420.Gayathri

Gayan Pranan Trayata Iti Gayatri

Aitareya Brahmana says that Gayatri is the protector of souls. Gaya means life.

Ta dyatprāṇā vrāyatē tadgāyatrī

Brihadaranya Kopanishat explains that Gayatri is the life preserver. Tasmaddayantham trayate yatah protects the chanter. Shankara Bhashyam says Geite Tattvamanaya Gayatrithi. Divinity is chanted in this mantra. Hence it is called Gayatri.

There are two types of Gayatri Mantra.

1. Instructed to Brahmins in Upanayana period.
2. Embedded in the Vedas. This is Panchdashi Mahamantra.

That is why Gayatri Mantra is instructed for Brahmins while Panchdashi Mahamantra is instructed to all other varnas, said Agastya Maharshi. The meaning of both is the same. It is said that Gayatri is the protector of the body, Savitri is the Teja svarupa and Saraswati is the Vagrupa.

Savitridyotana Saiva Savitri Parikirthita

Creates and illuminates the world. So called Savitri.

Jatah Panohitritvan Vagrupatva Tsaraswati

Saraswati is Vagrupa. Chandas Gayatri is made up of twenty-four letters. There are many types of chandas. But the gateway to knowledge of Brahma is Gayatri chanting, that Gayatri brought Somarasa and gave it to the gods.

From Chandogyopanishat

Once all the deities sent Gayatri, Trishtap and Jagati chandas to fetch Soma. Among these, Trishtup and Jagati Chandassas have returned without the Soma. Moreover, they dropped some of their letters due to exhaustion on the way back. Gayatri Mantra went to Soma, defeated all those who would protect it and brought Soma to the devatas. On the way back, it also brought back the letters dropped by Trishtap and Jagati chandasas. Because of that Gayatri Chandasa became the greatest of all. Moreover, it is also spread in the morning, noon and evening times. Its dignity was ironed out by being indispensable to the Brahmin. That is why one who neglects Gayatri will not succeed in anything. There are 24 letters in Gayatri Chandhas, six for each pada and four padas. Other chandasas have more than 24 letters. But among them all, Gayatri is the best. Gayatri is the whole group of living beings. Speech is Gayatri, all living beings are Gayatri, Gayatri is in all the names we pronounce. Thus, all the living beings are Gayatri.

Gayatri is the saver of life. It is none other than the earth itself. All beings are supported by the earth. That is why the earth is the Gayatri who sings, chants, meditates and preserves the entire universe. The Panchabhutas and the group of senses present in the body are same as the earthly form of Gayatri. Gayatri, the physical form of Purusha, and Purusha, who is in the heart of it, are both the same. It is said that life forces are enshrined in that purusha i.e. Gayatri.

Gayathri worship is explained in Brihadaranyakopanishad, “The three words 'भूमि , अन्तरिक्ष, दयो' mentioned in the Upanishad have eight letters in total. In the word dyauh the dakara yakaras should be counted as two syllables. These are the names of the three worlds. Gayatri mantra has eight syllables per foot. There are three padas(phrases). So, the three worlds are the first pada. He who learns about the three worlds in this way conquers all the worlds.

There are eight letters in the three words ''रिच यजंसि सामानि' mentioned in the Upanishad. This is the second pada of Gayatri. That means the Vedas are the second leg. A person who knows this will acquire the wisdom of trayee school of thought.

The eight syllables of 'प्राण अपान व्यान' mentioned in the mantra are the third pada of Gayatri. Here in the letter Vya the Vakara Yakaras should be counted as two letters. He who knows this (controlling the life forces) attains everything.

