Note 12 — MY INDIAN FRIENDS. IV.

Sandhyâ is derived from Sandhi, literally the joining, the coming together of day and night, or night and day. Sandhivelâ is twilight, and Sandhyâ has the same meaning. Sandhyâvandana was originally the twilight-worship, the morning and evening prayer, to which a third was added (the Mâdhyâhnika) the noon prayer, when the sun culminated. These prayers were once incumbent on every Brâhman, though they have now assumed a very perfunctory form, or are omitted altogether.