Gayatri mantram

Modern approach to ancient wisdom science of chanting ThE gAyatri mantra -

EFFECT ON BLOOD PRESSURE

Prof Dr. GeethaEmail: [email protected]

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“Om! Bhur Bhuvah-swaha- Tat savitur varenyam Bhargo devasya dheemahi –

dhiyo yonah prachodayat”

ॐ भू�भू��वः� स्वः� तत्सविवःत�वः�रे�ण्यम्�

भूर्गो� दे�वःस्य धी�म्वि�। धिधीय� य� नः� प्रचो�देय त�॥

Gayatri Mantra

The most universal, holy prayer that can be chanted by any person irrespective of race, community, religion or sex. Any one with faith in god, qualifies to chant the Gayatri mantra to acquire benefit from it.

In the entire creation, human beings are the most complex and most curious organism. Worldly pleasures may bring some happiness but also bring along a ton of miseries. Divine pleasure however is an infinite permanent, pure and happy state.

The young generation of today brush aside spirituality as mere superstition, as something meant for the jobless.

They are mostly driven by materialistic goals .They live life by their rules.

But, when they become helpless they turn to God……..

The present generation requires laboratory experiments to prove spiritual theories.

What they fail to understand is that our five senses are only designed to perceive things of the external world and for all things spiritual one needs physical and intuitional powers

Younger generation however well read are not educated and trained in ethical and spiritual aspects these days and mock at the usefulness of the values contained in spirituality.

It is commonly believed that spirituality and Science are the opposites. This is untrue.

Spirituality is a complete Science. Science is concerned with phenomenal aspects where as spirituality is concerned with Metaphysical and philosophical aspects.

While the spiritual theories and aspects of Pranayama, meditation, yoga and sound vibrations (Nada) being the cause of gross matter (roopa) have been well accepted by scientists, other spiritual and internal aspects like working of Maya in an individual, close relation to macrocosm (Brahmananda) and microcosm (pindanda), Mantra yoga (and Mantra Sastram), japa, upasana (worship), four stages of consciousness, etc still remain non scientific jibberish to the “science believers” But, this is slowly changing with time………...

Before we delve into the science behind the Gayatri mantra let us try and understand the mantra………..

OM- This helps the aspirant to comprehend the powers, divinity, knowledge, and all pervasive nature.

Om is the universal name of the Lord. The sound produced in freely pronouncing this word is one of the deepest sounds human beings can create with their vocal cords. The last bit where lips are closed creates a minor vibration in the vocal system. Chanting “om" is even claimed to rectify vocal disorders and improve vocal capabilities

BHUR BHUVAH SUWAHA- This explains that sun is responsible for creation ,sustenance, growth, and reaching eternity in account of savitur power of Sun

TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM- It enables the aspirant to invite and adore the savitur power of god in his heart and meditate.

BHARGO- It cleanses the conscience by removing sins accumulated by our action and helps us to get courage from the effulgence of savitur power.

DEVASYA- It gives the aspirant the nectar of pleasure by giving divine presence in the heat.

DHEEMAHI- It raises the intellect (Buddhi) of the aspirant to higher stages to choose the right thing in life

DHIYO YONAH PRACHODAYAT- It inspires the aspirant by directing his action, speech, thought always towards almighty

To surmise, the mantra asks us to meditate on the sun god- the visible Brahma in the heart, imbibing his five qualities (The five qualities of the sun are- absolute purity, life giving power, disciplined system, warmth, destruction of germs.) , understanding his creative, protective powers, evolution and involution and inviting that most adorable supreme splendor in the heart, he who removes all pain, feeling assured of courage bestowed by him and praying with him for higher stage of intellect and for inspiring and directing all our thoughts, action, and speech towards him (god, sun).

This mantra is revelation made by the almighty for the benefit of mankind. Therefore, all Vedas make a mention of it. Or in other words it is a condensed form of veda itself. Therefore it is a cosmic knowledge. Gayatri mantra is not for achieving worldly pleasure, but seeks higher stage of intellect. All other mantras are for acquisition of wealth, status, removal of problems, ill health , etc but the Gayatri mantra is a prayer for securing higher stage of intellect.

