GAYATRI MANTRA

GAYATRI MANTRA

Gayatri word composed of two words: “Gayat” means sin, and “tri” means deliverance, thus Gayatri means “deliverance from sin”. Gayatri Devi blessed the mankind by giving the "Gayatri Mantra", also known as the "Guru Mantra" or the "Savitri Mantra". Practice of Gayatri Mantra is the essence of all Vedas. Goddess Gayatri is also called "Veda-Mata" or the Mother of the Vedas. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva mediate and perform Jap of this mantra. Gayatri Mantra is said to be the food of Gods. This is the mantra that transforms human being to original nature by annihilating ignorance. The self (soul) is nothing but God but it has lost its identity because of ignorance. When ignorance is eliminated, we resume to our original nature. Gayatari Mantra is also considered as a prayer to the "giver of light and life" – The Sun (Savitur).

In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10: Verse 35), Lord Krishna had proclaimed to Arjuna:

"Among all the mantras, I am the Gayatri".

The Mantra

Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

                                                               ~ The Rig Veda (10:16:3)

The Meaning:

"O thou existence Absolute, Creator of the three dimensions, we contemplate upon thy divine light. May He stimulate our intellect and bestow upon us true knowledge."

Or

"O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us."

Or

"May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect to lead us along the righteous path." 

Hare Krishna, Mantra

Hare Krishna ( Mantra )

First Appearance of Hare Krishna Mantra:

The Hare Krishna Mantra first appears in Kali Santarana Upanishad. At the end of Dvapara Yuga, Narada Muni went to Brahma (one of the Trimurti, the Creator) and enquired about surpassing Kali (Kalyug):

 "O Lord, how shall I, roaming over the earth, be able to across Kali?"

To pacify Narad Muni, and answer his question Brahma replied:

“Hearken to that which all Shrutis (the Vedas) keep secret and hidden, through which one may cross the Samsara (mundane existence) of Kali. He shakes off (the evil effects of) Kali through the mere uttering of the name of Lord Narayana, who is the primeval Purusha.”

Further Narada Ji asked Brahma: "What is the name?" To which Brahma replied thus:

“Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; These sixteen names are destructive of the evil effects of Kali. No better means than this is to be seen in all the Vedas.”

Brahma Ji further said:

“These sixteen words Hare Krishna Mantra destroy the force which produces the sense of individuality of Jiva surrounded by the sixteen Kalas (rays). Then like the sphere of the sun which shines fully after the clouds (screening it) disperse, Parābrahman (alone) shines."

Narada Ji asked:  O Lord, what are the rules to be observed with reference to it?

To which Brahma replied:

“There were no rules for it. Whoever in a pure or an impure state, utters these always, attains the same world of, or proximity with, or the same form of, or absorption into Brahma.”

12 Mahajanas of Krishna

12 Mahajanas of Krishna

There are 12 Great Devotees of Lord Vishnu, the Ultimate Knower of the Dharma,

Reference: Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.20-21

svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakir vayam

dvadasaite vijanimo
dharmam bhagavatam bhatah
guhyam visuddham durbodham
yam jnatvamrtam asnute

Translation:

Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Siva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhisma, Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami and I (Yama) myself know the real religious principle. My dear servants, this transcendental religious principle, which is known as bhagavata-dharma, or surrender unto the Supreme Lord and love for Him, is uncontaminated by the material modes of nature. It is very confidential and difficult for ordinary human beings to understand, but if by chance one fortunately understands it, he is immediately liberated, and thus he returns home, back to Godhead.

      Brahma            Shiva             Suka        Prahlada        Narad         Janak

   4 Kumaras       Kapila             Manu         Bhisma        Bali            Yama

A Tribute to Makers of Sanatana Dharma, Great Epics

Vishnu Sahasranama

Towards the End of Kurukshetra War of Mahabharata, Yudhisthira was feeling that he has carried out heinous deed of mankind by killing his family members for just mere materialized pleasure of earthly life. He then along with his younger brother and Shri Krishna went to Bhisma who was lying on the Bed of Arrows, and asked him many questions. Bhisma replied his all questions by the presence of Lord Shri Krishna, he did not feel the pain of arrows which has pierced his body from head to toe. It is 149^th Chapter of Mahabharata, Anushāsanaparva.

Yudhisthira asked following questions,

• In this universe who is the one refuge for all?
• Who is the greatest Lord in the world?
• By glorifying whom can man reach the Auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)?
• By worshipping whom can a man reach auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)?
• What is, in thy opinion, the Greatest Dharma of all Dharmas?
• By chanting of whose name can “creatures” go beyond the bonds of samsāra (continuous flow", is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation)?

Bhisma Replied, 

 

Bhisma answers by stating that mankind will be free from all sorrows by chanting the Vishnu sahasranāma' which are the thousand names of the all-pervading Supreme Being Vishnu, who is the master of all the worlds, the supreme light, the essence of the universe and who is Brahman. All matter animate and inanimate reside in Him and He in turn resides within all matter. Here is the list of those names and their meaning,
1) vishvam: He who is the universe, the virat-purusha

2) vishnuh: He who pervades everywhere

3) vashatkaarah: He who is invoked for oblations

4) bhoota-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh: The Lord of past, present and future

5) bhoota-krit: The creator of all creatures

6) bhoota-bhrit: He who nourishes all creatures

7) bhaavo: He who becomes all moving and nonmoving things

8) bhootaatmaa: The aatman of all beings

9) bhoota-bhaavanah: The cause of the growth and birth of all creatures

10) pootaatmaa: He with an extremely pure essence