ഓം നമോ: ഭഗവതേ വാസുദേവായ!!!

Places and Time in India Where Solar Eclipse or Surya Grahan on January 15, 2010 is visible

2010-01-15T08:52:00.001+05:30

The Solar Eclipse, or Surya Grahan, taking place on January 15, 2010 is an Annular Eclipse. The path of eclipse is – between South India and northern Sri Lanka – through the Palk Strait. The Annular Eclipse will be visible in South Kerala, South Tamil Nadu and Southern parts of Mizoram. The rest of the places in India it will be a partial eclipse. Here are the Places and Time in India where the partial eclipse is visible.

An annular eclipse is when the sun is visible like a ring of fire, with the moon darkening its centre. This will be visible only in South Kerala and South Tamil Nadu and Southern Tip of Mizoram. In the rest of the places in India, this eclipse will be a partial eclipse.

Four Metros

Delhi – 11:53 AM to 3:32 PM

Mumbai – 11:17 AM to 3:04 PM

Chennai – 11:25 AM to 3:15 PM

Kolkata – 12:07 PM to 3:29 PM

North East India

Agartala, Tripura – 12:06 PM to 3:32 PM

Aizawl, Mizoram – 12:20 PM to 3:23 PM

Dispur, Assam – 12:21 PM to 3:32 PM

Gangtok, Sikkim – 12:15 PM to 3:29 PM

Imphal, Manipur – 12.24 PM to 3:33 PM

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh – 12:26 to 3:33 PM

Kohima, Nagaland – 12:25 PM to 3:34 PM

Shillong, Meghalaya – 12:20 PM to 3:32 PM

South India

Bangalore, Karnataka – 11:17 AM to 3:11 PM

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh – 11:29 AM to 3:15 PM

Pondicherry (Puducherri) – 11:22 AM to 3:14 PM

Thiruvanantapuram – 11:05 AM to 3:05 PM

Vishakapatanam, Vizag – 11:44 AM to 3:22 PM

Central India

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – 11:41 AM to 3:14 PM

Raipur, Chattisgarh – 11:47 AM to 3:21 PM

Nagpur, Maharashtra - 11:39 AM to 3:17 PM

Eastern India

Bhuvaneshwar – 11:57 AM to 3:26 PM

Ranchi – 12:01 PM to 3:26 PM

North India

Chandigarh – 11:58 AM to 3:08 PM

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh – 11:59 AM to 3:09 PM

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 12:02 PM t0 3:00 PM

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 11:55 AM to 15:18 PM

Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 11:59 AM to 3:11 PM

Jaipur, Rajasthan – 11:46 AM to 3:09 PM

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 11:57 AM to 3:19 PM

Patna, Bihar – 12:05 PM to 3:25 PM

Western India

Gandhinagar, Gujarat – 11.28 AM to 3:04 PM

Panaji, Goa – 11:11 AM to 3:06 PM

Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 11:27 AM to 3:03 PM

Pune, Maharashtra - 11:18 AM to 15:06 PM

Surygrahan or Solar Eclipse in Hinduism

2010-01-15T08:22:00.002+05:30

There are numerous recording of Surya Grahan, or Solar Eclipse, in Hindu scriptures. The most famous being the Suryagrahan during the famous Mahabharata war. Usually, Hindus do not perform any work during Surya Grahan and they purify themselves by taking a bath and by chanting mantras. A complete fast is undertaken by many Hindus during the period. In Hindu religion, taking a holy dip at sacred rivers and tirths on the Surya Grahan day is considered highly auspicious.

Ancient sages and texts like Brahman Siddhanta restrict viewing the eclipse – one should look at an eclipse through a cloth or a reflection of it.

Mantras Chanted during Surya Grahan

Some of the important mantras that are chanted during the Surya Grahan include:

Gayatri Mantra

Ashtakshara Mantra dedicated to Shri Krishna. Ashtakshara mantra is ‘Shri Krishna ha sharnam mama.’ Astakshari Mantra is also taken as ‘Om Namoh Narayan Na Yah.’

Mahamrityunjay Mantra is also chanted during eclipse.

Other mantras chanted are Surya Kavach Strotra and Aditya Hridaya Strotram

It is important that one chants mantra, or remember god in any form, at this time to keep calm and the aura clean.

Hindu Temples Remain Closed

All Hindu Temples remain closed during Surya Grahan. Temples open only after proper rituals are performed to get rid of the ill effects of the Surya Grahan. However, some Lord Shiva temples remain open during Surya Grahan as Lord Shiva is considered as ‘Layakara,’ who Himself is an embodiment of darkness.

Fasting During Surya Grahan

Adult Hindus stop eating 12 hours before a solar eclipse. Children, old people and those who are ill stop eating 3 hours before the beginning of a solar eclipse. If the solar eclipse ends after sunset, then people fast during night and consume food only next day morning.

One should not take food at the time of Grahan because it is said that at this time the most harmful rays from the sun can be seen and absorbed.

Concept and Perceptions of Eclipses in Hindu Mythology

2010-01-15T08:15:00.002+05:30

The vedas are considered to be the ultimate authority by the Hindus, much like the New Testament and the Quran by the Christians and Muslims, respectively. The Rigveda is generally believed to be the oldest of all the four Vedas.

The Rishi Yaska applauds the Moon for its ability to reflect the sunlight as seen from the Earth (Nirukta 2.6), a fact duly reiterated by the Rishi Gotama, son of Rishi Rahugana (Rigveda 1.84.15). In those days, the Full Moon was referred to as Raka and the New Moon as Sinivali (Sayana Bhasya, and Rigveda 2.33.8). The cause of the eclipses is ascribed to a demon, called Svarbhanu, striking the Sun with darkness. When the gods could not discern the Sun (hidden as it was by darkness), they invoked Rishi Atri who repelled its darkness by chanting four Rik mantras (Rigveda 5.40.5-6) Before he could chant the four Riks, which must have taken at least 50 seconds, Atri must have had to be informed by his disciples or his sons about the sudden darkness that fell upon the Earth; in which case, the actual process must have lasted a few minutes--the typical duration of a total solar eclipse. In the ninth Rik of the same sukta, it is clearly mentioned that only the students and descendants of Atri knew how to dispel the sudden darkness which befell the Sun. It can perhaps be interpreted that only these people knew how to predict the duration of a total solar eclipse.

Even more revealing passages exist in the Pancavimsa Brahmana which describes Atri's dispelling of the darkness by the four Riks in four steps: the first part of the darkness he repelled became a reddish sheep (solar chromosphere), the second part he repelled became a silvery sheep (solar corona!), the third part again became a reddish one, and the fourth a white sheep (regaining the original colour.)

One of the six Upavedas or Vedangas, namely the Vedanga Jyotisa, supposedly composed by Rishi Lagadha around 1300 B.C., makes no mention of the eclipse calculations, even though the concepts of astronomical time divisions are present in great detail.

It is also to be noted that Rahu is nowhere mentioned in the Rig, Sama and Yajurveda. In the Atharvaveda, (13.2.16-18,28) the description of Ketu is more suited for what we today call a comet. In the primitive form of astrology, there was no place for Rahu and Ketu, in particular in the manner in which the division of the twelve houses among the five planets, the Sun and the Moon was conceived. However, Rahu has been earmarked for a quota of twelve years in the astottari dasa system, in addition to the quotas for the seven other regularly wandering celestial objects.

In the original version of the Valmiki Ramayana, a vivid description of a total solar eclipse is given in the first fifteen slokas of the twenty-third sarga of the Aranyakandam, but there is indeed a mention of Rahu as the cause. The description, which appears in the context of a ravaging war between Khara and Lord Rama is worth quoting:

In the proximity of the Sun there appeared a dark reddish disc; at an odd hour of the day the evening dusk approached at an extremely fast pace to be followed by a sudden nightfall; nothing could be discerned anymore; the birds and the animals became awestricken and started howling at the top of their voice; the Sun was totally engulfed by Rahu and appeared to be totally dull, but a big halo was seen around the dark disc of the Sun; some stars and planets became visible....

In the Navagrahastotrom, supposedly composed by Vyasadeva, the description of Rahu fits quite well with that of its Pauranika version. However, the description of Ketu is more akin to that of a comet devouring stars as well as planets. No eclipse can come in the way of the stars and planets exclusively, except for the bodies themselves.

It is suggested in the Mahabharata that during the 18- day long war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, there were only thirteen days between a Full Moon and a possible total solar eclipse presumed to have been seen over the battle field of Kuruksetra. Now, as we noted earlier, a similar condition was invoked in the Holy Quran for prophesying the return of Muhammad in the future. It is therefore, the expected rarity of such an event that must have been known to the authors of such holy scriptures.

