by Gurani Anjali
Our ancient seers (rishis) understood and knew the importance and significance of the Gayatri Mantra. There is an underlying reality which connects the individual and the universe. Through their (the rishi’s) knowledge and wisdom they perceived that the individual (jiva) is covered up by five sheaths (pancha-kosas); and because there are impurities in the coverings, the Self (soul) is not revealed. When the Self expresses itself through the body-mind context, it becomes distorted because of the impurities through which this has to be expressed. The ancient seers (rishis) proclaimed that the Gayatri Mantra has the potency to remove obstacles and cleanse the body and mind from all impurities. The soul (Self) is revealed through the discriminating [discerning] intellect (viveka-buddhi). One that is purified through the chanting of the Gayatri is known as a free soul (jivan mukta). When one does not know the reality, then one suffers many sorrows and fears born out of ignorance.
Om
bhur bhuvah svah
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
Om, shanti, shanti, shanti
Om
Earth, atmosphere, sky,
that desirable (splendor) of Savitri (Life Giving Life)
May we meditate upon that power the God
and may it inspire our thoughts.
Om, peace, peace, peace.
The Gayatri Mantra appears in all four of the Vedas.
The first part— om bhur bhuvah svah is an invocation to the breath and the mental/physical/astral realms in which we exist and live in.
The second part— tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi is an invocation to the sun (surya) which is the presiding deity of our solar system. We meditate on the effulgence of the sun (surya).
The third part— dhiyo yo nah prachodayat—the chanter is earnestly asking for enlightenment through the faculty of the discriminating intellect (viveka buddhi).
I declare this mantra is very sacred.
Om shanti,
Gurani Anjali