The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 09)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Jul_Aug/v1.SignificanceGayatriMantra)

My children! This is the grace of the divine force of the Gayatri Mantra that transforms an ordinary mortal being into a great, enlightened, angelic saint. The mantra enjoins us as to what should be our devotional sentiments, our prayers through the heart while performing the japa of this mantra.

It says - "Oh Almighty, Omniscient, Omnipresent God! May Thy supreme radiance be embodied in our souls. May it inspire our intellect towards the enlightened, righteous path". Since the time, this cosmic mantra, the boon of Lord Brahma, was manifested in the Vedic Age, it lead to the dawn of the divine culture on this earth. Those who practiced its devotional japa, and adopted its inspirations in life, received immense peace, blissful contentment, moral dignity, selfless love and amicable cooperation in every phase of life. Even today, everyone, including those deprived of everything, living in the filth of immorality, those shrouded by ignorance, infirmity or the challenges of circumstances, rise gracefully out of the clutches of misery with the grace of the Gayatri Mantra.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 08)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/Jul_Aug/v1.SignificanceGayatriMantra)

Historic evidences show the greatness of the Gayatri Mantra. All the yogis and the rishis in India have taken the shelter of Gayatri Sadhana since the Vedic times. They were endowed with extraordinary powers and were the true winners of immortal glory on every front of life.

When Alexander the Great came to conquer India, he had a curiosity to meet the spiritual masters of this land. On his way towards the northwest, he found a Himalayan yogi lying on the ground, blocking the march of his army. Alexander was unable to push this avadhuta (one who has shaken off himself from the worldly attachments and obligations) off the path, and asked him to demand whatever he wanted. The avadhuta calmly asked whether Alexander could shift sunrise (from the East) to the West? If not, the avadhuta continued, "Then don't disturb me, let me enjoy the sunlight from the East". My children, this was the inner strength, the divine courage induced by the Gayatri Mantra by which a saint could so easily put to shame the conqueror of the world.

When the divine force of the Gayatri Mantra fills the heart (the emotional core) of a person, it clears all shadows of darkness, and illuminates the inner self with divine light. It transforms the personality completely.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 07)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/May_Jun/v1.SupremeSignificanceGayatri)

The Sanskrit word "upasana" means  "sitting nearby". Upasana of God means sitting in contemplation of divine attributes.
If a calf will not cling to its mother cow, how will it get the milk?
How will an iron piece be converted into gold without touching the Philosopher's Stone?
How will the soul be strengthened without a conscious awareness of God?
Upasana and devotion enable this linkage. The sublime contact with God is as essential and important for the awakening of our souls, as the pranic energy is for the existence and sustenance of life in our gross bodies. A person whose soul is not spiritually awakened, lives like a corpse or an animal in human form.

When the inner self of the devotee comes in contact with God's inspirations (during Gayatri Upasana), he opens his heart before Him and lays all his worries and problems before him. God listens to him, pacifies his agitations and fulfills his deserving aspirations. The Almighty also loosens the grip of the ego centered cravings, and instead, bestows grace and blessing on the sincere devotee. Divine blessings bestowed upon a sadhaka (spiritual seeker who sincerely performs spiritual practices for self-refinement - sadhana) include virtues like courage, contentment, alleviation and eventual elimination of mental weaknesses, removal of adversities and complexities, happy family life, social esteem and benevolence.

Most importantly, the vibrations and inspirations of the Gayatri Mantra also refine the mental and emotional domains of the sadhaka, and inculcate divine sentiments like altruistic love and compassion, and endow him with virtuous tendencies. This spiritual elevation gradually results in divine transformation of the sadhaka's personality.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 06)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/May_Jun/v1.SupremeSignificanceGayatri)

The Gayatri Mantra is given paramount recognition in the Vedic science of spirituality. The sadhana (devout spiritual endeavor aimed at inner refinement and elevation) of this mantra illuminates and opens up the inner treasure of intelligence. It has the ability to inspire the human self towards great ideals, and eventually elevate and transmute it into divine self. Each syllable of the Gayatri Mantra enfolds tremendous energies of spiritual knowledge, enlightenment and wisdom.

The Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas, Smritis, Gita, Ramayana, and other Vedic Scriptures are all derived from it, and are, so to say, detailed commentaries on this mantra.

