GAYATRI

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Adiyen

 

Balaji K

 

"Gayatri Mantra"

 

Brahma conceived the Gayatri mantra consisting of 24 letters before he

created the world. Each letter in this mantra has a great potential

force,

which when released, branches off into the four Vedas with their

sub-branches just as a vast tree is hidden in its seed. After

sprouting,the mantra takes the form of the four Vedas. Philology (the

science of language i.e., sound) was born of the 14 sounds. With these

14 sounds that vibrated and emanated when Lord Shiva, in his happier

mood, played on his favorite 'damaru' (a percussion instrument). With

these 14 sounds (the sutras) as the basis, Panini, the greatest

grammarian,wrote his Astadhyayi (or Maha Vyakarana), the greatest and

the most important compilation on Sanskrit grammar. Many scholars have

commented on his work and such commentaries alone are enough to

constitute a large library.

 

Similarly, all literature in various forms is the outcome of the 24 letters of Gayatri mantra only.

 

While the Gayatri mantra is the sutra or source, the compilations with

their branches and sub-branches are its extensive commentaries. The 24

letters of Gayatri Mantra and significance of each. The following

table gives the 24 letters of the Gayatri spell and its relation to

the power.

 

1. 'tat' - tapini - fruitfulness 2 'sa' - saphalata - valor 3 'vi' -

visshwa - perseverance 4 'tur' - tushti - welfare 5 'va' - varada -

yoga 6 're' - revati - love 7 'ni' - sukshma - wealth 8 'yam' - jnana

- lustre 9 'bhar' - bharga - protection 10 'go' - gomati - wisdom 11

'de' - devika - subjugation 12 'va' - varahi - allegiance 13 'sya' -

simhani - determination 14 'dhi' - dhyana - life 15 'ma' - maryada -

time 16 'hi' - sphutaa - penance 17 'dhi' - medha - forecast 18 'yo'

- yogamaya - alertness 19 'yo' - yogini - production 20 'nah' -

dhanin - protection 21 'pra' - prabhava - idealism 22 'cho' - ushma -

adventure 23 'da' - drishya - discrimination 24 'at' - niranjana -

service. The 24 powers of Gayatri mentioned above awaken certain

qualities,and along with this awakening one starts getting success

and prosperity i.e., siddhi. Many feel that these benefits are

showered by some God or Goddess. But in reality the development of

the subtle force is within themselves. If they are able to know the

subtle force working in them,they will realize that such benefits do

not accrue of their own accord and that all of them are the results

of the interplay of spiritual forces in them.

 

Gayatri sadhana or upasana is not blind faith, but a scientific

process whose development and progress are sure to yield the desired

fruits.The authors of the science of mantra say that whatever sound

comes out from the mouth is the outcome of the interaction of various

organs such as the wind-pipe,the tongue,the teeth, the lips etc.

 

The different organs or parts of the mouth are interconnected with the

various parts of the body through tubular organs known as nadi.In

those areas of the body wherever the nadis are (the six Chakras are

related to the sushumna nadi) there are lots of ganglia (granthis),

and the effect of vibrations of different parts of the mouth (place

of sound organs) have a pressuring effect on these ganglia. If one's

talk is defective, it means that some of the ganglia are not

functioning properly or effectively. Our body contains many ganglia

of different sizes, some are seen and some of which are not seen. The

spiritualists know what power is contained in each of the ganglia. The

various sounds produced through the organs of the mouth have their

effect on these ganglia; they cause the ganglia to activate and

discharge their stored power. The wordings of the mantras are

arranged on the basis of their sounds and intonations. The Gayatri

mantra contains 24 letters, and all these 24 letters have a direct

relation with the 24 ganglia in the human body. Our body can be

compared to a sitar (a stringed musical instrument)with 24 strings.

When the Ganglia are activated they energize the power that yields the

right kind of knowledge. The repetition, recitation or japa of Gayatri

mantra produces notes which mingle with similar sounds existing in

Nature or Prakriti. This is what one achieves from Gayatri

sadhana.The power of the spoken word or sound in Nature The Word or

Shabda is compared to Brahma.

