The Sanatan Dharma has always indicated the kinetic energy or movable force or the force of action of the universe as Shakti (a feminine Sanskrit term) and the intense variations this force has always been named as a feminine deity, prayed in ‘simple intelligence’ term as goddesses.
Note:
Gayatri mantra is not a prayer. It is not even a mantra. Let me explain…
In the literal sense, Gayatri mantra is just an invocation of the super intelligence with which then, it is expected that it will help us invoke our intelligence. But behind the veil of this simple meaning Gayatri mantra conceals several layers of meanings and the ‘simple intelligence’ invocation is actually a request from the Savitr God, the lord of Ṛta, the principle of natural order, who governs the potential and kinetic forms of the universe, to help the human limited intellect, be able to pervade through each of these layers of the Gayatri mantra and help open the higher intellect (Gyan Chakshu), gradually traversing through each layers.
24 syllables of Gayatri Mantra as Kinetic Energy
Gayatri has 24 syllables and each of these syllables indicates the 24 variations of the kinetic energy which governs the lively universe that we perceive everyday.
The names of these shaktis have been indicated in Devi Bhagavatam as,
वर्णानां शक्तयः काश्च ताः शृणुष्व महामुने ।
वामदेवी प्रिया सत्या विश्वा भद्रविलासिनी॥ 1 ॥
प्रभावती जया शान्ता कान्ता दुर्गा सरस्वती ।
विद्रुमा च विशालेशा व्यापिनी विमला तथा॥ 2 ॥
तमोऽपहारिणी सूक्ष्माविश्वयोनिर्जया वशा ।
पद्मालया परा शोभा भद्रा च त्रिपदा स्मृता॥ 3 ॥
चतुर्विशतिवर्णानां शक्तयः समुदाहृताः ।
अतः परं वर्णवर्णान्व्याहरामि यथातथम् ॥ 4 ॥
Taken from – देवीभागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः १२/अध्यायः ०२
Meaning:
Nārāyaṇa said- O Nārada! O Great Muni! Now hear which are the Śaktis in due order of the twenty four syllables of the Gāyatrī Devi-
(1) Vāma Devī, (2) Priyā, (3) Satyā, (4) Viśvā, (5) Bhadravilāsinī, (6) Prabhā Vatī, (7) Jayā, (8) Śāntā, (9) Kāntā, (10) Durgā, (11) Sarasvatī, (12) Vidrumā, (13) Viśāle’sā, (14) Vyāpinī, (15) Vimalā, (16) Tamopahāriṇī, (17) Sūkṣmā, (18) Viśvayoni, (19) Jayā, (20) Vaśā, (21) Padmālayā, (22) Parāśobhā, (23) Bhadrā, and (24) Tripadā.
You can do your own research to find the significance of each of these devis and be amused. We would also try to cover their significance in later articles. Here we will only discuss about Gayatri. In the same book/chapter (Skand/Adhyay) Narayan further explains Narada,
Also read about Powerful Hanuman mantras.
Colours for each syllables of Gayatri Mantra:
Now hear the respective colours of the several syllables of the Gāyatrī Devī-
(1) like Champaka and Atasī flowers, (2) like Vidruma, (3) like crystal, (4) like lotus; (5) like the Rising Sun; (6) white like conch shell; (7) white like Kuṇḍa flower; (8) like Prabāla and lotus leaves; (9) like Padmarāga, (10) like Indranīlamaṇi; (11) like pearls; (12) like Saffron; (13) like the black collyrium of the eye; (14) red; (15) like the Vaidūrya maṇi; (16) like Ksaudra (Champaka tree, honey, water); (17) like turmeric; (18) like Kuṇḍa flower; and the milk (19) like the rays of the Sun; (20) like the tail of the bird Śuka; (21) like Śatapatra; (22) like Ketakī flower; (23) like Mallikā flower; (24) like Karavīra flower.
Tatvas for each syllables of Gayatri Mantra:
Now know about their Tattvas-
(1) earth; (2) water; (3) fire; (4) air; (5) Ākāśa (ether); (6) smell; (7) taste; (8) form; (9) sound; (10) touch; (11) male generative organ; (12) anus; (13) legs, (14) hands; (15) speech; (16) Prāṇa (vital breath); (17) tongue; (18) eyes; (19) skin; (20) ears; (21) Prāṇa (up going breath); (22) Apāna; (23) Vyāna, (24) Sāmāna.
Mudras for each syllables of Gayatri Mantra:
Now learn about the Mudrās of the syllables-
(l) Sammukha; (2) Sampuṭa; (3) Vitata; (4) Vistṛta; (5) Dvimukha, (6) Trimukha; (7) Chaturmukha; (8) Pañchamukha; (9) Ṣaṇmukha; (10) Adhomukha; (11) Vyāpakāñjali (12) Śakaṭa; (13) Yamapāśa; (14) Grathita; (15) Sanmukhon mukha (16) Vilamba; (17) Muṣṭika; (18) Matsya; (19) Kūrma; (20) Varāhaka; (21) Simhākrānta, (22) Mahākrānta; (23) Mudgara, and (24) Pallava.
