ॐ भूर्भुवः॒ स्वः । तत्स॑वितुर्वरे॑णियं(तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं) । भ॒र्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि । धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥ The Gāyatrī Mantra (Rigveda (3.62.10) ) is believed to have been revealed to Vishvamitra. Gayatri is the name of the Gayatri meter in which the verse/hymn runs.The most interesting aspect of the mantra is that the mantra is considered to be not different from the divine entity that forms the content of the mantra. Thus the name of the divine entity contained in the mantra is also Gayatri. In other words, the Gayatri mantra is not just a means of worship but is an object of worship in itself. The word Gayatri is used both in reference to the Gayatri Mantra as an object of worship and in reference to the divine entity described in the mantra. It is in this sense of the Gayatri Mantra being an object of worship that the Mantra is personified into a goddess. As the verse can be interpreted to invoke the deva Savitr, it is often called Sāvitrī mantra.Depending on how Savitri is interpreted, this mantra can be seen as connected to Sun Worship, Yoga, Tantra and Mother Goddess. The Gayatri Mantra is repeated and cited very widely in vedic literature, and praised in several well-known classical Hindu texts such as Manusmṛti,Harivamsa, and the Bhagavad Gita. The mantra is an important part of the upanayanam ceremony for young males in Hinduism, and has long been recited by Dvija males as part of their daily rituals. Modern Hindu reform movements spread the practice of the mantra to include women and all castes and its use is now very widespread. Its meaning by Sayana is We meditate upon that most meditation-worthy, the most knowable and hence the most relishable self-luminous radiance (in the form of Parabrahman) of the divine entity called Savita (the all-inspiring, all-creating one), which inspires our activities, properties and intellect. A translation of the Gayatri verse by Ralph T. H. Griffith is as follows: May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the god: So may he stimulate our prayers. The following is a list of English paraphrases or free translations. 2. Let us worship the supreme light of the Sun, the God of all things, who can so well guide our understanding, like an eye suspended in the vault of heaven author-------- year---------- paraphrase------------- note Sir William Jones ------------1807 --------------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 toward his holy seat.----------- Savita is taken as the Sun, Like Sayana the whole mantra is taken as one single sentence with a relative clause. William Quan Judge------------- 1893------------- Unveil, O Thou who givest sustenance to the Universe, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, that face of the True Sun now hidden by a vase of golden light, that we may see the truth and do our whole duty on our journey to thy sacred seat.------------Sir William Jones is followed Sivanath Sastri (Brahmo Samaj) ----------1911-------------- We meditate on the worshipable power and glory of Him who has created the earth, the nether world and the heavens (i.e. the universe), and who directs our understanding.------------------------Bhur Bhuvuh Svah is taken as part of the Mantra, Like Sayana the whole mantra is taken as one single sentence with a relative clause. Swami Vivekananda--------------------------- 1915------------------ We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds.------------------- Like Griffith, takes the mantra as made up of two different sentences unlike Sayana or Sir William Jones S. Radhakrishnan---------------- 1947, 1953 ------------------1. We meditate on the effulgent glory of the divine Light; may he inspire our understanding. 2.We meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligence.------------- Like Griffith, takes the mantra as made up of two different sentences unlike Sayana or Sir William Jones
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 15:55:59 +0000
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