Gayatri Mantra - Are we praying to Savitr devata or Gayatri Devi?

Another query on my mind in a long time, finally found the answer to the satisfaction of the mind! :)

Source: For detailed knowledge, please download and read Akhand Sutra from Akhand Vidyashram.

According to Akhand Sutra, Savitur is the Sun-God. Gayatri is the dynamic female form of the formless Brahman (Paramatma). Savitur and Gayatri are not the same.

 

Let us first explore, enumerate, and explain the fundamental concept of Gayatri.

Chandogya Upanishad (3.12.1),

“Gayantam Trayate iti Gayatri” means that the person, who chants (Gayantam) Gayatri Mantra, is protected (Trayate) by Gayatri.

 

The prime meaning of Gayatri is protection, guidance and illumination.

Now, let us explore, enumerate, and explain the different parts of the Gayatri Mantra.

1. The Original Rig-Veda Gayatri Mantra (3.62.10).

“TAT, Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhio Yonah Prachodayat!”

The meaning of the three sets of three words (nine words) of this mantra is as follows.

1. TAT: It represents the Ultimate, Formless, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and all-pervasive Universal Consciousness called Nirakar-Nirgun-Brahman (God-Nature-Paramatma), the source of everything in the universe.

The Essence:

The first focus of Gayatri Mantra is formless Brahman, the Universal Consciousness.

The higher world of Spiral Galaxy is called Maha-Brahmand, the Greater Universe.

Maha-Brahmand is also called the macrocosmic universe.

Nirakar-Brahman manifests as Sakar-Brahman, the core united male (Shakta) Trinity (Trimurti) form of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. This form is popularly called Sri Dattatreya.

Nirakar-Brahman also manifests as the female dynamic form (Shakti) with the five heads, which represent the five elements (Panch-Bhutas), namely,

1. Prithvi-Bhuta: The solid form of Earth-Bhumi-Bhur.

2. Apa-Bhuta: The fluid water form. It also represents Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge.

3. Agni-Bhuta: The fire-heat-burning form. It represents Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth.

4. Vayu-Bhuta: The air form (atmosphere-Bhuva). It represents Parvati, Goddess of Moksha.

5. Akash-Bhuta: The plasmatic quintessence form. It represents the enlightening heaven (Suvah).

This manifested form of the unmanifested Brahman is called Goddess Gayatri.

The three heads of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva form the core male form (Shakta).

The five heads of Goddess Gayatri form the dynamic female form (Shakti).

Note: Is the Golden Ratio between Shakta (3) and Shakti (5) a mere coincidence?

The Conclusion:

Goddess Gayatri with five heads represents the Universal Consciousness of Maha-Brahmand.

2. Savitur: Savitur means the Sun.

The second focus of Gayatri Mantra is the Sun-God, the presiding deity of our Solar system, and the energizer of the living beings on the earth.

Our Solar system is called Brahmand, an egg-shaped system.

It is the microcosmic representation of the macrocosmic universe (Maha-Brahmand).

The Conclusion:

Savitur is the Sun-God.

3. Varenyam: It means brilliant effulgence or light of Sun, the life-giving force.

4. Bhargo: It means splendor of the seven beautiful colors, namely, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red (VIBGYOR) of the Sun-light.

5. Devasya: It means divine. The higher world of the Solar system is called Brahmand.

6. Dhimahi: It means self-surrender to the higher divine kingdom of Nature.

7. Dhio: It means seeking or asking for blessings, grace, and illumination.

8. Yonah: It means the specific wish of enlightenment.

9. Prachodayat: It means given, graced or blessed by three forms of Goddess Gayatri.

The Original Gayatri Mantra means,

“I adore that beautiful effulgence of Surya, the Sun-God. I surrender to that divine splendor. I seek and pray for Illumination. I am blessed with Illumination by the presiding deity, Surya.”

The Gayatri Mantra seems like a prayer mantra to the Sun-God for illumination.

 

According to Akhand Sutra, the Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to the three forms of Gayatri.