A sizable portion of the 35th chapter of the Bhagvata Purana is devoted to narrating a fable as to why Rahu and Ketu are responsible for all the solar and lunar eclipses. Initially, at some stage,the gods and the demons were engaged in a great war over a very long period. Lord Visnu persuaded both the gods and demons for a temporary peace so that the ocean in its entirety could be churned and both devas and the asuras could benefit from what the sea had to offer. The gods under the leadership of Indra grabbed the tail of the king of snakes, Vasuki, who was used as a rope for churning the ocean, while the demons under the leadership of Vali held the mouth of Vasuki. The great mountain Mandara acted as the churner. As a result of this churning, the first to come out was the terrible poison, halahala. It was voluntarily sucked in by the Lord Siva, but he held it in his throat, the reason why Siva is also known as Nilakantha. Then out came Surabhi, Kaustubha, Parijata, Laksmi, the Moon, Varuni (the goddess of wine). And finally emerged Dhanvanatari, the originator of medicine, with a pot of amritam, the nectar. The demons ran away with the pot. Lord Visnu acting in the interest of the gods transformed himself into Mohini, a beautiful woman. Dazzled by her beauty, the demons offered the pot to Mohini and asked her to distribute the nectar amongst themselves as she was found to be an appropriate person. Of course, she gave all the nectar to the gods. One of the demons, Rahu, saw through the trick and sat in the line in disguise, where the nectar was being distributed. But before he could swallow the divine nectar, the Sun and the Moon detected his masquerade and reported it to Lord Visnu, who then chopped off Rahu's head with his sudarsan cakra. Because Rahu had already drunk the nectar, he remained alive in spite of his being reduced to a trunkless body. Since then Rahu has not forgiven the Sun and the Moon. And this is the reason why, as has been depicted in the style of Pauranik description, every once in a while Rahu gobbles up the Sun or the Moon and we witness the solar and the lunar eclipses. Of course, being trunkless he cannot hold either the Sun or the Moon for long, and they come out safely after a while. With time the headless trunk of the demon came to be known as Ketu, and the earlier version of Ketu gracefully turned into what is known as Dhumketu.

Since then, Rahu has become acceptable as the eighth planet, and in the astrological formulations, we find it in the astottari dasa system. Later on, another dasa system, called the vimsottai dasa system, was introduced which referred to nine ruling planets, the ninth being Ketu.

Sometime in the third century A.D., the era of Siddhantas was ushered in. The Surya Siddhanta gives detailed methods for making ecliptic calculations. It was around this time that Rahu and Ketu were astronomically defined to be the ascending and the descending nodes of the lunar orbit, intersecting the plane of the Earth's orbit. The astronomical significance of Rahu and Ketu was reduced to mere imaginary points of intersection between the lunar orbit and the plane of the ecliptic.

As we have noted earlier, evidence for observation of eclipses is found in the ancient Indian texts. A solar eclipse finds mention in the Mahabharata, where Lord Krisna skillfully uses his knowledge of eclipse predictions to save the life of Arjuna, the great warrior. The accuracy with which eclipses have been predicted is incredible. In the Indian almanacs, the time at which an eclipse begins, at which it peaks, and when its ends have all been given. This entire period of an eclipse is called the parvakala.

Thorough prescriptions of the customs which an orthodox Hindu is supposed to observe on the eclipse days are given in the Manusmriti, Grahalaghava, Nirnaya Sindhu, and a number of similar textbooks including Atharvaveda.

It is suggested that the inauspicious period actually begins about four praharas before a solar eclipse and three praharas before a lunar eclipse, (prahara being the unit of time equivalent to one-eighth of a day). Since food prepared during this period is not supposed to be consumed at any time, Hindus generally observe a fast. The water, clothes, food grains, etc., are sprinkled with the sacred tulasi leaves. People take a bath as soon as the eclipse begins and also perform rituals like tarpana, sraddha, homa, prarthana and give donations. After the eclipse is over, one is suppose to take a bath once again. To erase the unholy shadow of Rahu that has fallen on one and all and avoid its ill-effects, another bath is prescribed after the eclipse is over. However, married women are not allowed to wash their hair.

On the other hand, it is believed that during an eclipse all the water becomes as pure as the water of the holy river Ganga. Any surging water (say, waterfall or a fountain) or water in the lakes, river and the seas is regarded as a good omen, its auspiciousness increasing in the above sequence. The more pious may go to some sacred place or to the nearest seashore for taking a holy bath. There is a strong belief that any donation given during the eclipse hours is most auspicious and valuables such as money, clothes, cows, horses, land and gold are to be gifted away. The very rich might weigh themselves against brass or copper utensils or even gold or silver, and the same amount is recommended for donation. During this period, circling around a cow giving birth to a calf is equivalent to walking (pradaksina) around the earth.

If the death anniversary of the clan ancestors falls during this period, the rites are not performed in the usual way by feeding the Brahmanas; instead, the grahansraddha should be performed with ordinary or uncooked food or, more simply, by donating gold to the priest. Such rituals can be performed even at night as there are no restricted hours. This in itself is contrary to most of the conventional practices which are performed during the daytime, and shows to what extent our ancestors were awestruck by these celestial phenomena.

It is believed that if the eclipse falls on the third, sixth, eleventh or tenth rasi house from the zodiacal sign of birth (solar or lunar, depending on the parts of India one belongs to), it is auspicious and brings good luck to the native; a solar eclipse falling on the second, seventh, ninth or the fifth place of the natal rasi is regarded as moderately auspicious; but if it falls on the fourth, eighth or twelfth place of the natal rasi, it is considered to be inauspicious and brings bad luck to the person born under these signs.

Those whose birthdays fall on eclipse days should not look at the Sun, while others can look at the eclipsed Sun, but not directly. Such a person is permitted an indirect view of the eclipsed Sun, such as its mirror image from a pot full of pigmented water, or through a cloth. Besides these, there are injunctions against shaving, and cutting one's hair or nails on the eclipse day. This is also the day when no initiative or effort of profound consequence should be taken, and nor should students engage in serious studies.

Thus eclipses are fascinating not only because they have astronomical significance, but also ecause they give us insights into the culture, tradition and beliefs of people belonging to different periods.

2009-08-16T12:09:00.005+05:30

Keep Swine Flu Away- Precautions & Help

Swine flu in India is spreading like wildfire, taking the toll to six.
Officials say there are currently more than 800 cases of the H1N1 flu strain in India. Governments from all around the world are finding ways to combat this deadly disease. So what can you do to protect yourself?

Stay calm and practice these 10 effective tips:

1. Wash your hands frequently
Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep
Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

3. Keep hydrated
Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system
Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

5. Keep informed
The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.

6. Avoid alcohol
Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.

7. Be physically active
Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.

8. Keep away from sick people
Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else nose. So if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact.

9. Know when to get help
Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.

10. Avoid crowded areas
Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside. Moreover, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

You Will Win

2009-06-10T07:30:00.002+05:30

When delusion is shed, grief gets destroyed; joy is established: dukha nivrithi and aanandha prapti both happen at the same time. The mind is the villain; it is another name for desire; the texture of the mind is just desire, both warp and woof are desire and nothing else. If desire goes, the mind disappears. When you pull out all the yarn from a piece of cloth, you have no more cloth. So too, pull out desires from the mind, it disappears, and you are free. Grief and joy are the obverse and reverse of the same experience. Joy is when grief ends; grief is when joy ends. When you invite a blind man for dinner, you must set on the table two plates, for he comes along with another man who will lead him in. Grief and joy are inseparable companions.

Bhakthi is very difficult to acquire; do not think it is easy to become a bhaktha. As a matter of fact, it is even more difficult than Jnaana, for it means complete surrender, full contentment whatever may happen. The river must flow back to its source; it must turn back and up. If you flow down, you will have to go down, down, down, and water becomes undrinkable. But do not despair; you have to win some day. The sooner, the better. A mango seller may seek to sell four for a rupee; but if three of them get spoiled, he should not give up hope, for, a person may come and offer a rupee for the fourth one.

Having come here and listened, and secured darshan and read about Me, put into actual practice at least one of the good counsel you got; one stick is enough to light a fire; the entire box of matches need not be used. Have faith that you will win; have steadiness in the pursuit of the goal.

Sathya Sai Baba's ABC

2009-06-10T07:29:00.001+05:30

ABC

Always Be Careful (ego state)
Always Be Carefree (egoless state)
Always Be Cheerful
Always Be Calm
Always Be Charitable
Always Be Courteous
Always Be Considerate
Always Be Cooperative
Avoid Bad Company
Accept Benign Company

Three C's

Contructive Thoughts
Consoling Words
Compassionate Deeds

Three D's

Duty
Devotion
Discipline

Five D's

Devotion
Discipline
Duty
Determination
Discrimination

Four F's

Follow the Master (Dharma, righteousness/Conscience)
Face the Devil (Artha, mammom)
Fight to the End (Kaama, desire)
Finish the Game (attain Moksha, Liberation)

Three G's

See Good - Do Good - Be Good

Three H's

Hand - Head - Heart

Three P's

Patience - Purity - Perseverance

Nine Point Code of Conduct

2009-06-10T07:27:00.002+05:30

Sathya Sai Baba has proclaimed the Nine Point Code of Conduct as guidance for spiritual and personal development.

Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba while placing the Sai movement throughout the world on a firm footing with established Universal principles such as those shown below has also proclaimed as a guiding light for a devotee's spiritual and personal development-the Nine Point Code of Conduct and the Ten Principles.

At the First Overseas Convention of Chairpersons of Sai Centers, held in Prashanthi Nilayam in November 1998, delegates were asked to have their Centers conduct a study circle on the Nine-Point Code of Conduct.

