Gayathri mantra

Courtesy: Sri.K.Rajaram

Gayatri Mantra was heard thro divine blessings from Rig Veda 3.62.10. It was in Gayatri chandas of 24 syllables of 3 couplets of each 8 syllables.

However "aum" was not there in Rig Veda (3.62.10), had it been there it would not have been in Gayatri chandas. Viswamitrar gave the entire essence of

Vedas in one platter. Later it was seen in YAJUR VEDA (36.3)(22.9),(30.2),(36.3), Sama Veda with a little accent. Sandokya Upanishad and the rest ,

expanded the virtue ascribing the power of it.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (5.14.5) mentions that the mantra in Gayatri chhandas dedicated to Savitr ����� Devata was initially known as Savitri mantra.

 It says: `the people were calling that mantra in Gayatri chhandas as Savitri' (Gayatri-meva Savitri-manu-bhruyaath), because it was addressed, in particular,

 to Savitr (Savitr iyam). Another authority, Manu (2.77 and 2.81), also names the mantra as Savitri; and avers `there is no mantra that is superior to Savitri'

(Savitryastu param naasti: Manu ����� 2.83). Other texts (for e.g. Maitri Upanishad: 6.2) too declare that `Savitri mantra with pranava and vyahrti is the

best means (na savitrah paro mantrah) to attain Brahman'
It is explained that the term Gayatri is derived from the root `traing' (paalana) which means `to protect'. Expanding on that explanation, Chandogya

Upanishad says: `This mantra called Gayatri in Gayatri-chhandas protects one who chants it. That is why it is called Gayatri' (Gayatri trayate cha - Ch.Up.).

Satapatha Brahmana (14.8.15.7) in a similar manner explained Gayatri as that which protects (tattre) sense-faculties (including mind) and the life-principles

(prana) which are called `gaya': (prana vai gayaasthan trayati- tasmat Gayatri).
There is a belief that it's GODDESS GAYATRI; it's also interpreted to mean SUN GOD; Feminine gender of GAYATRA; HOWEVER NONE WOULD APPLY

AS SUCH. As a matter of fact , when looked at carefully, one can see the five faces and constituted body creations would include all deities, male-female codes

 and distinct characters of the Image of Gayatri ,to mean EKAMEVA, ONE AND ONLY, UNKNOWN, JYOTHI, "THATH", VIZ "THAAT". No Name, that already

existed, SAT.
Gayatri is pranava propitiating and praying THAT(GOD). As Rig Veda is telling elsewhere, "who knows, it was there" when speaking about the creation.

  And hence the Gayatri is very important. AUM denotes the sound (the big bang) heard and continuously being heard(not by us, but by great sages), with tri force of creation, Gunas, protective deities ,so on so forth.
Gayatri mantra was named because it was done in Gayatri chandas. Gayatri was as split would suggest, as "musical"(hence SAMA also took it. The accent,

 intonation and articulation too play a role in the efficacy of a mantra . So can be uttered as in mind(MAANASI), speech(VACHASI) and body (RUPESHU),

 no absolute path but path as per the usage. It is universal as chanted on "THAT". It is chant able by women and all but there is qualifications in the mode of executions.

 The right pressure utterances with the varied degree of tone, in recital by so many numbers, do a lot good for the mind, for atheist and become embassy of Mumukshu,

  to the believers.
1 UNIVERSAL LAW: " Gayatri teaches us a fundamental universal law. If we direct the output of a system back to the source, the outputs are further magnified.

This law is applicable everywhere ����� machines, economics, mathematics, society, inter-personal relations. "Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayaat" says that if the system is such that there is Bhargo ����� the system is without any inefficiency or disorder, the way Ishwar is Devasya ����� the source

 does not keep share for itself and only gives out back whatever is inputted into it. Dhiyo and Dheemahi come from same root word. Thus if we direct our output

(intellect) 100% back to source of intellect, we make it a perfect system causing us to achieve ultimate bliss."
2 UNIVERSAL WELFARE: Gayatri Mantra is in first person plural. This clearly means that bliss of Ishwar does not come in isolation. Whatever you do, you have

 to rise beyond the `Me' and do for `We'. Your goal is not bliss for `Me' but bliss for `We'. All your acts and thoughts and words should be for benefit of all souls and

 not only for you. This feeling of `Idanna Mama' or `Nothing personal' is essence of Vedas and Gayatri.