Gayatri Mantram - an Unknown Fact

Many of our friends with upanayanam may give wonderful statements like - “ We are into meditation you see.... and when we get instant result in that, then what is the use of Sandhyavandanam and sprinkling some water?

"This is the Kali yuga" and thats my only answer for this statement.. Iam not ready to tell anything more...

For those who do Sandhyavandanam regularly - please read this... this may be useful....

Iam not detailing the sandhyavandhanam part here and coming directly to Gayatri.

The Gayatri chanting part is the central part of the Sandhyavandanam.

na gAyatryAH parO mantraH na mAtu daivatam param

There is no mantra superior to gAyatri, neither is there a form of God superior to one's mother

Gayatri is a most sacred japam that can activate twenty four spots of the human body in the subtle plane. Thats why it is said that a person need not do any sadhna if he does gayatri.

Gayatri Mantra is extolled by one and all . It is a simple and small mantra but with  huge  benefits

Gayatri is a Maha mantra. But please note....

'mananaat trAyatE iti mantraH' (it protects through meditation).

In other word Gayatri should be contemplated silently thinking inwards. It loses its potency if chanted loud or sung with any raga....  Only time Gayatri is chanted loud is during the Ahuti in the yagna

And it is a sin to 'sing' Gayatri using any ragas! (Singers like Anuradha Paudwal please excuse me... Its Shastra... so you MUST follow it....)

Now... coming to our subject..

Each mantra is has a Rishi (who gave us the mantra), a specific Chandas and the Devata(to whom the mantra is dedicated ). This is symbolically represented by touching the head while chanting the Rishi's Name (placing his feet on our head), touching the nose when we recite the chandas (no life without breath - similarly there is no life to the mantra without Chandas); then touching the heart for Devata's name(meditate the deity in our heart)

The most famous Gayatri mantram as "discovered" or meditated upon my Sage Vishvamitra. Gayathri refers also to a Chandas - meter

The word chandas also means the meter of vedic poetry . There are different typs of Chandas for each sloka or veda mantra

Depending on the number of syllables in each of the paadas, we have different meters :-

anushtup (8 syllables)

brihati (9),

pankti (10),

trishtup (11 )

ushnik (4 paadas of 7 syllable each = 28 syllables) -like that up to even 26 syllables to a paada. (Any meter beyond 26 syllables to a paada, is called dandakam.)

Now coming to our Gayatri... there is a Chandas itself by named Gayatri -  and Our Gayatri Mantra has three paadas of 8 syllables each; the meter itself is known as gayatri since it has 24 syllables;

The chandas is vital and should be respected while reciting vedic mantras. Chandas helps us to ensure the form of the Mantra (by meter count). No alteration to this can be attempted since it would disturb the spiritual significance of the mantra itself!

However, there is a slight change in the Gayatri mantram itself... thats what Iam trying to convey here...

I was really surprised that even eminent scholars were not aware of this change and when I discussed this subject with them only 1-2% of people were aware of this fact and only a handful of them were practicing it correctly...

The well known statement is "ChathurvimsathyaksharA GaayathrI " (There should be 24 aksharams in GaayathrI). The rules of Chandas permit one aksharam less for variations (so 24 minus 1 =23). When it is 23, it is called nicruth GaayathrI.

Remember - the chandas for regular gayatri japa is 'nichrut gayatri' which is one syllable short of 'gayatri' chandas. ie 23 aksharams and Not 24...

'Saavitria Rishi: Viswamitra:, 

nichruth Gayatri chanda: 

Savita Devata, Gayatri jape viniyogah :'

So the main focus is the pronounciation of 'varENyaM' in the part  ".tat savitur varenyam" (tat-sa-vi-tur = 4 plus 3 syllables va-re-nyam). So onthe whole the regular Gayatri Japam is nicruth GaayathrI.with 23 letters

But please note while doing Argya Pradhanam its regular Gayatri Chandas and Not nicruth GaayathrI. ie 24 lettered and and Not 23 lettered.
So.... for gayatri argyam - the mantra has to be pronounced as 'varENiyaM' (4 syllables va-re-ni-yam) and not as varENyaM.

