What is Gayatri Mantra? Why is Gayatri-Mantra,the Mother of All Vedas ?
India is a land, where religious legacies and formalities are more important than mortal life. Diversity is the strength of this nation.The foundation of Hinduism lies in the rich cultural heritage that is bejeweled by gifts from ancient India. Indians believe in respecting and imbibing every facet of religion’s positivity. For Hindus, the Gayatri-Mantra, is a highly revered mantra from the Vedas, which was never authored, but is believed to have been revealed to Brahmarshi Vishvamitra by God. Gayatri Mantra is a complete prayer for the protection, nourishment and finally, liberation of humanity. Indians are made to chant this Gayatri-Mantra from a very young age. But do you know why ? Why has every Indian memorized the Gayatri-Mantra? Why ?
These three forms of Gayatri are present in everyone.
Gayatri represents the sense organs that we have. She is the master of all senses.
Savitri is the master of Prana (Life Force). Many Indians are familiar with the story of Savitri, who brought back to life her dead husband, Sathyavan. Savitri signifies truth.
Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech (vaak).
The three represent purity in thought, word, and deed (thrikarana shuddhi). Although Gayatri has three names, all three are present in each of us as senses (Gayatri), the power of speech (Saraswathi), and the life force (Savitri).
“May the God Almighty illuminate our intellect to lead us along the righteous path”.
If you intend to chant the Gayatri mantra, it is quite important that you chant it with the correct pronunciation and with the deepest integrity of your hearts. This of course, means that you need to know the correct pronunciation of the words behind the mantra. The Sanskrit words of the Gayatri-mantra carry tremendous power when chanted correctly.
The prayer form of the Gayatri takes various forms.
The Gayatri Mantra is known as the Savitri Mantra,if it is invoked as a salutation to the Sun.
The form that can be used to pray to Lord Shiva is called Rudra Gayatri.
One may sing Saraswati Gayatri for Goddess Saraswati.
One may sing Tulsi Gayatri Mantra as well.
[The Ultimate reality, in which physical, astral and causal worlds exist] Om: The sacred word, word of creation, first word, word of god (Equivalent to Holy Ghost in trinity) usually used at the beginning of a hymn or mantra.
Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati are latent in the entire universe. Bhur, Bhuvah and Swah in the Gayatri mantra refer to the body (materialization), the life-force (vibration) and the soul (radiation). Bhur means the earth, which is nothing but the combination of materials. This denotes the human body, which is also a combination of many materials. Bhuvah refers to the life-force, which makes the body vibrate. Swah refers to Prajnāna-shakti, which sustains the life-force. This Prajnāna-shakti is also known as constant integrated awareness which can also be termed as radiation. All three, namely, materialization, vibration and radiation are present in a man born in this universe. This is similar to the three bodies that we have.
Gayatri is described as having five faces.
The third is. “Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ“.
The fourth is “Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi“.
The fifth is “Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayāt“.
Gayatri represents the five prāñas (life forces) in these five faces. When one’s intelligence and intuition are developed by the recitation of this mantra, the activating deity is Gayatri. When the life-forces are protected, the guardian deity is called Savitri. When one’s speech is protected, the deity is called Saraswati. Because of the protective roles of Savithri, Saraswati and Gayatri, in relation to life, speech and intellect, Gayatri is described as ” Sarva-devatā-swarūpini ” — the embodiment of all goddesses.
Yajurved Adhyay 36, Mantra 3 – The actual Gayatri Mantra is given in Yajurveda and i t does not have “Om” (ॐ) at the beginning. There is no mention of “Om” in the mantra anywhere. By putting “Om” in front of the mantra, it actually becomes useless. As mentioned in Gita Ji Adhyay 8 Shlok 13, “Om” mantra is the sole mantra for jaap of God ‘Brahm’ and Vedas are describing the glory of Param Akshar Brahm, the Supreme/Complete God. So, this Mantra of Yajurved is praising the Supreme God, Param Akshar Brahm.
This entire creation of this universe is Gayatri. Gayatri is speech and protects (trayati) the entire creation on this universe. Gayatri indeed is all , that exists. Speech is Gayatri; for speech sings and removes fear from mankind’s mind and soul.
Gayatri is four-footed and sixfold.
Prajapati (the progenitor of the worlds) often brooded on the existence of three worlds. From them he extracted their essences. Fire was extracted from earth, air was extracted from the sky and the sun was extracted from heaven.
He further brooded on these three deities. From them he extracted their essences as well. The Riks (Rig-veda) were extracted from fire, the Yajus-mantras (Yajur-veda) were extracted from air, and the Saman (Sama-veda) were extracted from the sun.
He brooded on the three Vedas as well. From them he extracted their existences. Bhuh was taken from the Riks, Bhuvah was taken from the Yajus-mantras and Svah were taken from the Samans.
4-6. If by any chance, sacrifice is rendered defective on account of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans), then with the Mantra ‘Bhuh Svaha’ (or ‘Bhuvah Svaha’ or ‘Svah Svaha’), the Brahman priest should offer an oblation in the fire. On verification, through the essence of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans), through the virility of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans), he makes the injury of the sacrifice look good in respect of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans).
The Gayatri Mantra is based on truth and universality. Truth is often based on strength. Strength is breath, and therefore dependent on the breaths we take. So, Gayatri protects (tra) the wealth (gaya) and the breath of those who chant the gayatri-mantra with earnestness and devotion. When one recites Gayatri-Mantra on behalf of someone, he protects that person’s breath too!
This verse talks about the unbounded wealth constrained by the four ‘foots’ of the Gayatri Mantra.
The first foot (aum bhur bhuvah svaha) is said to be equivalent to the wealth accumulated in the three worlds put together.
The second foot (tat savitur varenyam) is said to be equivalent to the wealth confined within the three main vedas of hindu mythology.
If one was to receive a gift for eternity, that would equivalent to the third foot of Gayatri Mantra (bhargo devasaya dheemahi).
For every kind of power, proofs are often searched, by direct perception or by the process of inference. In the past many Men have tried to find out by what direct proof they could experience the transcendental power of Gayatri-mantra. They found the ultimate proof in the Sun. Without the Sun there will be no light at all and the entire universe will be plunged in darkness. All activities will come to a standstill. In this world hydrogen is essential for the growth of plants and of living beings. The Sun’s primary components are hydrogen and helium. Without hydrogen and helium, the world cannot survive. Hence, the ancient men concluded that the Sun was a visible proof (of the transcendental power of gayatri mantra). They also found some subtle secrets about the Sun. Hence, they adored the Sun as the principal deity in the Gayatri-mantra.
“Dhiyo yonah Prachodayāt” – May the Sun illumine our intellects in the same way he sheds his effulgence.
This prayer addresses the Sun (in the Gayatri mantra). In the same way, they came to regard the Gayatri mantra as the mother of all Vedas.
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