On the Auspicious Occasion of Ashvin Navratri - The Celestial Boons of Gayatri Sadhana

Sep - Oct 2005

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THE CELESTIAL BOONS OF GÂYATRI SÂDHANÂ

The Gayatri Mantra is an invocation to God for bestowal of sadbuddhi (luminously righteous intellect). This prayer, made with living faith, fills the devotee’s mind, thoughts and emotions with the inspiration to follow the righteous path. Contemplation on the essence of this mahamantra makes the sadhak realize that the world’s greatest wealth and highest success are nothing but to acquire sadbuddhi. Once he is firmly established in this belief there arises a strong urge in him to acquire this attribute. This longing generates a kind of magnetic force in his inner space. Pulled by this force, all the virtuous traits, thoughts, emotions and inspirations present in the ether element of the space begin to converge in the devotee’s soul. The science of the magnetic power of thoughts is well known. Thoughts of one kind attract like thoughts from the etheric space. The indestructible thoughts and resolves of great souls, both dead and alive, remain in perpetual circulation in the great void. They infuse the Gayatri Sadhak with a rich stock of this divine wealth.

The enrichment of this righteous element in the body greatly changes its normal activities and habits. The tendency of the sex-organs to wallow in indulgences is slowed down. Bad habits like gluttony, frequent eating and eating all kinds of food without consideration for the eatable and the non-eatable gradually diminish. Light and satwik food starts giving contentment, and rajasik-tamasik items repel. Similarly, the passions of the sex-organs are tempered by the soothing effect of refined emotions. The mind runs lesser and lesser in the direction of lust and sensuality, and belief in brahmacarya grows firm. The organs of sex and taste are the two most powerful sense organs. Their control is essential for integrated development and health of body, mind and soul. Activities like bathing, sleeping, work and other daily chores develop authentic simplicity and purity, which in turn nourish the feeder roots of health, happiness, peace and longevity. 

In the mental sphere, augmentation of virtues leads to a gradual reduction in vices and bad habits. As a result of this mental transformation, many problems and anxieties that routinely arise in the course of daily life begin to be solved easily. With the awakening of vivek or subtle discriminative power the ignorance-bred negativities of anxiety, fear, apprehension, attachment, loss etc. go away. Absolute faith in God keeps the citta calm and composed, and one remains happily unconcerned about the future. Spiritual disposition does not permit indulgence in sin, injustice and exploitation. Consequently, there is no question of suffering punishment by either the state or society, or by the Divine Law, or by self-remorse. Virtues of selfless service, humility, charity, honestly etc. benefit others, and so the people in general turn grateful admirers and protectors. There is an effusion of love and contentment in life, which make it increasingly joyous and happy. In this way, increase of righteous and pious elements in the physical and mental sphere creates spring-wells of happiness in both.

The soul being a spark of the Divine encapsulates in seed form all the powers and attributes of Divinity. These divine attributes remain latent and unknown under the debris of vices, indulgences and mental turmoil. People tend to think that they are petty and powerless. But the Sadhaks who are able to penetrate through the thick veil of these defilements get a glimpse of the pure atmajyoti (soul-flame) and become vividly aware that this divine flame is present in them. When ash is removed, the glowing ember appears from beneath. This ember, even though tiny in dimension, contains the potential of a huge eruption of fire. Likewise, when the veil is removed, the ordinary and petty looking atma (soul) becomes the mahatma (great soul). The soul is a fathomless reservoir of amazing powers. When the doors to this treasure are opened, an ordinary mortal becomes a siddhayogi (accomplished master). To achieve siddhis (supra-normal powers), nothing has to be brought from outside; no grace or mercy of any deity or demon is required; only the thick covering on the inner self needs to be removed. The dazzling radiance of Gayatri Sadhana removes and dissolves this thick veil of darkness and the soul stands revealed in all its resplendence – endowed with all the riddhis and siddhis. 

The enhancement of virtues by Gayatri Sadhana is the progenitor of many kinds of spiritual and worldly riches. When the soul is enriched with Vivek and inner power, many problems, which appear insurmountable to others, become light for the Sadhak. None of his work remains pending. Either the circumstances change according to his will, or he changes his will according to the circumstances. It is the mismatch between the desire and the circumstances that is the cause of suffering. The person endowed with the faculty of subtle discrimination forestalls the suffering by adopting either of the two competing courses, and is able to enjoy heavenly bliss right here on this earth.

