Meaning of Gayatri Mantra #3

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Dear friends,

 

--------------- Third Face: Tat Savitur Varenyam

 

'Tat' literally means "That". More information on this near the end of

this article.

 

Savitur:

"It is addressed to the Immanent and Transcendent Divine which

has been given the name 'Savitha' , meaning 'that from which all

this is born'."

(SSB, 20-Jun-1977)

 

" 'Savituh' is the possesive case of sAvitri, derived from the root sU,

'to bring forth'. sAvitri is, therefore, the Bringer-forth of all that

exists. The Sun (sUrya) is the cause of all that exists, and of the state

in which it exists. Bringing forth and creating all things, it is called

sAvitri." (JW, p. 265)

 

Related:

"I am the origin of all. Everything emanates from Me. ... " (BG

10.08)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the

Beginning and the End." (Rev 22:13)

"In the beginning was the Tao. All things issue from it; all things

return to it." (Tao Te Ching 52)

 

 

"The Bhavishya Purana says: <'sUrya is the visible Devata. He is

the eye of the world and the Maker of the day. There is no other

Devata eternal like unto Him. The universe has emanated from, and

will be again absorbed into Him. Time is of and in Him. The

planets, starts, the Vasus, Rudras, vAyu, Agni and the rest are but

parts of Him'> ....... In the outer ether, He is the Sun (sUrya) and in

the inner ether He is the wonderful Light ehich is the Smokeless Fire. "

(JW, p. 266)

 

The above relationship between Savitur and the Sun will be fully

produced in the next posting as it has connection with "Bhargo".

 

(Comments:

Savitri or Savitha is sometimes also called "Divine Effulgence",

"Sun of Truth" etc. Sir John Woodroffe calls it "Solar Spirit of the

Divine Creator". It is hereby suggested that from Sri Sathya Sai Baba's

words in the previous posting that svah refers to radiation: is actually

radiated by this "inner Sun", Savitha i.e. the inner Sun's rays.)

 

On the goddess Savitri and Savitri, the chaste wife:

 

"Gayatri has three names: Gayatri , Savitri and Saraswathi. ......

Gayatri is the master of the senses. Savitri is the master of the life

principle. When Gayatri acts as the protector of life forces, she is known

as Savitri You might have heard the story of Savitri, a woman of chastity,

who brought her dead husband, Sathyavaan, back to life with the power of

her prayer. Savitri protects those who lead a life of Sathya (truth). This

is the inner meaning. Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech. Man has

to earn the grace of Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswathi to sanctify his life.

..... Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswathi are latent in everybody." (SSB,

10-Feb-2000)

 

Varenyam:

"Varenyam = varaniiyam or adorable. He should mediated (sic)

upon and adored that we may be relieved of the misery of birth and

death."

(JW, p. 267)

 

(Comments:

Tat as "That" is popularly known in "Tat Tvam Asi" from the Vedas

(a MahaVaakya or Great Declaration) meaning "That Thou Art". In

the Vedic declaration, "That" refers to something that is

indescribable etc. However, in the context of this mantra, to

simplify Sir John Woodroffe's words in p. 265 (which is not quoted

here), "that" can either be treated in a grammatical sense : "That

Savitur adorable" or "That" as in a way to connect Savitur with the

vyAhRtis (bhUr bhuva svah) in the previous line and with the rest of the

mantra.)

 

--------------- To be continued...

 

The above were excerpted from the discourses of Sri Sathya Sai

Baba (SSB) and from Sir John Woodroffe's book, "The Garland of

Letters" (3rd Edition 1955) (JW). Bhagavad Gita (BG) verses

translated by Dr. Ramanand Prasad. Biblical verses in NIV. Tao Te

Ching translated by S. Mitchell. Anything that is not referenced are

comments.

 

 

 

--

Warmest regards,

Ruben

rubenn

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