Article 2: Power of Gayatri Mantra - by Poornima Nagaraja

OM BHUR BHUVAH SUVAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT

Meaning:

Bhur, Bhuvah and Suvah in the Gayatri Mantra refer to body (materialization), life force (vibration) and soul(radiation). Bhur means Bhuloka(the earth), which is nothing but the combination of materials. This denotes the human body, which is also a combination of materials. Bhuvaha refers to the life force, which makes the body move. Suvaha refers to Prajnana Shakti, which sustains the life force. This Prajnana Shakti is known as the Constant Integrated Awareness, the radiation. All of these three, that is, materialization, vibration and radiation are present in man. Human life is the combination of body, mind and Atma. Body is the basis for attaining wisdom. One has to purify one's body and mind by undertaking sacred actions. The principle of Atma is always pure and unsullied.

Rishis have selected the words of various Mantras and arranged them in such a way that they, not only convey some meaning but their utterance also creates specific power. Gayatri is a Mantra which inspires righteous wisdom. It means that the Almighty God may illuminate our intellect which may lead us to righteous path.

Gayatri is also known as Panchamukhi, meaning she has five faces. "Om" is the first face; "Bhur Bhuvah Suvah" is the second; "Tat Savitor Varenyam" is the third; "Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi" is the fourth; "Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat" is the fifth. The Gayatri Mantra has three parts: Praise, Meditation and Prayer. First, the Divine is praised, then it is meditated upon in reverence and lastly, an appeal is made to the Divine to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the intellect. "Dheemahi" is related to the meditative aspect. "Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat" relates to the aspect of prayer. Chanting Gayatri Mantra purifies the mind and confers devotion, detachment and wisdom.

Significance:

Gayatri is the mother of Vedas and the destroyer of sins. There is nothing more purifying on the earth as well as in the heaven than the Gayatri. The japa(repetition of mantra) of Gayatri brings the same fruit as the recitation of all the four vedas together with Angas. This single mantra repeated three times a day brings Kalyana and Moksha. It is the supreme mantra of Vedas, which destroys all the sins. It bestows splendid Health, Beauty, strength, vitality and magnetic aura in the face.

Gayatri is Sarvadevata Swarupini and Sarvamantra Swarupini (embodiment of all Gods and goddesses and all Mantras). She has three names: Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswathi. Gayantham Trayate ithi Gayatri, it protects the one who recites it. Gayatri is the master of the senses. Savitri is the master of the life principle. When Gayatri acts as the protector of life forces, she is known as Savitri (a woman of chasity, who brought her dead husband, Sathyavaan back to life with the power of her prayer). Savitri protects those who lead a life of Sathya (truth). Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech. Man has to earn the grace of Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswathi to sanctify his life.

Man is born four times in his life. He is born for the first time when he emerges from his monther's womb. He becomes a Dwija(born for the second time) when he is initiated into the Gayatri Mantra. He becomes Vipra through the study of Vedas and ultimately becomes a Brahmana when he recogniszes the principle of Brahman. One should be a Brahmin not merely by virtue of birth, but virtue of action.

Upanayana is one of the most important Samaskaras (symbolic events) in the life of the child. The focal point of the whole Upanayana ceremony is the recitation of the Gayatri Mantra and teaching its essence to the initiated. The Mantra is considered to be the most sacred and according to Manu `there is nothing more exalted than the Gayatri'. You should chant this mantra everyday, morning, afternoon and evening. These are referred to as Praathah Sandhya, Maadhyahna Sandhya and Saayankalam Sandhya. When you show your back to the sun, your shadow will be ahead of you. It will fall behind you only when you stand facing the sun. Similarly, Maya (illusion), which is like your shadow, will overtake you when you turn your mind away from God. It can be overcome only when you turn your mind towards GOD.

This does not mean that people who are not initiated by the Gayatri Mantra cannot chant. The great Gayatri Mantra can be chanted by anyone, anytime and anywhere.

Your Hridaya(heart) should be like Himachala ( Hima means ice, which is white in color symbolizes purity; Achala means steady). It should melt with passion. God resides in your heart only when it is pure, steady and full of compassion. Due to limitless desires, human heart is losing purity and steadiness these days. Man is developing Aasalu(desires), forgetting Aadarsaalu(ideals). Life is a long journey and your desires are the luggage. "Less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure". Gayatri Mantra teaches that you should offer everything to God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham (perform all your actions to please God), only then you will be free from all difficulties and misery.

"Aadhyaatma Vidya Vidyaanaam", spiritual education is the true education. No doubt, worldly education is essential, but along with worldly education, one should have spiritual education too. "Nadinaam Saagaro Gathihi", all the rivers ultimately merge in the ocean. There can be no river without the ocean. Worldly education corresponds to rivers and spiritual education to a mighty ocean. "Start early, drive slowly, reach safely", one can remember God in the old age only when one thinks of Him right from one's childhood.