Mantra Meditation

  " Just by repeating the name,  

that which can not be understood
     Will be understood  
just by repeating the name 
that which can not be seen   
   Will be seen"  

Mantra repetition is an ancient meditation technique  extensively used in Tibet and India. Here is a simple
explanation of Mantra Meditation:                   

What actually is a mantra  

Mantra repetition simply means  repeating a sentence or group of words that have a phonetic significance
. just that's it.

Mantra  is intrinsically related to sound. Mantra is sound, and sound is reverberating in everything in this
universe. When water flows, the gurgling sound it makes, is mantra. When wind blows through the trees,
the  rustling sound it produces is mantra.  When we walk on the earth, our footsteps produce sound, and
that too is mantra. Within  human beings  there is a self-born, indestructible sound which repeats itself
constantly, along with our breathing and this sound is also a mantra. 

            Sound has enormous power, in fact it has the power to create an entire universe. It is written that
God originally manifested as sound. 

(In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  New
Testament, John1:1-2 )

According to ancient Indian belief  in the beginning there was sound, which  reverberated as Om and from
that sound everything came into existence. 

Even modern scientist are beginning to recognize as our ancient sages did,  that there exists a vibration
which reverberates ceaselessly throughout the cosmos.  

            When letters and syllables come together, they form words. Both our spiritual and our mundane
life are possible only because of words; without language, we can not carry out any of our activities. Each
word we use has its own power and produces it own reaction. A mantra is no ordinary combination of
letters and syllables, but a living force. The name of God is not different from God. Mantra has been
called the sound-body of God: It is God in the form of sound. 

In  Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says, 

         " Among rituals, I am the ritual of mantra repetition." 

By this he means that while other techniques are means of attaining Him, mantra is his very being. That is
why it is so easy to experience God by repeating the mantra. Mantra meditation is the repetition of a
group of words which create  sound vibrations that awake the love of God in our hearts and mind.  

The influence of mantra: How it affects the meditator

  The mantra can completely transform our inner being. Our inner state is created by the thoughts and
feelings that continuously arise in us. Outwardly we may appear to have fixed identities-one person may
appear to be a lawyer, another an engineer, another a doctor, another a professor. But inside, we are a
continually changing mass of consciousness. When we project the beam of mantra into this fluctuating
mass, it stabilizes it and focuses it in one direction, the direction of the self. It helps us to transcend our
confusion, our fantasies, and the constant changes of the mind.

  Repetition of the name of God causes a kind of earthquake in our inner

consciousness. Whatever thoughts arise in our daily life, they are recorded within us and form
impression that are difficult  to remove.  But when we repeat the name, all these thoughts and
impressions are erased, and the name of God is recorded. At every moment, what we think is what we
become. If the anger arises in the  mind and we identify ourselves with it, we become angry. In the same
way, if we continually repeat the mantra with great love and interest, we will become absorbed in God. By
its very nature the mantra has the ability to transform our awareness  into an awareness of ourselves as
Self which is a part of supreme self God.

How to repeat the mantra : You can repeat the mantra silently or loudly but it should be at the same
speed at which you talk. You can also coordinate it with the breathing, repeating it once with the
inhalation and once with exhalation. Repeat it very carefully, just as a miser looks after is wealth. Listen it
as you repeat it, and in that way your mind will become permeated with mantra. If you repeat the mantra
when you breathe in and breathe out, it will circulate throughout your body, permeating every one of your
blood cells. then even the room in which you have been repeating become saturated with it.

It is said, "Mantra is that which protects the one who repeats it." The power of mantra is beyond your
imagination You can understand the meaning of the mantra, but you can not measure its strength. Mantra
is the living force of God. Therefore, repeat it with respect.  

              If you devote even half hour or an hour every day to repeating the mantra, you will
function much more effectively in your worldly life, and your heart will be filled with joy. You will
begin to experience the self very easily.  

How to use mantra meditation in a busy & complex life.

Well by now you must have clear knowledge of mantra meditation. In order to meditate using mantra
meditation you should use following: 

(1) Read the general instruction on meditation (including do's and don'ts)

(2) Choose a mantra. Below I have described in detail three mantras. You can use either of them. 

