Guru, Friday-Shukra, Saturday-Shani
• Poorvashaada nakshatra: ‘star’ for the day (see full list)

STEP 3: Name the people performing the puja

• If the whole family is participating, Say asmakam sahakuthumbhanaam
• Else name the males by saying: Shriman <the gothram> gothraha, <name> naamadheyaha
• And name the females by saying: Shrimati <the gothram> gothraha, <name> naama dheyasya

STEP 4: List the reasons you’re doing the puja

<say the list of things you’re hoping for> purushartha sidyartham

Common reasons are: Kshema (safety), dhairya (courage), aayuhu (long life), aarogya (health), aishwarya (prosperity), putra-poutra-abhivrudhyartham (wellbeing of children), dharma (justice), moksha (nirvana)

STEP 5: Finally, state which puja you’re doing

Sri <name of the puja/ritual> japam aham karishye