Nine-Point Code of Conduct
Center members are expected to do their best to practice the Nine-Point Code of Conduct in order to be examples of Sathya Sai Baba's teachings.

Daily meditation and prayer (Jap).

Group devotional singing (bhajan) or prayer with family members once a week.

Participation in Sai Spiritual Education (Bal Vikas Programme) by children of the family.

Participation in community service work and other programs of the organization.

Regular attendance at the Center's devotional meetings (Bhajan or Nagar Sankirtan).

Regular study of Sathya Sai Baba literature.

The use of soft, loving speech with everyone.

Not speaking ill of others, especially in their absence.

Narayana Seva. Practice placing a ceiling on desires - consciously and continuously strive to eliminate the tendency to waste time, money, food and energy - and utilize the savings for service to mankind.

Prescribed by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Health, human family and human values by Swami

2009-06-10T07:25:00.000+05:30

Health is the foundation on which human life rests. There is no greater wealth than health. What is the origin of this word 'Health'? It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'Heilig ', meaning that which is sacred and pure. The body is a combination of different limbs. So, only when all limbs are utilized for sacred purposes can one have good health and happiness. For a healthy mind, one should have a healthy body. The Spirit (Atma) sustains human life basing on the health of the body and the mind. Health is the primary requisite for the realization of the four objectives of human life - Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kaama (desire) and Moksha (liberation).

Good health is ensured by the proper utilization of head and heart. There are many unseen qualities in man. But man values only that, which he sees, listens and experiences. But, no importance is given to that which is unseen. That which is unseen is actually responsible for experiencing the fruits of one's action. All human qualities spring from the heart only, they cannot be obtained from teachers or texts.

The main cause for illness is psychological disturbances. These are nothing but illusions and dilusions. In olden days diseases were few in number. But today they are rampant. What is the reason for this? The fear that one may be a victim of the prevalent disease. '80% of the diseases are psychological. If you check your pulse rate under anxiety, you will find it abnormal. Do not bestow undue attention on your health; discharge your duties peacefully, then everything will be all right.

Just as each limb is as important as any other in the body, so also is each individual in the society. All limbs have to work in unison for the effective functioning of the body. Unity is most essential for man. Unity leads to purity, which in turn leads to divinity. Cultivate the feeling of brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God. People may come from varied cultures, languages and countries, but all are the children of God. Since you make distinctions based on country, culture and language, you are unable to comprehend divinity. Everyone is a member of the universal family.

Everything in God's creation follows certain rules and regulations. Even the sunrise and sunset are regulated by the Divine command. But, man today is not following the dictates of God, though he is endowed with supreme intelligence. Today man is acquiring knowledge, which is information-oriented, not transformation-oriented. This information-oriented knowledge makes man a machine, a computer; whereas, transformation-oriented knowledge makes man a composer. The transformation-oriented knowledge confers human values.

Sai Baba, Divine Discourse "Unity is Divinity" 20 Nov 1998, Prasanthi Nilayam.

Bhagavan's discourse on significance of Gayathri

2009-06-10T07:24:00.001+05:30

OM BHUR BHUVAH SWAH
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI
DHIYO YONAH PRACHODYAT

Analysis:

Om		Brahma, the creator of the universe
Bhuh		Embodiment of vital breath
Bhuvah		Destroyer of miseries and symbol of bliss
Swah		All pervading, blissful God
Tat		That (Supreme being)
Savitor		Effulgent, radiant
Varenyam		Supreme, excellent
Bhargo		Destroyer of sins
Devasya		Bestower of divine power
Dhimahi		To adopt, to acquire
Dhiyo		Intellect
Yo		Who
Nah		Our
Prachodyat		Inspires to righteousness

We meditate upon the glorious splendor of the Vivifier Divine.
May He Himself illumine our minds!

GAYATRI MANTRA, SHABDA BRAHMA, MOTHER OF VEDAS

Aum Bhuh Bhuvah Suvah Tat Savitur Varenyum
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahe Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

[Meaning]:
WE MEDITATE ON THAT ISVARA'S GLORY WHO HAS CREATED THE UNIVERSE WHO IS FIT TO BE WORSHIPPED WHO IS THE EMBODIMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND LIGHT, WHO IS THE REMOVER OF ALL SINS AND IGNORANCE. MAY HE ENLIGHTEN OUR INTELLECTS.

The ancient mansion of Hindu tradition and custom is built on the four walls of Karma, Janma, Dharma and Brahma. Regardless of its size, a house needs four supporting walls. It follows therefore that in the huge mansion of ancient Hindu thought, customs and traditions should have a point of meeting together somewhere.

It is not possible for anyone to escape from the consequences of what one does knowingly or otherwise. You have to face up to the consequences of all your actions, whether good or bad. Clearly, therefore, the doctrine of Karma stands as a cardinal principle that governs a person's life. One has to live and die with this principle. It is this Karma which determines one's joys and sorrows. And it is through Karma that you are endowed with this life itself. What is the secret of this Janma? This body has been given to you so that you could undertake your Karma and therein lies the point- that through the body you have to uphold Dharma. When you conduct yourself in keeping with Dharma, you qualify to attain Brahma. The Gita proclaims that when Dharma declines God incarnates as an Avatar. Truly, what you see in the form of a body is nothing but a manifestation of God himself. God takes the form of a huan beng to restore Dharma. What you call 'creation' is a manifestation of the Cosmic Principle. We also refer to it as nature. Whoever is born in this nature will certainly have the same atribute of this nature. Man who has the same qualities of this Cosmic Principle, this creation, this nature, is offering all that is embedded in this creation to someone for some purpose. To whom is he offering it? Is it for the sake of one's own selfish ends? Or is it for the benefit of the fellow beings around him? It is not right to act that way. Whatever you do and whatever you may perform, if you were to be inspired by the feeling that it is for the Ananda of God, then it is bound to reach him. Therefore, the abiding feeling in you should be that whatever you do, you are doing it as worship of the Lord. This principle contains the very essence of Karma.

Chanting of Gayatri

When an individual is first born from the mother's womb, this is the natural type of birth. This is the natural state. This is the first birth as such. After you have been given the Gayatri Manthra, the dawn of a second birth emerges in your life. What is this Gayatri Manthra? It is the very quintessence of the Vedas. Verily it is the mother of the Vedas. The meaning of the syllable "Ga" is Jiva. Gayatri is that which protects and fosters all life forms. You must realise therefore that on being given this Gayatri Manthra, you have been given a second birth.

When you start chanting this Manthra in conformity with certain rules and code of conduct, you will certainly be able to reach a state in fulfillment of this Manthra. You arrive at a new stage, the third stage, which is called the Vipra. At this stage you begin to chant the Vedas.

Even as you try and understand and chant the Manthras in the Vedas, you must realise their significance end start practicing the underlying principle and thus live the Vedas every second of your life. In this way you will certainly succeed in attaining Brahma. It is only when you understand this Brahma Thathwa and perform your actions in accordance with this understanding can one be called a Brahmana. It is not by birth alone that one becomes a Brahmana. It is necessary that one's actions should correspond to this understanding. We really deserve to be called a Brahmana only when we understand the Brahma Thathwa.

Time For Chanting

It has been laid down that this Gayatri Manthra has to be chanted three times every day: during the sandhyas of early morning, afternoon and evening. Sandhya means the conjunction of two stages of time. Pratah Sandhya is the time when transition from the night to the day takes place. Likewise evening sandhya is the time when the day slides into the night. Madhyanna Sandhya is the time when the morning and afternoon are connected.

Man is the embodiment of three Gunas. These three attributes are not onfined to man as such; even time has these attributes. Time also has Sathwa, Raja and Thamo Gunas. What do we mean by time having Sathwa guna? All these three attributes have 24 hours to go by in a day. Each of these three Gunas takes up 8 hours by itself i.e , Sathwa has 8 hours, Rajasik has 8 hours and Tamasik has 8 hours. What are these 8 hours of Sathwik time? When you designate the period from 4 a m to 8 a m the intervening 4 hours are Sathwik. In like manner, the time between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. is also Sathwik. These two stretches of 4 hours apiece are Sathwik hours. The time from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.is Rajasik. It is during this time that all lifeforms keep doing whatever has to be done by them. Not only men, but also animals and the like do what is expected of them during these 8 hours. The factory worker, the farmer, the agriculturist and anybody that one can think of has to work during these 8 hours of Rajasik time. So we find that every individual has an experience of this Rajasik time

Then we have the time from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. during the night. This is the Thamasik time. That it is indeed Thamasik we know from our experience. The chief quality that is associated with this time is sleep. Sleep is being equated to Thamasik in this analysis.

It is during the Sathwik time viz., from 4 a.m to 8 a.m and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. that we should undertake our sacred and noble duties. This will sanctify our life. We should understand and appreciate how time has been divided for various activities and only then can we realise the true nature of our existence. This Gayatri Manthra has to be taken up for chanting at any time during the period of from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., and then at any time between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

It is absolutely necessary that you chant this Gayatri Manthra either in the early hours of the morning or in the evening hours. During the mid-day also it can be taken up for chanting, but for certain purposes. When you look upon it as a Sadhana, it is the morning and evening hours which are sacred for chanting.

