Pujya Bhaishri, it is said that one must wake up before sunrise and this time is known as Brahma muhurta. So, what is Brahma muhurta? At this time, in Brahma muhurta, after waking up, what should a spiritual aspirant do?
This universe is operating in a rhythm. Our body is also a part of this universe and it has a rhythm. For example, it feels hungry at the right time, it feels sleepy at the right time. If the body demands something, we understand this and provide it on time, such that when hungry, we leave 100 tasks and sit to eat; when sleepy, unless it is extremely important, we leave everything and go to sleep. The second and third prahara (subdivisions of time of 3 hours each) of the night provide ideal rest to the body.
Look at the behaviour of birds. At dawn, they return to their nests. You can hear their songs on trees. As soon as night falls, they all become quiet and fall asleep. Early in the morning, once again, the same chirping and singing begins as they wake up. Then, they fly, go to look for food, or begin to make their nests. This way, they live a beautiful and natural life.
So, in the first prahara of the night, one completes all the tasks. In the second and third prahara one sleeps then wakes up in the fourth prahara.
This period of early in the morning, around 4.30am, is known as Brahma muhurta.
Why is it known as Brahma muhurta? Because, at that time, the state of the body and mind is such that, we can easily engross our mind in the Supreme Almighty.
One cannot sleep without the tamoguṇa (quality of inertia) and without rajoguṇa (quality of activity), one cannot perform actions. In the day, the mode of activity dominates, hence we are busy working. Due to the mode of activity, we possess qualities such as: material desires, anger, greed.
śri-bhagavān uvāca
Kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇa samudbhava SBG 3.37
Material/sensual desires and anger arise from the quality of activity.
Rajaso lobha eva ca – God says in Gita.
Greed also manifests from the quality of activity.
So, we perform our actions based on all these arising from the quality of activity and these three: material desires, anger and greed can be put to good use.
For instance, be angry on our weaknesses. Otherwise anger becomes our weakness.
Be greedy such that as much as possible, do what you intended for tomorrow today, what you intended for today now. Similarly, make the most of now, who has seen tomorrow? This is also a type of greed, that the current moment is in our hands, let as make the most of it through virtuous deeds.
Direct desires towards God also.
Thus, in the day, the mode of activity dominates and at night the mode of inertia dominates.
What happens in Brahma muhurta? We have woken up from sleep, so we are coming out of the quality of inertia and we have not started to perform our duties. We are not dominated by the quality of activity, so this period in between is dominated with the mode of goodness (sattvaguṇa). Thus, dusk is given great importance. When the effect of the mode of goodness is high, the mind is calm and then it is easy to engross the mind in God. This meditation in Brahma muhurta is also very blissful.
However, for this, one thing is important, that you will need to sleep early. Today, our lifestyle is such that we sleep very late. Due to this, our body needs greater rest. I have seen many people, many elderly people, many great leaders’ lifestyle, that between 9pm and 9.30pm they go to sleep and wake up between 4pm to 4.30pm. They then reflect on God and oneself. If necessary, in the afternoon, they will take a nap for half an hour to an hour so that the body gains the rest it requires, and the full benefit of Brahma muhurta can be gained.
In addition, the effect of ozone is higher at this time. Our doctors and Yogis teach us that walking at this time and filling the lungs with ozone is very healthy physically. But for this, the rhythm of the body must be maintained, this is imperative.
What is disease? It is the break in harmony of the body. Let us maintain the harmony and rhythm of our body so that we can benefit from the best time of Brahma Muhurta for worship.