Hello and Namaste ksudha-mukti (one hungry for moksha)
Thought I would add one thing on this subject of Gayatri, brought by patelvipulk to the forum . Gayatri is the greatest sound known to mankind, just delightful!
Gayatri was cognized by Viswametra (Vishwa = Universe, all incompassing; and mitra or friend) – the Friend of the Universe .
It has a specific meter (rhythm) and has 8 syllables per line ( 8 stimulates a Moksha house in one’s birth chart for enlightenment ) and there are 3 lines to it – so 3 X 8 = 24 syllables. Each syllable stimulates the impulses of creation in ones being…(I will outline the 24 below)
So even though there is a word associated with it, the sound, the vibration, does it’s work on the native and it is also influencing the environment around the person i.e. its good for all.
So, for those with this bent to understand Gayatri, here’s a few parts. Gayatri components:
gâyanath = what is sung, giving of praise ;
trâyate = preserves, protects, gives deliverance, grants liberation
Another viewpoint suggests that the roots are:
gaya = vital energies +
trâyate = preserves, protects, gives deliverance, grants liberation
The Mantra always starts with Om, so it goes like this - this is how it appears in the Rk Ved: AUM,
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT
Here’s what is says: “O Lord, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive Thy supreme, sin destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.”
Here are the phonemes, or the DNA for each syllable, and what it stimulates within the sadhu:
‘tat’ - tapini - fruitfulness
‘sa’ - saphalata - valor
‘vi’ - visshwa - perseverance
‘tur’ - tushti - welfare
‘va’ - varada - yoga
‘re’ - revati - love
‘ni’ - sukshma - wealth
‘yam’ - jnana - lustre
‘bhar’- bharga - protection
‘go’ - gomati - wisdom
‘de’ - devika - subjugation
‘va’ - varahi - allegiance
‘sya’- simhani - determination
‘dhi’- dhyana - life
‘ma’ - maryada - time
‘hi’ - sphutaa - penance
‘dhi’- medha - forecast
‘yo’ - yogamaya - alertness
‘yo’ - yogini - production
‘nah’- dhanin - protection
‘pra’- prabhava - idealism
‘cho’- ushma - adventure
‘da’ - drishya - discrimination
‘at’ - niranjana - service
So is the greatness of Viswametra’s enlightened vision on this mantra.
Pranams and Peace,
Frank in San Diego
“Let noble thoughts come to us from every side” Rig-Veda, 1-89-i
Hi,
I can send you an mp3 of my guru chanting the full version of gayatri if you or anyone else wishes it.Also www.gatewaytoawareness.org has some good info.
L&L
Dave
‘the mind can see further than the eyes’
One CD I use to play Gayatri is offered by Times Music.
You can purchase on line. The chant is by Rattan Mohan Sharma.
He has a chorus of 6 others chanting with him. Its not overdone (no special effects) just very sattvic.
ON the CD it says it is Created by Inner Voice, from India. Its one of my favorites. IF you cannot find it this way, let me know and I will help hunt with you on the Web.
Peace,
Frank In San Diego
I think there’s one line missing in the beginning, after AUM.
AUM
BHUR BHUVA SVAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHI YO YONAH PRACHODAYAT http://www.kamalkapoor.com/vedicmantras/gayatriMantra.asp
Genes are a result of karma RATHER THAN A CAUSE OF IT - Yogani
Originally posted by nearoanoke
I think there’s one line missing in the beginning, after AUM.
Hello Neroanoke (et.al)
Thanks for the note on this… the original Gayatri as it appears in the Rk Ved (Chap III) appears below… let me type up a few more items (any attention on Gayatri is sattvic and benefical.)
Any additional insights are warmly welcomed.
>>> Gayatri can be used by all, and best to be sung, silently-internally or externally; When given by the Diksha Guru, he intones the correct sound/meter to the sadhu and then that mantra meter is then used. <<<
Also, it is proper to recognize the rishi that cognized the Ved mantras being applied, in this case it is Viswametra, so with that in mind lets start off right:
Om Sri Viswamitra-ji Namaha - to him the Friend of the Universe ( Viswamitra ) the seer and rishi of Gayatri, I pay homage and bow down. This we ( I must) never forget.
It appears in the Rig Ved as follows:
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT
Version 2 - Pranava is added - OM, with 3 Vyahriti’s [ added , Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah ( v’s as you know sound out as w’s).
Now we have
AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT
It is said just by using the 3 Vyahriti’s ( Sacred utterances) , one can gain Self-realization.
The forth Vyahriti is “Mahah” - this is outlined in the Taittitiya Upanishad. The rishi is Mahachamasyah. This Maha is Brahman, and is atman covering all. the beauty of Mahah, the other 3 Vyahriti are contained in it.
As you know Mahah is associated with the Heart region, the home of SELF and Brahman. This is added in the typical progession:
AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA MAHAH
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT
The 4th is one many people suggest is the “original” yet it is not appear in the Rk Ved as such.
It touches each Chakra bottom to top… This is said to be given to one from the Diksha Guru, which empowers the mantra for the yesha (aspirant).
OM BHUH OM BHUVAH OM SUVAH
OM MAHAH OM JANAH OM TAPAH
OM SATYAM
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YONAH PRACHODAYAT
Pranams,
Frank In San Diego
Frank In San Diego
Bhuh Bhuvah Suwah
(also seen written as ‘Bhur, Bhuvaha, Svar’)
This line addresses the three lower lokas or realms,
earth-physical, air-astral, light-mind. A mistake I
see frequently (and I’m no sanskrit scholar) is the
substitution of the expletive ‘swaha!’ that is used
in the fire (agni) ceremony and elsewhere. This
translates as “so be it,” “hail,” “verily,”
“I prostrate myself.” Obviously these are two different
words that sound alike, and because ‘swaha!’ is often
added at the end of a prayer line or when throwing
butter (ghee) into the altar fire, the substitution
creeps in.
Minor point? Perhaps not. After all, this is the oldest
written-down prayer on the planet.
Hello rabar,
Very good points.
ONe minor,minor point also is the term “lower”.
There are 14 lokas, and Gayatri addresses the 7 upper ones. You clearly point out the 3 definitions.
The 7 lower ones are Atalam,Vitalam,Sutalam,Talaa-Talam,Rasaa-Talam,Mahaa-Talam & Paataalam which I have little knowlege of…I prefer the upper ones too!
RE: Svar, Suwah, etc.
AS I have participated in Homam/Havan, this mantra is at the offering to Agni. The pujari (temple priest) ends with svaha - “it is offered”.
thanks and Pranams,
Frank In San Diego