 Gayathri Mahima
GAYATRI MANTRA .
The two great Mantras of Veda are Gayatri Mantra and Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantra. Gayatri mantra is extremely famous and powerful because of two reasons :-
i. the vibrations that it creates and
ii. it asks for the ultimate and the ultimate is enlightenment or God realization.
If you listen to Gayatri mantra you will find that they are three swaraas, as to the pitch of the sound, udaata , anudaata and swarita - the high, low and middle respectively. Chanting Gayatri mantra in this dimension brings about certain vibrations. These vibrations help us in life from being lifted by sorrow. Most of our sorrows are born out of
ignorance. If ignorance is eliminated , then our sorrow also is eliminated. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says : ajnaanenaavrtam jnaanam tena muhyanti jantavah …..(Ch. 5.
vs.15). Because of ignorance , ajnaanena , our intellect , jnaanam , is covered and because of this mankind is unhappy and deluded. Gayatri mantra, through creating powerful vibrations, eliminates the sorrow which is born out of ignorance. Throughout a period of time always understand “let your path be towards enlightenment” and truly practice the Gayatri mantra , you experience silence, silence and in the silence when you look at the world everything is Soundarya Lahari , waves and waves of beauty. This beauty is ultimately God. Your prayer is an offering of yourself to the ultimate beauty which is indeed God.
Meaning of Gayatri.
The meaning of the word gaayatri is simply this : gaayantam thraayati iti gaayatri , which means , “It is Gayatri, as it protects those who chant it”. The gayatri mantra is an universal prayer as it is the powerful and meaningful link between man enmeshed in mundane concerns and the Supreme Being, of whom man and the entire universe are the emanations or creations. It gets the name Gaayatri from the metre in which it is composed. Most people take it to be a mantra meant for meditating upon the Sun god given the well known meaning of Sun from the word ‘Savitaa’ appearing here. There is also another etymological meaning of the word –“the progenitor”, which indicates the Supreme Being from which the universe emanates. So it normally is explained as we meditate upon that adorable light of the Sun or Supreme Being so that it may inspire our intellect. There are 2400 hymns in the four Vedas. The essence of all these have been combined into 24 syllables called Gaayatri . Atri rishi has been the great seer who sang it for the first time in the melodious tune, since then it has been known as
Gaayatri .
A mahaa mantra.
Gayatri mantra is known as mahaa mantra in the Vedas. In the words of Gaayatri lies the whole universe. Meditation with the chants of gaayatri connects one to the throbbing Being who is the essence of living. It is believed that Gaayatri came out of the primordial sound ‘AUM’ and all the Vedas emanated from Gaayatri . In the Vedas, Gaayatri has been given the name ‘Vedamaata’ meaning the mother of knowledge and wisdom. The glory of Gaayatri has been described throughout the Vedic literature.
According to Vedic tradition, Gayatri mantra should be taught as the first lesson to each child of the family. The recitation of the first three words ‘bhur bhuva suvah’ connects the individual to all the three levels of consciousness – physical, psychological and spiritual. Bhur symbolises the physical body composed of five elements, such as earth, water, air, ether and fire(energy). With prayer one asks for full harmony and support with the Cosmic forces. The word Bhuva stands for the thought process as a controller of the astral body or the inner nature. Suvah stands for indwelling light, the Supreme Self. “May we meditate solemnly, devoutly and earnestly, meditate upon the most glorious effulgence in the heart of the Sun; may this adorable guardian light illumine and guide us ever” –tat savitur varenyam , bhargo devasya dhimahi , diyo yo
nah prachodayaath .
Influence of Gayatri mantra.
