Magazine - Year 2003 - Version 1
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The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra - Amritvani
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(Translation of the original discourse in Hindi given on the last day of an anushthan camp at Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mathura in the 1960s; Original Title: "Gayatri Mahamantra Ki Mahatta")
Let us all begin with the collective chanting of the Gayatri Mantra,
"Om Bhur Buvaha Swaha Tatsaviturvareyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yonaha Pracodayat ||"
Sisters and Brothers, Gayatri Tapobhumi1 is the living abode of Goddess Gayatri. It is an Ashram for the sadhana of the Gayatri Mantra. The spiritual experiments using mantras are of unique importance because mantras are carriers of immense occult potencies and can be used to accomplish great tasks. A snake -charmer can relieve a person from the poisonous effects of snakebite by perfecting the practice of the particular mantra. The utility of mantras for spiritual sadhana is like that of instruments (yantras) in the material world. Yantras play a key role in the materialistic development of the world. The history of the ascent of human civilization is, to a great extent, the history of the invention and advancement of yantras. Mantras also have their own history of discovery and mastery of inner realms of consciousness by a long line of masters and seekers of spirit. Mantras have great significance in the mental and spiritual evolution of harmony. These could also manifest tremendous results in the physical world; they could be powerful like a Patton tank or an atomic bomb. Our spiritually empowered, eminent ancestors the rishis, knew this fact and had therefore developed a whole gamut of mantras for specific purposes and had also devised the methods of experimentation with use of these subliminal tools. Mantras and yantras have been in existence since prehistoric times. The Vedic scriptures describe that once the devas (gods) and the asuras (demons) argued as to what was superior mantra or yantra? The demons regarded yantras as superior and mightier as material resources and capabilities were more important to them. The gods affirmed the prominence of mantras; that is, spirituality was of greater significance to them. We all have seen and used several types of yantras in this age of materialistic progress. Let us acquaint ourselves with some knowledge of mantras here. The effects of mantras largely pertain to the mental, emotional and spiritual realms of life. Mantras inspire positive and penetrating thoughts and enlighten the emotional and deeper levels of consciousness. The genesis and development of the knowledge of mantras has a deep scientific basis. The production of speech or pronunciation of sound involves specific vibrations of the vocal chord and the harmonious movements of the tongue, palate, lips, teeth etc. The grand network of nerves connected to these organs is spread across the body. Each phoneme, vowel or consonant uttered silently or spoken loudly affects this network in specific pattern as per the vibrations it generates. Mantras are very special configurations of sounds or syllables. Accordingly, each mantra has specific patterns of enunciation or chanting. Mantras work on the yantra of our physical body and also on our energy-body, mind and the inner-self. Everything, which is made up of matter, including our physical body, is perishable. The gross manifestations of life are short-lived: A child looks so cute and fresh. He most often continues to be energetic and attractive in his youth as well. But all his charm and strength are gone after the age of 55 or 65 years. Your wife looks so dazzlingly beautiful in her ornaments as a married woman; but how would the same lady look if she were a widow? Nothing is stable or long lasting in this world. Movement and change appear to be the law of Nature. In other words, the world seems to be created by vibrations, movements and variations. Man usually thinks that if he had enough money, he and his family would live happily and peacefully. But extra wealth brings new worries and tensions; he now has the fear of it being stolen, worries about its safety from thieves and dacoits. If one is well educated and trained, he would often dream of excellent jobs, power, self etc. But the hunger of his desires and cravings can be never fulfilled. If we look at human life closely, it will appear as though man begins his life with problems. He lives with his problems, related tensions and stresses, and spends his whole life in attempting to resolve them, creating newer ones in the process. He leaves this world carrying a burden of too many unresolved problems. The life of a person usually revolves around this cycle, always hunting for some joy or calmness outside him. The living yantra of human body seeks to get peace and happiness through extrovert, materialistic means; it does find some at times, but only momentarily. If man could ever attain long-lasting peace and happiness, it will be possible only through mantras, by turning towards spirituality i.e. by realizing his own self-fulfilled divinity within. Mantras are not some verbal structures to be enunciated rhythmically and repeatedly. Rather, these are subtle means of contemplating that can reorient the mental tendencies. Many people suffer from a variety of adversities, scarcities and worries because they do not have the aptitude to be initiated into proper mantras (of sane thinking, righteous attitude, etc). Mantras are defined as the tools for liberation from ignorance, illusion, infirmities and sorrows. These can transform the course of life and convert agonies into joys. Indeed, mantras, as special carriers of the energy of cosmic sound, do have amazing