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At the Upanayanam ceremony held at Prasanthi Nilayam
on 17-3-1983
"You may or you may not chant any other Mantra, but do remember that by
chanting the Gayatri Mantra, the benefits are there for you to see. By
continuously chanting the Gayatri Mantra you yourself will reach the
state of fulfilment, a sense of feeling that you have achieved
something. But there is an inner meaning in this Gayatri Mantra being
given to young children. We have in this Mantra the concluding words - 'Dhi
Yo YoNah Prachodayat'. The meaning is this: Before you have been given
this Mantra, you have been backward intellectually, mentally a bit lazy
and with a few negative points to your credit. But after you have been
given this Mantra, you have become sharper in Intellect, you have become
more zealous, more enthusiastic, and certainly qualified to get better
marks, better rank and first classes. From tomorrow, the children by
virtue of chanting this Mantra in the morning and in the evening, may
they be endowed with a rare Intelligence, which will take care of their
fortunes that will be presiding over their destiny.
They will become highly qualified. They will become model citizens so
that the future of the country will be safe in their hands."
In His Discourse in the Prasanthi Mandir on 23-8-1995, Bhagawan said:
"It (the Gayatri Mantra) is an essential requisite for the young,
because it ensures a bright and auspicious future for them."
Excerpts from Bhagawan's Upanayanam Upadesh in Sai Kulwant Hall,
Prasanthi Nilayam on 10th February 2000
SANCTIFY YOUR LIFE BY CHANTING GAYATRI MANTRA
This is the most auspicious moment of your life. Human life can be
compared to a four-storeyed mansion. The four storeys correspond to four
stages of man's life, namely, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and
Sanyasa (celibate, householder, recluse and renunciant). Today you are
laying the foundation of the mansion of your life. The safety and
security of the mansion is assured once you make the foundation strong
and sturdy.
Gayatri - The Mother of the Vedas
Man has four births. His first birth takes place from his mother's womb.
He gets a second life when he is initiated into the Gayatri Mantra. His
third birth occurs when he studies the Vedas. He becomes a Brahmin when
he recognises the principle of Brahman. This is his fourth birth. One
becomes a Brahmin not merely by birth, but by knowing the nature of
Brahman. For this, chanting of Gayatri Mantra is very essential.
Gayatri is Sarvadevata Swarupini and Sarva-mantra Swarupini (embodiment
of all gods and all Mantras). It is said, Gayatri Chhandasam Matha (Gayatri
is the mother of the Vedas). There is no need to chant any other Mantra
if you chant the Gayatri Mantra. Gayatri has three names: Gayatri,
Savitri and Saraswati. Gayantham Trayate ithi Gayatri (Gayatri protects
the one who recites it). Gayatri is the master of the senses. Savitri is
the presiding deity of the life principle. When Gayatri acts as the
protector of life-force, she is known as Savitri. You might have heard
the story of Savitri, a woman of chastity, who brought her dead husband,
Sathyavan, back to life with the power of her prayer. Savitri protects
those who lead a life of Sathya (truth). This is the inner meaning.
Saraswati is the presiding deity of speech. Man has to earn the grace of
Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati to sanctify his life.
Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati are latent in every-body. Bhur, Bhuvah
and Suvah in the Gayatri Mantra refer to body (materialisation),
life-force (vibration) and soul (radiation). Bhur means Bhuloka (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. Suvah refer to Prajnana
Shakti, which sustains the life-force. This Prajnana Shakti is known as
Constant Integrated Awareness. This is also termed as radiation. All the
three, namely, materialisation, 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).Gayatri is the embodiment of the
mother-principle. You should chant the Gayatri Mantra everyday, in the
morning, noon and evening. These are referred to as Prata Sandhya,
Madhyahna Sandhya and Sayam Sandhya.
Gayatri is known as Panchamukhi, meaning she has five faces. What are
they? Om is the first face; Bhur Bhuvah Suvah, the second; Tat Savitur
Varenyam, the third; Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi, the fourth; Dhi Yo Yo Nah
Prachodayat is the fifth. Gayatri has three parts: praise, meditation
and prayer. First, the Divine is praised, then it is meditated upon in
reverence and lastly, prayer is offered to the Divine to dispel the
darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the intellect.
Dheemahi relates to the meditative aspect. Dhi Yo Yo Nah Prachodayat
relates to the prayer. Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra purifies the mind
and confers devotion, detachment and wisdom. Young men must necessarily
chant the Gayatri Mantra. Today we find that they get initiated into the
Gayatri Mantra at an advanced stage of their youth. Intellect will
blossom and shine in all its splendour after initiation into the Gayatri
Mantra. That is why it is essential that Upanayanam be done at the age
of eight. One who is initiated into the Gayatri Mantra at an early age
will become highly intelligent. Man's life will be sanctified by
chanting this Mantra. If one chants the Gayatri Mantra wholeheartedly,
one will never face difficulties or hardships in life.
Gayatri Mantra is highly sacred. Gayatri Mantra contains the essence of
all the Mantras. Gayatri is the embodiment of all gods and goddesses.
Chanting the Gayatri Mantra three times a day, i.e., morning, noon and
evening, is not enough. You should chant this Mantra perpetually. Why
should you stipulate a particular time or period for chanting His name
who is beyond time? Sarvada Sarvakaleshu Sarvatra Harichintanam
(contemplate on the name of God at all places, at all times and under
all circumstances).
Gayatri is the adi shakti (the prime force). With this force both
sentient and insentient worlds (life and matter) derive their movement (gati)
or force or inspiration, and result is development and progress. Just as
one can easily hear any broadcast from any station by just tuning a
knob, similarly, one can establish one’s contact through one’s spiritual
powers with the subtle, all pervading Gayatri. One can use one’s own
spiritual power for attainment of all or a particular benefit-material,
psychological or spiritual. This is sdhana.
A sincere devotee with a weak determination faces many odds; even the
easiest course becomes very difficult for him. It is just like cold
which enhances the strength of the strong but weakens the spirit of the
weak and makes them suffer with pneumonia etc. In other words, the
principal which becomes fatal to the weak, become energizing to the
strong and determined. The weak sheep is devoured by the wild beasts and
even eaten by men, but the lion is adored not only by the wild beast and
animals but even by the strongest emperors who wear it as an insignia on
their person.
A man suffers from sorrow for three reasons viz., lack of power or
ability, greed for a thing, and ignorance or lack of knowledge. If he
does not possess certain things, say food, clothing, water, shelter,
land servants, friends wealth, medicine, books weapons, etc., he faces
many difficulties and may feel depressed. Because, he fails to act at
the right moment, he suffers endlessly and opportunities rarely to him.
Gayatri is the desire-yielding cow (kamadhenu) . One who recites Gayatri
and engages one self in her sadhana is blessed by Mother Gayatri. He
remains outside the purview of ignorance, incapacity and want of things
and gets the desired things.
SOURCE: "Gayatri Pariwar Publication commemorating the AshwaMedha Maha
Yagna of 1993."
"There are many who argue that the
Pranava can be repeated only by a few, and that others are not entitled
to it. This is wrong. This false conclusion has been arrived at since
they do not know the Truth. It springs from a mistaken belief. The Gita
does not mention this group or that group. Krishna declares 'whoever'
without any qualifying words limiting it to one class or sex."
"The Gayatri Mantra is the elaboration of the Pranava Sabda or Om. It
(the Gayatri Mantra) is now held so venerable and valuable that
initiation into the Adhyatmic life is achieved by its contemplation."
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