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Gāyatri Mahāmantra (A humble dedication to the loving memory of my heavenly parents) (Arjun Rao Madas, D.C.P., B.Com., LL.B.) (Retiree: United Nations)
Tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayāt !
What is a Mantra ? In Sanskrit the meaning of the word Mantra is interpreted as follows: Mananāt trāyata iti mantrah ! (That which inspires the mind is a mantra).
All mantras are composed of certain mystically enchanting alphabetical characters, which exert and influence the mind. The sound of their utterance influences both our body and mind. Focusing attention on their meaning exerts tremendous influence on our mind. Their incantation performs a triple-sided action on the vital nerves of our brain, which controls our body and mind. In the first place, their utterance serves as a good vocal exercise; secondly, focusing attention on their meaning acts as an effective mental exercise; and thirdly, hearing of their sound stimulates our nervous system. The first affects the life force (Prańa shakti), the second influences the mind and the third, vitalizes the brain centers. They purify and lift us to a higher state of awareness. They have tremendous transformative power capable enough to protect and redeem the one who holds the mantra in his awareness.
Chanting a sacred mantra substantially influences both our body and mind. Like every object in this world, our body is made up of billions and trillions of tiny micron cells. Every cell in the body is made up of a vibrating energy with each cell having its own sound frequency. Each movement of our body produces certain vibrations. When there is vibration, there is a resultant sound. By instinct, all cells in different parts of our body keep constantly moving in unison inside the body. This natural process of our body cells is vitally important to keep and maintain a natural rhythm and harmony in our body. Though these tiny cells perform such an important function, we hardly notice their presence or realize their importance to our very existence. For any reason if there is an interruption in the natural rhythm and harmony in the movement of these tiny cells, our body immediately reacts, thereby giving rise to a disease or disorder in the body.
OM : In the beginning of the creation there was only a mystic sound humming, vibrating and echoing in the entire cosmos. That divine sound was "Om", a word which came to be regarded as the holiest of all the words known to mankind. It constituted of three literal characters A, U and M. Ever since the beginning of the creation, the sound of that divine word prevailed upon the entire cosmos, including the earth, the galaxies and the heavens. It came to be regarded as all pervading sound symbolizing the entity of God and is concealed behind every sound. It gets initiated with the sound produced by the letter "A" which is first of all the alphabets and foremost of all vowel sounds. It occupies a prominent place among all literal characters because it is necessary for utterance of every sound. Then follows the vowel sound produced by the letter "U" which modifies the first sound. The nasalization of the third letter "M" produces a humming sound of "Om" which our holy scriptures assert as the mightiest spiritual monosyllable that symbolizes the name of God, who is ONE without a second or alternative to Him. He is Absolute and Eternal. He was never born nor will he ever cease to exist. The past, present and the future are His own attributes. The Mandūkya Upanishad states:
Bhūtam, bhavad bhaviśyad iti sarvam Omkāra eva yaccānyata trikālātitam tadapi Omkāra eva
(Everything that is past, present and future verily Omkāra, and that which is beyond these three attributes of time, is also Omkāra)
Verily, that supreme being Om is imperishable, everlasting and permanent. He is the cause of all causes, the creator of animate and inanimate and the progenitor of the entire cosmos. He is the originator of the entire worlds and holds the supreme command of the creation, preservation and destruction of the Universe. He is the Lord of Gods, the ruler of the whole creation and holder of the unequivocal sovereign power of the three worlds. He protects and sustains every being he created; from microcosm to macrocosm. He is the universal infinite spirit whose presence can be felt even in rocks, mountains, rivers, trees, insects and animals. He is there in every walk of life wherever we look for him with an unflinching faith, strong will, desire and determination. He is all pervading and resides in the hearts of all his creations. He is both manifest and unmanifest and also the one which is beyond both.
He is all knowing, nothing is hidden from Him. Devoid of all selfish desires and passions, He is holy and pure minded. Though unknowable and indefinable, He can be realized, and His presence can be perceived through meditation and by chanting his sacred Mantra, "OM".