Indeed, happiness does not depend on any external source, but on the state of mind. The Sadhana of mind is a powerful transforming force whereby a person, who at one time was not satisfied even with kingly feasts and luxurious mattresses, begins to find bare ground as the best bed and jungle fruits as the most delicious food. 

Mother Gayatri is the presiding deity of prajna and the Sadhak prays to her for righteous intellect. When such an intellect dawns, it illuminates all the possible ways, which can lead to removal of pain and misery. There are apparently many kinds of sufferings in this world. Everyone has his own typical problems and difficulties. But it is not that these different sets of problems have different causative factors. In reality, the root causes of all the sorrows in the world boil down to only three: (i) ignorance (ii) lack of strength, and (iii) want. Gayatri, in the form of tripada, removes all these three factors. 

Ignorance of the reality vitiates man’s mind. His thoughts and deeds become ignoble. Consequently, he sinks deeper and deeper into the morass of misery and suffering and becomes unhappy. Selfishness, indulgences, greed, ego, intolerance, lust etc. divert a man from the right path. The certain result of ignoble deeds is suffering. Secondly, on account of ignorance, he cannot grasp the fundamental forces that lie underneath all the worldly activities of his own and the entire world. Consequently, he harbors impossible hopes, desires and imaginations. Ordinary and routine happenings assume highly exaggerated and distorted proportions and cause pain. Death of beloved ones, difference in the likes and dislikes of companions, ups and downs in situations are all natural phenomena. But an ignorant person thinks that every event must always occur according to his wish; that nothing contrary to it should ever take place. And when the undesired happens, he starts bewailing. Thirdly, ignorance also leads to many kinds of mistakes. Available opportunities are missed, and this is also a cause of sorrow. 

Lack of strength means physical, mental, social, intellectual and inner weakness, which prevents one from shouldering his natural responsibilities. If the health is poor and the body in the grip of ailments, the most delicious of food, overflowing wealth, beautiful women, melodious song, and enchanting scenery – all lose their meaning and charm. If the mind is dull, the pleasures of literature, poetry, philosophy, and contemplation cannot be savored. When the inner psyche is weak and wavering, one finds no interest in satsang, devotion, love, or worship. Not only this, even the nature’s law of ‘survival of the fittest’ works against the weak. Many factors and causes arise to torment him. The most natural and innocent things assume an adversarial role. The winter season, for example, which increases the stamina of the strong and feeds the imaginations of the romantic becomes the harbinger of pneumonia, asthma and gout for the weak. Conversely, what could be harmful or fatal to the weak turn into opportunities for growth and enjoyment for the strong.

Gayatri is the ‘Kamdhenu’. He who devotedly worships and reveres Her savors Her milk-elixir. He is rid of every kind of pain born of ignorance, weakness and dearth. The Gayatri Sadhana done under the guidance of an adept guru bears the desired fruit. It may require a little more time and dedication, but compared to other laborious Sadhanas this Sadhana fructifies sooner. Gayatri Sadhana makes smooth and easy the long painstaking path of the yogis, and through it even the householder achieves the results obtained by the forest dwelling tapasvis. No other path is simpler than this to take one to the ultimate goal by cutting the powerful trammels of worldly attachments and indulgences. Besides conferring the benefits of mental refinement, personality development, removal of pain, and inner progress, Gayatri Sadhana bestows upon the seeker many special siddhis, too. By gradually acquiring these powers, the Sadhak acquires a radiant, incomparable and extraordinary personality.
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In the Rochester town of America, the Mayo brothers run a health clinic. The poor and the wealthy both are treated with equal care and attention there. The Mayo brothers assign one-third of their income to this noble venture. They accept from the ailing only that much as he can pay according to his capacity. Once a patient, suffering from a serious disease, got himself treated at the clinic. He paid the bills by mortgaging his garden. The Mayo brothers came to know of this. They returned the operation fee by cheque and also compensated for the monetary loss suffered in the mortgaging process.
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