Meaning of Gayatri Mantra #4

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

--------------- Fourth Face: Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

 

Bhargo:

"The word is derived in two ways: (1) from the root Bhrij, to "ripen,

mature, destroy, reveal, shine." In this derivation sUrya is He who

matures and transforms things by His Light. And it is He who at

the final

Dissolution (Pralaya) will in His form of destructive Fire (kAlAgni)

destroy all things. (2) From bha = dividing all things into different

classes; ra = colour, for He produces the colour of all created

objects;

ga = constantly going and returning. The Sun divides all things,

produces

the different colours of all things and is constantly going and

returning." (JW, p. 266)

 

Comments:

kAlAgni means the destructive fire that is Time. Please refer to

Bhagavad Gita BG 11.32 .

 

Related:

"Constantly going and returning" and the inner Sun could be related

to "... Brahman is the origin as well as the dissolution of the entire

universe." (BG 7.06) and "In the beginning was the Tao. All things

issue

from it; all things return to it." (Tao Te Ching 52)

 

Different colours: BG 11.05,24?

 

What is meant by the Bhargah as Sun?

 

"By Bhargah, is meant the Aditya-devatA, dwelling in the region of

the Sun (sUrya-mandala) in all His might and glory. He is to the

Sun what our spirit (AtmA) is to our body. Though He is in the

region of the Sun, in the outer or material sphere, He also dwells in our

inner selves. He is the light of the light in the solar circle, and is the

light of the lives of all beings." (JW, p. 266)

 

Related:

"... I am the radiance in the sun and the moon ..." (BG 7.08) and

"O Arjuna, just as one sun illuminates this entire world, similarly

the creator illumines (or gives life to) the entire creation." (BG

13.33). Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" in John 8:12.

 

"As the BrAhmana-sarvasva says: <"The Bharga is the AtmA of all

that exists, whether moving or motionless, in the three Lokas

(BhUr Bhuvah Svah). There is nothing which exists apart from it.">"

(JW, p. 266)

 

Devasya:

"Devasya is the genitive of Deva, agreeing with Savituh. Deva is the

radiant and playful (LeelAmaya) one. sUrya is in constant play with

creation (srshti), existence (sthiti) and destruction (Pralaya), and by

His radiance pleases all. (LeelA, as applied to the Brahman, is the

equivalent of mAyA.)." (JW, pp. 266-267)

 

(Comments: Perhaps Bhargah can be called the "Solar Logos" and

Deva in Devasya, the personal form of God.)

 

Dheemahi:

"Dheemahi pertains to dhyaana (meditation)"

(SSB, 23-Aug-1995)

 

"Dheemahi = dhyAyema (from root dhyai), we meditate upon, or let

us meditate upon." (JW, p. 267)

 

"Those who fear rebirth, who desire freedom from death and seek

Liberation, and who strive to escape the three kinds of pain (tApa-

traya) .... meditate upon and adore the Bharga, who, dwelling in the

region of the Sun, has in Himself the three regions called BhUr- loka,

Bhuvar-loka and Svar-loka." (ibid.)

 

--------------- 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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