GĀYATRI: Gayatri mantra is an exemplary vedic hymn which contains a spiritual song praising and glorifying the God Almighty in his manifestation as solar spirit (savitr), who, as the source of life, light and warmth came to be regarded as the Lord of Creation of cosmos and the life force in it. It starts with an invocation to God by vocalizing his sacred name represented by the divine syllable "ŌM", followed by the chanting of three mysterious but most sacred syllables, namely, "bhūr, bhuvah, svah", known as "vyāhriti", means concealed utterance. It is believed that God Prajāpati milked these words from the vedās and endowed them with the title of vyāhriti to the combination of these mystically empowered compound words. They are believed to contain the essence of the three vedās (rig ved, atharva ved and sāma ved). They are also believed to represent the three worlds: the earth, space and the celestial world (bhūlok, pitrlok and devlok). Vyāhriti, which is known to contain a most powerful spiritual formula, is annexed as a prefix to the Gāyatri mantra. Initiated by the divine syllable Ōm and empowered by vyāhriti, the Gāyatri Mantra assumed a most prominent place among all vedic mantras. It consists of 24 syllables, as enumerated below:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ta ts vi tu rv re ni yam 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 bha rgo de va sya dhi ma hi 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 dhi yo yo nah pra co da yāt
In conjunction with Pranava (om) and vyāhriti, Gyatri mantra reads as follows:
Ōm! Bhūr Bhuvah Svah ! Tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayāt !
In these syllables the magic power of the word Savitr is both mysterious and divine. It derives its origin from the root word su, means "to bring forward". Savitr is the name of the Sun God, who is the progenitor and the chief source of creation. He is the originator and the source of entire creation and the sustainer of life itself. He is the eternal powerhouse of our entire cosmos including the solar system. He is the most generous and benevolent one who is constantly and tirelessly busy doing good to the entire creation. He provides selfless services to the entire worlds and their inhabitants without having any expectation or desire for a return or reward. He is the controller of all seasons and is the sole regulator of the passage of day and night, and of the time as a whole.
In Prashnōpaniśad (1.5), the Sun has been described as the source of Prāna (life force), Adityoha vai pranah. When the sun rises, he radiates the life force in all directions. His radiance illumines all creations (Şvetāşvatāra Upaniśad). His rays supply rains with the power of dynamism of the life force, and water consumed imparts the same to vegetables and animals through circulatory process of the nature.
Before cosmos was born, the mysterious sound of the divine word Savitr is believed to have brought the sun into existence. This mystical word was later used in the composition of the celebrated verse of Gāyatri mantra. Thus the sound representing the mystically enchanting syllables of this sacred hymn was identified in Rig Veda as procreative power of the sun. It invokes divine inspiration in man to act. The divine power of the mystical verse thus takes command of the mind. Though literally simple, it consists of a most powerful invocation to the Supreme God in his manifestation as Savitr (the divine solar spirit), praying him to endow his blessings on earth. Its approximate meaning is - " Om ! O Divine Self ! We adore and meditate upon thy form as the resplendent sun (Savitr), which is illumining, protecting and sustaining the three worlds - Bhuh, Bhuvah, and Svah viz. the earth, space and the heaven! May you inspire our intellects toward attainment of the best aims of life". The hymn, thus came to be regarded as a mystical formula of universal power, constituting and acquiring the status of the most sacred verse in Hindu scriptures. This vedic hymn contains the whole essence of the divine knowledge. It's syllables are regarded most effective means of access to spiritual knowledge propounded by the vedās. Gāyatri has thus been accredited with the grace and credentials of “Ved Mātā “, mother of the divine knowledge, containing substance of all the four vedās. Describing the importance of Gāyatri mantra, Mahrshi Yajnavālkya says: Sarva vedān gāyatri sāra mucyate; . Gāyatri is the essence of all the vedās. He further says:
Gāyatri ved janani, Gāyatri pāpanāśini, Gāyatri param nāsti divi cehaca pāvanam
(Gāyatri is the mother of divine knowledge, Gāyatri is the destroyer of sins, Nothing in this, or in celestial worlds is purer than Gāyatri).
Though the source of Gāyatri Mantra is chiefly attributed to Rig Veda (3.62.10 [582]), the importance of this divine hymn is also elucidated in Yajurveda samhita (3.35), and in Sūryopanişad of Atharvaveda and in Nārāyanopanişad (hymn 35). It possesses tremendous potential to lead the reciter to the peak of spiritual heights, besides passing on him many mundane and temporal benefits. Before start of a meal, chanting of this sacred verse is considered a benediction over the food and an excellent invocation to God praying him for his divine grace. Before the start of a meal those who chant Gāyatri mantra, will never face shortage of food in life.
