||    Sri Gaayathri dEvi: Vedic Significance    ||

Gaayathri DEvi

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
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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
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In an earlier section, 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
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Her name translates in to "belonging to the Sun". This 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.

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