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| | Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|gāyatrī}} | | Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|gāyatrī}} | ||
| | god_of = Mother of the Vedas<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gayatri | title=Gayatri, Gāyatrī, Gāyatri: 28 definitions | date=29 June 2012 }}</ref><br> Personification of the ] | | god_of = Mother of the Vedas<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gayatri | title=Gayatri, Gāyatrī, Gāyatri: 28 definitions | date=29 June 2012 }}</ref><br> Personification of the ] | ||
| | affiliation = ], ], ], ], ], ] | | affiliation = ], ], ], ], ] | ||
| | abode = ], ] | | abode = ], ] | ||
| | symbol = ] | | symbol = ] | ||
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| | mount = ] | | mount = ] | ||
| | member_of = ]<ref>{{cite journal|title= The Purāṇas (A History of Indian Literature|url= https://www.academia.edu/26399308|author= Ludo Rocher|journal= Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies|year=1988|volume= 51|issue= 2|page= 355}}</ref> | | member_of = ]<ref>{{cite journal|title= The Purāṇas (A History of Indian Literature|url= https://www.academia.edu/26399308|author= Ludo Rocher|journal= Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies|year=1988|volume= 51|issue= 2|page= 355}}</ref> | ||
| | other_names = Savitri, Vedamata | | other_names = Saraswati, Savitri, Vedamata | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Hinduism}} | |||
| '''Gayatri''' (]: गायत्री, ]: Gāyatrī) is the personified form of the ], a popular hymn from ] texts.<ref name="brad">{{cite book|last1=Bradley|first1=R. Hertel|last2=Cynthia|first2=Ann Humes|title=Living Banaras: Hindu Religion in Cultural Context|date=1993|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791413319|page=286|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-OYL6Khg0UC|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022316/https://books.google.com/books?id=r-OYL6Khg0UC|url-status=live}}</ref> She is also known as '''Savitri''', and |
'''Gayatri''' (]: गायत्री, ]: Gāyatrī) is the personified form of the ], a popular hymn from ] texts.<ref name="brad">{{cite book|last1=Bradley|first1=R. Hertel|last2=Cynthia|first2=Ann Humes|title=Living Banaras: Hindu Religion in Cultural Context|date=1993|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791413319|page=286|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-OYL6Khg0UC|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022316/https://books.google.com/books?id=r-OYL6Khg0UC|url-status=live}}</ref> She is also known as '''Savitri''', and holds the title of ''Vedamata'' ('mother of the Vedas'). Gayatri is the manifestation of ] and is often associated with ], a solar ] in the Vedas, and her consort in the ] is the creator god ].<ref>Constance Jones, James D. Ryan (2005), ''Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Infobase Publishing, p.167, entry "Gayatri Mantra"</ref><ref>Roshen Dalal (2010), ''The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths'', Penguin Books India, p.328, entry "Savitr, god"</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=WIL&page=288 | title=WIL Cologne Scan }}</ref> | ||
| Gayatri is also an epithet for the various goddesses and she is also identified as "]".<ref>{{Cite book |title=Gāyatrī, the Highest Meditation |last=Das |first=Keshav |publisher=Motilal Banarsidas |year=1990 |isbn=9788120806979 |pages=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rb7fL6o-Ce0C&q=Goddess+gayatri}}</ref> | Gayatri is also an epithet for the various goddesses and she is also identified as "]".<ref>{{Cite book |title=Gāyatrī, the Highest Meditation |last=Das |first=Keshav |publisher=Motilal Banarsidas |year=1990 |isbn=9788120806979 |pages=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rb7fL6o-Ce0C&q=Goddess+gayatri}}</ref> | ||
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| Gayatri was the name initially applied to a metre of the ] consisting of 24 syllables.<ref name="ban"/> In particular, it refers to the ] and the Goddess Gāyatrī as that ] personified. The Gayatri mantra composed in this triplet form is the most famous. Most of the scholars identify Gayatri as the feminine form of Gayatra, another name of the Vedic Solar god which is also one of the synonyms of Savitri and ].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ramachandra Rao|first1=Saligrama Krishna|title=R̥gveda-darśana: Gāyatri mantra|date=1998|publisher=Kalpatharu Research Academy|page=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pp8oAAAAYAAJ|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022317/https://books.google.com/books?id=pp8oAAAAYAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> | Gayatri was the name initially applied to a metre of the ] consisting of 24 syllables.