the gayatri mantra

why is mantra so important?

the word mantra itself means 'to expand and protect the mind'

man = mind + tra = expand and protect

everything in existence has a vibration and each vibration has A SOUND. the source of all life originates in this simple concept.... if it vibrates and creates a sound, it is an example of manifest creation. and that is why mantra is the supreme object of meditation.

Focussing your meditation on a vibration of spiritual quality such as a mantra imbues the mind with the attributes of the mantra. different mantra have the power to enlighten, expand and transform your mental qualities.

some have been around for eons and have been chanted by millions of people over thousands of years. they are their own energy imprint that exist on their own plane. by aligning yourself with the mantra, you rest in the palm of that mantra and it's own unique energetic vibration.

chanting your chosen mantra ALOUD works with the conscious mind, while chanting silently goes deeper into the unconscious layers and is the most powerful path to transformation, or remodelling of your subconscious programs.

my favourite is the gayatri mantra. 

the first time i was made to chant this 108 times, i found it impossible and annoying. and since then i have loved it.

the gayatri first appeared in the rig veda, an ancient vedic text written around 1800bc. it was referred to in the upanishads & is called out as 'the poem of the divine' in the bhagavad gita.

It's an ancient and sacred blessing of three layers.

first, it offers gratitude to the never-ending embrace of savitur, the sun. second, it is a call for guidance, wisdom and enlightenment and assistance along the path to meditation. and finally, it is reverence to the divine in all things.

as far as mantras go, she's a bit of a babe.

repeating it 108 times takes around 30 minutes and can be considered a complete meditation, whether you chant along vocally or silently.

i've posted my favourite version from youtube to assist you in your meditation. sometimes i just put it on when i'm alone and allow it to be a friend to me while i potter.

here are the words and translation:

"aum
bhur bhuvah svah
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dheemahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayaate"

"Eternal light of the soul
whose radiance dissolves the darkness of the three lower worlds
your glory can be felt in the resplendence of the sun
please purify our minds and guide us towards meditation"


we'll explore this mantra tonight in class
7pm
moon hatha
corban estate arts center
see you there x


#mantra #gayatri #yoga #meditation #kohayoga #auckland