potentials for affecting the physical world also (as some of you might have seen or read about mantra based healing of physical and mental ailments, etc). But the spiritual powers and benefits of the mantras are far more intense and creative. The domain of spirituality is immeasurable and so is the field of the activities of the mantras. The Gayatri Mantra is given paramount recognition in the Vedic science of spirituality. The sadhana of this mantra illuminates and opens up the inner treasure of intelligence. It has the ability to inspire the human self towards great ideals and eventually elevate and transmute it into divine self. Each syllable of the Gayatri Mantra enfolds tremendous energies of spiritual knowledge, enlightenment and wisdom. The Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Smritis, Gita, Ramayana, and other vedic Scripture are all derived from it and are, so to say, detailed commentaries on this mantra. Gayatri is said to be the Mother (origin) of the Vedas. The scriptures describe that the commentary of the four segments of the Gayatri Mantra through the four mouths of Lord Brahma has been compiled into four Vedas as indicated below: The segment of Gayatri Mantra and the Veda generated from it Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha - The Rig Veda Tatsaviturvarenyam - The Yajur Veda Bhargo evasya Dhimahi - The Sama Veda Dhiyo Yonah Pracodayat - The Atharva Veda: Later on, the in-depth understanding, detailed explanation of and discussions on the Vedas by the rishis gave rise to the six Darshanas, ten Aranyakas, hundred and eight Upanishads, eighteen Puranas, twenty Smritis, etc. The microscopic sperm and ovum contain the complete genetic blueprint of a human being. A seed possesses the information (DNA) for the development of a tree. Similarly, each letter of the Gayatri Mantra comprises all the elements of knowledge, sciences and philosophies. Be that the knowledge of the visible or the invisible world, that of making gold, or that of the divine empowerment of life, all is subliminally present in this mantra. Gayatri Mantra also provides the supreme method for the upasana (worship) of God, as its meaning is a universal prayer for the enlightenment of the human intellect towards the righteous path. The awakening of this pure intelligence brings boons for the spiritual as well as worldly progress of life. The Sanskrit word "upasana" means "sitting nearby". Upasana of God means sitting in contemplation of divine attributes. If a calf will not cling to its mother cow, how will it get the milk? How will an iron piece be converted into gold without touching the Philosophers Stone? How will the soul be strengthened without a conscious awareness of God? Upasana and devotion enable this linkage and also content the inner self. The sublime contact with God is as essential and important for the awakening of our souls, as the pranic energy is for the existence and sustenance of life in our gross bodies. A person whose soul is not spiritually awakened lives like a corpse or an animal in human form. When the inner self of the devotee comes in contact with Gods inspirations (during Gayatri Upasana), he opens his heart before Him and lays all his worries and problems before him. God listens to him, pacifies his agitations and fulfils his deserving aspirations. The Almighty also loosens the grip of the ego centered cravings and instead bestows the grace and blessing on the sincere devotee. Divine blessings bestowed upon a sadhaka3 include virtues like courage, contentment, alleviation and eventual elimination of mental weaknesses, removal of adversities and complexities, happy family life, social esteem and benevolence. Most importantly, the vibrations and inspirations of the Gayatri Mantra also refine the mental and emotional domains of the sadhaka and inculcate divine sentiments like altruistic love and compassion and endow him with virtuous tendencies. This spiritual elevation gradually results in divine transformation of the sadhakas personality. As you have seen, here in Gayatri Tapobhumi, so many people visit me every day and seek solutions to their problems. I have tried to provide them relief and give them strength and direction with the help of Gayatri Upasana. Once a principal of a high school in Madhya Pradesh came to me with a severe complaint of insomnia. Despite several therapies there was no improvement in her sufferings. I could heal her without any medicines and now she is able to sleep normally. By the blessings of Mother Gayatri, many people have similarly been relieved of dreaded diseases, pains and adversities. Worldly problems and difficulties of people have also been resolved here in a way that might appear to be miraculous at times. A couple of years back, a rich businessman came and told me that he had not paid the income-tax and was now under the tension of being caught and hauled up for dodging the income-tax law. He had Rs.3.2 million worth of property at that time. I advised him that he should be honest and pay the tax (together with penalty) of Rs. 1 million that was due from him; and that he would still be left with Rs. 2.2 million, which was sufficient for the growth of his business. I also guided him to perform the japa4 of the Gayatri Mantra with devotion. He adopted the moral path thereafter and achieved stupendous success. These and many other live examples of transformation of common people illustrate the majestic powers of the Gayatri Mantra. Notes: 1. Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mathura is one of the five main establishments of the World Gayatri Pariwar. 2. Sadhana: Devout spiritual endeavor aimed at inner refinement and elevation. 3. Sadhaka: Who sincerely performs a sadhana. 4. Japa: Repeated rhythmic enunciation (of a mantra). (To be continued in the next issue.)
