Gayatri mantra and its significance in life
Gayatri mantra and its significance in life
The world is filled with various energy. There are cosmic energy, mental energy, and other several types of energy that surround us some are known to humanity which can be seen and felt while some are so far away from our understanding that we barely know about anything about it. Mystic energy may be the term that comes closest to describe these energies around us because we do not know much about them and they are surrounded with mystery.
We with the help of science have started to know much about energy but there is still much that we do not know. Energy has been used by humans for various purposes, the ancient people also knew about the energy around us and they with the help of mantra channelize those energies. There are several types and kinds of energy and the ancient people used various mantras to use and harness those energies. Gayatri mantra, Surya mantra, Shiva mantra, are some of the powerful mantras that were and still are used to harness various types of energy.
Mantra And Why To Chant Mantra
Mantra is the ancient verses that are believed to have mystical power and provide many things to the one who chants it. The tradition of mantra is mostly dominant in Hindu religion also the Buddhist religion uses the power of mantra and chanting. There is a new definition of Mantra, it is something that motivates you or your goal or some sort of programming that you give to your mind using the power of verses in addition to the ancient verses. However, the actual ancient definition of mantra is the verses or vibrations that can harness the cosmic energy and even be able to perform mystic activities.
In ancient times the sage or other individuals used the power of mantra to achieve many things. Some with the power of mantra became so strong that even gods had to be down to the knee in the presence of their ultimate power. Ravan, Meghnath, Sahastra Arjun, Tad Kasur all worshipped deities with the power of mantra and gained boon.
It is not like that they wanted to give the boon to the demons as they already knew they were going to use their power for bad purposes. However, the rule of mantra does not work like that. If one chants mantra and harnesses its power as the law of the universe the gods must provide the demanded or suitable boon for their mantra power.
It is not that mantras are only used as the means of power. There are many depths and dimensions of mantra and power is also one of them. Moksha, spirituality, divinity is also some of the many dimensions of Mantra. Demons indeed harnessed the power of mantra for power but some used the power of mantra for creating a better world and use it to protect Dharma.
The demigods and other good used the power of mantra to create a peaceful place where people can happily live and defend themselves from monsters and demons. Even the gods of the heavens use the mantra of the holy trinity to increase their spirituality or even to gain a certain boon.
There are various mantras in the world. There are so many that it is even hard to tell exactly just how many are there. However, some mantras are more powerful and divine than others. They channel the very cosmic force from which life in the universe formed. Among the many mantras, such as the Gayatri mantra. The mantra known as the Gayatri mantra is also believed by some to be the strongest mantra there is.
Gayatri mantra
Om bhur bhuvah suvah
tatsa vitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhi mahi
dhiyo yo na prachodayat
The above-written text is the Gayatri mantra. The mantra is short but is considered one of the most powerful mantras there is. This mantra is also the most famous mantra which most Hindu people know. The children’s adults who practice Hinduism and worship deities must know it and may chant daily.
However, the question is who created the Gaytri mantra? From where it came into existence? And why do some consider it to be the most powerful mantra there is?
History of Gayatri mantra
Gayatri mantra is one of the most popular mantras of Hindus. Now, the mantra can be found in various texts and scriptures but when was the mantra written. According to the Hindu myths and tales, the mantra is an inseparable part of Vedas and was formed during the same time as the Vedas. Also, Hindu tales say that Vedas were formed before the beginning of time and by using the power of Vedas Brahma created the universe and other things in it. This says that the Gayatri mantra is older than time itself.
Now, looking at the origin of the Gayatri mantra by the perception and facts of science it is a little bit different than mythology. The earliest mention of the Gayatri mantra is found in the Rig Veda and the oldest mention of the Gayatri mantra is found to be 2000 to 3000 years old. Whatever the case may be one fact is clear that the Gayatri mantra is very ancient and is a great treasure given to us by the ancient Hindu society.
Who is the Gayatri mantra dedicated to?
Gayatri’s mantra is dedicated to the Vedic deity Savitr. Many of you may have never heard of this name and wonder who this Hindu deity is. This deity is commonly known by another name and most do not know him by the name Savitr. He is the son of the primordial mother of the gods of heaven Aditi. Savitr is the name of the sun god in Hinduism. Many know him by the name of Surya dev but the name differs according to time. Before the sunrise, the sun is called Savitr where after sunset it is called Surya.
Mother Gayatri
Gayatri is the name of the goddess of the Gayatri mantra on which the verses of the mantra are composed. The goddess is also known as Savitri and Vedmata (Mother of the Vedas). Mother Gayatri is one of the most powerful and holy deities in Hindu mythology. However, there is mass confusion about who mother Gayatri is.