(3) Allocate 30 minutes for mantra meditation. Though early morning or late evening is best time, you can
chooses any time as per  your convenience.  In those 30 minutes, 20 minutes will be for chanting
(repeating)  the mantra and the last 10 minutes for being watchful of your inner consciousness. 

(4) Sit comfortably at a quiet place. 

Close your eyes.

Start chanting the mantra (either silently or loudly ). 

Repeat the mantra with faith and respect. 

Repeat it with the full awareness of its meaning. 

Keep chanting the mantra for 20 minutes. (You may use an alarm clock for keeping track of time). 

After 20 minutes....

 stop chanting. Be quiet. Keep sitting silently. 

The mantra will keep echoing in your mind for some more time. Just be watchful of what happens inside
you. 

Don't judge, act or react. Just be aware of all that is happening inside you. Just be a witness of all your
emotions, feelings, and other activities in and around you. You will feel a sense of calm and bliss. All
thought activities will start decreasing and eventually come to a stand still. 

Slowly slowly open your eyes and move out of the meditation. 

 When you begin meditating this way on daily basis, slowly you will start experiencing a thought free mind
-  a state of choiceless awareness. Your self will be revealed to you. (Please remember that the 10
minutes watchfulness after the 20 minutes of chanting is a must. )Later you may increase your timing. But
the ratio between chanting and witnessing should remain as 2:1.    

Some Mantras to dwell upon

Here I have described three powerful mantras in detail. You can choose to meditate with any of the three
mantra. All of them are ancient, powerful and easy in pronunciation. 

But before you start: 

Here is a  basic terminology which you should know before starting  Mantra repetition as you find its
presence many mantra. All these words are from Hindu Mythology.

Kali yug :The last in the four eras (time periods) of creation. The other threes are Satya yug, Threta yug
and Dwaper yug . These four eras are characterize by the intensity/effect of the rule of truth in them with
the Satya yug having the most prominent qualities of truth and righteousness, with Treta at
second,  Dwaper at third and Kaliyug - the age of machines- at the fourth place. The present era is
Kaliyug. 

Trinity of  Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh: According to Hindu mythology there are three Gods who run
the creation. The Brahma - who creates the universe, the Vishnu - who preserves the Universe and the
Shiva- who in the end destroys the universe. Among the three deities, Shiva is considered as the
destroyer. However, Shiva is also considered as the supreme reality- the inner self which remains intact
even after everything ends. 
Please also remember that the one who repeats the mantra either silently or loudly is known
as chanter and the process of repeating the mantra is known as chanting. 

The Mantras                   

Here are a detailed description of 3 mantras from the traditional Indian religious stream. All these three
mantras are extremely easy to pronounce and highly effective.  Click to know in detail about these
mantra 

"Om Namah Shivaya"

 ( pronounced as Aum Num-ha Shi-why)

Om Namah Shivaya is known as the great redeeming mantra also known as five-syllable mantra

The meaning :  

It means  "I bow to Shiva." Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It  is the name given to
consciousness that dwells in all. Shiva is the name of your true identity- your self. 

According to Hindu mythology there are three Gods who run this creation. The Brahma - who creates the
universe, the Vishnu - who preserves the Universe and the Shiva- who in the end destroys the universe.
Among the three deities, Shiva, though considered as destroyer, also symbolize the  - the inner self which
remains intact even after everything ends. 

In this mantra the chanter (one who repeats the mantra) bow to Shiva- his true self.

              Om Namah Shivay is a very powerful mantra. It has been said about this mantra that if this
mantra vibrates continually in your heart, then you have no need to perform austerities, to meditate, or to
practise yoga. To repeat this mantra you need no rituals or ceremonies, nor must you repeat it at an
auspicious time or in a particular place." This mantra is free of all restrictions. It can be repeated by
anyone, young or old, rich or poor and no matter what state a person is in, it will purify him.

