Gayatri Mantra காயத்ரி மந்திரம்

Gayatri Mantra

“Let me start today’s discourse with the ‘Gayatri Mantra’ from the first Veda (Rig) which is still recited daily by millions of Hindus.

“Aum Bhur Bhuvah Svah

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya dhimahi

Dhiyao yo nah prachodayat”

காயத்திரி மந்திரம்

“ஓம் பூர்: புவ: ஸூவ:

தத் ஸவிதுர் வரேண்யம்

பர்கோ தேவஸ்ய தீமஹி

தியோ: யோந: ப்ரசோதயாத்:”

This is a Mantra invoking Surya-Savitri for the illumination of the intellect. It literally means: “Let us meditate on that adorable splendour of Savitur; may he enlighten our minds.”

God is AUM. He is the supreme. Surya-Savitri, the Lord of supramental illumination. When we Hindus worship Sun in the morning, I mean the Surya-Namaskara, we worship him as the visible representative of the Supreme God. None can deny that the visible sun is the give of life and light. The Hindus maintained clear eye-sight till very late in life through the practice of Surya-Namaskara. I stand before you as one to demonstrate the truth. I did not go for reading-glasses till my 63^rd year. That too only after a slight accident to my right eye. I practice the Surya-Namaskara even today.

Speaking about this Gayatri Mantra, I must mention to you an important fact. This Mantra or any other sacred syllable should not be picked up from books or journals and recited. If you are to derive real benefits, you must first be competent and then initiated by a Master. There is an interesting story to illustrate its significance. ‘A king visited his minister at the latter’s residence to discuss an urgent matter of State. He was told by a servant that the minister was in his Shrine room doing Japa, i.e. recitation of some Mantras. When the minister came out and received the king the latter enquired as to what Japa he had been doing. On being told that it was Gayatri Mantra, the king desired to be initiated. The minister was wise and humble to reply that he was unable to do so. Sometime later, the king learned it from someone else, and on meeting the minister, he repeated the Mantra and enquired whether it was right. The minister replied that it was correct, but then it was not proper for him to say it. The king got displeased and demanded an explanation. The minister ordered the palace peon who was standing by to get hold of the king. The order was not obeyed. The king flew into a rage and ordered the same peon to hold the minister, and it was immediately done. The minister had a hearty laugh and told the king that the incident was the explanation required by the king. ‘How’ asked the king. The minister quietly replied: ‘The order was the same, and the executor was also the same, but the authority was different. When I ordered, the effect was nil, whereas when you ordered there was immediate effect. Similarly with these Mantras.

Manu says: “The single syllable AUM is the Supreme Brahman; control of breaths is the supreme penance. Nothing is higher than Gayatri…. The Seers (Rishis) attained their long life, intellect and spiritual lustre by the length of their Sandhya-worship.” (Morning, noon and evening worship).

(This is a part of the excerpts of the speech of Mr. Ramachandra, the highly esteemed Editor of the internationally famous ‘Religious Digest’, who delivered this speech to sixty four Roman Catholic Nuns, belonging to different Orders, at the Aquinas University College, Colombo in 1971.)

காயத்திரி மந்திரம்

“ஓம் பூர்: புவ: ஸூவ:

தத் ஸவிதுர் வரேண்யம்

பர்கோ தேவஸ்ய தீமஹி

தியோ: யோந: ப்ரசோதயாத்:”

(பூர்வ உலகம், புவர் உலகம், ஸூவ உலகம் என மூன்று உலகங்களையும் ஆளும் சக்தியான ஜோதி ரூபத்தை தியானிக்கிறேன்; அந்த சக்தி, என் புத்தியை தூண்டி வெளிப்படுத்தட்டும்.)

ஸவிதுர் = இந்த உலகை உருவாக்கிய;

வரேண்யம் = மிக உயர்ந்த நிலையான;

பர்கோ = சக்தியான;

தேவஸ்ய = ஒளியுடன் கூடிய;

தீமஹி = தியானித்து;

தியோ = புத்தியான;

யோ ந = என்னுடைய;

ப்ரசோதயாத் = தூண்டிவிடுபவர்;