SOME THOUGHTS ON VEDA MANTRAS--2

[Guest guest]

Hari OMMy father used to tell us that if for three generations people do not perform Gayatri Japam(Chanting) properly, even the so-called priestly class will get downgraded. His advice to us who have leave their homes for work was that at least on Sundays and other holidays one should perform Gayatri Japam1008 times. "Sahasra Paramaa Devi satamadhya dasaavara", says the Taitrrya Aranyaka of Yajur Veda. It means chanting Gayatri 1008 times gives the best result, chanting 108 times gives mediocre results while chanting ten times Gayatri the least. It is said that best results of chanting Gayatri are obtained by chanting in early morning, noon and evening twilight . Chanting during these three interrugnums are stated to confer on us tranquility and peace. It is also said that whatever may be the emergency, at least 10 Gayatri should be chanted in these time periods. This should not be interpreted to mean that it is sufficient to chant only 10 Gayatris even when we have all the time for doing Gayatri Japam. In the morning Gayatri is to be meditated as Brahmaroopini,in midday as Sivaroopini and in the evening as Vishnuroopini. Again, Gayatri is also meditated as

Savitri in noon and Saraswati in the evening. When a brahmin boy undergoes Upanayanam(investiture of sacred thread) ie., when he is supposed to born for the second time, his Acharya tells him to perform Sandhyavandanam and Gayatri Japam 3 times a day. In the morning 108 gayatris are to be performed,32 at noon and 64 in the evening.

 

 

Gayatri is said to contain the efficacy and energy of of all the Veda mantras . In fact, they say that Gayatri gives strength to all Veda Mantras. If Gayatri is not chanted, other mantras lose their strength. Gayatri is an invalueable aid to liberation. Gayatri Mantra is uttered while offering'Argya'(devotional offering of water) to Sun God three times a day. In the morning Argya is to be offered before sunrise, in mid-day when the sun`s position is exactly above one`s head and in the evening before sunset.

 

 

Just as medicine is necessary for curing fever, Gayatri is essential medicine for curing the disease,as it were, of bondage for the Atma. Gayatri should not be abandoned under any circumstance. This is more important than medicine.

 

 

Gayatri Upasana(worship) has to be done in the form of mother. Mother is the most Loving entity for all of us. We know that God can come to us in any form. If God comes in the form of mother that will be more beneficial to us. The Vedas proclaim that Gayatri is such a mother.

 

(to be continued)

G.Balasubramanian