How to repeat 'Om Namah Shivay' 

            Sit in a comfortable and peaceful  place and position. Start repeating the mantra in your mind or
loudly with the same speed as you talk: 

 Om Namah Shivay (Aum Num-ha Shi-why)

( To repeat any mantra as already mentioned in General Rules : one should repeat it with full
awareness of its meaning. )

 Repeat 'Om Namah Shivay', with the feeling that you are bowing to Shiva - your true inner self. Repeat
this mantra with respect. The inner self is the form of God in you. So as you say ' Om Namah Shivay' i.e.
"I bow to Shiva'; you are actually bowing to God - The great almighty. The repetition of the name of God is
equivalent to be merged in his very being.  When you repeat God's name in your mouth, in one way, you
experience the God itself. Just repeat this mantra with faith and it's powerful phonetic vibrations will start
doing miracle for you.
 "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare 
  Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

[ Pronounced as:  Hare - ( Ha'ray),  Rama - (Raa'maa)   & 

Krishna - ( Kri-Sh'-Naa) ]

'Hare Krishna' is the mantra which  is known to maximum number of  western seekers thanks to
the commendable work done by His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad (founder of 
ISKON - International Society for Krishna Consciousness www.iskcon.com  in spreading its awareness
world wide.  George Harrison, the popular singer of world famous Beatles group also devoted his entire
life in spreading the  awareness about this mantra. 

"A mantra is mystical energy encased in a sound structure and each mantra
contains within its vibrations a certain power. But of all mantras, the maha-
mantra (the Hare Krishna mantra) has been prescribed as the easiest and
surest way for attaining God Realization in this present age." 

George Harrison (1943-2001), 

in his autobiography :'I, me and Mine'

This mantra is known as the Maha-mantra of Kailyug (the supreme mantra of Kaliyug - the present era
of machine where truth and righteousness are at their lowest level. ) It has been said that by repeating
this mantra with faith and devotion, one can attain salvation and peace of mind.  

          " harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam

            kalau nasty eva nasti eva nasti eva gatir anyatha" 

                 - A Sanskrit verse from  Brhan-naradiya Purana which means         

           
   "In this age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no
alternative for spiritual progress other than the chanting of the holy name, the
chanting of the holy name, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord."       

  The meaning of Hare Krishna Mantra 

This mantra is made up of only three words : 'Hare', Krishna and 'Rama'. 'Krishna' and 'Rama' are the
name of Lord Vishnu - one of the mythological God in the trinity of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It
is said that in every yug (era) Vishnu takes incarnation on earth to establish the law of truth and
righteousness. 

Ram is the name of the incarnation of Vishnu in the Treta yug ( you must have heard the famous story
of Ramayana - the popular Indian epic. Rama is the hero of that epic. You can learn more about
Ramayana here.
 Krishna is the name of the incarnation of Vishnu in the 'Dwaper yug'. He is the central character in the
Mahabharata (pronounced approximately as Ma-haa-BHAAR-a-ta ) -the another popular epic of India
(which incidentally is the longest epic of the world). Krishna is the most popular God of Hindu
religion. The Bhagawad Gita - the highly spiritual and mesmerizing conversation between Krishna and
Arjuna( one of the bravest and famous character of Mahabharata ) on the battle ground of Kurukshetra is
one of the most popular and respected religious books of World. 
[ you can learn about Mahabharata here and about Bhagawad Gita here]

Both these words  'Rama' and 'Krishna' have become powerful and effective for the simple reason that for
thousand of years  millions of Hindus have been praying to God by chanting these two names. The faith,
devotion and a pure spiritual  feeling with which these two names have been chanted by all these
devotees for so many years have made these words electrifying- charged with energy. Just repeating
these names can take anyone into meditation quickly. 

The word Hare has come from 'Haran' which means  to take way or to end.  So when one says hare
Krishna,  he  requests   the God (the supreme consciousness)  to take away his sorrows , his
shortcomings, his failures and  pains. This Hare Krishna Mantra is actually a little prayer to God for taking
away all the sorrows, pains and shortcomings of the chanter and provide him  bliss and joy. 

       "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

           Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

Whenever you chant this mantra, always keep its meaning in  mind. Chant this mantra with devotion and
faith . While repeating his mantra request the God almighty to take away all your sorrows, pains and
failures and give you joy and bliss. 

