Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt
Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati are latent in everybody.
Bhur, Bhuvah and Swah in the Gayatri mantra refer to the body
(materialization), the life-force (vibration) and the soul (radiation). Bhur
means the earth, which is nothing but the combination of materials. This
denotes the human body, which is also a combination of materials. Bhuvah refers
to the life-force, which makes the body vibrate. Swah refers to
Prajnāna-shakti, which sustains the life-force. This Prajnāna-shakti is known
as constant integrated awareness. This is also termed as radiation. All three,
namely, materialization, vibration and radiation are present in man. I tell you
often, you are not one, but three—the one you think you are (physical body),
the one others think you are (mental body) and the one you really are (Atma).
[‘Sathya Sai Speaks’, vol
33.04: Feb, 10, 2000]
Gayatri is described as
having five faces. The first is "Om". The second is
"Bhur-bhuvah-svah". The third is. "Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ".
The fourth is "Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi". The fifth is "Dhiyo
Yonah Prachodayāt". Gayatri represents in these five faces the five prāñas
(life forces). Gayatri is the protector of the five prāñas in man. “Gāyantaṃ
trāyate iti Gayatri” -- Because it protects the one who recites it, it is
called Gayatri. When Gayatri acts as protector of the life-forces, she is known
as Savitri. Savitri is known in the sciptural story as the devoted wife who
brought back to life her husband, Sathyavan. Savitri is the presiding deity of
the five prāñas. She protects those who lead a life of Truth. This is the inner
meaning.
When one's intelligence and
intuition are developed by the recitation of the mantra, the activating deity
is Gayatri. When the life-forces are protected, the guardian deity is called
Savitri. When one's speech is protected, the deity is called Saraswati. Because
of the protective roles of Savithri, Saraswati and Gayatri, in relation to
life, speech and the intellect, Gayatri is described as
"Sarva-devatā-swarūpiñi"--- the embodiment of all goddesses.
[‘Sathya Sai Speaks’ , vol
16.06: March, 17, 1983]
The Gayatri has three
parts: 1.Praise, 2.Meditation, and 3.Prayer. First, the Divine is praised, then
it is meditated upon in reverence and lastly, an appeal is made to the Divine
to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the intellect.
Dhīmahi is related to the meditative aspect. Dhīyo Yonah Prachodayāt
relates to the aspect of prayer. Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra purifies the
mind and confers devotion, detachment and wisdom.
[‘Sathya Sai Speaks’, vol
33.04: Feb, 10, 2000]
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