1. Brahmani (Consort of Brahma): She is prayed at 6 A. M. facing the east.

2. Vaishnavi (Consort of Vishnu): She is prayed at 12 noon facing the north.

3. Rudrani (Consort of Rudra or Shiva): She is prayed at 6 P. M. facing the west.

The Essence:

Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitur (Aditya-Surya-Sun) and Savita (Savitri-Gayatri), the dynamic form (Shakti-Savitri-Gayatri) of the Core (Source called Shakta-Aditya).

Hence, Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to both, the Shakta (core) and the Shakti (dynamic form).

 

A Special Note:

Gayatri is called Veda Mata, which means “The Mother of Vedas”.

The core of the original Rig-Veda Gayatri Mantra has not changed at all.

This fact proves the uniqueness of the Gayatri Mantra.

The three sets of three words, made with 24 Aksharas, have the inherent power of 24 meters, called Gayatri Chhanda and Gayatri Meter. The number, 24, has spiritual significance.

Brhad Aranyaka Upanishad (I.5.14),

Every aspect of nature is divided into 16 forms (Sodasi-Kalas).

For example, 24 hours of the day and night are divided into 16 parts of ninety minutes each.

It is interesting to note that we breathe alternatively through the nostrils and each cycle lasts for ninety minutes.

Similarly, each sleep cycle is also divided into ninety minutes.

The auspicious and inauspicious time is also divided into ninety minutes cycles.

 

2. The Yajur-Veda Gayatri Mantra:

With contemplative meditation on the word, TAT, the ancient Indian Sages realized that TAT represents the earth (Bhur), the intermediate sphere (Bhuvah), and heaven (Suvah).

Hence, Bhur, Bhuva, and Suvah were added to the original Gayatri Mantra.

“Bhur Bhuva Suvah, Tat Savitur Varenyam! Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhio Yonah Prachodayat!”

The chanting of this mantra leads to the vibration of the earth, intermediate sphere, and heaven and adds the energy of Bhur, Bhuva, and Suvah to the physical body energy.

 

3. Most Common Gayatri Mantra – Upanishads:

With further contemplative meditation on Bhur, Bhuva, and Suvah, the Sages realized that these entities were an integral part of Maha Mantra, AUM.

It was also realized that the chanting the following sounds lead to.

1. “A” leads to the vibrations of the lower abdomen and the Earth (Bhur).

2. “U” leads to vibrations of the chest region and the atmosphere (Bhuva-Antariksh).

3. “M” leads to the vibrations of the head and the heaven (Suvah).

4. Turiya: The gap between each chanting of AUM is represented as “*”.

The empty phase of Turiya consciousness is an extremely important part of AUM chanting.

Hence, AUM was added later.

“AUM*, Bhur Bhuva Suvah, TAT Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhio Yonah Prachodayat!”

The chanting of this mantra increases the vibrations of the three phenomenal worlds of the earth, intermediate sphere, and heaven as well as the physical human body.

This, in turn, strengthens the human body for an experience of the Universal Consciousness.

 

4. Maha Gayatri Mantra – Maha Narayani Upanishad – Sat-Chakra-Nirupana:

On further meditation, the Sages realized that there are seven major planets of the Solar system and the seven major centers of consciousness called Chakras in the human body.

As a result, the Sages added seven Vyahritis to the following Maha Gayatri Mantra.

“AUM* - Bhur, AUM*- Bhuvah, AUM* - Suvah, AUM* - Maha, AUM* - Jana, AUM* -Tapah, AUM* - Satyam!

Tat Savitur Varenayam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhio Yo-nah Prachodayath!!

AUM* Apo, Jyoti, Raso'mritam, Brahma, Bhur, Bhuvah, Suvah AUM*!!!”

Maha Gayatri Mantra has 10 Maha Vyahritis.

They activate, awaken and integrate 7 major centers (Chakras).

AUM* is repeated 10 times.

The chanting of Maha Gayatri Mantra prepares the physical body for higher evolution.

 

Source: For detailed knowledge, please download and read Akhand Sutra from Akhand Vidyashram.