Sankalpa

Sankalp means "a solemn vow or resolution" made before starting any Hindu ritual or puja. It is the spiritual commitment or intention behind performing a ritual — a way of declaring to the deity, the priest, and oneself why the ritual is being done and for whom.
 
Why Is Sankalpa Done?

1. To Define Purpose - It sets a clear intention for the ritual — such as for health, peace, prosperity, thanksgiving, or fulfilment of a vow.
2. To Personalize the Ritual - It includes your name, gotra (lineage), place, time, and the deity — making the puja specific to you.
3. To Spiritually Commit - It is a verbal and mental offering to God, showing sincerity and devotion.
4. To Begin the Ritual Formally - Sankalp is the first official step in most pujas, homas, and vratas. It signifies the start of the sacred act.
5. To define the person, place, cosmic specifications & purpose

 
How Is Sankalpa Done?

1. Sit Facing East or North – with clean hands and mind.
2. Take water in the right hand (palm folded like a cup).
3. Place kusa grass or flowers if available.
4. The sankalpa is stated by keeping the hands in a specific mudra called the “sankalpa mudra”.  The left palm facing up is placed on the right thigh and it is covered by the right palm to represent the solemn vow.
5. Mentally focus on the deity.
6. Chant the Sankalpa Mantra (or say your intention in simple words).
7. Release the water into a plate or at the base of the deity’s image — symbolizing offering the vow to the Divine.

 
Simple Sankalpa Statement in English:
“I, [your name], of [your gotra], residing at [your place], am performing this puja today, on [date], for the blessings of [deity name], with full devotion, for the fulfilment of [mention purpose, like peace, health, success].”
Sanskrit & Transliteration of Sankalpa Mantra –
Om Vishnurvishnurvishnuh। Shrimadbhagavato Mahapurushashya Vishnoragyaya Pravartamanasya Adyaitasya Brahmanohni Dwitiye Parardhe Shrishvetavarahakalpe Vaivasvatamanvantare Ashtavimshatitame Yuge Kaliyuge Kali Prathamacharane Bhurloke Bharatavarshe Jambudvipe Bharatakhande Aryavartantargatabrahmavartasya India
​
……………………. Kshetre NCT …………………………..Mandalantaragate New Delhi …………………………Namninagare (Grame Va) Shrigangayah ............ …….(Uttare/Dakshine) Digbhage
Devabrahmanam Sannidhau Shrimannripativiravikramadityasamayatah ............ Sankhya-Parimite Pravarttamanasamvatsare Prabhavadishashthi-Samvatsaranam Madhye Kalayukta Namasamvatsare, Uttarayana ……………………….Ayane, Grishma ……………..Ritau, Jyeshtha …………………………..Mase, Krishna Paksha …………………………Pakshe, Panchami …………………………..Tithau, Shaniwara ……………………………….Vasare, Purva Ashadha ……………………………………Nakshatre, Shubha Yoge, Kaulava Karane, Dhanu ……………………….Rashisthite Chandre, Vrishabha ………………………………..Rashisthite Shrisurye, Mithuna ……………………..Rashisthite Devagurau Shesheshu Graheshu Yathayatha Rashisthanastheshu Satsu Evam Grahagunavisheshanavishishtayam Shubhapunyatithau ............ Gotrotpannasya ............ Sharmanah (Varmanah, Guptasya Va)
Aham ............ Shruti-Smriti-Puranokta-Punya-Phalapraptyartham Mama Sakutumbasya Saparivarasya Kshemastairyayurarogyaishwaryabhi-Vriddhyarthamadhibhautikadhi-Daivikadhyatmikatrividhitapashamanartham Dharmarthakamamokshaphalapraptyartham Nityakalyanalabhaya Bhagavatprityartham 


ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्तमानस्य अद्यैतस्य ब्रह्मणोह्नि द्वितीये परार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे वैवस्वतमन्वन्तरे अष्टाविंशतितमे युगे कलियुगे कलि प्रथमचरणे भूर्लोके भारतवर्षे जम्बूद्विपे भरतखण्डे आर्यावर्तान्तर्गतब्रह्मावर्तस्य भारत ………….क्षेत्रे राष्ट्रीय राजधानी………….. क्षेत्र मण्डलान्तरगते नई दिल्ली ……………………नाम्निनगरे (ग्रामे वा) श्रीगड़्गायाः ............ (उत्तरे/दक्षिणे) दिग्भागे
देवब्राह्मणानां सन्निधौ श्रीमन्नृपतिवीरविक्रमादित्यसमयतः ............ संख्या-परिमिते प्रवर्त्तमानसंवत्सरे प्रभवादिषष्ठि-संवत्सराणां मध्ये कालयुक्त नामसंवत्सरे, उत्तरायण …………..अयने, ग्रीष्म ………………ऋतौ, ज्येष्ठ……………… मासे, कृष्ण………………….पक्ष पक्षे, पञ्चमी ………………….तिथौ, शनिवार …………………….. वासरे, पूर्वाषाढा …………………………नक्षत्रे, शुभ योगे, कौलव ……………….करणे, धनु राशिस्थिते चन्द्रे, वृषभ ……………………राशिस्थितेश्रीसूर्ये, मिथुन राशिस्थिते देवगुरौ शेषेशु ग्रहेषु यथायथा राशिस्थानस्थितेषु सत्सु एवं ग्रहगुणविशेषणविशिष्टायां शुभपुण्यतिथौ ............ गोत्रोत्पन्नस्य ............ शर्मणः (वर्मणः, गुप्तस्य वा) सपरिवारस्य ममात्मनः
अहं ............ श्रुति-स्मृति-पुराणोक्त-पुण्य-फलप्राप्त्यर्थं मम सकुटुम्बस्य सपरिवारस्य क्षेमस्थैर्यायुरारोग्यैश्वर्याभिवृद्ध्यर्थमाधिभौतिकाधि-दैविकाध्यात्मिकत्रिविधतापशमनार्थं धर्मार्थकाममोक्षफलप्राप्त्यर्थं नित्यकल्याणलाभाय भगवत्प्रीत्यर्थं ............ देवस्य पूजनं करिष्ये।