"Om' represents in its silent significance, both
the manifest and the unmanifest, which together constitute the entire subtle and
gross worlds. The word 'Loka' in Sanskrit is generally translated as 'World',
but in its etymological meaning it signifies 'a field of experience'.
The
entire possibility of experience in life has been terraced by the Rishis into 14
Lokas (World)- 7 higher and 7 lower lokas- as shown below:
14 Lokas
Higher
Lokas
Lower
Lokas
Bhur Loka
Atalam
Bhuvar Loka
Vitalam
Svar Loka
Sutalam
Mahar Loka
Talaa-Talam
Jana Loka
Rasaa-Talam
Tapo Loka
Mahaa-Talam
Satya Loka
Paataalam
Of these 14 Lokas,' Bhur-Bhuvar-Svar', denoting
the 'three lokas (worlds)', are called the "Vyaahrtis". Vyaahrtis are the worlds
in which a limited ego-centre comes to play its game of reincarnation and
repeated deaths. Bhur Loka is the physical earth; Bhuvar Loka is the world next
to the physical and closely connected with it, but constituted of finer matter;
and Svar Loka is the heavenly world. That is why these Vyaahrtis are included in
the Gaayatri Mantra.
When
a meditator is chanting the Gaayatri Mantra, he is chanting these Vyaahrtis and
he can visualize the 'three worlds' as arising from, existing in and
disappearing into 'Om'. He can subjectively identify them with the waking, dream
and deep-sleep conditions of the consciousness, transcending which extends the
realm of the infinite. All of them are represented in the symbol 'Om'. in this
sense, the Vyaahrtis in the gaayatri represent in one sweep the entire 'world'
of the subjective and the objective experiences of man.
It is universally
accepted that the Gaayatri Mantra is one of the oldest available divine hymns.
It is observed that by the chanting of this Mantra, with the right understanding
of its sacred meaning, the ordinary negative tendencies in a human mind can be
erased to a large extent.
This Mantra is never chanted for the purpose of
material gains, physical or otherwise. It is a prayer unto the Self to unveil
itself and come to manifest as Pure Wisdom in our life.
Each Mantra has a
'Devata', a 'Chandas' and a 'Rishi'. We respect them while reciting the Mantra,
by touching the head for the Rishi, the nose for the Chandas and the heart for
the Devata. For our Gaayatri Mantra, the Rishi is 'Vishwaamitra', Chandas is
'Gaayatri' itself and the Devata is 'Savita'(Sun). Chandas is the 'Metre' in
which the verses are set. Chandas is necessary to ensure that the form of the
Mantra is correct.
We give below some examples for Rishi, Chandas and
devata:
Rishis: Atri, Brigu, Kutsa, Vasishta, Gautama, Kasyapa, Aangirasa
etc.
Chandas: Gaayatri, Ushnik, Anushtup, Brihatee, Pangti, Trishtup,
Jagati etc.
Devatas: Agni, Vaayu, Arka, Vaageesa, Varuna, Indra
etc.
Gaayatri Mantra belongs to the Rig Veda and it is found in the Third
Mandala, in its Sixtieth Sootra, as the Tenth Mantra. All the Mantras belonging
to the third mandala of the Rig Veda are attributed to Rishi
Vishwaamitra.
Meaning of Gaayatri Mantra
" We meditate upon the
auspicious godly light of the Lord Sun; may that heavenly light illumine our
thought-flow in our intellect."
This Mantra is always chanted along with
Pranava and the Vyaahrtis.
The names of Rishis and Devatas are
self-explanatory. We shall elaborate a bit on the 'Chandas'.
Chandas
Chandas is treated as "Feet of the Vedas".
Chandas is Vedas themselves. Vedas are mostly in verses. Chandas is metric
composition; metre, rhyme etc. The important book on this is the 'Chandas
Sootra' by Pingala. "Anushtup" is the Chandas used in Raamaayana. Chandas alone
ensures that the original form of the vedic text is kept absolutely in tact;
without adding or subtracting even a single syllable. It is only proper that no
liberties are taken with the vedic sounds. Even a small plus or minus is bound
to disturb their spiritual content.
Generally, 4 paadas(stanza) make one
Mantra or Shloka. Gaayatri has only 3 paadas of 8 syllables in each. So it is
called "Tripaada Gaayatri".
The first Mantra in the Rig Veda starting
with "Agni meele--" is set in Gaayatri Metre. Each Paada with 7 syllables-
making a total of 28 syllables- is called "Ushnik"
"Anushtup" has 8
syllables in each paada.
"Brihatee" has 9 syllables in each
paada.
"Pangti" has 10 syllables in each paada.
"Trishtup" has 11
syllables in each paada.
"Jagati" has 12 syllables in each
paada
"Udkriti" has 26 syllables in each paada.
Any metre beyond
26 syllables to a paada is called "Dandakam". eg. Shyaamala
Dandakam.
Soundarya Lahari is in "Shikharini" metre.
Some of the
other metres are: Indra Vajra, Upendra Vajra, Bhujangam, Saardoola Vikreeditam,
Shrangdhara, Upajaati etc.
The following table gives
the 24 letters of the Gayatri spell and its relation to the
power.
What we
have been dealing with so far is the Brahma Gaayatri or Soorya
Gaayatri. There are some other Gaayatris attributed to different Gods-viz.
Devi Gaayatri, Vishnu Gaayatri, Rudra Gaayatri, Ganesa gaayatri, Subrahmanya
gaayatri and so on. Of all these, the Brahma / Soorya Gaayatri is the most
popular and is our National Mantra.