You should chant this Manthra at least three times in the morning hours and three times in the evening time. When you do this, you can certainly free yourselves from the fruits of your Karma. It is said that a day's chanting takes care of all the ill effects of the day's Karma. To illustrate this point, let me cite an example.

When you go and buy a certain thing on loan, not only does the loan amount increase, but also the interest on it goes up. On the other hand, if you were to barter something for the item at the shop, there is no loan to be cleared, nor is there any interest to be paid. When you have borrowed something on loan, then you find that whatever you have earned has to be given for repayment of the loan, and the interest thereof. So, when you try and clear your debts as and when you buy a certain thing, then there is no loan nor is there any interest to be paid back. In the same manner, chanting Gayatri three times in the morning and three times in the evening hours before you go to bed would take care of all your errors in the form of loan and interest to be cleared off. By chanting this Manthra with this feeling you can certainly transcend Your Karma, you can even reach the state of Nishkama Karma. You can sanctify your life in this manner. Therefore, in order that you may understand the significance and reap the benefits of chanting Gayatri, you should know the significance of the morning and evening hours. There are those who feel that they do not have the time either in the morning or in the evening, to chant Gayatri. You do have the time indeed! Where there is a will, there is a way, it is said. We do fritter away a lot of our time. A fraction of your time that you waste, if directed to chanting Gayatri, can purify your life. You do have a bath every day. So, even as you bathe, if you chant this Manthra, you are not only chanting this Manthra and deriving the benefits thereof, but it becomes a form of worship. So also, in the afternoon, if you were to chant this Manthra as you eat your food, the meal becomes sanctified - the food becomes a Naivedya. You may or you may not chant any other Manthra, but do remember that chanting the Gayatri is beneficial and you can experience this yourself.

Explanation of the Manthra

Gayatri is the embodiment of all forms of Godhead - Sarva Devatha Swaroopam. Gayatri does not belong to any caste, to any sect or to any religion as such. It is universal in its scope.

Gayatri has nine important attributes. These are:

Aum: Sound as the basis of Creation, Brahman
Bhuh: The Earth, the gross.
Bhuvah: The Atmosphere, the Ether, the Subtle.
Suvah: Heaven, the region beyond Bhuvah the Causal.
Tat: Stands for That. The Ultimate Reality is simply referred to as That because it defies description through speech or language.
Savitur: Stands for Divine Savitri, equated with the vivifying power contained within the Sun.
Varenyum: Adore
Bhargo: Radiance, Lustre, Illumination
Devasya: Divine Radiance or Grace.

Dheemahi signifies worship of or meditation on the Lord. Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat as the last syllable, is a prayer. Therefore, in the Gayatri, there is Varnam, Dhyanam and Prathana (description, meditation and a prayer) - these aspects converge in the Manthra.

Gayatri And Advaitha

What goes on within you, depending upon the circumstances, are classified as follows - we talk of Sankalpa and for this we use the manas or the mind. When we talk of the aspect of "wavering" we have the Chithha. When you think of discrimination, Vicharana, we use the term Buddhi, the intellect. When you have the motive of selfishness, you talk of Ahamkara or ego. What you have to understand is that basically one entity is described as mind, chithha, intellect and ego. We will do well to understand the basic difference between the mind on the one hand and the intelligence on the other. Mind is something that has got in its nature a divisive tendency. The intellect is beyond such divisions. Therefore this intellect is associated with the principle of Adwaitha. When there is a division taking place in understanding the phenomena, we are assailed by the Dwaitha bhava. When you have this divisiveness in you, when you tend to see more than one thing, it is the mind that perceives this duality. The intellect tries to see the one among the many. What you should try and do is see the underlying unity in the diversity and not the other way around. This Gayatri is a sacred Manthra which tells you about this underlying unity in the diversity of things. It is through this vision on unity that we can perceive divinity and sanctify our lives.

In this world we have mud or clay in one form or another. This clay can be one but the forms that it can take are multifarious. Likewise, gold is one, but the ornaments could be many. Milk is one, but the cows can be many in description. So also the Atma is one, but the forms that it indwells are many. In the world around you, beyond the names and forms, there is no third entity. This world is nothing but the convergence of name and forms. One form, one name. Between these two viz., the name and form- is the form that changes continually, something which withers away and fades away and finally disappears. Though the form disappears, though the form undergoes change, the name as such remains the same at all times (Nithya Sathya); it remains changeless. For example, you have given the name cow to an animal. Tho cow, the animal, will disappear with the passage of time. But the name will remain. Forms will disappear but the names will last for ever.

The sanctity of the name needs to be understood properly. It will be difficult for you to try and identify a person in a crowd by means of his form. However even in a huge congregation of people, if you were to call out the name of an individual, he would respond to your call. Through this name, therefore you can recognise the individual. In the same way if you take up the Lord's name as the basis, you can understand that forms in various hues and sizes have taken that name. If you know the name of the station, you can ask for a ticket for that station and undertake your journey. When you are not aware of the name of the station, how can you possibly proceed on the journey? Therefore it is the name that is important, and not the form as such. When you understand the full efficacy and the significance of this Gayatri, you will be in a position to understand the true nature, the underlying unity, the Atmic principle dwelling in all different forms.

Its Great Beneficial Effects

Who is this Gayatri? She is the personified unity of the triumvirate divinity - Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswathi. Gayatri is also known as the five faced divinity. The first face signifies Om. The second is Bhur Bhuvah Suvah. Thath Savithur Varenyam is the third face. Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi is the fourth face. Dheeyo Yo Nah Prachodayath is the fifth face. This is the Pancha Mukhi Swaroopam, the five-faced divinity. From these five faces emanate the five life forces, Pancha Pranas. These five life forces are fostered and protected by Gayatri and therefore She is called the benefactor and the protector. During the time She is protecting thus, She is called Savitri. You may have read about the story in the epics that Savitri protected Satyavan.

Who is this Savitri? She is the Pancha Prana Swaroopini. This truly means that Savitri protects and guides those who lead a life of truthfulness. When She tries to improve your qualities, She is called Gayatri; when She protects and fosters your word, She is called Saraswati. Therefore, this Goddess protects the intellect, the life force and the word, and thus in every way She protects the individual at all times.

Today you have been given this Gayatri Manthra. It is verily a day when you are having your second birth. Purify and sanctify your second life and then you become eligible for the third stage of Viprathwa. From there you will proceed to the stage of attaining Brahma. Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi - how do you attain this state? You can attain in only when you have understood your own nature. When you ask the question, `when do we become deserving to attain the state of Brahma?' then can you understand this. Before being married, a girl would be an ordinary person. After the marriage, she has the privilege of claiming half of whatever her husband has, as a matter or right. What is it that marks out from the earlier stage of being an alien and the latter stage of married life when she can claim something by right? That right is conferred on her by a sacred thread tied to her neck, the Mangal Sutra. In the same manner, so long as you have not reached the state of surrender, you are an alien to the Lord. Once you have put the thread of surrender around your neck, you become One with Him, and you have earned the right to, and can demand from God, half of whatever He has. Therefore, through your own efforts you should try and reach the state of surrender to GOD. How is it possible, you might ask, by chanting this Gayatri continuously, to reach the state of fulfillment and sense of feeling that you have received something?

There is an inner meaning in giving this Gayatri Manthra to young people. We have in this Manthra the concluding words, Dheeyo yo nah Prachodayat. The meaning is this: Before you were given this Manthra, you may have been backward intellectually, or were a bit lazy. But now that you have been given this Manthra, you become sharper in intellect, become more zealous, more enthusiastic, and certainly become more qualified for scaling greater heights in acquiring knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Before the sun rises, everything is enveloped in darkness. Even as the rays of the Sun dispel this darkness, so also the chanting of this Gayatri dispels all darkness and ignorance. The rays of this Sun dispels the area of darkness. Darkness has no place where the rays of the sun reach out. So also once your intellect blossoms forth by virtue of your having been given this Manthra, your intellectual rays will dispel the ignorance which has been persisting in you, will drive away all darkness and endow you with intelligence.

Sanctify Your Life By Chanting Gayathri Mantra

2009-06-10T07:22:00.000+05:30

Dear Boys!

This is the most auspicious moment of your life. Human life can be compared to a four-storeyed mansion. The four storeys correspond to four stages of man’s life. namely, Brahmachaarya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyaasa (celibate, householder, recluse and renunciant.) Today you are laying the foundation of the mansion of your life. The safety and security of the mansion is assured once you make the foundation strong and sturdy.

Gayatri – the Mother of the Vedas

Man has four births. His first birth takes place from his mother’s womb. He gets a second life when he is initiated into the Gayathri Mantra. His third birth occurs when he learns the Vedas. He becomes a Brahmin when he recognises the principle of Brahman. This is his fourth birth. One becomes a Brahmin not merely by birth, but by knowing the nature of Brahman ., For this, chanting of Gayatri Mantra is very essential.

Man is the embodiment of all gods. In fact, the gross form of the food that man consumes refers to the principle of Brahma. On this basis, it is said. "Annam Brahma, Raso Vishnu" (food is Brahma and the essence is Vishnu). The subtle form of the food denotes the principle of Vishnu. The subtlest form symbolises the principle of Easwara. The gross part of the food strengthens the body. The subtle part of the food strengthens the mind and the subtlest part of the food purifies the speech. Therefore, food place a vital role in strengthening and purifying the body , mind and speech.

