14/02/2017
10. Who discovered the Gayatri Mantra?
The Gayatri Mantra was discovered by Sage Viswamitra. It was the same sage Viswamitra who initiated Sri Rama into mysteries of Sun worship, through the mantra Aaditya Hrudayam.
The RISHI (Sage) for Gayatri Mantra is Viswamitra himself.
11. How did Sage Viswamitra become the RISHI for Gayatri Mantra?
Being the Kshakthriya King, Viswamitra demanded the Divine Cow NANDINI which was in the possession of sage Vasista, who refused to part with NANDINI. All efforts to get the Divine Cow having failed, Viswamitra gave up his bad quality of pride and arrogance, went to the forest for deep penance and then after the penance was over he came back and surrendered himself with utmost humility to sage Vasista. He made upasana of Gayatri as Veda Maata and was subsequentely recognised by Sage Vasista as Brahma Rishi. Only after this incidence, Viswamitra became the Rishi for Gayatri Mantra. We learn from this incidence that only when our mind is pure, free from pride and arrogance, Goddess Gayatri comes to our rescue and uplifts us to higher status in spirituality.
12. What do you understand by 'Mantra Sakthi'?
It is some thing which cannot be seen. It can only be inferred. For instance, when mantras are uttered and oblations are offered in the Fire, we can see the offered materials being reduced to ashes and this is called PRATYAKSHA or perception through direct observation. However, the material which is reduced to ashes gets conveyed by MANTRA SAKTHI to the person for whom it was intended.
Baba has said that even if one does not know the place where the offering has to reach, or if one is not acquainted with the person carrying the offering, it is of no consequence.
13. How does Gayatri Mantra protect us?
The Gayatri Mantra protects us because Gayatri is Annapurna, The Mother, the Force that animates all Life. We do not therefore have to wail for food, or for shelter when we are under the protection of Annapurna, the Divine Mother.
14. How to pronounce AUM?
It must be pronounced as slowly as possible rising in a crescendo (musical Arohanam) until it reaches its peak at 'M'. Then it must take a curve at 'M' and descend as slowly as it rose, taking as much time as it took to ascend, it must gradually disappear into the Silence reverberating in the cavity of the heart. Let the Silence coincide with the pause between two breathing cycles and prolong it as long as possible without discomfort. Enjoy it, Relish it. This is the threshold of the residence of the Inner Self, the Real Prasanthi Mandir. This Inner Self is all pervasive and identical with Brahman. This is the Real Nature of Man. "Be still and know that YOU ARE GOD".
15. Mental Repetition of Mantra is more powerful than words. How?
While the mantra is repeated mentally, the words are in the background of the mind and serve the same purpose which the notes sounded on a TANPUR serve in Indian vocal music.
It has been inferred that if you utter the mantra by mouth producing sound, you will get one unit of benefit. If it is done in the fashion of JAPA, you will get 10 units of benefits. If it is done just by movement of lips without producing physical sound, you will get 100 units of benefits. If the same is done mentally without lip movement or sound, then the benefit you will be deriving is 1000 units!
16. Where we can sit and utter Gayatri Mantra to get best results?
At home - 1 unit of benefit
Near a river - 2 units of benefit
In places where cows are fostered - 10 units of benefit
In places where Agnihotram is performed - 100 units of benefit
Places where great Sages attained gnana/sidhi - One lakh or one crore units
Places whose sthala-puranas find place in
Hindu scriptures, Temples, etc. - according to the merit of the place.
Infront of "Perumal Sannathi"
(the Abode of Mahavishnu) - No limit-infinite
If done by Japamaala made up of Rudraksha Nuts - no limit-infinite
(Note of author of the site:
The japamala teaches you the Unity, though it has 108 beads! If it is a sphatika mala (crystal beads) you can see the string running in and through each bead, the inner reality on which all this is strung! If the beads are not transpa- rent, you still know that the string passes through, holds together, and is the basis for the mala to exist! Why 108 beads? 108 is the product when 12 is multiplied 9 times. 12 is the number of Adityas, Luminaries that reveal the objective world, and so, symbols of the Sakaara aspect (the world of name and form, of manifoldness, the seeming variety, the fleeting pictures); 9 is the screen on which the pictures appear, the basis, the rope which deludes you as the snake in the dusk, Brahmam, the Nameless, Formless, Eternal Absolute. 9 is the Brahmam Number, for it is always 9, how- ever many times you multiply it! It is immutable, for 9 into any number adds up to 9 only. So, when you turn the beads, impress upon your self the fact that there is both truth and travesty in the world, the travesty attracts, distracts and delights is deceiving you, diverts you into devious paths; the truth makes you free!
Hold the rosary over the middle finger, keeping the three Guna fingers together. This means that you are now transcending the world of attributes, and qualities, of name and form, of multiplicity that is the consequence of all this transformation, and proceeding towards the know- ledge of the UNITY. The Jivi finger now slowly passes each bead towards the thumb (Brahmam), touching the tip of the Brahmam finger when the bead passes over, so that the mergence is emphasised with every bead and every breath, for, while the fingers learn and teach the lesson, the tongue too repeats the manthra or the Name, with the Pranava. The japamala is very useful for beginners in Sadhana, but, as you progress, japa must become the very breath of your life, and so the rotation of beads becomes a superfluous and cumbersome exercise in which you have no more interest. Sarvadaa-sarva kaaleshu sarvatra Hari chinthanam : Always, at all times, in all places, Hari (the Lord) is meditated upon. That is the stage to which the japamala should lead you. You should not be bound to it for ever; it is only a contraption. The belt has to be discarded when you have learnt to swim, the crutches when you are able to walk.
"SADHANA. The Inward Path"
Quotations from the divine discourses of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, pp.43-45.)