In the Upanishad Mantra 'तुरीयदर्शि  तंपदं' is the fourth leg. The word 'Darshitapadam' means that the ultimate who is in the Aditya Mandal is seen. It means that he is shining above all the worlds. Thus, one who knows the fourth leg of the Gayatri becomes famous and glorious. Turiyapadam is enshrined in truth. The eye is the truth. I saw something. When I say I heard, I believe what I saw. Therefore, the eye is the truth. Truth, which is the shelter of Turiyapada, is enshrined in strength. That is why strength is more lustrous than truth. Life is that strength. Tripada Gayatri saves lives. Gayatri is a prominent figure in Prana. Gayatri is the saver of life forces life Vag. Gayatri protects the chanter. Gayatri protects the worshiper. Tripada Gayatri is preached to 'Vatu' during Upanayana.

Asya śrī gāyatrī mahāmantrasya viśvāmitra r̥ṣiḥ | gāyatrīchandaḥ| śrī savitādēvatā| yambījaṁ| īṁ śaktih| ṇaṁ kīlakaṁ| japē viniyōgaḥ

nyasa:

Ōṁ tatsavituḥ brahmātmanē| varēṇyaṁ viśvātmanē| bhargōdēvasyarudrātmanē| dhīmahi satyātmanē| dhiyō yōnaḥ jñānātmanē| pracōdayāt sarvātmanē || 

dhyana:

Muktā vidruma hēma nīla davālaccāyai rmukhai strīkṣaṇaiḥ

yuktā mindunibad'dharatna makuṭāṁ tatvārtha varṇātmikāṁ |

gāyatrīm varadābhayāṁ kuśakāśā śmubhraṁ kapālaṁ gadāṁ

śaṅkhaṁ cakra madhā ravindayugaḷām hastay rvahantīm bhajē ||

mantramu:

Ōṁ bhūrbhuvas'suvaḥ tatsaviturvarēṇyaṁ || bhargōdēvasya dhīmahi | dhiyōyōnaḥ pracōdayāt |

This is tripadagayatri. But some sects worship the Gayatri in Anushtup chandas.

Tatsavitu rvrini mahe ౹ age devasya meal | Shrestham y sarvadhatamam |

Turanga Bhagasya Dhimahi

Speech is Anushtup. It is a form of Saraswati present in our body. So, they believe that Saraswati in the form of speech is being preached to them. When a Gayatri worshiper takes cows, horses or land as a gift, the evil caused by it will be removed if he chants the first pada. If he/she takes a donation in the for of Vedavidya, the evil caused by that donation will be removed by chanting the second pada of the mantra. "Even if he/she takes a donation of the lifes in the world, the evil will be removed by chanting the third pada. Such are the fruits of Gayathri worship.

Śud'dha gāyatrī pratyakṣaraṁ brahmaikya bōdhitā 

Every letter of Suddha Gayatri teaches about Parabrahman. That means the union of Jivatma and paramatma (Supreme Soul).

Mahā mantrasya cāpasya sthānē sthānē padē padē gūḍō rahasya garbhēna | ntō pa dēśa samucchayaḥ |

There is great mystery in every syllable and every place of Gayatri Mahamantra. Those who worship the Gayatri Mantra get to satisfy both material and spiritual desires. Those who worship the Gayatri enshrined in the heart become liberated from all bonds. Gayatri Mantra has 24 syllables. Prajapati is the form of the year. He is Kalasvarupa. 12 months per year. Two moon phases per month. This way there 24 moon phases. Those 24 Pakshas are the 24 letters of the Gayatri Mantra. 

There are three seasons per annum

1. Summer season 2. Rainy season 3. Winter season. Similarly, the Gayatri Mantra has three legs in it.

The three legs of the mantra are symbolic of 1. Earth 2. Bhuvarloka 3. Suvarloka. That is why those legs should be applied to the worlds and meditated upon.

1. First leg: Earthly coordination. Meditation should be done in the form of physical creation.

2. Second leg: Metaphysical coordination. That means meditation should be done in the metaphysical form of Shakti.

3. Third leg: Etheral coordination. That means meditation should be done with a focus on intuition.

While meditating in this way, the grace of Ashtavasus, presiding deities of the material world is obtained. After that the grace of Ekadasarudra, the presiding deities of Shaktis comes. After that, the blessings by the presiding deities of the world of wisdom, the Dvadasadityas is obtained. Each syllable of the Gayatri Mantra has a unique meaning. Let us learn that now.

