Regarding Gayatri

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

Having seen the name of Goddess Gayatri in this forum, my heart leapt with joy

and bliss which is my Ishta Devata. Hence, I would like share this piece of

information with you devotees so that we all together may drink this nectar from

the bosoms of mother Gayatri. We are all small infants cuddled to the bosoms of

mother Gayatri who is ever-vigilant in nourishing her children.

 

This Gayatri who is non-different from Agni / Jataveda / Brahmanaspati has

been extolled in Vedas in different ways and forms. Entire Veda, Vedanta,

Tantra have originated from this concept of Gayatri. Touch any Veda or its

mantras and riks, this Agni Tattva has been eulogized and extolled. And hence,

Agni has assumed the prominent place in Hindu Philosophy. He is praised as

“Purohita” who stands in front of Devatas and received the Havish of the Homa

(Yagya) and nourishes the Devatas. Take any piece of literature in Veda, Agni

never escapes from being extolled.

 

The Aitreya Brahmana says “Gayan Trayate Sa Gayatri”. Here, “Gayan” does not

mean the One who Chants Gayatri. It implies, the “Prana” or the “Vital Energy

/ Life Force” of the Upasaka. Which means that Mantra which protects the Life

Force of the Upasaka is Gayatri.

 

The Prana of the Individual is the Pindanda and the collection of all the

individuals as a whole is called Brahmanda which is also called Virat

(Visheshena Rajati iti Virat). (that which shines in various ways). This is

the samasti tattva (encompassing all the jivaatmas) of the pindanda.

 

The entire activity in Pindanda and Brahmanda are under the control of the

self-effulgent, ever dynamic supreme person who is the creator of this entire

universe. This supreme person is called Purusha / Savita who is non-different

from Agni in Vedas. This Agni in Veda is the Supreme Person who inspires the

intellect of the Individual sitting inside the heart cave of the individual as

“Antaryaami”. This Agni is eulogized Vedas as Brahmanaspati whose power is

“Vaak” (the Power of Speech). This “Vaak” is non-different from Agni /

Brahmanaspati of Vedas. In Tantra, this pair of Brahmanaspati-Vaak is

symbolized as the divine pair “Shiva-Shakti”. Since this Agni is the concept

beyond our conception, hence, we are asked to visualize him in centre of solar

orbit which is analogous to Agni. The Purva Anga of Gayatri says: Om iti Eka

Aksharam Brahma. Agnir devata…..” which is the testimony to the above statement.

Again, the Vyahriti traya ie., Bhu, Bhuvah, Suvah are the

Agni, Vaayu (Indra), Surya devataas that preside over Earth, Atmosphere (Middle

layer between Earth & Heaven), Dyu Loka / Heaven in Brahmanda; Prana, Apana,

Vyana in Pindanda. Some are of the opinion that in pindanda, this gayatri

permeates in Agni (Mooladhara and Vaisvanara Agni), Prana and Vaak. It is this

Agni which shines are Vaak having 4 stages Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama, Vaikhari

as the Veda says “Agnir Vai Vaak Bhutva Mukham Pravishat…”. Which means the

Agni taking the form of Vaak (Speech) has entered the Mouth.

 

During the Sandhya Vandana, there are certain mantras for invoking the

presence of Gayatri having the purva angas as:

 

Agni becoming the Mouth which is Vaisvanara Agni or Digestive Fire since it

acts as Havir Grahita. Vaayu (An aspect of Agni) presides over the Prana (Vital

Energy) of the Individual and Surya (An aspect of Agni) presides over the Vaak.

Brahma becomes the Head (Siro Sthana), Vishnu becomes the Heart, Rudra becomes

the Sikha (coiffure). Gayatri is “Dhi Prerika” that which inspires our

intellect which is an aspect of Brahma; intellect being the sira sthana,

All-pervading nature is Vishnu Swarupa which is the kernel of Gayatri and since,

it destroys the sin (hara swarupa) thereby paves the way for Urdhwa Gati (Upward

Journey denoted by Sikha) of the Upasaka. Prithvi / Anna, which is the base for

entire creation (again an aspect of Agni) is the source of origin.

 

It is this Supreme Purusha with Vaak / Gayatri through the medium of Kala

Chakra (time) controls the entire activities of the Individual and the Cosmos as

a whole.

 

As already mentioned in my earlier mail regarding the “Sridevi as Kala Chakra

Swarupini”, this Unit of Time (Kala) is measured in terms of One Year in Veda

which is 360 days. This is also the time taken by the Sun to enter into all the

12 raasi chakras. Time taken by the sun to pass one zodiac sign is 30 degrees.

Hence, to enter into all the 12 raasis, it would take 30 degree x 12 = 360

degrees. Each degree is measured in terms of 60 liptaas ie., 360 degrees is

equivalent to 21600 liptaa kala parimana.

 

The number of breaths per day of an individual is 21600. These are called

“Hamsa”. Because, while inhaling “Ham” sound is produced and while exhaling “Sa”

sound is produced. This is in the form of Ajapa Gayatri.

 

Now, considering the example of Gayatri Mantra which is otherwise called

“Prakata Gayatri”, it has the following Upa-Angas:

 

Gayatri has 24 bija aksharas; 3 feet (bhu-bhuvah-suvah); 6 veda aangas

(Purva-Uttara Mimamsa-Chandas-Nirukta-Jyotisha-Vyakarana); 5 faces.

 

This imply: 24x3x6x5 = 2160.

 

The tradition says that Gayatri should be chanted a minimum of 10 times.

 

Hence, 2160 x 10 = 21600 which is equivalent to 21600 breaths of the

individual otherwise called Ajapa Gayatri.

 

The Upaasya Devata of this Mantra is Agni / Brahmanaspati / Parama Purusha /

Antaryami who is Self-Effulgent (Bhargah), who is the Light of the Lights

(Devasya), Sublime and Most Supreme (Varenyam), Creator of the Universe

(Savita), Inspirer of Our Intellect (Dhiyah Na Yah Prachodayat). This Agni /

Brahmanaspati / Parama Purusha / Antaryami is also non-different from Pranava

(Om) who manifests in this universe as three aspects as Bhu, Bhuvah and Suvah

which symbolically denote the triads of Prana-Apana-Vyana; Agni-Prana-Vaak;

Jnatru-Jnana-Jneya; Anna-Prana-Manas; Agni-Vaayu-Surya; Mooladhara

Agni-Vaisvanara Agni-Prana.

 

In extolling this Purusha, the Mantra Drashta (Rishi) of Purusha Suktam

exclaims in Supreme Bliss saying “Atya Tishthat Dasha Angulam”. He is

flabbergasted and surprised on beholding the splendour of that Purusha and as a

result of his exclamation, raise both of his hands above in an exclamatory tone

and this mantra / poem gushes forth from his heart. He meant that this Agni

cannot be described or measured physically with both of our hands as this

encompasses this entire universe.

 

May we meditate on That Divine Splendor (Dhimahi).

 

 

Namah Savitre.

 

With regards,

Sriram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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