Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt
For every kind of power, proofs may be sought by direct
perception or by the process of inference. Men sought to find out by what
direct proof they could experience this transcendental power. They found the
proof in the Sun. Without the Sun there will be no light at all. Nor is that
all. All activities will come to a standstill. In this world hydrogen is
essential for the growth of plants and of living beings. The Sun's primary
components are hydrogen and helium. Without hydrogen and helium, the world cannot
survive. Hence, the ancients concluded that the Sun was the visible proof (of a
transcendental power). They also found some subtle secrets about the Sun.
Hence, they adored the Sun as the principal deity in the Gayatri mantra. “Dhiyo
yonah Prachodayāt” - May the Sun illumine our intellects in the same way he
sheds his effulgence. This is the prayer addressed to the Sun in the Gayatri
mantra. In this way, they came to regard the Gayatri mantra as the mother of
the Vedas.
[‘Sathya Sai Speaks’, vol
24.08: May, 21, 1991]
The earliest finding of the
seekers was that the Sun was the most important factor in determining the daily
life of man and providing the basic requirements for living. Life would be
impossible without the Sun for man, beast, bird or plant. The Sun was regarded
as the source of all energy and responsible for birth, growth and destruction
of all things in creation. It was for this reason that Sage Viswamitra
glorified the Sun God (Savitr) in the Gayatri mantra.
[‘Sathya Sai Speaks’, vol
19.4: March, 8, 1986]
Repeat the Gayatri - it is
a universal prayer. It has three parts, meditation on the glory of God as the
illumination immanent in the three worlds - upper, middle and lower (Om Bhur
Bhuva Swah; Tat Savitur Vareñyam); it has smaraña or picturisation of the Grace
(Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi) and prārthanā, prayer for compassion for the sake of
liberation, through awakening of intelligence that pervades entire universe,
not to any particular name or form of that intelligence; and so, all can use it
and be saved by it. There can be no fanaticism, no hatred, no rivalry, if the
Gayatri is adhered to, its pious repetition will clarify the passions and
promote love.
[‘Sathya Sai Speaks’, vol
07.37: October, 13, 1967]
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