It is the experience of many that when one repeat this mantra with full faith and with full awareness of its
meaning, his/her whole being gets filled with Krishna Consciousness  ( which is a name given to the
feeling of bliss and joy one gets in repeating this mantra.) 

This mantra is a very easy mantra. You can chant it anytime, anywhere. Give at least 15 minutes per day
for this mantra repetition. Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Then either chant it silently or loudly.
Repeat it with full awareness of its meaning which is " O lord, take away all my sorrows, pains and
shortcomings and give me bliss and joy". 

This mantra is a simple and effective meditation technique. Slowly you will start enjoying it as its repetition
will give you a sense of calm and bliss.

[ You can learn more about this mantra (and can even listen to the devotees of ISKCON chanting it by
visiting the websitewww.iskcon.com . Further to know in detail the history of this mantra,  about its first
propagator Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu and the about the affiliation of George Harrison with the Hare Krishna
Movement  visit www.mantra-meditation.com  ) 

 Soham : The natural mantra

The natural mantra - Soham  (Pronounced as So' Hum')

  Now let us learn about a mantra which repeats itself in all of us ! This the the
natural mantra - Soham . 

  Till now I have told you about those mantra which  are required to repeated by the meditator. Now, I'll tell
you about a mantra which is not needed to be repeated - because it is continuously repeating itself on its
own - in all of us. This mantra is  So'ham - the natural mantra, the mantra of your true self. It does not
belong to the East or the West or to any religion. So'ham  is the inherent in everybody, in all of us; it
repeats itself continually, along with our breathing. It is said that as long as this mantra keeps going on
inside us, there is life in the body. As soon as it stops, we are no more. 

Let us learn about 'So'ham' in some more detail :

  In order to understand So'ham, once more we have to look at our breathing process. During breathing 
we inhale air and  exhale air. If you closely observe your breathing process, you will find that as your
breath goes out and comes in, it produces two tiny sounds of syllables. The breath goes out with the
sound '  so' and comes in with the sound 'ham'. 

[ A clarification before you read further : : Of late I have been getting emails from various
readers who say that what is described above has confused them. They have learnt/read something 
different about So'ham in other organizations/websites.

  I have written : 

 "The breath goes out with the sound '  so' and comes in with the sound 'ham'"

But many says it the reverse which is true i.e. the breath goes in with the sound ' so' and comes out with
the sound 'ham'

  Well to be honest I don't know why the description at my website is different from other sites. The source
from where I learnt this technique had described the sound of  inhalation/exhalation in the same way as I
have written here. And to me, it's seem very natural explanation as whenever I meditate using So'ham I
get this feeling that my exhalation is producing the sound 'So' and inhalation the sound 'ham'.  

I think it's just a matter of belief and has a lot to do with our breathing pattern. If we are asked to breath
deeply then most of us will start with an inhalation. Very few of us will start the breathing with a
exhalation.   In our sub conscious mind it is deeply rooted that whenever we take breath,, the inhalation
comes first and exhalation comes after it. That's why when we are asked to concentrate on So'ham, most
of us naturally connects 'So' (being the first syllable) with inhalation (being the the first process of
breathing). 'Ham' is therefore linked with exhalation *being the second syllable and second process of
breathing respectively)

I have also observed that it is very easy to shift from one belief to another. Since I was connecting the
first syllable ('So') with the second process of breathing, it was just a belief of my subconscious mind. I
did a little practice and link the 'So' with inhalation and ham with the exhalation. It's easy

For those of you who are confused over this let me suggest something. 

So'ham is also known as Hamsa mantra. So'ham and Hamsa are the same mantra; the order of the
syllables is simply reversed. An ancient Indian Sanskrit text "Shiva Sutra Vimarshini' (commentary by
Kshemraja) at III.27 says " The breath is exhaled with the sound Sa and inhaled again with the sound
ham. Therefore, the empirical individual always repeats the mantra Hamsa. (or Ham'So)
Since you believe that 'So' is the first syllable and should be used with inhalation, you should repeat the
mantra Hamsa. Doing it this way you will connect the first syllable 'Ham' with inhalation and the second
syllable  'So' with exhlation. Now everything will be in order and your confusion will go. 