So, Gayatri ought to be chanted as 'varENyaM' only during the japa since the chandas explicitly stated during the invocation is 'nic^Rit gAyatrI'.  During the 'arghyapradaanam' one should say varENiyaM.

Thus , the GaayathrI (GaaythrI manthram used for Argyam) has "varENiyam " with an extra aksharam and the total counts up to 24 aksharams .

The other one with " VarENyam " becomes 23 in count and is permitted as Gaayathri Japam


May Gayatri, the Mother of Vedas, bestow on us right understanding, pure intellect, right conduct and right thinking !

Kuthiran - My favorite temples - Part I

Kuthiran or Kuthiran mala is a mountainous terrain in Thrissur district of Kerala state, south India. It is in between Thrissur and Palakkad. Most of us pass through the temple and without even knowing what temple it is, follow the practice of throwing away coins at the temple. (Believe me.... the tender is amounting to several lakhs - for the person who has taken the contract for picking up the coins)

The Kuthiran temple in a sacred area date from hoary antiquity.

This ancient temple to Ashwarooda Sastha is located on the slopes of the Western Ghats. It is located in a commanding position, visible for distances around.

According to Keralothpathi.. - the origin of Kerala, Lord Parasurama threw his Parasu - axe into the sea and reclaimed the narrow strip of land from Kanyakumari to Gokarnam. The Sea withdrew from this area and thus came Keralam.

Parasurama divided this area into different settlements. At one of this settlements, He established four small shrines for Sastha at the four Boundaries of the settlement at Akamala, Kuthiran, Oozhath and Edathirithi.

Legend has it that Sastha is seen mounted on an Ashwam - Horse - Kuthira here and hence the name Kuthiraan.

Kuthiran Mala is situated at a height of about 200 feet in a plateau on the Western Ghats, on the way to Thrissur, amidst lush vegetation and salubrious climate.

Donot think this as an ordinary temple... According to me Kuthiran is one of the important places wherein Lord Sastha willingly lives.

Every temple has an atmosphere about it, and Kuthiran's is one of mystery and wonder. It is easily one of my favorite temples.. It can be an especially magical place for upasakaas... 

Ashwarooda Moorthi bestows seen and unseen powers on those crave for His grace.  He is all alone waiting to bless the real devotees... 

The idol of the Lord in seen mounted on a horse... The presence of "my beloved" is so lively here... During last year yatra while returning from Sabarimala, invariably everyone of us had a feeling that the Horse may come to life any moment and start jumping.

I never miss a chance to visit this temple.. and now my passion for Kuthiran has become contagious and all our friends and group members are attached to the Lord here...

At dawn, it is a feast to the eye to stand in front of the Lord and gaze at the Soul Stirring Horse Rider.

At dusk,  He does instantaneously withdraw your mind and conscience!

To have a look at Him is soul-elevating. To stand in front of him for a few minutes is a blessing. 

It is the supreme joy that fills you now all over, all on a sudden!

Aryankavu Siddhar

Last month a devotee came to my house to meet me...  I had a surprising news from regarding a saint named "Aryankavu Siddhar".... 

Aryankavu is a unique spot - where the Lord will instantly raise the inner feeling and give you the divine awakening. This is the very spot "my beloved" made me understand that "HE is my everything" and took me under his benign care. He gives an enchanting vision; The divine face glows with Kingly majesty and the eyes are full of compassion. I always have a special place for Aryankavu in my heart.

So the word "Aryankavu" pulled me immediately.... 

I vaguely remember having heard this name "Aryankavu Siddhar" before - but didnot or rather could not find any details on this person during my research... 

Now the gentleman who came to my house is his sixth generation descendant and so I was interested in knowing more about this saint... 

But unfortunately we have very very limited information and records about this devotee. Even his original name is not known. 

Around some two hundred years ago a child was born to a Vaishnavite family in Thirunelveli district. The child later became known as Aryankavu Siddhar as he had lived at Aryankavu.