In the history of civilization the Sun has been one entity that has commanded great awe , reverence and thus worship. The Sun has already been a source of light and controlling factor in our lives as well as the focal point of our spiritual meditation. The energy of the Sun as the benevolent mother of the Universe, is known to us as Gaayatri. The Gayatri mantra exerts its influence over various levels of our existence : physical, mental and emotional. In our experimenting with the mantra we might experience divine bliss , leading us towards that ultimate spiritual Enlightenment. You live in a Universe and there is a Universe within you. There is an external Sun and an internal Sun. Gayatri mantra blesses us with divine energy from both of them. Maitri Upanishad says : “Those two, the Sun and the spirit within, attract each other. One should worship them with the word Aum , together with the three mystic pronouncements bhur - bhuva –suvah and the gaayatri upaasana - tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dheemahi dhiyo yona prachodayaath -- one should absorb oneself contemplating that the Sun is AUM .
Thus spake …
Swami Shivananda translates the Gayatri mantra as “Let us meditate on God Almighty and His glory, Who has created the Universe, Who is remover of all sins and ignorance. May He enlighten our intellect”. Similarly in Devi Bhagavatam, the glory of Gaayatri has been described that the worship of Gaayatri constitutes the entire essence of all the Vedas. Even Brahma himself meditates on Gaayatri. Swami Dayananda Saraswathi , a great commentator on Vedas, has given the meaning of Gaayatri in these words – “O! Omnipotent Lord! Thou are the dearest life breath, Keep us away from evil intentions and physical sufferings. May we have the pure vision in our mind. O! God lead us from darkness to light.May Thy kindness direct our thoughts towards the righteous path. May we surrender all our work to you and attain ultimate emancipation and liberation”. Anand Swamiji, in his book, ‘Gayatri Maha Mantra’, has written the meaning of Gaayatri in these words, “O Divine power, you are the creator and sustainer of the Universe, may we meditate on Thy glorious splendour, and offer all our activities to your humble service. Bless us with mental, spiritual and intellectual strength. Give us the ability of total surrender. Please illuminate our mind with Thy grace and inspire our spiritual perception”. Gayatri mantra is a compact prayer and in most cases it does prepare the individual for all kinds of advanced spiritual awareness. All the Vedas declare, the meditation on Gaayatri as an obligatory worship for each individual. Sri Krishna speaks of Gaayatri as one of His attributes ..gaayatri chandasaam aham -
Bhagavad Gita.. Ch.10 , vs.35 .
Chanting of Gayatri mantra.
Gayatri mantra is the most potent of all chants, the quintessence of all the Vedas. Amongst all chants Gayatri mantra is the most supreme, and all other chants, all other manner and forms of worship derive their power only on the strength of this ‘mother of all Vedic chants’ – gaayatrim chandasaam maata ; in point of fact all other chants do not bear fruit if one does not chant the Gayatri mantra as prescribed. On the other hand, if one chants fervently on the Gayatri mantra to the exclusion of all others, it protects him over, grants him well-being, peace and prosperity. The Gayatri mantra should be recited 1008 times daily. The mantra chanted devoutly again and again at day break and dusk ensures the merit of recitation of the Vedas themselves –so declares Manu –‘etadaksharametaam …………………..yujyate !
Gayatri japa
Gayatri japa brings harmony at all the three levels of consciousness. It keeps electrifying the thoughts with spiritual power. It purifies the thoughts, speech and action. This mantra, learnt properly, and practiced with faith and reverence does ensure innumerable benefits , physical, mental and material depending on one’s power of concentration and devotion. The prescribed recitation of the Gaayatri drives away chronic mental depression totally, promotes vigour and enthusiasm, ensures harmony and all-round well being besides, of course invaluable knowledge of the Supreme Reality. The daily systematic ordained chant of the Gaayatri mantra enables one to achieve the inner harmony that is the purpose of life.
Glory of Gaayatri .
