Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is.
The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra and never once hesitate once you decide to do it.
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it.
Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times
Here are some important things to keep in mind while chanting the Gayatri mantra:
1. When we recite the Gayatri mantra, we pause five times and take five breaths representing the five pranas. The five pranas comprise of the Panchabhuthas (Akasa, Vayu, Agni, Jala and Prithvi) and the Panchakosas or the five sheaths of the body.
The pause should be as given below and with understanding that it represents the five pranas:
Aum (pause)
Bhur Bhuvah Suvah (pause)
Tat Savitur Varenyam (pause)
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi (pause)
Dhiyo yo nah prachodhayat (pause)
2. The Gayatri mantra must be chanted with faith and enthusiasm thrice a day at dawn, noon and dusk. This is called 'Trikala sandhya' because it is a mantra that purifies all the karma done by a person during the day i.e. karmendriyas. You should chant it when having a bath, before eating food and so on. The Gayatri mantra can be repeated at any time by one who practices it regularly and with devotion.
3. Traditionally, the Gayatri mantra must be chanted 108 times. But Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba says that when a target is fixed, the tendency of the mind is to repeat it mechanically. So, you shouldn't fix a target to tame the mind. You can chant the Gayatri mantra three, nine or eleven times or more based on your level of concentration and interest. Stick to odd number recitation - that is the right way.
4. Women worry whether they can chant the Gayatri mantra when they are having their periods. Spiritual masters say that women can chant any mantra at any time. There is no restriction on it. Whatever restrictions have been placed are artificial and not valid from a spiritual perspective.
5. Teach children how to chant the Gayatri mantra at the earliest. You should make sure that they understand the meaning before they learn to chant the mantra. This will boost their concentration power, their memory and illumine their intellect at gross and subtle level. The energy field that they will be able to create for themselves by chanting the Gayatri mantra will protect them from disease and danger at the most critical times.
6. While chanting the Gayatri mantra, every word should be clear as crystal. Don't mumble it or rush through it. Enjoy it slowly as you would eat a delicious pastry, experiencing its texture as it crumbles on your tongue. [READ: Maha Ganapati Manasa Smarami]
May the Divine Mother bless you all!
Comments
God Bless you too !
and yes your 6th point is truly said. The sanskrit mantras have to be recited properly.
Nice post.
http://shanti-phula.net/intl/mg/purify-gayatri-mantra/
The woman is advised not to chant this mantra during the menstrual period because it inhibits her physiological function.
I chant this mantra while walking, doing routine work i.e. driving, siting some where alone and more...I guess I am not doing anything wrong or am I???
And can I chant it by taking it as meditation?? I mean can I meditate while chanting gayatri mantra??
i like to tel you another thing that i was reading a book about bhagwan sadguru sridhara swami(student of samarath sri ramadasa of sanjanagad). he has wirtten how to love love god and preach god. its completely different approach. i felt very much happy by reading that. everyone should approach in that manner.
rite now im going totally a great experince with spiritual masters. that power of gayatri mantra.
Log on to www.gayatri-mantra.in
Though I can't claim regular chanting , I do make sure to chant correctly and with utmost pleasure and devotion. The effects of even 15 minutes of chanting is refreshing.
I could feel each and every cell from the tips of my fingers to the tip of my hair react in unison to this great calling.
I thank you for bringing out such a useful article about greatest of them all.. made my day..
and as the name goes.. "Gayantham thraaayathi, saa Gayathri".. "She who protects those who sing of her, is Gayathri"
First Word Om (Aum)
It is also called Pranav because its sound emanates from the Prana (vital vibration), which feels the Universe. The scripture says "Aum Iti Ek Akshara Brahman" (Aum that one syllable is Brahman).
When you pronounce AUM:
A - emerges from the throat, originating in the region of the navel
U - rolls over the tongue
M - ends on the lips
A - waking, U - dreaming, M - sleeping
It is the sum and substance of all the words that can emanate from the human throat. It is the primordial fundamental sound symbolic of the Universal Absolute.
Tat simply means "that" because it defies description through speech or language, the "Ultimate Reality."
Savitur means "Divine Sun" (the ultimate light of wisdom) not to be confused with the ordinary sun.
Varenium means "adore"
Bhargo means "illumination"
Devasya means "Divine Grace"
Dheemahi means "we contemplate"
Dhi means intellect
Yo means "who"
Nah means "ours"
Prachodayat means "requesting / urging / praying"
@Avni - You are right. Every word has to be clear as crystal while chanting this mantra.
I am chanting gayathri manthra regularly at 5.30am when I am doing my morning walk is there any problem doing this pls advice...
vashikaran mantra
get lost love back
after long back im visting your Blogg... all these years things have changed alot to me and i guess it same for you!!!... i will start sharing how things changed in my life. with that great mantra.
I am chanting maha mrityunjaya mantra 108 times a day.
Can I chant the maha mrityunjaya mantra after having non veg food?
Feeling Happy to have come across your article on Gayathri Mantra. One thing I was told while initiation is to pronounce the Word "Varenyam" as "Vareenyam" (e with a extension) so it forms the right 24 syllables of the Gayathri Mantra.
Would Appreciate if the blog text is updated with this suggestion.
Finally, here is a link of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba reciting the Mantra for someone who would like to hear it and practice.
http://www.sathyasai.org/gayatri#toc-0
Namaste
अहं ब्रह्मास्मि: Aham Brahmāsmi
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