For reason unknown, he had a fascination towards the Lord of Aryankavu.... At the age of seven or eight, on a sunrise the small boy had a vision and a divine call; He was induced to proceed to Aryankavu - the sacred spot of Lord Maha Sastha.

When he reached the divine land - He was awestruck seeing the Lord of Aryankavu, who had called him... The young boy became totally attached to Lord Hariharaputra and decided to spend his life there.

The place was surrounded by dense forests and was the habitat of wild animals. But nothing bothered the boy. The boy was all alone at Aryankavu, serving the Lord - with the company of all wild animals... He slept along with leopards and snakes and whenever hungry, he simply ate fruits and leaves. 

He betook himself to the Lord's forest, where he lived alone for years, until he was sought out and restored to human society by his parents. 

The parents gave up much of  their time searching for their lost son. For many years they met many saints and astrologers to know the whereabouts of their son. Finally an astrologer gave a hint that he might be around "Thenmalai" in a forest- under the care of Lord Sastha.

The parents and the relatives went in search of the boy and finally reached Aryankavu... Everybody were shocked to see the boy sleeping in the forest near the temple amidst snakes and tigers around his body. 

The relatives could not even go near the boy and made many attempts to reach the boy - but could not succeed. 

That night, Lord Sastha appeared in the dream of the temple priest. The Lord ordered the priest to go to the temple, where he would find a small boy amidst the wild animals,  whom he was to wait upon and feed with the prasadam rice and handover him to his parents. When the priest went there no animal was visible to his eyes, so he did what the Lord had ordered and brought the boy to the temple. 

His parents finally got him out of the temple, took him back to their home and pressed him to marry and assume the duties of family life. 

He had no other choice but accept his parents' request. But soon after a child was born, he was unable to bear the influence of samsara, he prayed to the Lord. The Lord asked him come back and also promised to take care of his family and the entire clan. So he again fled from home and reached Aryankavu

He became a wandering monk there and was praised for his spiritual insight and devotion towards Lord Sastha. He lived to a good old age, loved and revered, and finally attained oneness with his beloved Aryan.

Bhakti and Upasana

Dear Anna,

Few questions that flashed my mind, need your advise on this.

What about the people who does upasana of ishta devatha without Manthra Japam?

How will they attain a state of complete merger with the Lord.. Is manthra japam is only way to merge with our Lord? 

Whats your suggestion on this?

Swamy Sharanam

Magesh Laksham

------------------

I think you are confused about bhakti and upasana...

The very base of upasana is mantra japam and puja... (whether its internally or externally is a separate topic.... according to me in both ways)

Whereas bhakti has no limitations....

Doing ananya bhakti can directly take a person to the state of complete merger with Lord.... A bhakta can attain moksha directly.... 

Shankara says:

Bhakti kim Na: Karothi... (When there is bhakti in heart, what is not possible?)

But do we have that ananya sharanagata bhakti today? - this is the main question

We tend to do all mistakes in our puja and immediately quote Kannappa Nayanar to our rescue...

Are we bhakhthas of the calibre of Kannappa Nayanar? Is our love for the Lord absolutely pure and undiluted, and is our motive always so pure ?

Thats the reason the Bhakti is channelized properly through a structural and procedural method called upasana...

In brief, Swami sees the attitude behind the action, than the action itself. 

If there is no love even if one gives ganges water from Gold vessel, He will not care for it.

So the Pure Love is the base for Bhakti - which has to be there for upasana.

Most of us do this mistake of getting tempted to think: 'After all, we are performing the Upasna of our own divine Mother/Father; will She/He not tolerate our minor mistakes ?'

It is right that one can perform Upasana out of love, for our divine Mother and Father without too much of rigid rules. But in that case,there is not need for any yantra and moola mantra... even a single drop tear from the devotee's eye is a very big puja.

So you need not confuse both.... if you have ananya bhakti enjoy the Lord - But when it comes to procedure... follow it strictly

But understand very clearly - even for upasana - Bhakti is the first step

Bhakti is the base of everything... without Bhakti upasana is meaningless.... 

