SOME THOUGHTS ON VEDA MANTRAS---3

[Guest guest]

Hari OMIn this posting I would like to share with you some more thoughts/understanding of mine on Veda Mantras. We were discussing about Gayatri Mantra in the previous posting.

What is the meaning of Gayatri? "Gaayantam Traayate Yasmath Gayatri Ityabhidheeyate". "That which protects those who sing(chant or recite) it " is Gayatri. The word 'singing' should not be taken in the literal sense. Singing involves music and calls for a tune. Gayatri Mantra should not be sung in any raga as one likes. The Mantra simply means 'that which is pronounced or chanted with Love and Bhakthi(devotion). In other words, those who do Japam (chanting) of the Gayatri Mantra with Devotion and Love are protected by the Gayatri Mantra. Thus the name of the mantra is derived from its utility or function. In the Vedas Gayatri Mantra is referred to as "Gayatreem Chandasaam Mata". Chandas means Veda. The Vedas declare that Gayatri occupies the position or place of a mother. The Gayatri conataining 24 aksharas(letters) is said to be made of three 'padaas' each containing 8 letters. Each 'Paada' is said to be the essence of one Veda. In other words, Gayatri is considered as the essence extracted from the three Vedas. This is confirmed by Manu in his Manusmriti, "Tribyah Evathu Vedebyoh Paadam Paadamathuthuham". Gayati Japam is considered as the foremost among all the Vihita(prescribed) duties or rituals to be performed in accordance with the ' Sastras' (scriptures). Even if we are unable to perform all the rituals etc. contemplated by the Sastras, we are told by our Acharyas that we shall not abandon doing Gayatri Japam.

(to be continued)

G.Balasubramanian