Mantras

Gayatri Mantra & Surya Om bhur bhuvah swah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dheemahi dhiyo yonah prachodayat (भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ) Most of us have heard the Gayatri Mantra, and many chant it daily, but do you know its profound significance and origins? Rooted in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest Vedic texts, the Gayatri Mantra is also elaborated in the Yajur Veda. In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 35), Lord Krishna declares, “Among the Vedic meters, I am the Gayatri,” highlighting its divine glory. Chanting this mantra 108 times daily is believed to attract prosperity, lighten karmic burdens, and awaken spiritual consciousness. The Gayatri Mantra begins with Tat Savitur Varenyam, where Savitur refers to the Sun, symbolizing divine light. The mantra’s essence is a prayer: “O dear Sun, illuminate our intellect and guide our thoughts toward truth.” This is why the Sun is deeply associated with the Gayatri Mantra. In Vedic astrology, the Sun is the king of planets, considered the source of all planetary creation, as science confirms that our solar system originated from solar matter. The Sun represents the soul, earning its title as Atma Karaka (soul significator). It governs self-confidence, vitality, pride, authority, and our connection to the father and government. Without the Sun’s light, we feel sluggish—think of those gloomy, rainy days when Vitamin D deficiency leaves us low. The Sun drives day, night, and seasons, shaping life itself. Our ancestors revered this cosmic force, encouraging us to offer water to the Sun at sunrise as a gesture of gratitude and balance. By chanting the Gayatri Mantra and honoring the Sun, we align with its divine energy, paying homage to the source of life and light.  

Purnamadah Purnamidam There is a profound and powerful hymn from the Ishavasya Upanishad: ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥  The translation of this mantra goes like: “That is the Whole, this is the Whole; from the Whole, the Whole arises; taking away the Whole from the Whole, the Whole remains.” This mantra defines the supreme absolute and the manifested world’s reality. It reveals that true wisdom lies in realizing the ultimate fullness of all existence. I found multiple interpretations of this mantra; some relate it to the first law of thermodynamics, stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only its form can be changed. Some compare it to the mathematical term infinity. Some emphasize the oneness and unity of the universe and beyond! Whenever I chant this shloka at the end of my meditation session, I sense a feeling of fulfilment and completeness. I perceive this shloka as a messenger of a higher sense of gratitude. Ultimately, all we have is everything, the Whole, Purna! Realising that “This” – the world, yourself – is already complete helps shift the mindset from a place of lack to a place of abundance. The perceived “gains” or “losses” are part of an infinite reality but are eventually illusory; the underlying wholeness remains unchanged. This understanding eliminates the fear of loss or separation, as everything ultimately dissolves into the supreme wholeness. The hymn concludes with the ultimate peace – the singular outcome derived from the Whole: Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.