Sisters and Brothers, Gayatri Tapobhumi1 is the living abode of Goddess Gayatri. It is an Ashram for the sadhana of the Gayatri Mantra. The spiritual experiments using mantras are of unique importance because mantras are carriers of immense occult potencies and can be used to accomplish great tasks. A snake -charmer can relieve a person from the poisonous effects of snakebite by perfecting the practice of the particular mantra. The utility of mantras for spiritual sadhana is like that of instruments (yantras) in the material world. Yantras play a key role in the materialistic development of the world. The history of the ascent of human civilization is, to a great extent, the history of the invention and advancement of yantras. Mantras also have their own history of discovery and mastery of inner realms of consciousness by a long line of masters and seekers of spirit. Mantras have great significance in the mental and spiritual evolution of harmony. These could also manifest tremendous results in the physical world; they could be powerful like a Patton tank or an atomic bomb. Our spiritually empowered, eminent ancestors the rishis, knew this fact and had therefore developed a whole gamut of mantras for specific purposes and had also devised the methods of experimentation with use of these subliminal tools. Mantras and yantras have been in existence since prehistoric times. The Vedic scriptures describe that once the devas (gods) and the asuras (demons) argued as to what was superior mantra or yantra? The demons regarded yantras as superior and mightier as material resources and capabilities were more important to them. The gods affirmed the prominence of mantras; that is, spirituality was of greater significance to them. We all have seen and used several types of yantras in this age of materialistic progress. Let us acquaint ourselves with some knowledge of mantras here. The effects of mantras largely pertain to the mental, emotional and spiritual realms of life. Mantras inspire positive and penetrating thoughts and enlighten the emotional and deeper levels of consciousness. The genesis and development of the knowledge of mantras has a deep scientific basis. The production of speech or pronunciation of sound involves specific vibrations of the vocal chord and the harmonious movements of the tongue, palate, lips, teeth etc. The grand network of nerves connected to these organs is spread across the body. Each phoneme, vowel or consonant uttered silently or spoken loudly affects this network in specific pattern as per the vibrations it generates. Mantras are very special configurations of sounds or syllables. Accordingly, each mantra has specific patterns of enunciation or chanting. Mantras work on the yantra of our physical body and also on our energy-body, mind and the inner-self. Everything, which is made up of matter, including our physical body, is perishable. The gross manifestations of life are short-lived: A child looks so cute and fresh. He most often continues to be energetic and attractive in his youth as well. But all his charm and strength are gone after the age of 55 or 65 years. Your wife looks so dazzlingly beautiful in her ornaments as a married woman; but how would the same lady look if she were a widow? Nothing is stable or long lasting in this world. Movement and change appear to be the law of Nature. In other words, the world seems to be created by vibrations, movements and variations. Man usually thinks that if he had enough money, he and his family would live happily and peacefully. But extra wealth brings new worries and tensions; he now has the fear of it being stolen, worries about its safety from thieves and dacoits. If one is well educated and trained, he would often dream of excellent jobs, power, self etc. But the hunger of his desires and cravings can be never fulfilled. If we look at human life closely, it will appear as though man begins his life with problems. He lives with his problems, related tensions and stresses, and spends his whole life in attempting to resolve them, creating newer ones in the process. He leaves this world carrying a burden of too many unresolved problems. The life of a person usually revolves around this cycle, always hunting for some joy or calmness outside him. The living yantra of human body seeks to get peace and happiness through extrovert, materialistic means; it does find some at times, but only momentarily. If man could ever attain long-lasting peace and happiness, it will be possible only through mantras, by turning towards spirituality i.e. by realizing his own self-fulfilled divinity within. Mantras are not some verbal structures to be enunciated rhythmically and repeatedly. Rather, these are subtle means of contemplating that can reorient the mental tendencies. Many people suffer from a variety of adversities, scarcities and worries because they do not have the aptitude to be initiated into proper mantras (of sane thinking, righteous attitude, etc). Mantras are defined as the tools for liberation from ignorance, illusion, infirmities and sorrows. These can transform the course of life and convert agonies into joys. Indeed, mantras, as special carriers of the energy of cosmic sound, do have amazing potentials for affecting the physical world also (as some of you might have seen or read about mantra based healing of physical and mental ailments, etc). But the spiritual powers and benefits of the mantras are far more intense and creative. The domain of spirituality is immeasurable and so is the