Gayathri is Sarvadevata Swaroopini and Sarvamantra Swaroopini (Embodiment of all Gods and all Mantras) It is said, Gayathri Chhandasam Matha, meaning Gayathri is the mother of vedas. There is no need to chant any other mantra if you chant the Gayathri Mantra. Gayathri has three names: Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi. Gayantham Trayate ithi Gayathri (Gayathri protects the one who recites it). Gayathri is the master of the senses. Savithri is the presiding deity of the life principle. When Gayathri acts as the protector of life force, she is known as Savitri. You might have heard the story of Savithri, a woman of chastity, who brought her dead husband, Satyavaan, back to life with the power of her prayer. Savithri protects those who lead a life of Sathya (truth). This is the inner meaning. Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech. Man has to earn the grace of Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi to sanctify his life.

First and foremost, man has to purify his speech. Only then will his life be safe and secure. If you slip and fall, the injury can be cured, but the injury caused by the slip of the tongue is incurable. It will make your life miserable. So, you should have control over your speech. Excessive talk will lead to untruth and unpleasantness. That is why the ancient saints and seers used to observe silence. You can uphold truth and attain fame only by talking less. Limited talk will confer happiness. Excessive talk will put you to grave dangers.

Gayathri, Savithri and Saraswathi are latent in everybody. Bhur. Bhuvah and Suvah in the Gayathri, Mantra refer to body (materialisation), life-force (vibration) and soul (radiation). Bhur means Bhuloka (the earth), which is nothing but the combination of materials. This denotes the human body, which is also a combination of materials. Bhuvah refers to the life-force which makes the body vibrate. Suvah refer to Pragnyana Shakti, which sustains the life force. This Pragnyana Shakti is known as Constant Integrated Awareness. This is also termed as radiation. All the three, viz. Materialisation, vibration and radiation are present in man. I tell you often, you are not one, but three – the one you think you are (physical body), the one others think you are (mental body) and the one you really are (Atma).

Heart should be Pure and Compassionate

Human life is the combination of body, mind and Atma. Body is the basis for attaining wisdom. So, it should not be misused. One has to purify one’s body and mind by undertaking sacred actions. The principle of Atma is always pure and unsullied. Human life is highly sacred. Janthunam Nara-janma Durlabham (human birth is the rarest of all beings). Sareeramadyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam (body indeed is the first medium for the pursuit of Dharma) Do not underestimate the potentialities of human body. In fact, human body is the basis for attaining the goal of life.

Work for the redemption of your life by chanting the Divine Name and undertaking sacred activities. You need not make any special effort to acquire the human values, namely, Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa. They are with you right from your birth. But you have forgotten them, as you have not put them into practice. Instead of giving tons of speeches, it is better that you practise at least an ounce of what you have learnt. Today humanness is on the decline because man does not practise human values. Man is developing Asalu (desires), forgetting Adarsalu (ideals). His attachment to the body is becoming stronger, whereas his attachment to the spirit is on the decline. No doubt, attachment to the body is essential. But it is desirable only when it comes to performing actions.

You should give up Dehabhimanam (attachment to the body) and cultivate Deshabhimanam (spirit of patriotism) After Ravana was annihilated, Lakshmana prayed to Rama to rule over Lanka. He said. "Brother, it is not proper on our part to disturb Bharata, who is ruling over Ayodhya. Moreover, the kingdom of Lanka is more affluent and beautiful than Ayodhya. So, it is my humble prayer that you should become the King of Lanka." Vibheeshana too fell at the feet of Rama, saying, "Swami, I surrender myself, my wealth and the kingdom at your Lotus Feet." But Rama was not carried away by the affluence of Lanka. He said, " Janani Janma Bhoomischa Swargadapi Gareeyasi ( the mothe and the motherland are greater than even the heaven). I cannot leave my motherland even if it is not that affluent as Lanka." This shows the love and respect Rama had for His motherland.

Himachala ( the Himalayas) forms the northern boundary of Bharat. ‘Hima’ means ice. It is white in colour and melts easily. Whiteness symbolises purity. ‘Achala’ means that which is steady. Your Hridaya (heart) should also be like Himachala, pure and steady. It should melt with compassion. Hri + Daya = Hridaya. Daya means compassion. God resides in your heart only when it is pure, steady and full of compassion. But today human heart has lost purity, compassion and steadiness due to limitless desires. Life is a long journey and your desires are the luggage. "Less luggage, more comfort make travel a pleasure". The journey of life will become enjoyable only when you reduce the luggage of desires. The lesser the desires are, the happier you will be. The Gaythri Mantra teaches that you should offer everything to God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preethyartham (perform all your actions to please God). Only then you will be free from all difficulties and hardships.

Spiritual education is True education

The Vedas declare: "Maathru Devo Bhava, Pithru Devo Bhava" (revere the mother and the father as God.) I keep telling the students very often that their blood, food, head and Dhuddu (money) are all the gifts of the mother. So, first and foremost, one should show gratitude to the mother. You should never forget your mother who gave you birth after carrying you in her womb for nine months and brought you up providing all care and comfort, unmindful of her own discomforts. The mother always has your wellbeing uppermost in her mind in whatever she says or does. You may be highly educated and your mother may be illiterate, but still you should have utmost regard for her. You should consider the teachings of your mother as the Veda itself.

Gayathri is the embodiment of the mother – principle. You should chant the Gayathri Mantra everyday, in the morning, noon and evening. These are referred to as Praata Sandhya , Madhyahna Sandhya and Saayam Sandhya. When your back is towards the Sun, your shadow will be in front of you. It will fall behind you only when you stand facing the Sun. Similarly, Maya (illusion) which is like your shadow, will overpower you when you turn your mind away from God. It can be overcome only when you turn your mind towards God.

Due to the impact of Kali Yuga and the advancement of modern education, man’s intellect is getting perverted. There is no point in acquiring education bereft of character. Worldly education, which comprises mere bookish knowledge, can never help you to lead a divine life. No doubt, worldly education is essential, but along with worldly education one should have spiritual education too. "Adhyatma Vidya Vidyanam," Spiritual education is the true education. "Nadinam Sagaro Gatih" ( rivers ultimatly merge in the ocean). Worldly education is like rivers and rivulets, while spiritual education is like a mighty ocean. So, of all the forms of education, spiritual education is the highest and the noblest. Today even the highly educated parents are acting without any sense of discrimination. They discourage their children from worshipping God and participating in Bhajans. They tell them that they would have ample time to think of God after retirement. This is a grave mistake. "Start early, drive slowly, reach safely." One can remember God in old age only when one thinks of Him right from one’s childhood.

Students!

Childhood is the right age to contemplate on God. This is the golden age as it is a very sacred age. Do not misuse it. Some parents want their children to go abroad immediately after the completion of their graduation. What is there in foreign countries that is not available in Bharat? In fact, that which is not present in Bharat is not present anywhere else in the world. Most of the students who go abroad to pursue higher studies develop perverted minds and lose their character. I have Myself seen that many students who went abroad lost their character. Only a few of them returned to Bharat with good character. People send their children abroad because they want them to become Dhanavantulu (wealthy), but not Gunavanthulu (virtuous). Money may provide all the comforts and conveniences, but can it confer mental peace? No. Only spirituality can grant peace of mind.

Today people are crazy to go to foreign countries, whereas the foreigners themselves are coming to Bharat in search of peace of mind. They have all the material comforts, but lack peace of mind. They have money in abundance. Excessive money gives rise to arrogance, which in turn leads to all wicked qualities. So, one should not go abroad in search of wealth. One should remain in Bharat if one wants to cultivate noble character. Take Swami’s own example. Thousands of devotees have been praying to me to visit their respective countries. But till today I have not even entertained the thought of going abroad. What is the reason? Bharat is the centre of all Dharmas. It is the land of sacred rituals and sacrifice. Here is a small example. The train has an engine in the front and many compartments attached to it. You will find coal, fire in the engine only, and not in other compartments. Bharat can be compared to the engine. (cheers). In Bharat alone you find the sacred fire of Yagnyas and Yagas. The other countries are like different compartment attached to Bharat, the engine. Some `compartments’ may get disjoined. What is the reason? They do not have proper `link’ with the `engine’.
The culture of Bharat is highly sacred. The Bharatiyas should be attached to their motherland; they should practise and propogate its sacred culture.

Upanayan Necessary at Early Age

Gayathri is known as Panchamuki, meaning `five faces’. What are they? Om is the first face; Bhur Bhuvah Suvah, the second; Tat Savitur Varenyam, the third; Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi. The fourth; and Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayat is the fifth. Gayathri Manthra has three parts: praise, meditation and prayer. First, the Divine is praised, then it is meditated upon in reverence and lastly, prayer is offered to the Divine to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the intellect. Dheemahi relates to the meditative aspect. Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayat relates to the prayer. Chanting of the Gayathri Mantra purifies the mind and confers devotion, detachment and wisdom. Young men must necessarily chant the Gayathri Mantra. Today we find that they get initiated into the Gayathri Mantra at an advanced stage of their youth. Intellect will blossom and shine in all its splendour after initiation into Gayathri Mantra. That is why it is essential that Upanayanam is done at the age of eight. One who is initiated into the Gayathri Mantra at an early age will become highly intelligent. Man’s life will be sanctified by chanting this Mantra.

