Fwd: The Gayatri Mantra

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Navami Exports <navamiexports

Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 3:51 PM

The Gayatri Mantra

Navami Exports <navamiexports

 

 

*The Gayatri Mantra*

 

 

 

 

 

*Part 1: What You Need To Know*

 

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The Gayatri mantra is one of the oldest and most powerful of Sanskrit

mantras <http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa021803a.htm>. It is

believed that by chanting the Gayatri mantra and firmly establishing it in

the mind, if you carry on your life and do the work that is ordained for

you, your life will be full of happiness.

 

The word " Gayatri " itself explains the reason for the existence of this

mantra. It has its origin in the Sanskrit phrase *Gayantam Triyate iti*, and

refers to that mantra which rescues the chanter from all adverse situations

that may lead to mortality.

 

Goddess Gayatri is also called " Veda-Mata " or the Mother of the Vedas — Rig,

Yajur, Saam and Atharva — because it is the very basis of the

Vedas<http://hinduism.about.com/cs/vedasvedanta>.

It is the basis, the reality behind the experienced and the cognized

universe.

 

The Gayatri mantra is composed of a metre consisting of 24 syllables —

generally arranged in a triplet of eight syllables each. Therefore, this

particular meter (*tripadhi*) is also known as the Gayatri Meter or " Gayatri

Chhanda. "

 

*The Mantra*

 

*Aum

Bhuh Bhuvah Svah

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

Dhiyo Yo nah Prachodayat*

 

~ The Rig Veda (10:16:3)

 

*The Meaning*

" O thou existence Absolute, Creator of the three dimensions, we contemplate

upon thy divine light. May He stimulate our intellect and bestow upon us

true knowledge. "

 

Or simply,

 

" O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this

darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us. "

 

*

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