Chanting Gāyatri mantra is the best conceived offering to God almighty for the well-being of the universe and all its inhabitants. It consists of a universal invocation praying Him to replenish the universe, create peace and harmony and keep the earth pure, healthy and free of all evil thoughts and actions.
No Hindu ritual is complete without the recital of Gyatri mantra. It has an indispensable role to play in all the rites and rituals of Hindu society. As for instance, it plays a prominent role at the investiture ceremony, popularly known as Upanayana samskār. Originated from Dharma Sutrās of Hinduism, Upanayana samskār is a very ancient vedic rite wherein a boy in the age group of 8-12, is initiated as a full member of his class and society. The prescribed age for initiation with the sacred thread varies according to the class to which the initiate belongs -- 8 for Brahmins, 11 for ksatriyās and 12 for the vaişyās. These three castes are called ‘dvija’ means ‘twice-born’, for the reason that through the rite of investiture with the sacred thread, the initiate is regarded having taken a spiritual birth thenceforth. This rite is considered very sacred and important. Though originated from the ancient vedic period, it continues to hold its attributes of sanctity and importance on Hindu society. The important part of the ceremony is to clad the boy in a ascetic attire and make him hold a staff in hand. Amidst chanting of vedic hymns, the boy is ceremoniously adorned with the sacred thread (yajnopavīta). The officiating priest then whispers Gāyatri mantra in the ear of the initiate, thus marking the beginning of the latter's spiritual life. It marks the transition from childhood to adulthood and qualifies the initiate to study vedas and learn vedic rituals. This samskār entitles the initiate to commence preparations for establishing his own household. After his investiture ceremony, the initiate, however, has a long way to go to complete his study of the Vedas and vedic rituals, before he becomes eligible to establish his own household. The Initiate is expected to wear the sacred thread throughout his life. Great religious significance is being attached to it because, for any reason if the owner removes or separates it from his person or happens to defile it, he is regarded having committed a religious sacrilege. This causes him great humiliation and ritual impurity. He, however, gets exonerated from the ill effects of the sacrilege by austerely undertaking the chanting (japa) of this most sacred vedic verse of the Gāyatri Mantra.
Gāyatri is regarded with utmost reverence for its celestial resonance and spiritual efficacy. According to our holy scriptures, Gāyatri is the purifier of the fallen souls and destroyer of sins (Gāyatri parampāvani. Gāyatri pāpanāşini. It is believed to possess an immense power to annihilate the sins accumulated during ones lifetime. Even today there are numerous people among the vedic and sanātana dharma followers, who hold a very strong faith in the spiritual efficacy of Gāyantri mantra. It is widely believed that during lifetime if an aspirant (sādhak) completes 2.4 million repetitions of the Gāyatri mantra, he shall get all his accumulated sins annihilated. Gāyatri is thus known for its grace and benevolence to lead the aspirant toward the path of liberation from the cycle of repeated births and deaths, called Mokśa. When the individual soul liberates and gets merged with the universal soul it is said to have attained Mokśa, which is the supreme goal of all spiritual pursuits. In pursuit of this goal, there are numerous sincerely ambitious aspirants who ardently undertake an spiritual task to complete the chanting of Gāyatri mantra 2.4 million times during their lifetime. A rosary is often employed to check the number of repetitions of the sacred verse. It also ensures that before time runs out, he must be able to complete the stipulated number of repetitions of the mantra.
For those who are short of time due to their business, profession or occupation; there is an easy way to seek the grace and benevolence of the Gāyatri mantra. Since Gāyatri mantra consists of 24 syllables, the aspirants must repeat it 12 times each morning and evening, during the two sittings of his sandhya worship. The aspirant must sincerely commit himself to chanting it unfailingly at least 24 times a day as specified above.
Importance of Prānāyām: Before undertaking Gāyatri meditation, or before starting recitation of Gāyatri mantra, it would be immensely beneficial, both for the body and mind, to perform Prāńāyām first. Prāńāyām is a breath restraining exercise that helps control one’s breathing through a methodological process of inhaling, exhaling and holding the breath. In yogic language these three respiratory processes of inhaling, exhaling and holding the breath are known as pūraka, rechaka and kumbhaka, respectively. It is an ancient technique of yogic exercise that aims at controlling the breath and respiration. It helps the practitioner in securing concentration of the mind. When practiced regularly, it yields excellent results in controlling the body, mind, ego and intellect. No mundane thoughts can then disrupt his concentration, thus enabling him to absorb his mind fully in meditation. It works as a strong detergent in cleansing the impurities of the body and mind. A regular practice of Prāńāyām with proper methodology and steadfastness will be extremely beneficial in removing impurities in the astral channels of respiratory system called the nādīs. It is through these channels that cosmic energy circulates in the human body.
