Gayatri Mantra

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The Gāyatrī Mantra is a highly revered Sanskrit mantra with origins in the Vedas. It is a verse in the vedic Gāyatrī metre (whence the mantra's name), consting of 24 syllables, taken from a hymn of the Rigveda (3.62.10). Its recitation is always preceded by oṃ and the formula bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, known as the mahāvyāhṛti ("great mystical phrase"). This prefixing of the mantra proper is prescribed already in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.11.1-8), which states that scriptural recitation was always to begin with the chanting of the syllable oṃ, followed by the three Vyahrtis and the Gayatri verse.[1]

Because the deva invoked in this mantra is Savitr, the mantra is also called Sāvitrī. A personification of the mantra has come to be worshiped as a goddess Gayatri by some Hindus. The Gayatri Mantra is praised in several Hindu scriptures, including Manusmṛti, Harivamsa, and the Bhagavad Gita. The benefits of chanting the mantra have been described variously as wisdom, understanding, and enlightenment.[2][3][4] It is an important part of the upanayanam (sacred thread) ceremony for young males in Hinduism, and has long been recited by Brahmin males as part of their daily rituals. Modern Hindu reform movements spread the practice of the mantra to include women and all castes—its use is now very widespread.[2][5]

Contents

Text

In Devanagari:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
In IAST:
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

A literal translation of the Gayatri verse proper can be given as:

"May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the god:
So may he stimulate our prayers."

—The Hymns of the Rigveda (1896), Ralph T.H. Griffith[6]

The literal translation of the Mahavyahrti formula bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ prefixed to the verse is "earth, air, heaven",[7] i.e. a list of the first three of the seven higher worlds of Hindu cosmology.

Brahmanical usage

The Gayatri Mantra is attributed to the rishi Viswamitra, from verse 3.62.10 of the Rigveda, with Gayatri referring to the Vedic poetic metre of 24 syllables. It is addressed to God as the divine life-giver, symbolized by Savitr (the sun) and is most often recited at sunrise and sunset.[8]

While often associated with outward ritual offerings, it can be recited more inwardly and without rites.[9] Several Hindu scriptures offer praise for the Gayatri Mantra. Manusmṛti states that "there is nothing greater than the Savitri (Gayatri) Mantra." (Manu II, 83).[10] The Harivamsa calls it the "mother of the Vedas".[11] In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, "Of all poetry, I am the Gayatri" (10.35).[12]

The mantra plays an important part in the traditional upanayanam (sacred thread) ceremony for young Hindu males. S. Radhakrishnan described the imparting of the Gayatri Mantra as the essence of the upanayanam ceremony,[3] which is sometimes called "Gayatri diksha" (initiation into the Gayatri Mantra).[13] Upanayanam marks the beginning of study of the Vedas, with the mantra used for directing one's thoughts toward attaining wisdom. Part of the daily ritual in traditional Brahmin practice is to recite the Gayatri Mantra at sunrise every morning.[2][14] It is believed by practitioners that reciting the mantra bestows wisdom and enlightenment, through the vehicle of the Sun (Savitr), who represents the source and inspiration of the universe.[3]

In Brahmoism

In 1827 Ram Mohun Roy published a dissertation on the Gayatri Mantra[15] that analysed it in the context of various Upanishads. Roy prescribed a Brahmin to always pronounce Om at the beginning and end of the Gayatri Mantra.[16] From 1830, the Gayatri Mantra was used for private devotion of Brahmos. In 1843, the First Covenant of Brahmo Samaj required Gayatri Mantra for Divine Worship. From 1848-1850 with the rejection of Vedas, the Adi Dharm Brahmins use Gayatri Mantra in their private devotions.[17]

In Hindu revivalism

In the later 19th century, Hindu reform movements extended the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra beyond caste and gender limitations. In 1898, Swami Vivekananda began initiating non-Brahmins with the sacred thread ceremony and the Gayatri Mantra. He based this on the interpretations of the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita that Brahmin status is earned and not hereditary.[18] The Arya Samaj notably spread the teaching that recitation of the mantra was not limited to males, but that women could rightfully be taught both the Vedas and the Gayatri Mantra.[19][20] In his writings, S. Radhakrishnan encouraged the teaching of Gayatri mantra to men and women of all castes.[21]

Interpretations

"Let us adore the supremacy of that divine sun, the god-head who illuminates all, who recreates all, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, whom we invoke to direct our understandings aright in our progress toward his holy seat."[22]

"We meditate on the worshipable power and glory of Him who has created the earth, the nether world and the heavens (i.e. the universe), and who directs our understanding."[23]

"O God ! Giver of life, Remover of all pain and sorrows, Bestower of happiness, the Creator of the Universe, Thou art most luminous, adorable and destroyer of sins. We meditate upon thee. May thou inspire, enlighten and guide our intellect in the right direction."[24]

"We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds."[4]

