Just thought of creating a new label called "Manthras and Meanings" in my blog, with an intention to learn/know the meanings of the verses. that we use either in our everyday life or during Pooja and Rituals. Often we use them without knowing their meanings at all. Understanding the meanings will really be thought-provoking. It will aid in better reasoning by creating a deeper insight about the Manthras. So here we go with our first Manthra, the Gayathri Manthra.
About Gayathri Manthra, its importance and meaning.
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About Gayathri Manthra, its importance and meaning.
Introduction :
This Manthra is a verse from the hymn of Rig Veda (3.62.10) and is dedicated to "Savitur" - The source behind all creations, that which gives birth. (connotatively, the Sun God). Hence it is also called the Savitri Manthra. Gayathri is the name of the "vedic meter" in which the verse is composed. Studying vedic meter is called Chandas and it is one of the six vedanga disciplines. Gayatri is a vedic meter which has 3 padas of 8 syllables containing 24 syllables in each stanza. In this sense, it is personified as the Goddess Gayatri. Several ancient classical texts like Manusmrithi, Harivamsa and the Bhagavad Gita praises this Manthra. The greatness of this Manthra is revealed by the saying of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. He says, "Of all the hymns, I am the Gayathri".
The Manthra :
"Aum Bhur Bhuvah Svaha Tat Savitur Varenyum
Bhargo Dhevasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayath"
Meaning :
Translations by Scholars :
"We meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant Sun. May he inspire our minds" - S.Radhakrishnan.
"We meditate on the glory of that being who has produced this Universe. May he enlighten our minds. - Swami Vivekananda.
"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 towards his holy seat." - Sir William Jones
"May we attain the excellent glory of Savitar the God. So may he stimulate our prayers." - Ralph T.H. Griffith
Detailed Meaning :
Aum, Bhur, Bhuva, Svaha : The Terrestrial (Bhoo), The Celestial (Svah) and The World connecting the Terrestrial and Celestial (Bhuvar). These are the names of the first three (from the lower order) of the seven higher worlds in the Hindu Cosmology. From the meditation point of view, these syllables are interpreted as the three degrees of meditation, Conscious, Semi-Conscious and Unconscious.
These three words, Bhur, Bhuva and Svaha are collectively called the "mahavyahrti". The prefixing of this Manthra is described in Taittriya Aranyaka, which states the scriptural recitations should always begin with "Aum" followed by the three vyahrtis and then the Gayathri verse.
These three words, Bhur, Bhuva and Svaha are collectively called the "mahavyahrti". The prefixing of this Manthra is described in Taittriya Aranyaka, which states the scriptural recitations should always begin with "Aum" followed by the three vyahrtis and then the Gayathri verse.
Tat Savitur Varenyum : That (Tat) which is the source of all creation, supreme reality, divine illumination (Savitur) all inspiring and the one fit to be worshiped (Varenyum).
That all inspiring supreme reality which is the source of all creation and the one which is fit to be worshiped.
That all inspiring supreme reality which is the source of all creation and the one which is fit to be worshiped.
Bhargo Dhevasya Dhimahi : Self luminous, radiant, one who illuminates all (Bhargo) divine, godly, virtuous and joyous (Dhevasya) We meditate upon thee (Dhimahi).
I meditate upon you, the divine power who is radiant and self luminous.
I meditate upon you, the divine power who is radiant and self luminous.
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayath : Intellect, activities and properties, reasoning faculty which is the tool for attaining higher wisdom (Dhiyo), one who/which is being prayed, (Yo), our, us (Nah), stimulate, inspire, drive towards the higher reality (Prachodayath).
You, the intellect, stimulate my mind and enlighten me.
You, the intellect, stimulate my mind and enlighten me.
References :
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