The Vedas have a pre-eminent place in Hindu religion and culture. ‘Veda’ means ‘knowledge’. It is believed to contain all knowledge about existence - its cause, function, and one’s personal response to it. The Vedas are perhaps the oldest oldest religious works in the entire world. They are called “Scriptures”, as they are supposedly holy writ relating to the nature of the Divine. The Vedas always existed, and it is said that sages gained knowledge of them when they were in a deep meditative state. Hindus believe that Goddess Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas; hence, they also refer to her as Vedamata.
The birthday of Goddess Gayatri is Gayatri Jayanti, and it is a major festival in India. The goddess is the second consort of Brahma. The belief is that she appeared in the form of knowledge on Ekadashi tithi of Shukla Paksha in Jyeshtha month (May-June). This day is also called Nirjala Ekadasi. The knowledge represented by her was shared by Sage Vishwamitra with the world, due to which ignorance was destroyed. In 2024, Gayatri Jayanti is on Monday, June 17.
The Atharvaveda says that Gayatri has the power of life, age, fame, and wealth. She is also called Panchmukhi (five-faced), meaning that the universe comprises 5 elements - earth, fire, water, air, and sky. Gayatri is the life force in all living things. Hence, she is also the core of all power.
Iconography
The goddess has a beautiful appearance and has 5 heads and 10 hands. Each head represents the Pancha tattvas - Prithvi, Agni, Jal, Vayu, and Akash. She sits on a lotus, holding different items in her hands. They include a sword, trident, lotus, a disc, skull, goad, noose, a manuscript, and a jar of nectar. One hand shows Abhaya Mudra and another shows Varada Mudra. She took this form to kill the demon, Vetrasura.
In some depictions, she has 3 heads only. Hence, she is the goddess of Trimurti. She is the embodiment and combined form of Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati. She holds the Vedas in one hand and a kamandalu in the other. She wears white clothes.
Some mythological texts describe her as the consort of Brahma, while others describe her as the consort of Shiva. She is also described as the personification of the Gayatri Mantra. Some ancient depictions of the goddess have only one head. The Gayatri Mantra, which comes from the Rigveda, has 24 letters, and each letter represents the 24 tattvas of the universe.
Gayatri embodies the essence of all the Vedas. All the seed Mantras of different deities and the Vedic Mantras mention her. She represents purity, and the Vedas also have the power to purify. It is Gayatri who sustains the cosmos.
The 24 tattvas are:
• Pancha (Five) Bhoota (elements) – Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), Jal (Water), Vayu (Wind) and Akash (Space)
• Five Tanmatra (senses) – Gandha (smell), Rasa (taste), Rupa (sight), Sparsha (touch) and Shabda (sound).
• Five Gyanendriya (sense organs) – Ghrana (nose), Jivha (tongue), Chakshu (eye), Tvacha (skin) and Srotra (ears).
• Five Karmendriya (organs that do karma) – Upastha (reproductive organ), Payu (anus), Pada (leg), Pani (hand) and Vak (mouth).
• Four Vayu (Air) – Prana, Apana, Vyana and Samana.
In some versions, the last 4 versions are regarded as Antahkaranas – Mann (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (consciousness) and Ahankara (ego). As Gayatri represents these tattvas of creation, she is regarded as the supreme deity. She illuminates our souls by eliminating darkness.
Story of Goddess Gayatri
Sage Vishwamitra supposedly uttered the Gayatri Mantra on the day of Gayatri Jayanti. Some also believe that Goddess Gayatri manifested on earth on this day.
Another account says that when Brahma began the creation process, he invoked the goddess and she appeared on earth. All the Devas worshipped her and gave her the honorific, Vedmata or Mother of the Vedas.
Gayatri is the source of all knowledge and the holy scriptures. Her influence pervades all aspects of human existence. Hindus worship Gayatri to gain wisdom, spiritual enlightenment, and protection from darkness.
Gayatri Jayanti Rituals
Gayatri Jayanti marks the day when Sage Vishwamitra disseminated the Gayatri Mantra. This removed ignorance and enlightened humanity.
Devotees celebrate Gayatri Jayanti by performing rituals and ceremonies to honor the goddess. They offer prayers and do meditation, seeking blessings for wisdom, spiritual growth, and enlightenment. Temples perform special Poojas, and flowers, incense, and sweets are offered to the Goddess. People do the Pooja at home, too.
Devotees sing Kirtans or devotional songs to praise the goddess and express their devotion to her. They also take part in Satsangs.
Importance of Gayatri Mantra
Goddess Gayatri personifies the Gayatri Mantra, which is a powerful Mantra in Hinduism. Chanting the Gayatri Mantra can remove all problems in life and free you from your sins. It can end all suffering and fill your life with joy. On Gayatri Jayanti, devotees chant the Gayatri Mantra in the morning, noon, and evening 108 times.
Date And Tithi Timings
Gayatri Jayanti Date – Monday, June 17, 2024
Purnima Tithi Begins – 04:43 AM on Jun 17, 2024
Purnima Tithi Ends – 06:24 AM on Jun 18, 2024
About the Creator
AstroVed
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Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts9 days ago in Longevity
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