Gayatri Mantra

 

 

OM BHOOR-BHUVAH SVAHA

TAT-SAVITUR-VARENYAM

BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI

DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAAT

OM BHOOHU ● OM BHUVAHA ● OM SVAHA ● OM MAHAHA●
OM JANAHA● OM TAPAHA● OM SATYAM●
OM TAT -SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAAT●
AAPO JYOTI RASOMRTAM BRAHMA BHOOR BHUVAH
SVAROM●

GAAYATRI- PRAANAAYAAMA

Holding the breath one should repeat the above mentioned Gaayatri Mantra completely. Thrice at BRAHMA MUHURTHA. This is called GAAYATRI PRAANAAYAAMA.

The above mentioned Gaayatri Maha Mantra is the essence of all the Vedas. Gaayatri Mantra reveals the existence of the Supreme Self or PARAMAATMAN in every existing object –living or non living, as its very essence.

GAAYATRI MANTRA UPAASANA consists of chanting the complete Mantra as given above, loudly, with perfect phonetic intonations.
If there is not perfect phonetic expression of sound, the Mantra may not have the required effect. The Mantra is mainly intended for personal usage. Unless one is physically handicapped, the Mantra is to be chanted by the aspirant himself. Regular Gayatri Praanaayaama Saadhana leads one to self knowledge, bestows liberation and Siddhis

ADI SHANKARA

ADI SHANKARA SAYS:

GAAYATRI MANTRA is the essence of Vedas. Vedas proclaim the oneness of Jivaatman and Paramaatman. So Gaayatri Mantra also aims at this oneness only.
The meaning of the Mantra is :

He who is the Supreme Sun, He who shines as the self of all individual should, let him inspire our thinking to understand this great truth.

That PARABRAHMAN is SAVITUR -SUN.

That PARABRAHMAN is DEVA- the shining one. He is the light by which we see other lights.

That PARABRAHMAN is VARENYAM – Greatest, because he is well known to everybody as their very self, as their “I”.

That PARABRAHMAN is BHARGAHA – The lustrous one, because He destroys the ignorance in everybody.

We meditate on THAT PARABRAHMAN, who is referred to by the words –SAVITUR, DEVA, BHARGA , VARENYAM.

Let THAT PARABRAHMAN give us the power to mediate on Him as our own self.

Let THAT PARABRAHMAN inspire our thoughts to comprehend the truth of the oneness of PARAMAATMAN and JIVAATMAN.

OM TAT SAT.
These three words form the essence of Vedas.
OM is the common word in this statement and the GAAYATRI MANTRA.
TAT is also a common word in both. In the GAAYATRI MANTRA, the word TAT is given a detailed explanation.
TAT in GAAYATRI MANTRA refers to SAVITUR, BHARGA, DEVA, VARENYAM.
SAT means the pure existence or the Awareness in you. You are the SAT because of which all other things like your body, mind etc. exist.
So-
OM TAT SAT means the oneness of PARAMAATMAN and JIVAATMAN.
OM TAT SAT means THAT IS EXISTENCE

GAAYATRI MANTRA also means:

THAT PARABRAHMAN, THAT LUSTROUS SHINING SUN -EXISTS -AS YOU
TAT TVAM ASI
THAT THOU ART
AHAM BRAHMAASMI
I AM BRAHMAN
Let that Supreme Self inspire our intellects to meditate upon the truth.

I AM THE SUPREME SELF
OM
BHOOHU – EXISTENCE
BHUVAHA – CONSCIOUSNESS
SVAHA – BLISS
MAHAHA – GREAT
JANAHA – CAUSE
TAPAHA – LUSTRE
SATYAM – UNAFFECTED
All these words mentioned in the GAAYATRI MANTRA refer to the PARABRAHMAN.
AAPO or AAPAHA – ALL PERVADING
JYOTEE – SHINING LIGHT
RASO or RASAHA – ESSENCE
AMRITAM – NECTAR
PARABRAHMAN is everything that exists. So He is everywhere. He
pervades everything that exists.
PARABRAHMAN is the SELF. He is the ATMAN. He is the Essence of
everything.
PARABRAHMAN is immortal. He is eternal. He is free from Death.
Let us mediate like this, when we chant the complete GAAYATRI MANTRA.:
“I am the Supreme Parabrahman.
I am the witness of the actions of my body, mind and intellect.
These are the instruments given to me for experiencing the world.
I need no other support for my existence.
I am THAT which is referred to in the GAAYATRI MANTRA, as SAVITUR,
BHARGA,
DEVA and VARENYAM.
I am BHOO, BHUVA, SVAHA, MAHA, JANA, TAPA, SATYAM.
I am AAPA, I am JYOTI. I am RASA. I am AMRITAM. I am BRAHMAN.
I am EVERYTHING.
I am SAT-CHID-AANANDA.
I am Existence. I am Awareness. I am Bliss.
I AM THAT ”

ADI SHANKARA SAYS:

BRAHMAN is All pervading
BRAHMAN is Self shining
BRAHMAN is Different from Everything
BRAHMAN is the Self
BRAHMAN is Eternal
BRAHMAN is Existence, Consciousness, Bliss
BRAHMAN is denoted by the OMKAR
The other name of BRAHMAN is OM
I AM THAT BRAHMAN
I AM THAT BRAHMAN
I AM THAT BRAHMAN
This is the meaning of GAAYATRI MAHA MANTRA, according to ADI SHANKARA

OM TAT SAT