Om - Brahma, Bhuh - Pranavasvarupa, Bhuvah - Annihilation of sorrow, Svah - Sukhasvarupa, Tat - That, savituh - shine with radiance, devasya - of God, varenyam - excellent, bhargah - sin-destroying radiance, dhimahi - meditate on, yah - whatever, nah - ours, dhiyah - the intellect, prachodayat - meditate on that radiance.

Explaining that both Panchdasi Mahamantra and Gayatri Mantra are one and the same, Bhaskara Raya has proved the meaning of Gayatri Mantra to Panchdasi Mahamantra in verses 60, 61 and 63 of his Varivasya rahasyam.

'Ka' Kakara in Panchdasi Mahamantra means Brahma who desires to create the universe. The first three words of the Gayatri Mantra mean Brahma. 'A' which is the second letter in panchadasi means savituh in the Gayatri mantra. The third letter, 'Ee' kara, represents Parameshwar, the Bhargodevasyadhi of the Gayatri Mantra.

In this way Kameswara and Kameswari, the reason of creation is known by Pradhamakutami of Srividya and Pradhamapada of Gayatri Mantra, is said. Paramashiva is the harmony of both of them. This world is his evolution. He is the inspirer of all intellect. Transcendent and core of all life forces.

The word Mahi in Gayatri Mantra refers to 'La' in Srividya. It represents the earth. So, from that the five elements of the world are known. This entire world is created by the Supreme Lord. Mahatripurasundari is the reflection of that Supreme Lord.

The meaning of the last 2 legs of the Gayatri Mantra is represented by Hrim Karam in Srividya. In this way Gayatri and Panchdashi Mahamantras have the same meaning. Gayatri Mantra is explained in the 12th Skandham of Devi Bhagavatam. 24 Rishis, 24 Chandassas, 24 Devas, 24 Saktis, 24 Colors, 24 Varnatattvas and 24 Varnamudras are mentioned for this mantra. We are also quoting them here.

Gayatri Mantra has 24 sages. They are

1. Vamadeva 2. Atri. 3. Vasishtha 4. Shukra 5. Kanva 6. Parashara 7. Vishwamitra 8. Kapila 9. Shauna 10. Yajnavalkya 11. Bharadvaja 12. Jamadagni 13. Gautama 14 Agastya 15 Kausika 16 Vyasa 17. Vatsa 18 Pulatsya 19 Manduka 20 Mudgala 21 Durvasa 22 Narada 23 Lomasu 24. Kashyapa

Gayatri mantra has 24 chandas. They are

1. Gayatri 2. Shakwari 3. Aakruti 4 Ushthik 5. Atishakwari 6. Anushtup 7. Dhruti 8. Sanskriti 9. Brihati 10 Atidhruti 11. Aksharapankti 12. Trishtubhamu 13. Virat 14. Bhuh 15. Pankti 16. Prasarapankti 17. Rbhuvah 18. Jagati 19. Swah 20. Atijagati 21. Prakruti 22. Jyotishmati 23 Vikriti 24. Kriti

Gayatri Mantra has 24 deities. They are

1. Bhagwa 2. Maitravaruna 3. Prajapati 4 Yama 5. Vaiswadeva 6. Chandra 7. Ganesha 8. Matrikas 9. Ishan 10. Tvashta 11. Vishnu 12. Savita 13. Pusha 14 Vasu 15. Aditya 16. Indragni 17 Rudra 18. Bruhaspati 19. Vayu 20. Kubera 21. Maitravaruna 22. Vamadeva 23. Ashwani 24. Fire

Among these deities there are two named Maitravaruna. It is not a typing mistake.