For a spiritual aspirant, the purpose of Prāńāyām is to make the breathing rhythmic so that the sun and moon nādīs in the body, are balanced. As per nature’s process, every person normally breathes by both nostrils only during the early hours of morning and evening. At all other times his breathing is usually unrhythmic and irregular, whereupon he periodically breathes either by left or the right nostril. Several times in a day, his breathing shifts from one nostril to the other. This process of periodic shift in the breathing channel takes place automatically, without making him even slightly conscious when it shifts from one nostril to the other. However, with a regular practice of Prānāyām, the breathing becomes rhythmic, thus making the sūrya and chandra nādīs (sun and moon nādīs) in the body balanced and regulated. A rhythmic and regulated breathing is necessary and helpful in generating cosmic energy in our body.
The importance of a Guru:
To derive the best and positive results, the aspirants are advised to receive the Gāyatri mantra from an enlightened Guru or spiritual master. The mantra received from an enlightened guru is charged with the power of guru’s own enlightened state of spiritual awareness and pure consciousness. Gāyatri mantra thus received from a guru or spiritual master possesses tremendous potential to lead the aspirant to higher spiritual levels by guiding and inspiring his mind towards attainment of best aims of life.
The Sanskrit meaning of ‘guru’ is derived from the root words ‘gu’ means darkness and ‘ru’ means remover or dispeller. The combined meaning is hence, dispeller of darkness. Here, darkness signifies ignorance. The one who dispels the ignorance of his disciple is a Guru. There is yet another meaning of the word guru. The syllable ‘gu’ stands for darkness and ‘ru’ stands for light. It means the one who leads his disciple from the darkness of ignorance to the light of wisdom. In the real sense a guru is an awakener of the soul of his disciple. His real role is to awake his disciple from the sleep of ignorance by way of imparting spiritual knowledge and guiding him toward a deeper understanding of a meaningful life. The guru shows him the way to self-realization by sharing his own divine wisdom with the disciple. He does not merely impart his knowledge but shares his Being and his spiritual illumination with him. His main task is to give him a glimpse of the real by awakening his (disciple’s) consciousness so as to make him understand the real meaning and purpose of life. The purpose of life is to realize the absolute Truth or Reality. In order to know the Truth, the mind must be prepared and purified. Hence, as a purificatory process a real guru’s primary task shall be to make the vision of his disciple brighter by removing the dust of ignorance from his eyes. He mainly concentrates his efforts to first teach him the method of cleaning the mirror of his mind. This purificatory process is an essential requirement for a spiritual aspirant to lead life with clarity. Clarity in life can only be achieved through sustained meditation, an effective way for living life in total clarity and awareness.
However, in these days of commercialization, to find a real guru (satguru) is an extremely difficult task. Some pseudo spiritual gurus commercialized this sacred service for personal gains. They exploit and make a mockery of the distressed and gullible people, who innocently approach them for spiritual guidance. Our ancient scriptures are quite emphatic in giving a note of caution to the spiritual aspirants in selecting a right person for a guru. In Kularnava Tantra we find the following passage:
‘Many are the gurus who are proficient to the utmost in Vedas and Śastrās; but rare is the guru who has attained to the supreme truth. Many are the gurus on earth who give what is other than the self; but rare is the guru who brings to light the Atman. Many are the gurus who rob the disciple of his wealth; but rare is the guru who removes the disciple’s afflictions. He is the guru by whose very contact there flows the supreme bliss; the intelligent man shall choose such a one as the Guru and no other”.
An enlightened guru imparts his own illumination and awakens the spiritual cosmic energy called Kundalini Śakti of his disciple. Once the Kundalini Śakti is awakened, all the blocks and restrictions in the path of spiritual realization of the disciple get dissolved. It is however, important for the disciple to put his own efforts and toil himself to achieve the best results from the knowledge he acquires from his enlightened guru.
Gāyatri mantra thus received from a spiritual master, possesses tremendous potential to lead the aspirant to higher spiritual levels by guiding and inspiring his mind towards attainment of best aims of life - viz: righteousness, prosperity, pleasure and liberation Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Mokśa, respectively.
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