Bhargo Dhevasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah: Prachodhayath
There are many meanings for Om and Gayathri but this one is worth studying and sharing with others. The words Bhur Bhuva and Swah as the three regions means "the three worlds of our existence here, around and Beyond" [or the three states of our existence - Physical, Subtle and Potential] causing the three wonders of Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution. The Mantra is Universal and is awesome. The following is one of the explanations given.
One explanation of Om and Gayathri
(A) Om bhur bhuvah swah:
Bhur : the earth, bhuvah : the planets (solar family), swah : the Galaxy.
We observe that when an ordinary fan with a speed of 900 RPM (Rotations Per Minute) moves, it makes noise. Then, one can imagine, what great noise would be created when the galaxies move with a speed of 20,000 miles per second. This is what this portion of the mantra explains that the sound produced due to the fast-moving earth, planets and galaxies is Om. The sound was heard during meditation by Rishi Vishvamitra, who mentioned it to other colleagues. All of them, then unanimously decided to call this sound Om the name of God, because this sound is available in all the three periods of time, hence it is sat (permanent).
Therefore, it was the first ever-revolutionary idea to identify formless God with a specific title (form) called upadhi. Until that time, everybody recognized God as formless and nobody was prepared to accept this new idea. In the Gita also, it is said, "Om ity ekaksharam brahma", meaning that the name of the Supreme is Om, which contains only one syllable (Gita 8.13). This sound Om heard during samadhi was called by all the seers nada-brahma (a very great noise), but not a noise that is normally beyond a specific amplitude and limits of decibels suited to human hearing. Hence the rishis called this sound Udgith musical sound of the above, i.e., heaven. They also noticed that the infinite mass of galaxies moving with a velocity of 20,000 miles/second was generating a kinetic energy = 0.5 MV2 and this was balancing the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence they named it Pranavah, which means the body (vapu) or storehouse of energy (prana).
B) Tat savitur varenyam:
Tat : that (God);savitur : the sun (star); varenyam : worthy of bowing or respect.
Once the form of a person along with the name is known to us, we may locate the specific person. Hence the two titles (upadhi) provide the solid ground to identify the formless God, Vishvamitra suggested. He told us that we could know (realize) the unknowable formless God through the known factors, viz., sound Om and light of suns (stars). A mathematician can solve an equation x2+y2=4; if x=2; then y can be known and so on. An engineer can measure the width of a river even by standing at the riverbank just by drawing a triangle. So was the scientific method, as suggested by Vishvamitra in the mantra in the next portion as under:
(C) Bhargo devasya dheemahi:
Bhargo : the light; devasya of the deity; dheemahi : we should meditate.
The rishi instructs us to meditate upon the available form (light of suns) to discover the formless Creator (God). Also he wants us to do japa of the word Om (this is understood in the Mantra).
This is how the sage wants us to proceed, but there is a great problem to realise it, as the human mind is so shaky and restless that without the grace of the Supreme (Brahman) it cannot be controlled. Hence Vishvamitra suggests the way to pray Him as under
D) Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat:
Dhiyo : intellect; yo : who; nah : we all; prachodayat : guide to right direction.
O God! Deploy our intellect on the right path.
Full scientific interpretation of Gãyatri Mantra:
The three worlds of our existence, here, around and beyond, as the earth (bhur), the planets (bhuvah), and the galaxies (swah) are moving at a very great velocity, the sound produced is Om, (the name of formless God.) That God (tat), who manifests Himself in the form of light of suns (savitur) is worthy of bowing/respect (varenyam). We all, therefore, should meditate (dheemahi) upon the light (bhargo) of that deity (devasya) and also do chanting of Om. May He (yo) guide in right direction (prachodayat) our (nah) intellect (dhiyo)
No comments:
Post a Comment