It is because man does not think of God with devotion and sincerity that fear and restlessness have become the order of the day. Chanting of Divine Name alone can make one fearless. God is referred to as Hiranyagarbha. Hiranya means gold. Only when you place this ‘gold’ in your heart, can you get the jewels of Sathya, Dharma, Santhi and Prema. Once God is installed in your heart, only Divine feelings will originate from it. When sweet pudding is poured into a vessel with a number of holes, what comes out of the holes will also be sweet puddings. Likewise, when you fill your heart Divinity, all your actions will become Divine. But man lacks faith in Divinity. He has Swasa (breath), but Viswasa (faith). Such a life is useless.

Evil Qualities are Gateways to Hell

The youth should work for the progress of the country. They should always help their fellowmen. Sage Vyasa gave the essence of 18 Puranas thus:

Paropakara Punyaya Papaaya Parapeedanam (one attains merit by serving others and commits sin by hurting them). So, Help Ever, Hurt Never. This is the true devotion and surrender. Devotion does not mean offering worship or doing Bhajans. They are all external activities. All these are futile if there is no inner purity. So develop Love.

Love is God, God is Love. So, :live in Love. Love your parents. Serve them, obey their commands and satisfy them. They have immense love for you. But, sometimes they may try to put you on the wrong path unknowingly. In such a case, explain to them, what is right and what is wrong and convince them. If they want you to go abroad to earn more money, tell them that character is important, not money. If you explain to them in a proper way there will certainly be a transformation in them.

Boys!

If you chant the Gayathri Mantra wholeheartedly you will never face difficulties or hardship in life. Chant the Divine name incessantly. You know the story of Prahaladha. His father Hiranyakasipu commanded him to stop chanting the name of Lord Narayana. Prahaaladha never argued with his father. He smilingly listened to all that his father said but ultimately followed the dictates of the his conscience. Huge elephants were let loose to trample him under their feet, poisonous snakes were set on him to bite. He was also pushed down from mountain cliffs, thrown into deep sea. But never did he give up the chanting the Lord’s name. As a result, the elephants, the poisonous snakes, mountain cliffs and the mighty ocean transformed into Lord Narayana Himself. The Lord came to his rescue whenever he was put to danger. Likewise, if you have Divine feelings in your heart, God will protect you wherever you are. You should have unwavering faith in Him and chant His name with Love.

Do not give scope to the evil qualities of desire, anger and greed. They are like gateways to hell. Ravana was highly educated and powerful. But he ruined his entire clan and kingdom as he became a victim of Kama (desire). Hiranyakasipu symbolised anger and ultimately ruined himself. Duryodhana was greed personified and he too suffered the same fate as that of Ravana and Hiranyakasipu./ You may have immense knowledge, wealth and valour, but you are bound to suffer if you become a slave to anger, desire and greed. Do not take pride in your wealth, physical strength and education. Develop the strength of love. Love can transform even a foe into a friend. Only through love can your life be redeemed.

Some people may argue that it is foolish to believe in the existence of God whom you cannot see. But, in fact, you are seeing God all the time, because the entire Universe is the form of God. Right from microcosm to macrocosm, all forms are His. The Vedas declare, "Eswara Sarva Bhoothanam"(God is present in all beings). You are unable to see Him because you see nature from the physical point of view. Give up the worldly feelings and see nature with divine feelings. Then God will certainly manifest before you. Just as fragrance is present in the flower, Divinity is latent in you. Flower can be seen by the naked eye, but can anyone see its fragrance? Mother loves the child, she has a form but her love has no form. That Love is God.

Gayathri Mantra is highly sacred. As Shahstrigaru pointed out, Gayathri Mantra contains the essence of all the Mantras. Gayathri is the embodiment of all Gods and Goddesses. Just as a single thread runs through all the flowers in a garland the same divine power exists in all the God forms. Understand this unity in diversity. One who has understood this unity will never be put to suffering. Develop faith in God. Do not get carried away by what others say. Follow the dictates of your conscience.

Dear Boys!

Today is a sacred day. In fact, it is the foundation day of your life. Make this foundation strong and sturdy. Then the mansion of life raised on this foundation will also be strong and secured. This will give strength to the grand edifice of our Nation. You should develop national and patriotic feelings. The spirit of nationalism is absent in the youth of today. This is due to the influence of those politicians who keep their self-interest above the interest of the nation. But, you should be ready to sacrifice even your life for the nation. This should be your ideal in life. If you develop such lofty ideals, you are sure to experience Divinity.

If you have the strong desire to see God, contemplate on Him with unwavering faith. Then you can certainly see Him. Never doubt His existence. He exists for those who believe in His existence and does not exist for those who deny His existence. He acts according to your feelings. So, develop faith in Him. Chanting the Gayathri Mantra three times in a day, that is, morning, noon and evening, is not enough. You should chant this mantra perpetually. Why should you stipulate a particular time period for chanting His name who is beyond time. Sarvada Sarvakaleshu Sarvatra Harichintanam (contemplate on the name of God at all places, at all times and under all circumstances).

Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, " Harri Bhajan Bhina Sukha Santhi Nahi…."

By Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Prasanthi Nilayam - February 10, 2000

Gayatri Mantra

2009-06-10T07:21:00.000+05:30

Gayathri Manthra should be chanted 3 times a day - 4 to 8 AM, 4 to 8 PM are Sattvik times. 8AM to 4PM is Rajsik. 8PM to 4AM is Tamasik.

The best time to chant Gayathri is around 6AM, 12 Noon and 6PM. Goddess Gaythri confers the boon of Intelligence as Gayathri, Protection as Savithri and Learning as Saraswathi. Gayathri is therefore called Sarvadevata Swarupini.

By chanting at least twice a day - morning and evening - the sin committed unknowingly that day are destroyed and left over Karma is burnt. The person gets closer and closer to Divinity.

Chant the Mantra 3 times when you are having a bath - it will serve the dual purpose of chanting as well as performing Abisheka to the Mantra. Chant 3 times before eating - you would have not only purified the food, but also offered the food to the Mantra. If you do it everyday, you need not chant any other Mantra. It protects you from calamities and confers upon you intelligence, learning and success.

Just as the sun dispels darkness, it drives out the ignorance, indolence and sloth in you. It will aid in developing Prajnana, Sujnana and Vijnana. I WISH that you chant Gayathri at least 2 times a day during your lifetime."

- Swami (from the book 'Sri Satya Sai, Anandadayi')

A to Z of life...

2009-06-10T07:19:00.001+05:30

A	Always depend on God
B	Bear insult, near injury
C	Control the tongue
D	Do not cheat anybody
E	Evil company is dangerous
F	Fear nothing
G	Give, give, give. God will Love, Love, Love
H	Helping others is virtue
I	Injury is vice
J	Japa is your coat of arms
K	Knowledge is the fruit
L	Live for others
M	Mind deceives, beware
N	Now is the best time to utilize
O	Overcome grief by liberality
P	Pure mind is your friend
Q	Quietness will lead you to progress
R	Recite the name of God
S	Speak sweetly, speak softly
T	To love is to Serve
U	Understand yourself
V	Virtue is the staff of life
W	Within you is bliss
X	(E)xert yourself for Good
Y	Your treasure is God
Z	Zero has no value, if not attached to a unit. So life has no value if not attached to God.

(Divine Guidelines to all the Devotees, Workers and Office Bearers of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithis/Centres, page 24)

Divine Sayings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba 108 Sayings to be practiced in daily life...

2009-06-10T07:16:00.000+05:30

Arise and awake to establish the Divine Attributes (Saisamrajya) based on the foundation of Truth, Right conduct, Peace and Love.

All is one; be alike to everyone. The world is one; be good to everyone.

Be good, see good and do good. That is the way to God.

Our life becomes one of fulfillment when we live in morality.

Money comes and goes; but morality comes and grows!

Time consumes everyone…..So do not waste time. Time wasted is life wasted.

The past is beyond recovery. We are not sure of the future. The given moment is the right time.
Do not delay; do right action.

Silence is the only language of the realized. It is only in the depth of silence that the voice of God can be heard. Silence stills the waves of one's heart.

Life is lost in dreaming and being is lost in becoming.

Do not be misled by this illusory world. Realize the permanent Divine Spirit - the ultimate and absolute Reality, unchanged and eternal, without end or beginning.

One who understands the supreme being or God will himself/herself become the supreme being.

A person is born not to go in quest of material prosperity. He is born to go in quest of their Divinity.

Man without God is not a man. God without man is always God.

Realize that the Divine is present in every living thing as the indwelling Divine Spirit.

There is bliss and happiness in realizing the unity inherent in diversity.

All religions are roads leading to the one and the only goal, that is God. So regard them all with equal respect (All religions teach that you should purify your mind, know your own self and develop Love).

The truth is only yourself, what you see during the day is a day dream, what you see during sleep is a night dream.