Some sources say that mother Gaytri is in the form of goddess Sarswati (Hindu goddess of knowledge, literature, and music). However, some sources tell as the form of mother Parvati (Hindu goddess of power, nature, and fertility). The Saivite texts denote her as the Maha Gayatri and are said to be the consort of Lord Shiva in his Sadasivam which is sometimes believed to be the highest form of Lord Shiva.
The appearance of Gaytri Devi
Mother Gayatri in her true form is said to possess five individual heads and ten hands on her body. She is sitting in the lotus flower and holding various things in her hands. She is holding various weapons like an arrow, chakra, and other things while also holding the flowers and one hand giving blessings to her devotee.
Meaning of Gayatri mantra
Gayatri mantra is in pure Sanskrit (Sanskrit is the oldest language). So, many people know and recite the Gayatri mantra but have no idea what it means.
Gayatri mantra when translated into English means,
O thou existence absolute, creator of the three dimensions, we contemplate upon thy divine light. May he stimulate our intellect and bestow upon us true knowledge
This is the brief translation of the Gayatri mantra. However, many translations and implications are provided by various Gurus. Gayatri mantra is one of the greatest mantras there is so from one perception it is also natural to have many implications of something so divine and powerful,
A simpler translation of the mantra also exists it goes like this,
O divine mother our heart is filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us
In all of the translation, we can see the description of the true God who created everything and asking him to bestow his kindness to us in the form of knowledge and intellect.
Significance of Gayatri mantra
Gayatri mantra is a very vast thing to comprehend. The verse may be terse but it holds the secrets of the universe itself. So, it in its core has many significances and possesses the depth that nothing can match.
Following are the significance of the Gayatri mantra:
The true knowledge
Gayatri mantra is the true knowledge there is. When the truth of the universe is converted into verses the result is Gayatri mantra. Therefore, in the Vedic knowledge system, the child is first taught the Gayatri mantra the highest truth there is and the highest knowledge there is. Then only the child is taught other things and knowledge.
Barta bandha
In Hindu society, Barta bandha is what all males should pass through. After getting the knowledge of Barta bandha his karma in life is started. From this point, he is no longer a child but is on the path to becoming an individual. On this occasion, he also gets the teacher in life and the relation between the teacher and student is established by passing of the Gayatri mantra.
Sanjay
The ideal time to chant Gayatri mantra is believed to be in the morning or at dusk. It is not said that the Gayatri mantra cannot be chanted in other times rather than this but this time is said to have the highest efficiency as the mind enters a state of power that can harness the true essence of the mantra.
Sanjay is the ritual or the process of chanting the Gayatri mantra in the morning and evening. The ritual of Sanjay is also begun after the child has Barta bandha in life. Doing Sanjay every day chanting the Gayatri mantra enhances the spirituality of the individual who chants it and makes him eligible to see the truth in the world.
Gayatri Shakti
Gayatri Shakti is the name of the energy that is gained by chanting the Gayatri mantra. The energy collects within one overtime, the more chanting, and dedication to the mantra the more Gayatri shakti is gained. Gayatri Shakti is the energy that destroys the negativity in life and moves the life in the path of positivity, dedication, and progression.
The power and strength gained from the Gayatri Shakti is unmeasurable and can transform the entire life of the person. One-time chanting two-time chanting is not enough. It is a discipline that needs to be built over time with dedication. One day after another the power of the mantra gets absorbed into the body and in time the true essence of the Gayatri Shakti gets developed in the body.
Chanting Gayatri mantra 108 times a day
108 is considered a very auspicious number in Hinduism. People also chant the Gayatri mantra 108 times a day. It has many benefits so people do it on the exact number. Following are the benefits of chanting the Gayatri mantra 108 times a day:
- There are various words in the mantra that calms the mind. Words like om induce calmness and make the mind in peace.
- It is said that chanting the Gayatri mantra increases the immunity of the person. Also, if done 108 times it maximizes the result.
- Breathing is the process of inhaling the prana Vayu continuously in the body. In the absence of Prana Vayu, the body dies. However, improper breathing can harm the proper function of the body. The chanting of the Gayatri mantra 108 times a day can also increase the efficiency of prana Vayu intake into the body. Chanting Gayatri mantra sitting in Padmasana also improves the posture for better breathing activity.
- 108 is a very auspicious number according to Hinduism and mother Gayatri is the form of Saraswati and mother Parvati. They are the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, prosperity, and fertility. Whoever chants the Gayatri mantra will be blessed by these mothers and their life will be filled with peace and prosperity.
- Gayatri mantra when chanted gives peace to the mind and improves the immunity and breathing of the person. This in turn collectively reduces the stress and tension of the person who regularly chants the Gayatri mantra.