Gayatri Mantra - Paramacharya

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Gayatri Mantra - Paramacharya

 

GAYATRI MANTRA

Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah

Prachodayat We meditate upon the glorious splendor of the Vivifier Divine. May

He Himself illumine our minds!

 

EXPLANATION

 

Gayatri is the embodiment of all forms of Godhead- " Sarva Devatha Swaroopam. "

Gayatri does not belong to any caste, to any sect or to any religion as such. It

is universal in its scope.

 

Gayatri has nine important attributes. These are:

 

1. Aum Sound as the basis of Creation, Brahman.

2. Bhuh The Earth, the gross.

3. Bhuvah The Atmosphere, the Ether, the Subtle.

4. Suvah Heaven, the region beyond Bhuvah the Causal.

5. Tat Stands for That. The Ultimate Reality is simply referred to as That

because it defies description through speech or language.

6. Savitur Stands for Divine Savitri, equated with the vivifying power contained

within the Sun.

7. Varenyum Adore.

8. Bhargo Radiance, Lustre, Illumination.9. DevasyaDivine Radiance or Grace.

9. " Dheemahi " signifies worship of or meditation on the Lord. " Dhiyo Yo Nah

Prachodayat " as the last syllable, is a prayer. Therefore, in the Gayatri, there

is Varnam, Dhyanam and Prathana (description, meditation and a prayer) these

aspects converge in the Manthra.

 

" Whoever sings is protected, " that is " Gayatri " . " Gayantam trayate yasmat

Gayatri' tyabhidhiyate. "

 

" Sings " is not used here in the sense of singing a song. It means intoning or

chanting (the mantra) with affection and devotion. People who chant the Gayatri

in this manner are protected. While speaking about this mantra the Vedas use

these words : " Gayatrim Chandasam mata " . " Chandas " means the Vedas. So Gayatri

is the mother of all Vedic mantras (that is the Vedas proclaim them so). It has

twenty-four aksaras (letters or syllables) and three feet, each foot of eight

syllables. That is why the mantra is called " Tripada Gayatri " . Each foot is the

essence of a Veda. Thus Gayatri is the essence of Rgveda, Yajurveda and

Samaveda. The Atharvaveda has its own Gayatri. To receive instruction in it you

must have a second upanayana.

 

Says the Manusmriti: " Tribhya eva tu Vedebyhah padam padamaduduham " . It means

that each pada of Gayatri is taken from one of the (three) Vedas. We have

forsaken all else that is Vedic. What will be our fate if we give up the Gayatri

mantra also?

 

Gayatri-japa is essential to all rites performed according to the sastras.