(C) RECITATION OF ‘OM’ AND SAVITRI
- Let him (the student) always pronounce the syllable Om at the beginning and at the end of (a lesson in) the Veda; (for) unless the syllable Om precede (the lesson) will slip away (from him), and unless it follow it will fade away(2.74).
- Pragapati (the lord of creatures) milked out (as it were) from the three Vedas the sounds A, U, and M, and (the Vyahritis) Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah(2.76); He milked out from the three Vedas (as it were) that Rik-verse, sacred to Savitri (2.77).
- Let him stand during the morning twilight, muttering the Savitri until the sun appears, but (let him recite it), seated, in the evening until the constellations can be seen distinctly (2.101).
- He who stands during the morning twilight muttering (the Savitri), removes the guilt contracted during the (previous) night; but he who (recites it), seated, in the evening, destroys the sin he committed during the day (2.102). But he who does not (worship) standing in the morning, nor sitting in the evening, shall be excluded from all the duties and rights of an Aryan. (2.103).
With regard to the recitation of Savitri (Gyatri Mantra), let us recall the sacred Gayatri Mantra:
Om bhur bhuvah svah. Tatsavitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi.
Dhiyo yo nah prachudayat.(Rig.veda 3.62.10; Yv 3.35)
“O being becoming and bliss! May we imbibe in ourselves the choicest effulgence of the divine creator, so that He evokes our intellect.”
Indian culture is rooted on the principles of Gayatri, protector of prana and the goddess of wisdom and pure intelligence and yajna, noble deed. Gyatri is revered as the mother and yajna the father of Indian culture. The Aitareya Brahmnana defines Gayatri as that which protects prana, which means the source of liveliness, consciousness and vitality. The element within us that grants us the ability to move, work, think and possess our wisdom and life is called prana. It is the presence of prana that keeps us alive. Prana is the soul residing in our body. A Gyatri exponent , who is full of prana, is enthusiastic, determined, courageous, patient, hopeful and active. A person whose prana is strong and protected from becoming depleted becomes powerful( strong) and hardworking and achieves happiness in both the external world(materialistic happiness) and of the inner self(Spiritual happiness).Aitareya Brahmna advises prevention of waste of prana and its preservation by invoking the grace of Gayatri. According to Adi Sankara righteous intelligence through which that Being, that reality, can be known, is Gayatri. Ritubhara prajana is that aspect of the brain that enables us to discriminate between truth and untruth, fame and notoriety, and right and wrong. The decision-making ability conferred by ritumbhara prajana is based on divine inspiration. Gayatri inspires the brain to remain saturated with the divine, virtuous qualities, which in turn inspire man on to the path of true well-being. Cultivating noble thoughts and practicing righteous deeds safeguards and increases our strength. With every act we become stronger. On the other hand, thoughts and actions inspired by impure intelligence (shorn of the Gayatri) decrease the power of prana day by day.
True wisdom keeps our lifestyle satvika- pure and austere- by maintaining control over the senses like willful avoidance of sensual pleasures, simple and natural daily routine, hard-working attitude. These qualities keep life energetic , preserve our strength and increase life span. We suffer in life due to lack of righteous knowledge. Gayatri acts as a bright divine light, a message of hope for such people caught in the darkness of ignorance. It opens up the door to material , mental and spiritual bliss. It grants us, as if it were, a third eye: the eye of wisdom through which we can look at the world prudently and attain the aim of life, self-awakening.
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