So you see Gayatri is not a prayer, it is the perceivable universe itself. Hence it is also said that the Gayatri Devi (the universal Shakti itself) is the mother of the all four Vedas (Vedmātā) because Vedas came out of it.
Why Gayatri Mantra is called Ved Mata?
The Gayatri Mantra is sometimes referred to as “Ved Mata” or “Mother of the Vedas” because it is considered to be the essence of all Vedic knowledge. The Gayatri Mantra is considered to be the mother of all mantras, the source of all Vedic knowledge, and the key to unlocking the spiritual wisdom contained in the Vedas.
Rig Veda was articulated through the complete understanding of ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः through all its layers;
Yajura Veda was through complete understanding of तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं;
Sama Veda from भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि;
and the Atharva Veda from धियो योनः प्रचोदयात्.
Now since we have had a glimpse of intellectual understanding of the Gayatri Mantra, let us understand the experiential significance of this Mantra with a little introduction initially.
Also read about Beej mantras.
Where do we find the Gayatri mantra in Veda?
The Gayatri Mantra, is found in the Rig Veda (3.62.10) and is also known as the Sāvitri Mantra. Everywhere in the world, people chant, meditate on, and sing the Gayatri with love and reverence.
This Gayatri Mantra was revealed to Sage Vishwamitra, the Rishi or seer of this mantra, who disseminated this most valuable Vedic gem. He is the mitra, or companion of the Vishwa, or entire cosmos, just as His name suggests. Later in history, Gayatri was transformed into Gayatri Devi or Savitri Devi, the all-loving and benign Mother Goddess.
Gayatri has often been compared to the Lord’s Prayer in importance and impact and is regarded as a deity in her own right – Mother Gayatri- the mother of all.
According to the Gayatri mantra, the 24 letters correspond to the 24 vertebrae in the spine. Support and stability are provided by the backbone. Our intellect is similarly stabilized by the Gayatri mantra. According to Vedic texts, both chanters and listeners are purified by the Gayatri mantra. This sacred prayer is said to travel through the entire universe from the heart of the chanter for peace and divine wisdom for all.
As the Scriptures declare: GAAYANTAM TRAAYATE YASMAAT GAAYATRI-ITI PRAKIRTITAA; Translation: “That which protects the one who chants it is Gayatri.” So let’s chant the Gayatri mantra once and understand its meaning before moving ahead.
ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः।
Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं।
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
धियो योनः प्रचोदयात्।
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt
Meaning of Gayatri Mantra:
Om, Pervading the Bhu Loka (Earth, Consciousness of the Physical Plane), Bhuvar Loka (Antariksha, The Intermediate Space, Consciousness of Prana) and Swar Loka (Sky, Heaven, Consciousness of the Divine Mind); That Savitur (Savitri, Divine Essence of the Sun) which is the most Adorable; I Meditate on that Divine Effulgence; May that Awaken our Intelligence (Spiritual Consciousness).
Bhur, Bhuvah, and Swah are the three elements of the Gayatri mantra; they represent the body (materialization), the life-force (vibration), and the soul (radiation). Bhur is the earth, i.e. the combination of elements. It denotes the human body, which is also constructed from a variety of materials. Vibration occurs when the body is infused with Bhuvah, the life-force.
The word ‘Swah’ means Prajnāna-shakti, which sustains life-force. Known as constant integrated awareness, Prajnāna-shakti is a state of whole being. The term radiation also applies here. Human beings, then, exhibit all three phenomena, namely, materialization, vibration, and radiation.
There is actually more than one you-the one you assume to be (physical body), the one others assume you are (mental body), and the true yourself (Atma).
Also check about the powerful Ganesha Mantras.
When to chant the Gayatri Mantra?
Even though there are no hard and fast rules for chanting the names of the divine, however, chanting is best done during the brief hours of dawn and dusk. When the sun has gone down but it is neither dark nor light, and when the night has passed but the day has yet to begin. The mind enters an altered state of consciousness at these times as well.
The moments do not belong in either the previous or subsequent states. It is time to concentrate on the Self rather than being distracted by changes or movement. During these hours, the mind can easily become confused and fall into inertia, lethargy, negativity, and so on, or it can be elevated and move into a meditative state of positivity. Chanting the Gayatri mantra refreshes and energizes the mind.
Experiential benefit of Gayatri Mantra
As we understand the power and importance of Gayatri Mantra, the benefits of chanting the Gayatri mantra are equally profound. Among its benefits are the ability to sharpen the intellect, increase learning power, concentration, protect from negativity, make the mind calm and balanced, dispel ignorance, improve communication skills, open psychic vision, and provide direct knowledge of eternal truths.
Here is a scientific research conducted by a scientist on the science of Mantra and effects of Gayatri mantra at the neurological level.
With more on its way, hope this article draws an understanding of the powerful Gayatri Mantra.