‘O Gaayatri ! Fire represents thy mouth : Brahma, the head : Vishnu, the heart : Rudra, the crown-hair : earth, the origin : the in-breath, the out-breath, the diffused breath, the up-breath, and the middle breath are all thy breath indeed. Thou art fair in hue and are of the same family as the Paramaatman’. In the Sandhya Vandana , there is a very significant pronouncement that runs thus : ‘ Ojosi sahoasi ….. Gaayatrim …..Savitrim ….Saraswathim …..aavaahayaami’ -- which means “O Gaayatri! Thou art vigour , Thou indeed art stamina, Thou art invigorating sustenance, Thou art the brilliance in everything : Thou art the origin and power of Gods : Thou art the Universe and its duration : Thou art existence and the life-span, verily : Thou excelleth everything that is : Thou art the ‘truth’ inherent – the pranava”. The Gaayatri is also hailed as Saavitri (the power of life) – the indweller and inspiring force of all creation known ---
Savitr and hence Saavitri and as Saraswathi , the conferror of true knowledge and
Transcendental wisdom and hence Saraswathi --- Mahanarayanopanishad , sec.35. vs1
(second part). The Gaayatri is also known as Saavitri , a mantra, which is used for the
worship of Sun god .The holy scriptures describe that anybody who worships the rising Sun with the recitation of Gaayatri , receives a special blessing from the Divine. Maitri
Upanishad describes the glory of Gaayatri in these words, “Gaayatri is the splendour, the beauty and the glamour of Saavitri . Let us meditate on Saavitri with chanting of its
Holy words. ‘yat dhyaati tat bhavati’ –“whatever one contemplates on intensely (full of faith and devotion) that he becomes, verily”. The same is true of the chant. The more you meditate on it, the more you acquire knowledge of the Supreme Reality that Gaayatri
symbolises. All the Upanishads stress this truth. “Gaayatri indeed is all this, whatever is being exist” – idam yat kim cha bhutam , idam sarvam vai Gaayatri … Chandogya
Upanishad (3. 12. 1 ).
The Mother of all metres.
Gaayatri is the name of a vedic metre. ; it is the root of all metres and the greatest among them –the mother of all metres. Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (Ch.X.vs 35) gaayatri chandasaam aham -“of all metres I am Gaayatri”. Brahma may be expounded and meditated upon by means of Gaayatri. Chandogya Upanishad advises us –“Indeed, the Gaayatri is everything here that has come to be whatsoever there is. Gaayatri is verily, speech, manner and action : invoked duly , Gaayatri protects everything there is, that has come to be !”. (3. 12. 1 of C.U.)
The Gayatri is called gaayatri because it sings – gaayati – and protects – traayate .
Effect of Gayatri mantra.
His Holiness Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam of the Sri Saradapeetam, Sringeri, points out that ‘ this holiest of all holy mantras contain in it the meaning of all the Upanishadic mahaavaakyaas (great pronouncements) and regular recitation of these mantras, as ordained, removes all sins, grants ‘fulfilment of all
(legitimate) desires and transforms one’s life into an ocean of bliss. Prof. J.B.S. Haldane,
the great scientist has recommended, in all respect, admiration and earnestness, that ‘the
Gayatri mantra should be carved on the doors of every laboratory in the world’.
May the boon conferring divine mother Gaayatri grace us with the knowledge of the Imperishable Brahman as revealed by the Vedas. May Gaayatri bless us with the supreme knowledge of the Brahman – aayaathu varadaa devi …..
Brahma jhushasva nah …..Mahanarayanopanishad (34 . 1).
Conclusion.
“ May Gaayatri , the Vedic Mother, who glorifies the Supreme Being, having been duly invoked by me grant me,and others qualified, longevity, progeny, purposeful well-being, cattle, renown, material prosperity and spiritual splendour. May Gaayatri then go back to the Supreme Brahman from whom She emanates. – stutha Maayaa Varadaa Veda Maathaa …………Brahmalokam ….
Atharva Veda –XIX. 71. 1. ‘O Goddess Gaayatri! Thou mayest now go and remain at Thy pleasure on the highest and holiest peak on the earth, the Mount Meru, until Thou art invoked again by the duly initiated’ ----uttame sikhare Devi ………Gacha Devi ….. Gacha Devi Yathasukham …..Mahanarayanopanishad , sec.36 vs.1.
BY MY FRIEND MADHAVAJJA
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