"We meditate on the effulgent glory of the divine Light; may he inspire our understanding."[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Carpenter, David Bailey; Whicher, Ian (2003). Yoga: the Indian tradition. London: Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 0-7007-1288-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=HlPta3a38P0C&pg=PA31&. 
  2. ^ a b c Rinehart, Robin (2004). Contemporary Hinduism. ABC-CLIO. p. 127. ISBN 9781576079058. http://books.google.com/books?id=hMPYnfS_R90C&pg=PA127. 
  3. ^ a b c d Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli (2007). Religion and Society. READ Books. p. 135. ISBN 9781406748956. http://books.google.com/books?id=SFNE0x5HFLMC&pg=PA135. 
  4. ^ a b Vivekananda, Swami (1915). The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Advaita Ashram. pp. 211. http://books.google.com/books?id=030TAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA211. 
  5. ^ Lipner, Julius (1994). Hindus: their religious beliefs and practices. Routledge. p. 53. ISBN 9780415051811. http://books.google.com/books?id=HDMLYkIOoWYC&pg=PA53. 
  6. ^ Giffith, Ralph T. H. (1890). The Hymns of the Rigveda. E.J. Lazarus. pp. 87. http://books.google.com/books?id=gZURAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA87. 
  7. ^ bhū: "the place of being, space, world or universe; the earth (as constituting one of the 3 worlds); earth (as a substance), ground, soil, land, lauded property; floor, pavement; a place, spot, piece of ground." bhuvas: "the air, atmosphere." svar: "the sun, sunshine, light, lustre; bright space or sky, heaven (as distinguished from div, which is regarded as the vault above it; often 'heaven' as a paradise and as the abode of the gods and the Blest.)" (Monier-Williams)
  8. ^ Panikkar, Raimundo (2001). The Vedic Experience: Mantramañjarī. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. pp. 38. ISBN 9788120812802. http://books.google.com/books?id=M01LSxaneasC&pg=PA38. 
  9. ^ Panikkar, p. 40.
  10. ^ Dutt, Manmatha Nath (1906-1909). The Dharma Shastra Or the Hindu Law Codes Volume 3. Calcutta: Elysium Press. pp. 51. http://books.google.com/books?id=cjtbJPYZRuUC&pg=PA51. 
  11. ^ Griffith, Ralph T. H.; T. B. Griffith, Paul Tice (2003). The Vedas: With Illustrative Extracts. The Book Tree. pp. 15-16. ISBN 9781585092239. http://books.google.com/books?id=BtpcpsZEiYMC&pg=PA15. 
  12. ^ Rahman, M. M. (2006). Encyclopaedia of Histography. Anmol Publications. pp. 300. ISBN 9788126123056. http://books.google.com/books?id=CPXCBIDYs6kC&pg=PA300. 
  13. ^ Wayman, Alex. "Climactic Times in Indian Mythology and Religion". History of Religions (The University of Chicago Press) 4 (2): 315. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1061961. Retrieved 2009-07-19. 
  14. ^ Panikkar, p. 42.
  15. ^ Title of the text was Prescript for offering supreme worship by means of the Gayutree, the most sacred of the Veds. Roy, Rammohun (1832). Translation of Several Principal Books, Passages and Texts of the Veds, and of Some Controversial Works on Brahmunical Theology: and of some controversial works on Brahmunical theology.. Parbury, Allen, & co.. http://books.google.com/books?id=_1OWRLJfSoMC&pg=PA109. 
  16. ^ Roy, Ram Mohan (1901). Prescript for offering supreme worship by means of the Gayutree, the most sacred of the Veds. Kuntaline press. http://www.archive.org/stream/theenglishworks01rammuoft/theenglishworks01rammuoft_djvu.txt. "So, at the end of the Gayutree, the utterance of the letter Om is commanded by the sacred passage cited by Goonu-Vishnoo 'A Brahman shall in every instance pronounce Om, at the beginning and at the end; for unless the letter Om precede, the desirable consequence will fail; and unless it follow, it will not be long retained.'" 
  17. ^ Sivanath Sastri "History of the Brahmo Samaj" 1911/1912 1st edn. publ. Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, 211 Cornwallis St. Calcutta
  18. ^ Mitra, S. S.. Bengal's Renaissance. Academic Publishers. pp. 71. ISBN 9788187504184. http://books.google.com/books?id=WPFeBY9YEAQC&pg=PA71. 
  19. ^ Pruthi, Raj (2004). Arya Samaj and Indian civilization. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 36. ISBN 9788171417803. http://books.google.com/books?id=8zrxlH1Tl24C&pg=PA36. 
  20. ^ Bakhle, Janaki (2005). Two men and music: nationalism in the making of an Indian classical tradition. Oxford University Press. pp. 293. ISBN 9780195166101. http://books.google.com/books?id=daPoKY6a-p0C&pg=PA293. 
  21. ^ Radhakrishnan 2007, p. 137
  22. ^ Jones, William (1807). The works of Sir William Jones. 13. J. Stockdale and J. Walker. pp. 367. http://books.google.com/books?id=w9QMAAAAYAAJ&. 
  23. ^ The word Savitr in the original Sanskrit may be interpreted in two ways, first as the sun, secondly as the "originator or creator". Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Maharshi Debendranath Tagore used that word in the second sense. Interpreted in their way the whole formula may be thus rendered. Appendix "C", Sivanath Sastri "History of the Brahmo Samaj" 1911/1912 1st edn. page XVI, publ. Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, 211 Cornwallis St. Calcutta
  24. ^ "Gayatri Mantra – The celestial chant". Arya Samaj Bangalore. http://www.aryasamajbangalore.com/GayatriMantra.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
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