Having said that I want to reiterate  that you  should be your own decision maker. We all have to be our
own light in this path of spirituality. Take your own time, research a bit if you want, consult others and
choose the path most suitable to you. We all are different. So are our needs and opinions. ]

See for yourself now ! Observe your breathing and notice the sound of 'so' and 'Ham'.  You will see that
breath is coming out with the sound'So'  and coming in with the sound 'ham' 

 Every time the breath goes out and comes in, one repetition of the So'ham mantra takes place. Whether
one is a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu  or a Musilm, one repeats this mantra unconsciously thousands and
thousands of times every day. 

The meaning of So'ham is "I am That". Through these two syllables, we contemplate our oneness
with the supreme consciousness. Through the ever going process of breathing, our 'self' keeps repeating
this mantra -  I am that. 
  

  The heart is considered as the source of So'ham. It is from the heart that the syllables of
'So' and  'Ham' arise, and again in the heart that they subside. If you observe your breath, you will notice
that it arises from within with the sound So', goes out of the body to a distance of about twelve fingers,
and dissolves there. A fraction of a second later, the inhalation arises with the sound ham and goes back
into the body. It merges in the heart for a split second and then arise again in the form of 'So. Between
the inhalation and the exhalation, and between the exhalation and inhalation, there is a fraction of second
which is absolutely still and free of thoughts.( It is the same moment of pause that I explained
in  Pause breath method  of  Deep Breathing)  . That space is the space of the truth. When you breath in
and out, listening theham  and so, you should focus on that space for as long as it lasts. As you practise
the technique, the space will gradually expand. 
  
Observing the So'ham is a natural Sadhana, a natural yoga. It is known as ajapa-japa, the unrepeated
mantra repetition. Since So'ham goes on within you all the time, you do not have to make an effort to
repeat it. All you have to do is become aware of it. You do not need any faith. You just have to watch the
space of truth. 
  
Since this technique is very subtle, you have to practise it for a while in order to understand it. Whenever
you sit quietly, follow your breath and listen to the mantra. If you do not immediately become aware that
the mantra (So'ham) is repeating itself, you can repeat the syllables along with your breathing.
(So'  during exhalation and ham' during  inhalation)   In a few days you will be able to synchronize the
mantra with your breath. Soon you will begin to hear the mantra naturally. If you practice it for a while, you
will experience the self. 
  
The practice of So'ham is recommended in the Upanishads and the Vedas. It has been said about
So'ham that :

Watch the So'ham. Those who contemplate So' ham ceaselessly, discarding worldly
entanglements, they attain the supreme state and their worldly bondage is destroyed.  
                            

           While repeating So'ham, keep in mind that the goal and practice of So' ham are the same. So'
ham means "I am that," and if you practise it with complete concentration, being aware of the breath
coming in and going out, you will experience That (which is nothing but your true self). The truth is that
you do not really have to practise it, because you are already That. The practise of So' ham  is a matter of
understanding. You are not required to repeat it . It is already going on in you. You have to just watch and
listen it. Just watch the breathing process, listen the So'ham and realize the true self present in you which
always says 'I am that' 

"Om Mani Padme Hum"

On the meaning of: OM MANI PADME HUM

  "The jewel is in the lotus or praise to the jewel in the lotus"

         (by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso The Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet )

*****

It is very good to recite the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, but while

you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the
meaning of the six syllables is great and vast. The first, OM, is
composed of three pure letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the
practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the
pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha.

Can impure body, speech and mind be transformed into pure body,
speech and mind, or are they entirely separate? All Buddhas are cases
of being who were like ourselves and then in dependence on the path
became enlightened; Buddhism does not assert that there is anyone who
from the beginning is free from faults and possesses all good
qualities. The development of pure body, speech, and mind comes from
gradually leaving the impure states and their being transformed into
the pure.

How is this done? 

The path is indicated by the next four syllables.