Bhaktiless upasana is mere mechanical ritual

But when upasana is built on a foundation called Bhakthi, the Lord has no other option and HE MUST manifest there  - beyond doubt....

Mantra japam and Upasana

What is the difference between doing mantra jebam and doing ubasanai ?

Kalidas

Mumbai

----

Upasana is different and mantra japam is different....

There are actually three steps.... 

1. Japasheela

2. Japayagna

3. Upasaka

A person who chants a particular mantra for a specific benefit (like a job, family issue, business development, child etc) is a person who is doing japam... By the grace of the Lord on whom he is doing the japam.. he may sucees his mission for which the japam was done.... if he is so sincere and vigorous in this he may be termed japa sheela.

Whereas an upasaka is a person who worships the Lord - to attain a state of complete merger with the Lord. He lives in a stage where his total life revolves around his Ishta Devata... Round the clock his thinking will be around his Lord. 

If a japasheela has Guru Krupa, over a period of time he may realize the divine force and also understand that the divinity is not only for material benefits, he may destroy his ignorance and raise one level and become a japayagna

At this stage, if the japayagna is still fortunate and if he a is wise person, he may focus his japam procedurally towards the Lord and he may raise to the level of an Upasaka

So one is doing a japam, he must be sincere and may start as a japasheela, become a japayagna and then raise to an upasaka.

A true upasaka's mind, action and thought will always be on his Lord...  When one reaches this level he is sure to reach the ultimate... But this is possible only with sheer compassion called Guru Krupa...

Asanam for Mantra Japam

Is is compulsory that one has to sit on a platform for doing jebam?

Kalidas

Mumbai

----

Before I answer the query let me make one point clear... its not jebam - its Japam and not ubasanai but Upasanai

Now the answer: ----

One has to do the japam with proper asanam. Only then the japam will have its result. Kambalam(thick blanket), Silk Cloth, Deer Skin are best for doing japam.

Doing japam sitting on a Kambalam is best for Karya Siddhi.. this will help in materializing all the desires in mind. 

Tiger Skin and Deer Skin will result in Gnanam... doing japam on this will bestow pristine wisdom. This will also give the knowledge about other persons and to know the future.

Sitting on asanas made of cloth like silk are also very much benificial. Pure white or red silk cloth will help in destroying all liabilities and debts.

Asanas made of natural leaves will improve the health.

One must never sit on stone or rock surface... This will result in mental agony and unexpected distress in life.

Above all sitting on earth surface directly is a simple waste of time.... nothing will result out of this...

The Plan of Sastha

We made a trip to Sabarimalai yesterday combining various reasons... Right from my morning puja I was a very satisfactory that things would go smooth. The grace of all my Gurus and my great grand father will surely help me reach my goals.

Kuthiraan - our favorite spot of the Lord - standing in front of His very Sannidhi gave us an assurance... To be frank - though I felt very happy  and assured there, I never expected such a favorable turn of events from all quarters. 

Throughout the yatra the positive charge was with us... At Pampa during my japam, the main purpose of my visit was accomplished and it was clearly and  physically acknowledged by the Lord. 

The spark gave me the happiness of a lifetime, not because I have achieved something great but to remind me to be more grateful to the ever compassionate God.

The darshanam of our beloved Manikanta was a magical moment(as usual...!!!). and on the whole all the events took a miraculous turn and we were blessed with much more than what we planned and what we expected. 

After a wonderful trip to Sabarimalai we came back yesterday night...  and today morning I wanted to refer a text regarding Dakshina Kaali.... So I went to my library and took the book.  The book was "Dashamaha Vidya" - which completely deals on mantras of the Ten Forms of Devi... and no way related to Sastha.... 

But when I opened the book, I found the place where it was written :

"சாஸ்தாவின் திட்டம் பலித்தது" "Sasthaavin Thittam Balithathu"

The Plan of Sastha - prevailed

My Bhaktaparipala have planned every action that happens next and every molecule in check and under control.

Fortunate to be a slave to the ever compassionate master !!!