Ashtakshari and Gayatri

[Guest guest]

Jai Srimannarayana!

Sri Mathe Ramanujaya Namaha!

 

Dearest Family,

Adiyen has a question relating to two very sacred and powerful mantras. In

Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krsna says in 10:35

 

gayatri chandasam aham

 

"of all mantras I am Gayatri"

 

Adiyen wishes to ask why we have gotten away from the teachings from the

Supreme Guru, Lord Sri Krsna, and adopted the Ashtakshari mantra as our most

popular mantra? All mantras hold the same power and can lead any soul to

moksha. It seems to adiyen that as we separate into many groups we distance

ourselves from the Lord's original teachings. Adiyen understands that in our

way of life there are many ways to attain realization; many slices to the

one cake. Please excuse adiyen if these comments seem opinionated. Adiyen's

guru has expressed to adiyen the great importance to the Gayatri and adiyen

is just following the instructions of the master and wishes to share with

his many family members in Bhagavan's kingdom. Peace and blessings be upon

you all.

 

 

In love and respect,

Adiyen Keshava Ramanuja Dasa

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[Guest guest]

keshava ramanujan writes:

> Adiyen has a question relating to two very sacred and powerful mantras. In

> Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krsna says in 10:35

>

> gayatri chandasam aham

>

> "of all mantras I am Gayatri"

 

Dear Keshava,

 

You ask a good question. However, it is based on a faulty premise.

Please take a look at the Gita verse in question. "chandas" simply

means "meter", not "mantra". Your quote actually means,

 

Of all meters, I am the gAyatrI.

 

Many mantras are in the gAyatrI meter, including the one that is

typically called the 'gAyatrI mantra'. Actually, that mantra

is more properly known as the 'sAvitrI mantra', because it is

addressed to 'savitR', or the sun.

 

The ashTAkshara mantra is also classified under the gAyatrI meter.

 

Not all mantras are created equal. The sAvitrI is no doubt

a great mantra with a profound meaning. But the ashTAkshara is

reckoned even higher and is uniformly praised in the vEda,

mahAbhArata, other smRtis, as well as in the divya prabandham.

 

The basic reason, as given in the nAradIya kalpa, is that

this eight-syllabled nArAyaNa mantra is immediately evocative

of some of the fundamental truths of reality. It presents

in simple terms the omnipresent nature (vyApakatva) of the

paramAtmA using the paramAtmA's proper name 'nArAyaNa'.

Of all mantras, mantras that describe the omnipresence of

God are the best. Of these mantras, the nArAyaNa mantra

is best because of the significance of the name 'nArAyaNa'.

 

For further elucidation, one can study the appropriate

sections of the mahAbhArata and the rahasya granthas

of our acharyas.

 

rAmAnuja dAsan

Mani