MANI, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factor of method- the altruistic
intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love. Just as a
jewel is capable of removing poverty, so the altruistic mind of
enlightenment is capable of removing the poverty, or difficulties, of
cyclic existence and of solitary peace. Similarly, just as a jewel
fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the altruistic intention to
become enlightened fulfills the wishes of sentient beings.

The two syllables, PADME, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom. Just as

a lotus grows forth from mud but is not sullied by the faults of mud,
so wisdom is capable of putting you in a situation of non-
contradiction where as there would be contradiction if you did not
have wisdom. There is wisdom realizing impermanence, wisdom realizing
that persons are empty of self-sufficient or substantial existence,
wisdom that realizes the emptiness of duality (that is to say, of
difference of entity between subject and object), and wisdom that
realizes the emptiness of inherent existence. Though there are may
different types of wisdom, the main of all these is the wisdom
realizing emptiness.

Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and

wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable, HUM, which indicates
indivisibility. According to the sutra system, this indivisibility of
method and wisdom refers to one consciousness in which there is a full
form of both wisdom affected by method and method affected by wisdom.
In the mantra, or tantra vehicle, it refers to one conciousness in
which there is the full form of both wisdom and method as one
undifferentiable entity. In terms of the seed syllables of the five
conqueror Buddhas, HUM is the is the seed syllable of Akshobhya- the
immovable, the unfluctuating, that which cannot be disturbed by
anything.

Thus the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that in dependence
on the practice which is in indivisible union of method and wisdom,
you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure
body, speech, and mind of a Buddha. It is said that you should not
seek for Buddhahood outside of yourself; the substances for the
achievement of Buddhahood are within. As Maitreya says in his SUBLIME
CONTINUUM OF GREAT VEHICLE (UTTARA TANTRA) all beings naturally have
the Buddha nature in their own continuum. We have within us the seed
of purity, the essence of a One Gone Thus (TATHAGATAGARBHA), that is
to be transformed and full developed into Buddhahood.

(Taken from a lecture given by His Holiness The Dalai Lama of Tibet at the
Kalmuck Mongolian Buddhist Center, New Jersey.Transcribed by Ngawang Tashi (Tsawa), Drepung
Loseling, MUNGOD, 

"Om bhur'bhuvah svah tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo

devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodyat"

Rishis have selected the words of various Mantras and arranged them in such a way that they not only
convey some meaning but their chanting also creates specific energies. Gayatri is a mantra which
inspires righteous wisdom. It means that the Almighty God may illuminate our
intellect, which may lead us on the righteous path. This is the most important
prayer. All the problems of a person are solved if he is endowed with righteous wisdom. Having far-
sighted wisdom, a man is neither entangled in avoidable calamity nor does he tread a wrong path. A wise
man intuitively finds solutions to his problems. Those who lack this clear-sightedness find themselves
always facing problems and ever living from crisis it crises. The worship of Gayatri mantra bestows the
boon of righteous wisdom. The teachings of and the powers incorporated in Gayatri mantra fulfil this
purpose. Righteous wisdom starts emerging as soon as Jap of this mantra is taken up as a Sadhana.

"Om bhur'bhuvah svah tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo

devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodyat"

Om   ~   Brahma or Almighty God

bhuh   ~ embodiment of vital spiritual energy (Pran) 
bhuvah  ~ destroyer of sufferings 
svah ~ embodiment of happiness
tat  ~ that
savituh ~ bright, luminous like the Sun
varenyam ~ best, most exalted
bhargo ~ destroyer of sins
devasya ~ divine 
dhimahi ~ may imbibe
dhiyo ~ intellect
yo  ~ who 
nah   ~ our
prachodyat  ~ may inspire

In short it is a prayer to the Almighty Supreme God, the Creator of entire cosmos, the essence of our life
existence, who removes all our pains and sufferings and grants happiness beseeching His divine grace to
imbibe within us His Divinity and Brilliance which may purify us and guide our righteous wisdom on the
right path. A man gets imbued with divine qualities contemplating and meditating on this meaning of
Gayatri. One should contemplate on these feelings daily and regularly. Three prayer-filled meditations are
given here which should be silently recited and projected on the mental screen through imagination. 

