Gayatri Japam Festivals - गायत्री जपं
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It is a scientifically proved fact that sound arranges the atmospheric atoms into definite shapes. Different sounds create different forms which continue to exist for a shorter or a longer period of time according to the strength of sound put forth to form them. The ancient sages knew this fact and made long and patient experiments in this direction and noted the effects produced by particular words known as Mantras or incantations. There is a separate science called Mantra Sastra dealing exclusively with this subject. One of these incantations goes by the name of Gayatri Mantra and every Brahmin is bound to chant it a number of times at a sitting, repeating the process thrice everyday early in the morning, at noon and in the evening. The form created by the repetition of the Mantra goes by the name Gayatri Devata.
As soon as a form as detailed above is created, it becomes a thing akin to our dynamo, wherein both human and divine energy is stored. The influence radiating from this form or Devata shields the individual from all malign and evil influences. It is surcharged with sufficiently strong energy, it becomes in the hands of its originator a veritable angel ready to carry out even the slightest wish of its master.
Certain occasions are very favourable for creating these forms and surcharging them with energy. The occasion of solar and lunar eclipses are said to be specially favourable for this purpose. The people believe that the first day of the dark fortnight in the month of Avam (August- September) is highly conducive to the purpose of producing maximum effect with minimum effort. So this day is selected for Gayatri Japa.
The Gayatri Mantra is derived from the rig Veda. The burden of the incantation is that the individual prays to the sun to give him light, knowledge, and energy. In fact he is in the midst of all these but a certain amount of will is essential to absorb and assimilate some of these energies of the sun and the repetition of Gayatri Mantra enables him to accomplish it successfully.
The posture most favourable for the easy assimilation of the sun's energies is supposed to be the one facing the sun in the morning when one chants the Gayatri Mantra. Before the commencement of this Japa (prayer) pranayama, or the control of breath and rhythmic inspiration and expiration, is prescribed. This practice makes it easy for the individual to keep the mind centred on the understanding of the meaning of Gayatri Mantra more easily than it would otherwise be possible. This concentration strengthens the will and helps in absorbing and assimilating the solar energy and vitality. In fact, when the Gayatri Mantra is repeated, the sun is visualised in all his splendour radiating his energies everywhere especially on the practitioner. He should also think strongly with one pointed concentration that he is absorbing and assimilating the solar energy, becoming in his trun a miniature sun. By constant and continuos repetition of this practice he creates a centre of mighty force, himself remaining in the background as the source of that centre. The sun we see is in fact such a centre of force originating from a mighty consciousness remaining in the background.
The mechanical repetition of the words of the Mantra, without attempting to pierce through we veil of words and sucking as it were the sense contained in them, may not produce satisfactory results. To help in the process of keeping the wandering mind more or less fixed, careful counting of the number of repetitions is ordained.
If Gayatri Mantra is not repeated, keeping an account of the in going and outgoing breath is recommended to keep the mind concentrated.
People performing this Gayatri Japa, sit in a pure and solitary place where distraction is not possible, and repeat the incantations, ten, twenty- eight or one hundred and eight times, as it suits their convenience. People should not practice this Japa with breaks and intervals. They should practice it every day during the whole of their lifetime. If there is a break, then they will make no steady progress but will only be marking time, remaining in the place they started from.
It is laid down that a rosary of twenty- seven, fifty- four and one hundred and eight beads may be made use of to keep in account the number of repetitions. The rosary may be either of Rudraksham or crystal beads. Counting on the fingers and on the joints of the fingers is also resorted to by many.
At the time of performing the Japa, the feet should not be pressing tightly against each other. The head should remain uncovered and the posture should be easy and convenient. In mornings, the hand should be placed near the navel, at midday near the heart, and in the evenings near the face. This action facilitates the storage of energy absorbed from the sun.
People performing Japas may sit on a piece of silk or blanket spread on the ground. The skin of a tiger, or a deer is said to be the most suitable thing to sit on and meditate. Mats made of durva grass and planks of all trees and of certain trees in particular, are also recommended as suitable. The asanas (seats) used for this purpose should not be used by others if one wants to preserve the efficacy of the Japa. It is said that even the seats used by on practicing the art of mediation are made pure and holy and consequently they should not be rendered impure and unholy by contact with unholy and impure persons or things.
The Gayatri Japa performed with the aim of helping the world and not with the aim of personal gain, is said to be a Yajna or sacrifice. The benefit resulting from the Gayatri Japa should be placed whole- heartedly and unreservedly at the disposal of humanity. Then the energy goes to the universal reservoir of such energies from which humanity as a whole is receiving help on suitable occasions to make progress. Temples and other places, where people gather in large numbers, are chosen for showring the energy stored in this reservoir by its guardian angels.
The sun according to his various functions is called by various names. He is called Narayana in his preservative aspect. The eight Dikpalakas or guardian deities are, in reality, his outposts. In meditation, the sun should be conceived in the centre of a lotus flower of light petals representing the eight Dikpalakas. Indra symbolising the desire to do good should be located in the petal in he east. Agni representing sleep, laziness. Etc., should be located in the petal in the south east. Yama representing cruelty should be made to occupy the petal in the south. Niruthi representing sinful actions should be located on the petal in the south- west. Varuna, the symbolical representation of playfulness, should occupy the petal in the west: while Vayu representing travel, adventure, etc., should occupy the petal in the north- west. Kubera represents sexual enjoyment and Isana represents the desire for wealth. Those must be made to occupy the petals in the north and north- east respectively.
