Gayatry chanting.

July 8, 2005

The Gayatry mantra is the Supreme Mantra of the vedas.It is the one mantra that can be commonly prescribed for all for Gayatry is the mother of the Universe.Shakthy herself and there is nothing she cannot do.Her Mantra purifies the mind,destroys pain,sin and ignorance,brings liberation and bestows health,beauty,strength,vitality,power,intelligence and magnetic aura.Of course there are different opinions that the Mantra shuld be learned from a Guru and since it is a Universal mantra there is no necessity except a sincere devotion to the Deity.

Though the views are different I feel the same can be recited by all as it is only the adoration of Savita-the Sun God from whom this earth and the solar system emanated and all living creatures owe their existence to the Sun.In Sun the Shakty is seated who has five faces.The meaning of the Mantra is only of general nature.

'We meditate on that Ishwara's glory,Who has created the Universe,Who is fit to be worshipped.Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light,Who is the remover of all sins and ignorance May He enlighten our intellects.'

Here the prayer is only to enlighten our intellect and no wordly things or even liberation is asked for.It can be guessed that if the intelligence is enlightened and wisdom dawns the reciter can distinguish good and bad and all worldly and spiritual things can be easily attained by the reciter.The Mantra has 24 letters.Each letter came to the knowledge of a sage of yore in their deep meditation and thus there are 24 sages who found the 24 letters of the Mantra.Viswamithra combined all the letters in a proper rhythm and meter and made it a verse.The Mantra is split into 5 portions.It is always better to do the japa in the Brahma Muhoorta ie before the rise of the sun and also before the setting of the sun.The mantra shuld be said in 5 breaths to be effective.

1) Om 2) Bhur bhuvaswah: 3) Tatsaviturvarenyam 4)Bhargodevasyadheemahi 5) Dhiyo yo na prachotayat.

each shuld be recited in each breath.The process is slow and shuld not be said mechanically as the system requires to say the mantra in such a way that purifies our bodily system.The japa shuld be said by sitting facing East in the morn and by standing by facing West in the eve.May be there shuld be some meaning in that and that is why it is prescribed in that way.This is the correct proedure.Of course there are dhyana sloka etc which all may not know or won't hv the patience to recite.Normally the mantra is never said during nights.It is also said if anybody has a bad dream reciting Gayatry 11 times will give them gud sleep.

Considering the fact the same is the mantra for all human beings there is no bar in reciting the same at any time of the day even during working time but to be effective the recitation shuld be done in 5 breathes.Gayatry is the mantra that protects those who recite with geatest devotion.Gayantham they ithi Gayathry is the saying.From the Surya Gayatry so many Gayatris for other Deities hv been coined.But the important mantra is the original Surya Gayatry.Swami Sivananda also has said that the mantra can be repeated any time with devotion and the effects can be seen.There is no harm for everybody including women to recite the mantra as the same is an adulation of the Creator in the form of Sun.There is no need to explore whether the Deity is He or She as both are the same forms of the Creator.But it is generally said in the name of feminine Goddess as the whole creation is part of that Shakthy only.In Vedic era the same was said by sages and certain particular sect.But in the

present day world as man is not in his wisdom the recital wll bestow the same and that will lead to the harmony of the world.

There may be different views of the Members and it will be interesting to know their reaction also as nobody can claim authority on the procedure as there are different opinons...Whatever be the views Gayatry is a highly potential mantra and the same can't be disputed and the recitation will surely bestow enlightenment if done properly.

Hare Krishna.

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