 1.        “The Almighty God, who is known as pranav pervades all the three Lokas, viz, Bhooha-lok,
Bhuvaha-lok and Swaha-lok. He is Omnipresent. The cosmos is physical manifestation of God who
pervades its each and every particle. I am seeing Him everywhere. I would always refrain from evil
thoughts and evil deeds and perform true worship of God by extending cooperation in promoting
happiness, peace and beauty in this universe which is His creation”.  

 2.         “This (tat) God is extremely bright (savitur), most exalted (varenyam), devoid of sin (bhargo) and
divine (devasya). I visualise this Divinity within me, in my soul. By such contemplation, I am becoming
illumined, virtues are growing  in all the layers of my being. I am being saturated with these virtues, these
characteristics, of God.” 

 3.         “That God may inspire (prachodayat) our (naha) intellect, wisdom (dhiyo) and lead us on
righteous path. May our intellect, the intellects of our family members and of all of us, be purified and
may He lead us on the righteous path. On getting righteous wisdom, which is the greatest achievement
and is the source of all the happiness in this world, we may be able to enjoy celestial bliss in this life and
make our human life purposeful.”  

 We should contemplate and meditate on these three prayer-filled meditations slowly and pausing for a
moment on each word and an imaginary picture of that word should be drawn in the mind.  

 While contemplating upon the first meditation, it should be imagined that God pervades all the three
Lokas, the earth, heaven and Patal (nethermost world). God should be visualised pervading these
Lokas in the form of light, heat and electricity, life force (Pran) etc. This vast universe is the living physical
image of God. The Sadhak should try to visualise in his imagination a glimpse of the All-pervading
Omnipresent God just as was given to Arjun by Lord Krishna. He should imagine that God is all around
him and he is sitting in God’s lap. It should be pondered how evil thoughts and evil actions could remain
lodged in his mind and body in the presence of the Omnipotent Divinity. He should imagine that each and
every manifestation of this universal Godhead is adorable and that well being lies in selfless service of
this universe, this vast humanity and in beautifying God’s creation.  
 While reflecting on the second meditation, one should imagine the extremely bright and luminous,
supremely exalted God adorned with all divine qualities, seated on the throne of  Sadhak’s heart. God
can be also visualised in the form of Virat Purush. (2) Ram, Krishna, Vishnu, Gayatri, Sarsvati etc. and
(3) in the flame of a lamp. God can be meditated upon  in male or in mother’s form according to one’s
own sentiments. God is female as well as male. Gayatri Sadhaks prefer to meditate on the Almighty God
in the form of Gayatri Mata. Brilliance, supreme excellence, utmost piety, purity and divine righteousness
should be visualised in the beautiful image of Gayatri Mata. It should be imagined that such a beautiful
and virtuous divine power permanently dwells in the sadhak’s heart and permeates all the pores of his
body.

  While thinking on the third meditation, it should be felt that the divine power of Gayatri has caught the
intellect and feelings of our head and heart and is guiding them on the path of righteousness. We are
pure, concerted and enthusiastic and are getting attained to move in the direction of righteousness with
the grace of Gayatri Mata (mother).  

These three kinds of prayer filled meditations embodied in Gayatri are symbolic of Gyan-yog, Bhakti -yog
and karma-yog. In fact, contemplation of the meaning of Gayatri amounts to immersion in the Triveni of
these three kinds of yog.  

 By such contemplation, the meaning of Gayatri Mantra is fully assimilated in the heart of the Sadhak.
The result is that in a short time his mind gets diverted from evil thoughts and evil deeds and he
starts taking enthusiastic joy in righteous thinking and good actions. Howsoever little this tendency may
be in the beginning it is  almost certain that if the practice persists, the inner-self of the Sadhak
becomes more and more awakened and the ultimate aim of life  draws closer and closer.  

 GAYATRI DHYAN (MEDITATION) 

Human brain is an extremely wonderful cosmic computer. The activity, movement and potentiality of each
of its cells leaves even the greatest of scientists awestruck. Great energy is generated in the direction
in which these cells are applied. All the physical energy of a person is diverted in the direction of his
desires, aspirations and cravings. Emotions first arise in human mind. When the mind concentrates
on such emotions a magnetic field is created which attracts the desired elements from the atmosphere.
This is the science of meditation. On this basis (AdiShakti) the power of the primordial
energy  pervading the interior of the nature can be attracted by the Sadhak towards him and retained by
him within himself. Gayatri should be meditated upon daily at the time of Jap or at any convenient time. 