Gayatri Mantra has 24 Shaktis. They are

1. Vamadevi 2. Kanta 3. Sookshma 4. Priya 5. Vishwayoni 6. Saraswati 7. Vijaya 8. Visvabhadra 9. Vidruma 10. Vasa 11. Vilasini 12. Visalesa 13. Padmalaya 14. Prabhavati 15. Vyapini 16. Parashobha

17 Jaya 18. Vimala 19. Bhadra 20 Santa 21 Tamopaharini 22. Tripada 23. Durga 24. Satya

Varnas (colours) of Gayatri Mantra are 24. They are

1. Sampaṅgi 2. Padmarāgamu 3. Pasupu 4. Avise 5. Indranīlamaṇi 6. Pālamiśraṇamu 7. Pagaḍamu 8. Mutyamu 9. Sūryakānti 10. Spaṭikamu 11. Kuṅkuma 12. Cilukatōkaraṅgu 13. Padmapuṣpamu 14. Kāṭuka 15. Śatapatrakānti 16. Bālādityuḍu 17 raktamu 18. Kautakīpuṣpamu 19. Śaṅkhakundēlu 20. Vaiḍūryamu 21. Mallikākusumamu 22. Pagaḍamu 23. Karavīrapuṣpakānti 24. Tēne

Gayatri Mantra has 24 varna tatvas. They are

1. Soil 2 Eye 3. Water 4. Skin 5. Light 6 Speech 7. Sotra 8 Wind 9. Pani, Pada 10. Prana 11. Sky 12. Payu 13. Apana 14. Sand 15. Vyana 16. Rasa 17. Smell 18. Udana 19. Form 20. Tongue 21. Sameness 22. Touch 23. Sound 24. Upastha

Gayatri mantra has 24 types of mudras. They are

Sumukhamu 2. Ṣaṇmukhamu 3 muṣṭikamu 4. Sampuṭamu 5. Adhōmukhamu 6. Matsyamu 7. Vitatamu 8. Vyāpakān̄jalikamu 9. Kūrmamu 10. Vistr̥tamu 11. Śakaṭamu 12. Varāhamu 13. Dvimukhamu 14. Yamapāśamu 15. Sinhakrāntamu 16. Trimukhamu 17. Gradhitamu 18. Mahakrāntamu 19. Caturmukhamu 20. Ṣaṇmukhōnmukhamu 21. Mudgaramu 22. Pan̄camukhamu 23. Pralambamu 24. Pallavamu

But the mudras for the thirty-two-letter Gayatri mantra are as follows.

1. Trident 2. Lingam 3. Yoni 4. Surabhi 5. Akshamala 6. Ambujam

This type of Gayatri mantra is chanted by all Brahma Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. However

Omkaravyahritipurvam Gayathrim Brahmano Japet

Tristubham Chaiva Rajnyo Jagatim Vaishya Eva Ch.

Gayatri with Om and vyahrti is chanted by Brahmins

Gayatri in Trishtup chandas is chanted by Kshatriyas

Gayatri in Jagati chandas is chanted by Vysyas

Also in Mantra Shastra every Mantra has a Gayatri.

Katyayanaya Vidmahe Kanyakumari Dhimahi Tanno Durgih Prachodayat |

Mahadevyai Cha Vidmahe | Vishnupatyaicha dhimahi tanno lakshmih prachodayat ||

Gayatri Mantra is most powerful of all

Once, there was a drought. For almost fifteen years, not a single drop of rain fell. No food is available. Even the trees and the ants Perished. It was an intolerable drought.  Due to a scarcity of grass, cattle perished. Milk is not given to infants. Some people have gotten to the level of eating dead carcasses because they can't control their hunger. Others have killed their infants by strangling them since they were unable to nurture and raise them. It was a dance of destruction by the nature's fury. There was no way for certain scholars to band together and get out of this situation back then, was there? They held that belief. Finally, Gautama was remembered. In those days, some scholars got together and thought about the way to escape from this miserable situation. Then they approached Gautama. Gautama was a sage. He did great penance. He used to worship Paradevata. Because of her compassion, he was blessed with a boon that no matter the condition, if he plants seeds, they will sprout. So now if we all take refuge in Gautama, he will definitely help us. Thinking this they traveled to Gautama's ashram. Seeing these scholars who had come with their families, Gautama realized that they were in some danger and invited them and entertained them. Knowing what happened, prayed to para devata like this

Namō dēvi! Mahāvidyē! Vēdamātaḥ! Parātparē!