GAYATRI & SCIENCE

ॐ भू�भू��वः� स्वः� तत्सविवःत�वः�रे�ण्यम्�

भूर्गो� दे�वःस्य धी�म्वि�।

धिधीय� य� नः� प्रचो�देय त�॥

When Gayatri mantra is chanted we have to integrate both the suns of microcosom level and macrcosom level. This integration is called Sandhya vandana which helps to brighten up the intellect of men chanting the Gayatri mantra wearing the sacred thread (Yajnopavita) with three woven strands which scientifically symbolize- the three main group of nerves in our body Nadisida, pingala, and sushumna.

Sushumna is the main nerve- spinal cord which is most important. It refers to the channel in which Kundalini energy is manifested. The

three threads represent the three forms of Gayatri.

Dr. Prof. I.B.S Haldane- a renowned scientist recommended that the Gayatri mantra be inscribed at the doorstep of every scientific laboratory based on the logic that an individual’s mind works on the basis of orders it gets from the macroscopic mind ( Hiranyagarbha).

ॐ भू�भू��वः� स्वः� तत्सविवःत�वः�रे�ण्यम्� भूर्गो� दे�वःस्य धी�म्वि�। धिधीय� य� नः� प्रचो�देय त�॥

Dr. Hans Genie from the University of Switzerland worked on the effect of sound waves produced during the chanting of different mantras /songs and during conversation. He recorded the resonance produced during the chanting on water ,glycerin gel and talcum powder. He plotted the waves produced by this sound resonance continuously for a long period.

His findings show that when “Om” was chanted it produced a system of vibrations in a very specific geometrical pattern and when “Om” was chanted along with veda it produced the geometrical pattern similar to the shree chakra.

When our body is at resting position it produces 7.8 – 8 cycles soft vibrations per second. Alpha waves produce by the brain at resting potential also produce eight cycles of vibrations. If the sound resonance produced by any external sound increases this increases the number of cycles in our body and brain thus resulting in an unfavorable environment.

Dr. Hans found that the practice of chanting “Om” and other vedas in our culture produces waves with a vibration cycle of about eight, thus regulating the body metabolism.

GAYATRI AND MUSIC

Music is a compound of primary sound in its molecular form. The Science of Indian music is based on sound vibrations creating a form (Nada Brahma theory). There are seven notes in Indian music Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni. These seven notes indicate seven forms of Gayatri producing seven tunes.

The earliest musical instrument is the Veena ,the instrument used by goddess Saraswati. The veena is built based on the Nada Brahma theory and the Gayatri veena has 24 parts (compartments) which represents the 24 letters of the Gayatri mantra. The strings of the veena represent the four vedas.

For this reason Veena is considered to be the mother of all musical instruments

Music is used universally as a healing power. Music therapy is used as medicine to help manage organic diseases and for psychotherapy.

Reference: Dr. Satha(Sonotherapist, Pune).

Our Experience

Aim: To study the effect of chanting the Gayatri Mantra on blood pressure of a group of individuals comprising both hypertensives and normals.

Materials and methods: Volunteers were selected for the study. Group 1 comprised of 53 males between age group 40 to 50, known hypertensives on treatment for control of their blood pressure. Group 2 comprised 32 females between age group 35 to 40 with normal blood pressures. The blood pressures were recorded in both groups before and after chanting the Gayatri mantra 108 times

Results:

Group 1:

Mean systolic pressure : Before: 181 After: 133Mean Diastolic Pressure: Before: 98 After: 83

Results:

Group 2:

Mean systolic pressure : Before: 125 After: 124Mean Diastolic Pressure: Before: 80 After: 67

Individuals in Group 1 (Hypertensives on treatment) showed a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic pressures bringing them to near normal after the chanting of the Gayatri .

A decrease in only the diastolic pressure was noted in Group 2 after the chanting of the Gayatri

These preliminary results indicate that the chanting of the Gayatri in hypertensive males on medication reduces both the systolic and diastolic pressures considerably.

It is very encouraging to know that a simple practice of chanting the Gayatri mantra can have beneficial effects on the blood pressures of hypertensives.

However, a larger sample with a comparison of hypertensives versus normal individuals of the same sex would be necessary to conclude about the actual benefits of this form of therapy.

THANK YOU

ॐ भू�भू��वः� स्वः� तत्सविवःत�वः�रे�ण्यम्�

भूर्गो� दे�वःस्य धी�म्वि�।

धिधीय� य� नः� प्रचो�देय त�॥