The Sadhak should sit for meditation in a secluded place having calm and quiet atmosphere. Mind should
be steady and the body relaxed. While meditating during Jap one should sit in cross- legged position,
keeping the backbone straight. When not meditating with Jap one can sit on an easy-chair or take the
support of a large round pillow, wall or a tree. Body should be relaxed, as if it is lifeless. Eyes should be
closed, both the hands should be rested in the lap and it should be visualized that nothing but a vast blue
space exists everywhere. At the time of Pralaya (universal annihilation) nothing survives except the blue
sky or space. A mental picture of such a stage of universal annihilation should be drawn in imagination
and when it is fully established, a small round mass of light should be visualized in distant space by inner
vision. Thus Gayatri should be meditated in the form of a small brilliant star, as bright as the sun. With
development of concentration in meditation this round mass of light comes more and more closer and
becomes bigger and brighter.   

On minute observation, black spots are visible in the middle portion of the Sun or Moon. In the same way
in the round mass of light of Gayatri a faint image of Gayatri should be visualized in the beginning. Slowly
and gradually this image appears to be clearer - smiling, speaking, sensitive and lively to the Sadhak.
Before starting meditation the picture of Gayatri Mata should be examined minutely, lovingly and
repeatedly along with its each and every part and it should be firmly established in the mind in such a
way that the Sadhak may be able to formulate a mental glimpse of that image within the round mass of
light. In due course of time a beautiful and enchanting image of Gayatri Mata surrounded by a round
mass of brilliant light will be visible to the Sadhak.

  Just as a person sitting in the sun feels warmth, similarly the proximity of Gayatri in the form of a mass
of light suffuses the Sadhak’s mind , his inner-self and his entire body with divine light. Just as iron,
when put in the fire, becomes red-hot, so also, when the Sadhak retains the brilliance of Gayatri within
himself during meditation, he becomes one with the Almighty Goddess, becomes a rishi, radiant
with Brahmateja. He feels as if his whole body has become red hot like pure gold and a celestial, divine,
sun-like light shines through him. The impurities, sins etc. of the Sadhak’s soul are burnt out in this light .
He feels himself god-like, pure, fearless, pious and detached.  

In this meditation, lights of different colours are seen. Sometimes small and big stars of different colours
are seen appearing and disappearing in this light. They are seen moving from one direction to other,
sometimes traversing back in opposite directions. Sometimes, they are seen moving round in a circle and
also shooting fast like an arrow. These are all good omens of progress in meditation. With the growth of
the energy of Gayatri within the soul, several potentialities and qualities start developing which are
reflected in the form of small masses of light of different colours.  

 When this Sadhana becomes more mature and profound, the brilliance of Gayatri stabilizes in the middle
of the brain or heart. This is the stage of attaining Siddhi. When the Sadhak attracts that brilliance from
the outer space and settles it within himself, a stage is reached where his body and Gayatri’s life force
combine at  one point. Just as a person, under the influence of an evil spirit, acts according to the will of
the latter, so also after establishing Gayatri within himself, the thoughts, actions, behaviour, feelings,
tastes, desires, aspirations of the Sadhak are oriented towards selflessness and universal
good. Progressively, animality decreases and divinity increases. This is the ideal form of meditation of
Gayatri. When the Sadhak meditates on Gayatri in the form of a mass of light, he should feel that along
with its rays, wisdom, virtuousness and divine energy are being infused in him. When the Sadhak comes
out of such a meditation he feels that the proportion of wisdom, purity and refinement has
increased within his mind and body. The Sadhak in due course, becomes a store of divine light
(Brahmateja). This divine light is like a bank draft which can be instantly got encashed at any bank of
Shreya or preya and divine or material riches, as the case may be, obtained in lieu thereof. 
(Courtesy : www.awgp.org )