At the closing of the day, the yogis gather to acknowledge both the setting of the sun and the arrival of the important time of the change over from lightness into darkness - the sandhya - and they use this time for sayam-vandana (evening prayers).

The word sandhya means "that which connects" or "junction". There are three Sandhyas each day - the first 24 minutes before sunrise called the brahma-muhurta , the second at noon or 24 minutes before the sun is in its zenith, and the third 24 minutes before sunset. Technically there is a fourth sandhya, namely the junction between one day and the next at midnight.

The early morning worship pratah-sandhaya is at a time of goodness, before the business of the day begins. At this time of the day everything is at peace - a good time for prayers. Madhyahnika is the mid-day time of worship where one can focus on interrupting the hectic schedule of the day, for a short while at least.

At these times the Gayatri is chanted. Why? Because glorification of the Lord is the essence of gayatri japa. The word gayatri comes from gaya - singing and tra - protecting or delivering. Japa comes from jap - to utter or whisper .

From my memory the Catholic bell for the Angelus also rings at 6.00 a.m., 12.00 and 6.00 p.m.to call the faithful to prayer.

At this this time we offer prayers to the real yogis who have preceded us, the spiritual masters who have given so much of themselves in order to link us with the Divine Personality.

Whether you chant Gayatri or just watch the sun set, remember to pause in your busy life and pay some respect to the time of junction as well as to all the yogis, past and present.