When Brahma is inspired, his body quivers and the vibrations created

by the movement of his body fall again on his body and take the form

of Omkar or Pranava which echoes seven times. Like the pendulum of a

clock, this Omkar creates the movement or vibrations which in turn

keeps Nature or Prakriti functioning. As a result of such

functioning, the three gunas - sattwa, rajas and tamas - with their

powers hrim, shrim and klim respectively flow and break off into

different rivulets and streams and create the bija mantra. One should

not underestimate the effect of the sound waves produce. Those well

versed in the science of sound know what potency sound waves contain

and what effects they produce. Sound works in it own sphere ad even

controls Nature. Thus Nature functions through the power of the

word-sound.

Gayatri mantra is composed of selected sounds and due to their very

order in the mantra a very powerful current or wave is produced and

made to flow .If one wishes to know what miracles the power of

word-sound can create, one has to acquaint with the latest

developments in science and technology. The Russians have devised

what is known as the transducer, with which the aid of subtle sound

waves can cut even thick iron and steel plates. From the cleansing of

the sophisticated instruments to the working of the ordinary washing

machine, all the work is now done by the aid of sound waves.We read

in history that the Dipak Rag was sung by Tansen, by the vibrations

of the oil lamps, which had gone off glowed again. We know deer

forgets its own self and the cows yield more milk when they hear

enchanting music. Similarly, hearing the sound of cuckoo, a man's

sensuousness is said to be aroused. When battalions of soldiers in

formation cross a bridge, it is said the soldiers are not expected to

maintain the uniformity in steps, ass it is feared that when they keep

uniformity in steps,due to the impact of the sound waves produced

(known as resonance), the bridge, may collapse. Dr Huchisson of

U.S.A., who has gained much popularity claims sure success in

fighting certain diseases with the aid of sound waves. In all these

cases, the vibrations mingle with similar sounds spread in subtle

Nature or Sukshma prakriti, revolve round and round and converge

again on the place of their origin, thereby producing a kind of

energy which produces the desired effect. In other words, many

miraculous things happen due to the power of a mantra. The Gayatri

spell also derives its force in the same fashion. While uttering the

mantra whichever organs of the mouth come into play, activate their

corresponding ganglia also. When the ganglia are activated thus, a

musical (which is also spiritual) sound resembling the Vedic Mantra

spreads in the air,returning to its base again carrying along with it

a powerful force of similar sounds already spread in Nature to help

achieve the desired end. The musical effect of the vibrations, or the

current occasioned by the utterance of the mantra on the already

existing current created by the five elements and the subtle soul

force or atma shakti created by the five elements-ether, air,

fire,water and earth, the subtle soul-force created by the intensity

of piety,sincerity and earnestness of the prayer offered, make the

Gayatri forces powerful as a Divine Blessings.Absolute and firm faith

in the divinity by the sadhak in reciting Gayatri yields a powerful

subtle force.

 

Psychologists are well aware of the power of such force. As a matter

of fact, many people have been saved and resuscitated from untimely

death by this force. Many might have perished due to lack of faith.

The great saint Tulsidas, in one of his couplets, has compared faith

and belief to Parvati (Shraddha) and Parameshwar (Vishwas). Belief

has the power of converting a piece of rope in the dark into a snake,

a tree into a spirit, and an idol into a Deity. Because of faith man

spends his energy, money and even sacrifices his life. We can quote

several people- Ekalavya and Kabir, for example, who were able to

amass immense knowledge in a split second (which otherwise had to be

learnt at the feet of the tutor) on account off their faith and

belief. If for instance a sadhak takes a sadhana of Gayatri with the

supreme faith and belief, he gets an unparalleled siddhi because of

the mingling of the sound force in Nature with the spiritual powers.

Gayatri - the Prime Force of the Universe Gayatri is the adi

shakti(the prime force). With this force both sentient and insentient

worlds (life and matter)derive their movement (gati) or force or

inspiration, and result in development and progress. Just as one can

easily hear any broadcast from any station by just tuning a knob,

similarly, one can establish one's contact through one's spiritual

powers with the subtle, all pervading Gayatri. One can use one's own

spiritual power for attainment of all or a particular benefit-

material,psychological or spiritual.

This is sadhana or worship.

Gayatri is the desire-yielding cow (kamadhenu). One who recites

Gayatri and engages one self in her sadhana is blessed by Mother

Gayatri. He remains outside the purview of ignorance, incapacity and

want of things and gets all he desires. Gayatri Puja is done by

chanting 'Gayatri Mantra', worshipping the 'Gayatri Yantra' or

conducting the 'Gayatri Anushthan'.