field of the activities of the mantras. The Gayatri Mantra is given paramount recognition in the Vedic science of spirituality. The sadhana of this mantra illuminates and opens up the inner treasure of intelligence. It has the ability to inspire the human self towards great ideals and eventually elevate and transmute it into divine self. Each syllable of the Gayatri Mantra enfolds tremendous energies of spiritual knowledge, enlightenment and wisdom. The Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Smritis, Gita, Ramayana, and other vedic Scripture are all derived from it and are, so to say, detailed commentaries on this mantra. Gayatri is said to be the Mother (origin) of the Vedas. The scriptures describe that the commentary of the four segments of the Gayatri Mantra through the four mouths of Lord Brahma has been compiled into four Vedas as indicated below: The segment of Gayatri Mantra and the Veda generated from it Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha - The Rig Veda Tatsaviturvarenyam - The Yajur Veda Bhargo evasya Dhimahi - The Sama Veda Dhiyo Yonah Pracodayat - The Atharva Veda: Later on, the in-depth understanding, detailed explanation of and discussions on the Vedas by the rishis gave rise to the six Darshanas, ten Aranyakas, hundred and eight Upanishads, eighteen Puranas, twenty Smritis, etc. The microscopic sperm and ovum contain the complete genetic blueprint of a human being. A seed possesses the information (DNA) for the development of a tree. Similarly, each letter of the Gayatri Mantra comprises all the elements of knowledge, sciences and philosophies. Be that the knowledge of the visible or the invisible world, that of making gold, or that of the divine empowerment of life, all is subliminally present in this mantra. Gayatri Mantra also provides the supreme method for the upasana (worship) of God, as its meaning is a universal prayer for the enlightenment of the human intellect towards the righteous path. The awakening of this pure intelligence brings boons for the spiritual as well as worldly progress of life. The Sanskrit word "upasana" means "sitting nearby". Upasana of God means sitting in contemplation of divine attributes. If a calf will not cling to its mother cow, how will it get the milk? How will an iron piece be converted into gold without touching the Philosophers Stone? How will the soul be strengthened without a conscious awareness of God? Upasana and devotion enable this linkage and also content the inner self. The sublime contact with God is as essential and important for the awakening of our souls, as the pranic energy is for the existence and sustenance of life in our gross bodies. A person whose soul is not spiritually awakened lives like a corpse or an animal in human form. When the inner self of the devotee comes in contact with Gods inspirations (during Gayatri Upasana), he opens his heart before Him and lays all his worries and problems before him. God listens to him, pacifies his agitations and fulfils his deserving aspirations. The Almighty also loosens the grip of the ego centered cravings and instead bestows the grace and blessing on the sincere devotee. Divine blessings bestowed upon a sadhaka3 include virtues like courage, contentment, alleviation and eventual elimination of mental weaknesses, removal of adversities and complexities, happy family life, social esteem and benevolence. Most importantly, the vibrations and inspirations of the Gayatri Mantra also refine the mental and emotional domains of the sadhaka and inculcate divine sentiments like altruistic love and compassion and endow him with virtuous tendencies. This spiritual elevation gradually results in divine transformation of the sadhakas personality. As you have seen, here in Gayatri Tapobhumi, so many people visit me every day and seek solutions to their problems. I have tried to provide them relief and give them strength and direction with the help of Gayatri Upasana. Once a principal of a high school in Madhya Pradesh came to me with a severe complaint of insomnia. Despite several therapies there was no improvement in her sufferings. I could heal her without any medicines and now she is able to sleep normally. By the blessings of Mother Gayatri, many people have similarly been relieved of dreaded diseases, pains and adversities. Worldly problems and difficulties of people have also been resolved here in a way that might appear to be miraculous at times. A couple of years back, a rich businessman came and told me that he had not paid the income-tax and was now under the tension of being caught and hauled up for dodging the income-tax law. He had Rs.3.2 million worth of property at that time. I advised him that he should be honest and pay the tax (together with penalty) of Rs. 1 million that was due from him; and that he would still be left with Rs. 2.2 million, which was sufficient for the growth of his business. I also guided him to perform the japa4 of the Gayatri Mantra with devotion. He adopted the moral path thereafter and achieved stupendous success. These and many other live examples of transformation of common people illustrate the majestic powers of the Gayatri Mantra. Notes: 1. Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mathura is one of the five main establishments of the World Gayatri Pariwar. 2. Sadhana: Devout spiritual endeavor aimed at inner refinement and elevation. 3. Sadhaka: Who sincerely performs a sadhana. 4. Japa: Repeated rhythmic enunciation (of a mantra). (To be continued in the next issue.)