God is present in your own heart and functions as the witnessing consciousness all through. So we cannot hide anything thinking God is elsewhere.

Since God is the indwelling Divine Spirit of all living beings, doing service or good to a person is in reality worshiping God. Similarly talking ill or doing anything bad to a person is in reality doing bad to God Himself or talking ill of Him.

Good and bad, peace and agony, pain and pleasure, all these originate within man and not outside him.

Turn your mind inwards to your innate Divinity and enjoy peace and equanimity. Be immersed in that bliss.

Good and bad, happiness and sorrow, which appear to be different and opposite, are in reality two faces of the same coin.

The mind is the sole cause for happiness as well as for misery, for bondage or for freedom.

If there are no two periods of pain there will be no experience of pleasure, for pleasure is only an interval between two pains.

We must try to do good to others and keep the loss or suffering if any to ourselves. Then only do we deserve to assert that God is with us.

True spiritual life is that which teaches unity or oneness and makes us selfless and full of love.

Philosophy is the butter churned out of the milk of knowledge. Divine Knowledge is the higher knowledge, by knowing which we know everything and the ultimate reality.

Every action of ours and every thought of ours causes a reflection and a reaction and a resound.

All that we do, either good or bad, knowingly or unknowingly produces a result always and so it is necessary for us to do good, so that the consequences will also be good.

Life is not a one-way traffic. We should be prepared to give and take.

Love lives by giving and forgiving. Self lives by getting and forgetting.

The thought that comes from your mind should be pure; the words you utter should be true and sweet and the work you do should be sacred.

The Good life is a journey from the position of 'I' to the position of ‘We’.

When you wear the glasses of Divine Love, you will see everywhere prema and can realize the God within you.

Whatever you may do, if you do it with the feeling that you are doing the same thing to yourself, you will never do anything bad.

Without first becoming a servant, you cannot become a leader.

Recognizing one's error is the beginning of Wisdom.

When you point one finger at others note the three fingers that point towards you. That is, when you point out one fault in others, you must examine thrice whether there is any fault in you.

Practice before you preach, do not yourself do the mistake which you find in others.

If anyone points out any fault in you, you must thank him, because by yourself you will not be able to find out your own fault. As your eyes are directed outwards, you can find the faults only in others.

Association with good company is important; it helps to cultivate good qualities.

God gives you a garland made of all the good and bad that you have done in previous lives. You have been born with that garland round your neck.

A bad act cannot give you good results; a good act cannot give you evil results. You plant the seed; it grows into the tree the seed contains.

We are born not to be reborn again. We have to go back to the place from which we have come, that is God. Attaining that source is our ultimate goal of life.

God is not something which is external or outside you. It is present in you and is in your own self. Realize this.

It does not matter if you live in this world, but do not let the world live in you.

Install God in your heart and offer Him the fruits of your good feelings, the tears of joy on the leaf of your sacrificed body.

Worship the Lord in mind and offer Him something that is yours, which is clean and fragrant, with the perfume of virtues and innocence, and washed in the tears of repentance.

Implicit faith in the Divine is the road to spiritual success.

The Lord loves not the Devotee, but their devotion - remember this.

Surrender - Leaving everything to God's will is the highest form of devotion. Whether we lose or gain, have pain or pleasure, our faith must be unshaken. Whatever happens, accept it as His gift.

God is an ocean of mercy. – Devotion is the easiest way to win His Grace. God's Grace is like sunshine, available to all.

Faith and Devotion are the two oars with which you can row the boat of life across the sea of our spiritual journey.

It is not possible for us to enter God's abode without sense control and mind control.

We can attain liberation even while performing worldly duties, if our mind always remains immersed in Divinity. Whatever work we may do, do it as offering to God.

Having got this sacred chance of life as a human being (which is very difficult to get) if we conduct ourselves like animals, we will be wasting our lives and not justifying this gift of God.

When the mind is turned inwards, it looks only at the Divine Spirit and enjoys the bliss. Therefore you will not notice any difference between pleasure and pain, bad or good. You will only realize the oneness of everything and become one with God. This is real bliss, meaning equanimity.

With the fear of sin, love for God, we must try to lead our lives in a disciplined way in order to get real happiness.

Whatever strength we have, if we do not have the strength of Righteousness, all is futile. Real Righteousness comes from God and from right conduct.

Speak the truth.

Where Righteousness is, God is, there is victory. Without God's Grace, it is impossible to gain success.

When God's Grace is there, no other influence can do us harm. Try to earn that grace by sincere prayer and devotion with Love.

Just as the Mother comes running as soon as she hears her baby cry, similarly, if a person cries to the Lord from the depth of their heart, He will help his devotee wherever they are.

God never does things which do not have good reasons behind them. He never utters words which have no meaning. Whatever He does, sees and says, carries with it an inner deeper spiritual meaning.

You may worship a picture as God, but not God as picture. You can elevate everything to the level of God, but you should not bring God down to the level of a picture.

Only God's name can win Him, and only by sincere Love and Devotion one can get round God - not by money or otherwise.

To seek peace and happiness from outside us is a great mistake. We should look within ourselves for peace and we can enjoy real happiness if we do so with a clean mind.

Watch - your Words, Action, Thoughts, Character and Heart. The mind is mad monkey. You should not surrender to it. You should watch it carefully as above and should have control over it.

Ignorance is false identification of self with one's own body. No one is isolated from the full stream of life. Each one is a part and parcel of society.

Friendship should not be based on consideration of fear and favor. The only friend who will continue to be with you for all time is the Divine friend - God.

Live close and sit close by God. The benefit of both is that the Highest Bliss of God will then flow to us.

As close as you are to God, so close is God to you. One who realizes that God is omnipresent will recognize that God as closest to him and that he is nothing but God himself.

Unless God's Grace and human efforts come together the desired result cannot be achieved. So try to win God's Grace by your Faith and Devotion.

Pour out all the water of desire from the vessel of you heart and fill it with the oil of God. Take the wick of your higher self and dry it in the sunshine of detachment. Then the immortal light of wisdom, will burn straight and bright.

Laziness is equivalent to 'Dust' and 'Rust' whereas selfless active work is like 'Rest' and 'Best'.

Haste makes waste. Waste makes worry. So do not be in a hurry. 'Slow and steady' wins the race.

One's anger is one's greatest enemy and one's calmness is one's strongest armor. One's Joy is one's best heaven and one's sorrow is one's worst hell.

Even the Divine Forms subjects Himself to discipline for elders, and leaders must first practice discipline and then only preach to others. God does not violate the regulations and the principles that He has laid down.

Realize the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. By your selfless service and Love, serve all, and try to realize the unity in all.

It is possible we may commit some wrong; but we must not commit it after knowing it is wrong.

In your words, thoughts and deeds, there should be unity.

The real marks in school and college and in life we should aim at are not getting any remarks.

Regard your country as the Mother. We should serve this Divine Mother. Follow our own sacred culture that the Mother has preserved for us. Imitation is weakness.

Those eager to rectify the world and put it on the proper path, have first to rectify themselves and their own conduct by controlling their senses and desires.

Truth is God. To attain Truth, we have to hold on to Truth.

All rivers merge with the ocean. Similarly all creation and all streams of life merge with the Source, namely God. Aspire for that happy consummation.

We come into the world with a cry but we should not end our life with a cry. We should end our life with a smile.

Life is granted to us by God to enable us to seek and attain God.

Eyes are given to us in order to help us to see the Supreme One, the Omnipotent Divinity.

Legs are provided for us in order to visit the temple of God.

Hands are given to us so that we may perform good acts and offer worship for the Lord.

Intelligence is granted to us so that we may realize that all that we see in the world is temporary and that God ALONE is the permanent reality.

The tongue is given to us so that we might sing the glory of the Lord and do recite the names of God.

Ears are given to us so that we may listen to songs praising the glory of the Lord.

We have been given this body so that with its help, we may do good to other beings.

The basis for the entire world is the Love of the Lord. However intelligent and scholarly a person may be, if that person does not have love in his heart, he is a useless person.

God is love - Live in love. Start the day with love. Fill the day with love. End the day with love. That is the way to God.

Love and regard your mother and father as God and serve them - then God's Grace will fall on you unasked.

There is no use filling your head with mere information and knowledge; instead fill your heart with Love. Learning derived from the scriptures is of no avail if it does not help you to reach the feet of the Lord.

The essence of all scriptures is: Do good to others and keep away from doing harm to others. Doing harm to others is great sin.

If you are not able to do good to others, at least do not harm others and hurt their feelings.

Do not forget God and do not fear death. Wait for the happy moment of union with God. That is immortality.

Knowledge is enriched by discipline and humility. Be humble and noble.

If we do not gather information, it is not possible to achieve transformation.

The guideposts or books will only tell you the road or the direction for the destination. You must make the journey and experience the joy and the victory.

Wisdom is acquired by experience - Try to spread the joy you have experienced to others and make them also happy.

Only through acting according to His guidance, you can have the vital presence of the spiritual teacher deep in your heart. Then He will be living presence within you.

Install 'SAI' in your Heart and be 'HAl'. That is to say, install God, 'SAI', in your heart and be happy and peaceful forever.

