Sri Gaayathri dEvi: Vedic Significance
From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 24, 1999
Dear anushtAthAs : There was a question in another net about the multiple devis invoked in SandhyA Vandhana manthrams (i-e) , Gaayathri , Saavithri and Sarasvathi . Here is some background information on it .Veda manthrams have to be looked at many levels and planes beyond the most superficial . When we evoke Saavithri and Sarasvathi , we have to keep this in mind and not link it with smarthAs and VaishNavAs and along those channels of reasoning . I agree with a bhagavathA's observation that we are all "smaarthAs" from the point of followers of Smruthis . I will comment on " the three Devis " , who can be understood as one Devi . GaayathrI ********* Gaayathri is considered as the essence of the Vedaas . Gaayathri ,the triple hymn with three times eight syllables in each of its three paadhams , is also the name for a Vedic metre .This three-paadha Gaayathri Manthram is what one uses during the worship of the sandhyAs . This manthram is also considered as the Mother of VedAs . Gaayathri is also called Saavithri (hymn to the Sun , Savithru, the seven of the DwAdasa AadithyAs ). There is also a chathur Paadha ( Four-legged ) Gaayathri Manthram with 32 syallables . It is powerful and is rarely recited , since it needs special initiation and a high degree of spiritual realization . Gaayathri , the hymn to the Sun (Sriman NaarAyaNan in the middle of the orb of the Sun ) is revered as Gaayathri at dawn ( prAtha: SandhyA ) , Saavithri at mid-day ( maadhyAhnikam ) and Sarasvathi at Saayam SandhyA . Gaayathri manthram is housed in Rg Veda samhithai ( Rg Veda : 3.62.10). It is recited to attain the four goals of life (PurushArthams ) through contemplation of the meanings of PraNavam and AkAra Vaachyan , Sriman NaarAyaNan and the sesha -sEshi relationship to SaraNya Dampathis . BrahadAraNyaka Upanishad (5.14.4, 5.15 )and ChAndhOgya Upanishad (3.12-13) salute Gaayathri as the protector of Vital Energies . ChAndhOyga passages elaborate on Gaayathri Brahma VidhyA and its relation to Moksha Saadhanam by contemplating Brahman as made up of the 24 syallables ( 6 times 4 ).The six refers to the 6 of " the guNAs of Brahman " for meditation and the four refer to the four paadhams (quarters or feet ).This upanishidhic passage connects Gayathri's one paadham to be in prithvI (on Earth ) and the the remianing in Sri Vaikuntam as referred to in Purusha Sooktham. The attributes of the other three paadhams are elaborated in this section of ChAndhOgya Upanishad . Sarasvathi *********** In an earlier posting , I have covered the Vedic meanings of Sarasvathi as the Vedic Speech .DevarAja Yasvan, the noted commentator of YaskA's Niruktham has derived the word Sarasvathi as "Sara: PrasaraNamasyAsthIthi " or One whose expanse is this entire creation or One in whom such knowledge is sustained .It refers thus again to Vedic Speech . In Gaayathri manthram , the last section prays: >" dhiyO ---prachOdhayAth ". We can see the echo of the above two words in two Rg veda manthrams (I.3.11 & 12 ): chOdhayathri sUnruthAnAm chEthanthi sumathInAm ************ yaj~nam dhadhE Sarasvathi (meaning ): Sarasvathi , who inspires those delighting in truth ,(who is) the AchAryan of the right-minded , has graciously accepted our Yaj~nam ( Havis/offering ). mahO arNa: Sarasvathi prachEthayathi kEthunA dhiyO visvA virAjathi ***** (Meaning ): Sarasvathi manifests by Her acts as a mighty river and (in Her own form ) enlightens all understandings (provides illuminating meanings ). Saavithri ********** Her name translates in to " belonging to the Sun ". his Sun or Aadithyan is SavithA , the 7th among he DwAdasa AadhityAs . If Gayathri is "triple hymn " , Saavithri is the "solar hymn ".These hymns to the Sun is as mentioned before are visualized as Gaayathri at dawn , Saavithri at midday and Sarasvathi at saayam sandhyA . V.Sadagopan
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