As soon as a form as detailed above is created, it becomes a thing akin to our dynamo, wherein both human and divine energy is stored. The influence radiating from this form or Devata shields the individual from all malign and evil influences. It is surcharged with sufficiently strong energy, it becomes in the hands of its originator a veritable angel ready to carry out even the slightest wish of its master.
Certain occasions are very favourable for creating these forms and surcharging them with energy. The occasion of solar and lunar eclipses are said to be specially favourable for this purpose. The people believe that the first day of the dark fortnight in the month of Avam (August- September) is highly conducive to the purpose of producing maximum effect with minimum effort. So this day is selected for Gayatri Japa.
The Gayatri Mantra is derived from the rig Veda. The burden of the incantation is that the individual prays to the sun to give him light, knowledge, and energy. In fact he is in the midst of all these but a certain amount of will is essential to absorb and assimilate some of these energies of the sun and the repetition of Gayatri Mantra enables him to accomplish it successfully.
The posture most favourable for the easy assimilation of the sun's energies is supposed to be the one facing the sun in the morning when one chants the Gayatri Mantra. Before the commencement of this Japa (prayer) pranayama, or the control of breath and rhythmic inspiration and expiration, is prescribed. This practice makes it easy for the individual to keep the mind centred on the understanding of the meaning of Gayatri Mantra more easily than it would otherwise be possible. This concentration strengthens the will and helps in absorbing and assimilating the solar energy and vitality. In fact, when the Gayatri Mantra is repeated, the sun is visualised in all his splendour radiating his energies everywhere especially on the practitioner. He should also think strongly with one pointed concentration that he is absorbing and assimilating the solar energy, becoming in his trun a miniature sun. By constant and continuos repetition of this practice he creates a centre of mighty force, himself remaining in the background as the source of that centre. The sun we see is in fact such a centre of force originating from a mighty consciousness remaining in the background.
The mechanical repetition of the words of the Mantra, without attempting to pierce through we veil of words and sucking as it were the sense contained in them, may not produce satisfactory results. To help in the process of keeping the wandering mind more or less fixed, careful counting of the number of repetitions is ordained.
If Gayatri Mantra is not repeated, keeping an account of the in going and outgoing breath is recommended to keep the mind concentrated.
People performing this Gayatri Japa, sit in a pure and solitary place where distraction is not possible, and repeat the incantations, ten, twenty- eight or one hundred and eight times, as it suits their convenience. People should not practice this Japa with breaks and intervals. They should practice it every day during the whole of their lifetime. If there is a break, then they will make no steady progress but will only be marking time, remaining in the place they started from.
It is laid down that a rosary of twenty- seven, fifty- four and one hundred and eight beads may be made use of to keep in account the number of repetitions. The rosary may be either of Rudraksham or crystal beads. Counting on the fingers and on the joints of the fingers is also resorted to by many.
At the time of performing the Japa, the feet should not be pressing tightly against each other. The head should remain uncovered and the posture should be easy and convenient. In mornings, the hand should be placed near the navel, at midday near the heart, and in the evenings near the face. This action facilitates the storage of energy absorbed from the sun.
People performing Japas may sit on a piece of silk or blanket spread on the ground. The skin of a tiger, or a deer is said to be the most suitable thing to sit on and meditate. Mats made of durva grass and planks of all trees and of certain trees in particular, are also recommended as suitable. The asanas (seats) used for this purpose should not be used by others if one wants to preserve the efficacy of the Japa. It is said that even the seats used by on practicing the art of mediation are made pure and holy and consequently they should not be rendered impure and unholy by contact with unholy and impure persons or things.
The Gayatri Japa performed with the aim of helping the world and not with the aim of personal gain, is said to be a Yajna or sacrifice. The benefit resulting from the Gayatri Japa should be placed whole- heartedly and unreservedly at the disposal of humanity. Then the energy goes to the universal reservoir of such energies from which humanity as a whole is receiving help on suitable occasions to make progress. Temples and other places, where people gather in large numbers, are chosen for showring the energy stored in this reservoir by its guardian angels.
The sun according to his various functions is called by various names. He is called Narayana in his preservative aspect. The eight Dikpalakas or guardian deities are, in reality, his outposts. In meditation, the sun should be conceived in the centre of a lotus flower of light petals representing the eight Dikpalakas. Indra symbolising the desire to do good should be located in the petal in he east. Agni representing sleep, laziness. Etc., should be located in the petal in the south east. Yama representing cruelty should be made to occupy the petal in the south. Niruthi representing sinful actions should be located on the petal in the south- west. Varuna, the symbolical representation of playfulness, should occupy the petal in the west: while Vayu representing travel, adventure, etc., should occupy the petal in the north- west. Kubera represents sexual enjoyment and Isana represents the desire for wealth. Those must be made to occupy the petals in the north and north- east respectively.