Gayatri is said to be the Mother (origin) of the Vedas. The scriptures describe that the commentary of the four segments of the Gayatri Mantra through the four mouths of Lord Brahma has been compiled into four Vedas as indicated below:
The segment of Gayatri Mantra and the Veda generated from it:
Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha - The Rig Veda
Tatsaviturvarenyam - The Yajur Veda
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi - The Sama Veda
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat - The Atharva Veda

Later on, the in-depth understanding, detailed explanation of and discussions on the Vedas by the Rishis gave rise to the six Darshanas, ten Aranyakas, hundred and eight Upanishads, eighteen Puranas, twenty Smritis, etc.

The microscopic sperm and ovum contain the complete genetic blueprint of a human being. A seed possesses the information (DNA) for the development of a tree. Similarly, each letter of the Gayatri Mantra comprises all the elements of knowledge, sciences and philosophies. Be that the knowledge of the visible or the invisible world, that of making gold, or that of the divine empowerment of life, all is subliminally present in this mantra.

Gayatri Mantra also provides the supreme method for the upasana (worship) of God, as its meaning is a universal prayer for the enlightenment of the human intellect towards the righteous path. The awakening of this pure intelligence brings boons for the spiritual as well as worldly progress of life.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 05)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/May_Jun/v1.SupremeSignificanceGayatri) 

Mantras are not some verbal structures to be enunciated rhythmically and repeatedly. Rather, these are subtle means of contemplating that can reorient the mental tendencies.

Many people suffer from a variety of adversities, scarcities and worries because they do not have the aptitude to be initiated into proper mantras (of sane thinking, righteous attitude, etc).

Mantras are defined as the tools for liberation from ignorance, illusion, infirmities and sorrows. These can transform the course of life and convert agonies into joys. Indeed, mantras, as special carriers of the energy of cosmic sound, do have amazing potentials for affecting the physical world also (as some of you might have seen or read about mantra based healing of physical and mental ailments, etc.). But the spiritual powers and benefits of the mantras are far more intense and creative. The domain of spirituality is immeasurable and so is the field of the activities of the mantras.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 04)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/May_Jun/v1.SupremeSignificanceGayatri) 

Everything, which is made up of matter, including our physical body, is perishable.

The gross manifestations of life are short-lived - A child looks so cute and fresh. He most often continues to be energetic and attractive in his youth as well. But all his charm and strength are gone after the age of 55 or 65 years.

Nothing is stable or long lasting in this world. Movement and change appear to be the law of Nature. In other words, the world seems to be created by vibrations, movements and variations.

Man usually thinks that if he had enough money, he and his family would live happily and peacefully. But extra wealth brings new worries and tensions; he now has the fear of it being stolen, worries about its safety from thieves and dacoits.

If one is well educated and trained, he would often dream of excellent jobs, power, etc. But the hunger of his desires and cravings can be never fulfilled. If we look at human life closely, it will appear as though man begins his life with problems. He lives with his problems, related tensions and stresses, and spends his whole life in attempting to resolve them, creating newer ones in the process. He leaves this world carrying a burden of too many unresolved problems. The life of a person usually revolves around this cycle, always hunting for some joy or calmness outside him. The living yantra of human body seeks to get peace and happiness through extrovert, materialistic means; it does find some at times, but only momentarily.

If man could ever attain long-lasting peace and happiness, it will be possible only through mantras, by turning towards spirituality, i.e. by realizing his own self-fulfilled divinity within.

The Supreme Significance of the Gayatri Mantra (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 03)

(Source: http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2003/May_Jun/v1.SupremeSignificanceGayatri)

The genesis and development of the knowledge of mantras has a deep scientific basis. The production of speech or pronunciation of sound involves specific vibrations of the vocal chord and the harmonious movements of the tongue, palate, lips, teeth etc. The grand network of nerves connected to these organs is spread across the body. Each phoneme, vowel or consonant uttered silently or spoken loudly affects this network in specific pattern as per the vibrations it generates.

Mantras are very special configurations of sounds or syllables. Accordingly, each mantra has specific patterns of enunciation or chanting. Mantras work on the yantra of our physical body and also on our energy-body, mind and the inner-self.