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    There are numerous specialized streams of Gayatri sadhana, both in Satvic and the Tantric paths. Appropriate sadhanas are prescribed for deserving sadhaks, depending upon their internal state. Normal people cannot be instructed to adopt these nor can everyone take these up. But there is one simple Gayatri sadhana by adopting which any person can elevate his spiritual level.

This simple sadhana consists of three components: (i) Gayatri upasana, (ii) atmashodhan (self-refinement), and (iii) aradhana. These can also be described as the three components of the Gayatri Mantra or the Tripada Gayatri. In this sadhana no special rules, procedures or karmakand need to be observed; yet it ensures the same level of soul-upliftment that is attained by the specialized paths of sadhana. But all the three need to be carried along together; none of these can be left out.  Just as life is sustained by food, water and air, total spiritual progress is attained by adopting all the above three practices together.

The first of the three is Gayatri upasana. Its meaning is to sit near Gayatri (the mother form of God). Spiritual practices like worship, prayer, japa, meditation etc are done so that a regular and sustained effort continues uninterruptedly to see the divine effulgence present within the inner self and open ourselves to its transforming light. Upasana is an elemental urge of the soul towards intimacy with its source – The Divine Mother. The details of this sadhana may be found in ‘Super Science of Gayatri’ by Pandit Shrtiram Sharma Acharya [1] and ‘Gayatri sadhana: Why and How?’ by Dr Pranav Pandya [2]. The contents of these books as well as other relevant literature are also available on our Mission’s website: http://www.awgp.org .

Upasana is necessary and essential, but spiritual progress cannot be attained only through that. The second component is spiritual cleansing which must go on alongside Upasana. Animal-like tendencies get ingrained in the human psyche over many life forms. To root these out and to plant humane and benevolent attitudes in their place is a tough task. For this sustained introspection and conscious inner cleansing are needed.

A vigilant effort must be made to incorporate virtues and high ideals into all the thought processes and activities carried out from rising up in the morning to going back to sleep at night. One who practices sadhana of life needs to think while going to sleep in the night that sleep is death. By believing that morning is the sunrise and night is the sunset of life, all the activities of daily routine become an integral part of sadhana. This is the only way to all round soul – upliftment and everlasting happiness and peace.

The regular practice of self-cleansing is important because the subtle negative effects of the polluted environment of the present times constantly keep inscribed on the inner mind. Evil tendencies that are spread all around cast their downward pull on life. To neutralize such influences it is important to move on in life by considering purity of thought, balance of intellect and control over senses as absolutely essential. Self-control is also an aspect of self-cleansing.

Thoughts should be channelized to concentrate upon meaningful and relevant activities. They should not be allowed to get enmeshed into undesirable fantasies. The power of concentration produces magical results. Concentration is attained by the practice of dhyan (meditation). The same is also attained by unflinching determination. Getting fully engrossed in any activity in hand and working on it with the best of ability, is an attribute that always results in success. Scientists, artists, literati and philosophers attain success only on the basis of their concentration.  Through constant vigilance, thoughts should be directed towards essential tasks and their wayward fantasies should be stopped. Thus total thought control can be effected.

Proper and meaningful utilization of time also helps in inner cleansing. Work and rest must be well planned. Not a moment must be wasted in shirking from work. If one treats work as worship, remains engrossed in hard work, infuses high ideals into his activities, and does them with honesty and responsibility then carrying out these routine activities itself would be karmayoga. Selfless performance of duties must be given prime importance. This is the karmayoga as defined in Gita and the Divine Teacher has described it as a very important sadhana of life. This sadhana becomes possible only by properly planning and organizing each and every moment. God has granted us wealth and prosperity in the form of our breaths. The choice is ours: either waste these in performing ill deeds, or devote them in benevolent acts.

It is easy to earn wealth but its good utilization is extremely difficult. People earn a lot but become wasteful and lose all that they earn in vices, luxuries or in demonstration of vanity. Some greedy and miserly ones simply accumulate wealth. They neither gain anything from it nor let others take any advantage of it. Accumulation causes rotting, it increases conceit and generates vices. Heirs to this ill-gotten wealth squander it away in self – indulgences which leads to ruin.

Any amount of wealth may be earned, but how that wealth is utilized should be closely monitored. Unnecessary expenses should be curtailed. In the present circumstances, the number of progeny (children) must also be controlled; thereby available resources can be utilized for the betterment and development of the present members of the household and for instilling good qualities and benevolent tendencies in them. If a well-planned life style could be charted out for the exercise of control of senses, thought-control, time-control and wealth-control and such a lifestyle could be lived with complete sincerity, then this could be called the tapa (ascetic endeavor) of self-control. With a taut daily routine and a practice of four restraints mentioned above, the path of self-realization is made smooth.

The third stage of spiritual progress is aradhana (selfless service of society). Man is a social being. His livelihood, fulfillment and progress depend upon the support of others. He must pay back this loan. God has granted us life so that we could lend a helping hand to the Creator in nurturing this world-garden and turn it into a paradise for welfare of all. This task is accomplished by making increasingly greater contribution to the service to the society. One who keeps personal ambitions to the bare minimum and lives a life like an average citizen would get much better opportunity for altruistic activities. Spiritual elevation can be accelerated only by selfless service to the society. A selfish person always receives censure. He only thinks of his own good and works only to achieve that. His contribution towards assuagement of pain, upliftment of the downtrodden and growth of benevolent tendencies is minimal. Such an attitude is always condemned and termed as apathy, miserliness, narrow mindedness, selfishness etc. Even if he is well off and well placed, such a person is looked down upon and hated everywhere. To take active interest in the cultivation of aradhana by developing benevolent tendencies like generosity, cordiality etc is true worship. This is why concepts like donation and virtuous deeds etc have been regarded as integral components of dharma.

Though contribution of wealth does serve the purpose of charity, righteous, benevolent deeds, and service to some extent, true service is pursuit of noble ideals. Only the one endowed with the wealth of godly attributes can be liberated from the clutches of pain and sorrows. The basic cause of the innumerable problems and adversities that present–day humanity is afflicted with is – distorted thought process. Therefore imparting wisdom and knowledge to the masses must be given the prime importance today. Thus, if actions are carried out like an unattached yogi, by developing high ideals and broad perspective, and with a feeling of fulfillment of duty, then pure bliss will shower all around.

These are the three steps of simple Gayatri sadhana. By following these steps in tandem all those benefits of Gayatri sadhana, which have been elucidated in spiritual scriptures, can be attained.
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References:

[1] Super Science of Gayatri by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (Revised Edition 2000) Publisher: Yugantar Chetna Press Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttaranchal, 249411

[2] Gayatri Sadhana - Why and How? By Dr. Pranav Pandya (First edition 2001)
Publisher: Vedmata Gayatri Trust Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttaranchal, 249411

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