Being Near and Dear to God...

2009-06-10T07:09:00.001+05:30

Whatever a man sees in the world arouses fear in him. Detachment alone can free him from fear. Failing to grasp this profound truth, man is allowing his desires to multiply, without realising that desires promote attachment instead of detachment.

As long as man is attached to the body, he cannot get over the desire to possess the objects that attract him. A man afflicted with the acquisitive impulse can never get rid of worries. To overcome this attachment and possessiveness, ancient sages tailored their educational system so that it promoted self-control. Self-control also developed humility and thus, humility became the true index of right education. Control of the senses is absolutely essential for achieving humility, and education must promote such control.

Today's educational system is concerned mostly with imparting bookish knowledge, and students seek education only as a means for earning a living. This link between education and employment has to be severed, and education must instead be transformed into the process of acquiring True Wisdom.

In life, there are two aspects that have to be considered, rights and duties. Most people are concerned only with their rights and engage in struggles to secure them. Seldom do they recognise their responsibilities. This is true of all fields of human activity - social, political, economic and even spiritual. Lack of self-control is responsible for all this.
Men should regard their senses as potential enemies and not allow senses to have their own way. They should be subject to one's control and direction. What is the easiest way to achieve this mastery? Only the spiritual path. If there is real faith and devotion in man, the senses would be powerless against him. It is the decline in faith and devotion that has led man to become a slave of the senses.

The prompting of intellectual reasoning should not be identified with the dictates of the Conscience. Rather, the directives should come from the Heart. When you dive deep into a problem and enquire whether what you do is in the interests of your friends and Society in general, your Conscience will give you the right answer
Man is made up of three constituents, the body, the Mind and the Atma. Man needs the body for performing actions. But, if the actions are done without using the discriminating power of the Mind, man would be behaving like an animal, which acts on impulse. Moreover, if the Mind, without relying on the eternal and ever pure Atma, follows the demands of the body and the senses, the actions would be demonic. Bereft of the influence of the Atma, the combination of the Mind and the body can lead to demonic qualities. However, when one is installed in the Atmic principle, transcending the body and the Mind, one attains the Divine.

Hence, sanctify all your words, thoughts and deeds. Make your Heart pure so that it becomes a worthy abode for the Divine.

Excerpts from a Discourse of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thoughts and Destiny...

2009-06-10T07:06:00.002+05:30

Man today looks at physical forms superficially, without examining their Inner basis. This is the secular or temporal approach to knowledge. In Spirituality, however, one looks beneath the "surface".

Excellence in secular knowledge may lead to great achievements and positions of power and authority; but it can never bring enduring respect to the achiever. By contrast, one who is totally immersed in God never fails to elicit respect and adoration wherever he goes. Knowledge is truly meaningful only when it leads to good thoughts.

You sow thoughts and reap actions; you sow actions and reap habits; you sow habits and reap character; you sow character and reap a fortune. Thus, fortune depends on character, character depends on habits, habits depend on actions and actions depend on thought. It all comes back to thoughts and in the ultimate analysis, thoughts shape one's future as well as fortune. Good fortune is always the result of good and positive thoughts whereas bad and negative thoughts lead eventually to bad fortune, via bad actions, bad habits and evil character. Since thought is the true basis of fortune, it is obvious that one must cultivate good and positive thoughts, if one is looking for a good fortune. Thoughts and Destiny are inter-connected.

Good thoughts alone would lead to good action. What is the meaning of good action? A good action is that which would please God. Whatever you do, you should always have the feeling that you are doing God's work. Further, you should never forget to dedicate your actions to God. He who in this manner always lovingly offers all his actions to God would get only good thoughts and feelings; evil thoughts and feelings would never enter his Mind. All worldly activities must be inspired by noble feelings emanating from the Heart. Cultivate noble feelings, seek the Divine, and realise that the Divine transcends all attributes.

What is Divinity? Who is God? The Love that is immanent in all beings is God. Love is God, and this Love is inherent in every being. Man should give expression to the Love latent in him in the same way God gives expression to His Love and shares it with all. Love is most adorable, beautiful, infinite and beyond all measure. Pure and unselfish Love must be treated as an aspect of the Divine. It cannot be commanded or demanded, or purchased or acquired through raw physical might. You cannot hire it or obtain it on lease. No one can lend Love or borrow Love. Love is immanent and infinite. Love between beings cannot be like a business transaction, as people often tend to imagine. Pure Love can be attained only through Pure Love. Love should be the basis of life. Today, no one thinks of true, Selfless Love. People seek all kinds of specialised education, positions of authority and power. All this is a complete waste of time and an exercise in futility. Actions become meaningful only when they are born of good thoughts and rooted firmly in Pure Love.

Excerpts from a Discourse of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

ഓം ഭൂര്‍ ഭുവ: സ്വ: തത് സവിതുര്‍വരേണ്യം ഭര്‍ഗോ ദേവസ്യ ധീമഹി ധിയോ യോ ന: പ്രചോദയാത്

2009-06-10T07:00:00.002+05:30

'Gayatri Mantra', the ultimate Vedic prayer to awaken the intellectual powers of a person, first found its reference in the 'Vedas' believed to be the storehouse of all Divine Knowledge and the most ancient scriptures known to mankind. The universal prayer is addressed to the Sun God, addressed as 'Savitha' as the Life-Giver on Earth. Goddess Gayatri or Annapurna is believed to be the Mother-God that animates all Life. Considered to be the essence of the Vedas, Gayatri Mantra fosters and hones the knowledge-yielding faculty of a person. The four 'mahavakyas' or ultimate sentences of Gayatri Mantra, is a sacred mantra that demonstrates the unity that underlies multiplicity and manifoldness in creation.

The essence of the Mantra can be stated as follows - 'Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.'

The individual words and characters of the Mantra have a meaning of their own than can be defined as follows:

Om:	The primeval sound that represents Brahma,
Bhur:	The physical world that embodies the vital spiritual energy or 'Pran',
Bhuvah:	The mental world and destroyer of all sufferings,
Swaha:	The celestial and spiritual world that embodies happiness,
Tat:	That or God, referring to transcendental Paramatma (Ultimate Spirit),
Savithur:	The Bright Sun or the Creator and Preserver of World,
Varenyam:	Best or most adorable,
Bhargo:	Destroyer of all sins,
Devasya:	Divine Deity or Supreme Lord,
Dheemahi:	We meditate upon and take in,
Dhiyo:	The Intellect,
Yo:	The Light,
Nah:	Our,
Prachodayath:	Inspire or Enlighten.

Thus, the Gayatri Mantra can be translated as follows:

We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May He enlighten our Intellect.

Thus, we can say that Gayatri Mantra basically consists of three parts:
1. Praise,
2. Meditation, and
3. Prayer.

While chanting the mantra, we first praise the God or the Divine Power, meditate upon it in all reverence and then finally pray or make an appeal to the God awaken and strengthen the intellectual powers of a person. The Mantra is said to be the embodiment of all deities and is certainly not associated with any particular religion or sect, time, place or person. While Om, Bhuh, Bhuvah, Swaha, Thath, Savithur, Varenyam, Bhargo and Devasya are said to be its nine colors or praise of the Divine, Dheemahi is related to meditation and Dhiyo, Yo, Nah and Prachodayaath are said to be the parts of the prayer aspects of the mantra.

'Gayatri' is not actually the Goddess, which sounds surprising but she is held in equal reverence because she is the mother of the Vedas or Divine Knowledge. The other two forms of Gayatri are Savitri and Saraswathi and these three are said to be present in everyone, in which - Gayatri is said to be the one to control the senses of a person, Savitri controls the Prana or the Life Force of a person and Saraswathi controls Speech of a person. Thus, the three together represent the purity in thought, word, and deed. In the same order, Gayatri is said to enhance one's intelligence and intuition by recitation of the mantra, Savitri is said to protect the life forces and Saraswati is said to guard one's speech.

The deity Gayatri is said to be 'Panchamukhi' (having five faces). These five faces are actually the five senses guarded by her or alternatively, five 'pranas' of life forces protected by her as Savitri. The concept of Savitri being the deity to control life forces stems from the legend that Savitri was the devoted wife who was so pure and loved her husband so much that she succeeded in bringing her husband back to life by forcing Yama, the God of Death, to return his 'Prana' or Life Force. It is said that Gayatri Mantra acts as a third eye of a person that opens up a whole new world of spiritual realization and attaining Brahma.

It is said to have power to protect one from any possible harm. Even the science-minded Westerners have found that the correct recitation of Gayatri Mantra in the right accent as described in the Vedas produce certain vibrations that make the surrounding atmosphere visibly illumined, which is described as the 'Brahmaprakasha' or Effulgence of the Divine by more staunch believers. As prescribed by the Vedas, Gayatri mantra must be chanted at least three times a day during morning while taking bath, noon before eating lunch and evening at the time of sunset to cancel out all the sins that one may have done all through the day unknowingly. However, it is best to recite Gayatri period during the 'Satwik' or 'pure and serene' period during the day from 4 am to 8 am and 4 pm to 8 pm. The Gayatri Mantra should be recited while meditating upon the fact that everything is within oneself and thus, we should keep and develop confidence in the Sel.