Vyāhr̥tyādi mahāmantrarūpē! Praṇavarūpiṇi! 

Sāmyāvasthātmikē! Mātaḥ! Namō hrīṅkāra rūpiṇi 

svāhā svadhā svarūpē! Tvāṁ namāmi sakalārdhadām 

bhaktakalpalatāṁ dēvīṁ avasthātraya sākṣiṇīṁ 

kuryātīta svarūpāṁ ca saccidānanda rūpiṇīṁ 

sarvavēdānta sanvēdyāṁ sūryamaṇḍala vāsinīṁ 

prātarbālāṁ raktavarṇāṁ madhyāhnē yuvatīṁ parāṁ

sāyāhnē kr̥ṣṇavarṇāṁ tāṁ vr̥d'dhāṁ nityaṁ namā myaham ||

He arranged a residence for all those who came and arranged food facilities for all of them through the boon given to him by the deity in the past. Those who had not had food and drinks for a long time and had even forgotten what they look like, got abundant food with Panchabhakshas by the grace of that Paradevata. They praised Gautama in various ways. They praised Parameshwari. All the pundits started performing yagnas. 100 yojanas of Gautams ashram is filled with all the pundits. Gautama protected all of them.

After some time, sage Narada came and praised Gautama's work and said, "Maharshi! You have supported them when they are in need. By using the boon given by Parashakti for them, your power increased. It is said that whoever helps others with his power, his power will be doubled. Now the same happened to you. All the deities like Indra are praising the work you are doing" he said. Hearing these words, the pundits became jealous. They could not bear Gautama getting such a name. By hook or crook, they wanted to tarnish Gautama's reputation.

It started raining. Gradually the ground cooled. Lakes started flowing. Rivers overflowed. The seeds are sprouting. The scholars also prepared to leave and created an illusionary cow. It came and started destroying the crops and food in the ashram premises. Seeing that, Gautama got angry. He did not want to beat the cow. So, he shooed it away. Then illusionary cow fell down and died. The scholars who were watching all this from the ashram said, "Gautam killed the cow. Cow slaughter is the greatest of all sins. We cannot stay in this ashram anymore. So, we are leaving" and left. Not knowing that it was Maya, Gautama pleaded them. He asked them for an idea to wash away this sin. Then the pundits thought of an impossible task for Gautama. After thinking for a while, they said that if the Ganga is brought down to earth and flowed over the dead cow, this sin will be washed away.

Gautama did penance for Lord Shiva for many years. Lord Shiva appeared and according to Gautama's wish, released two drops from his long hairs. That water flowed down the dead cow. That's when the dead cow got up. The river was named Gautami because it was floated by Gautama and Godavari because it came to save the cow. Pundits then ridiculed Gautama that he did so much penance to save an illusionary cow. Knowing the truth with divine vision, the sage got angry with them and said, "From now on, chanting of Gayatri will be unfruitful for you. Veda study and performing yagnas will not be for you. All of you will become unrighteous and corrupt. You will behave like cattle. This will continue for generations," he cursed. In the Dwapara Yuga, when all the scholars prayed for the forgiveness of the wrongdoing, Lord Krishna was born in Nanda's house in Yadu dynasty with essence of Parameshwari element. With Krishna's birth they were freed from the curse. they again performed Gayatri Anusthanam and attained liberation. One who chants Gayatri emerges with Brahman effulgence.