<ref name="ban"/> In particular, it refers to the ] and the Goddess Gāyatrī as that ] personified. The Gayatri mantra composed in this triplet form is the most famous. Most of the scholars identify Gayatri as the feminine form of Gayatra, another name of the Vedic Solar god which is also one of the synonyms of Savitri and ].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ramachandra Rao|first1=Saligrama Krishna|title=R̥gveda-darśana: Gāyatri mantra|date=1998|publisher=Kalpatharu Research Academy|page=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pp8oAAAAYAAJ|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022317/https://books.google.com/books?id=pp8oAAAAYAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| According to the ], Gayatri was an ] girl who helped Brahma in a Yajna performed in Pushkara.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nambiar|first=K. Damodaran|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADIqAAAAYAAJ&q=abhira|title=Nārada Purāṇa, a Critical Study|date=1979|publisher=All-India Kashiraj Trust|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Arya 1988">{{Cite book|last=Arya|first=Sharda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KDQqAAAAYAAJ&q=abhira|title=Religion and Philosophy of the Padma-purāṇa|date=1988|publisher=Nag Publishers|isbn=978-81-7081-190-9|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Wadia 1969">{{Cite book|last=Wadia|first=Sophia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1SMLAQAAMAAJ&q=gayatri+abhira|title=The Aryan Path|date=1969|publisher=Theosophy Company (India), Limited|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ==Iconography== | ==Iconography== | ||
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| Early bronze images of Gayatri appear in the ], where she was revered as the consort of ].<ref name="oma">{{cite book | date=1992 | author=Omacanda Hāṇḍā | title=Śiva in art: a study of Śaiva iconography and miniatures | publisher=Indus Publication House}}</ref> Some of these forms are terrific in nature. One of the bronze images of Gayatri dated back to 10th century CE was obtained from ] region and now preserved in Delhi museum. It appears with five faces and ten hands holding, sword, lotus, trident, disc, skull, Varada in left and goad, noose, a manuscript, the ] and Abhaya in right.<ref name="Sharma">{{cite book |author=B.N. Sharma |title=Iconography of Sadasiva |date=1976 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170170372 |pages=25–29}}</ref> She resides in the mount ]. Modern depictions illustrates ] as her mount. Old iconography of Shaivite Manonmani Gayatri was misunderstood as the same of Brahmanic Gayatri later and paintings of Gayatri appears from 18th century CE in which she is often portrayed with third eye, crescent moon and five heads with five different colors same like Sadasiva. | Early bronze images of Gayatri appear in the ], where she was revered as the consort of ].<ref name="oma">{{cite book | date=1992 | author=Omacanda Hāṇḍā | title=Śiva in art: a study of Śaiva iconography and miniatures | publisher=Indus Publication House}}</ref> Some of these forms are terrific in nature. One of the bronze images of Gayatri dated back to 10th century CE was obtained from ] region and now preserved in Delhi museum. It appears with five faces and ten hands holding, sword, lotus, trident, disc, skull, Varada in left and goad, noose, a manuscript, the ] and Abhaya in right.<ref name="Sharma">{{cite book |author=B.N. Sharma |title=Iconography of Sadasiva |date=1976 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170170372 |pages=25–29}}</ref> She resides in the mount ]. Modern depictions illustrates ] as her mount. Old iconography of Shaivite Manonmani Gayatri was misunderstood as the same of Brahmanic Gayatri later and paintings of Gayatri appears from 18th century CE in which she is often portrayed with third eye, crescent moon and five heads with five different colors same like Sadasiva. | ||
| The well known form of Gayatri |
The well known form of Gayatri with the Saivite influence appears having five heads (Mukta, Vidruma, Hema, Neela, Dhavala) with the ten eyes looking in eight directions plus the earth and sky, and ten arms holding various types of weapons attributed to ], ], and ]. Another recent depiction is accompanied by a white ] holding a book to portray knowledge in one hand and a cure in the other, as the goddess of learning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gayatri Mantra |url=http://www.vedicrishi.in/mantra/index/act/gayatri-mantra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225190732/http://www.vedicrishi.in/mantra/index/act/gayatri-mantra |archive-date=25 February 2018 |accessdate=7 February 2018 |website=Vedic Rishi |publisher=Vedicrishi Astro}}</ref> She is also depicted four-armed, seated on a swan, holding weapons symbolising the ]: The ] of ], the ] of Vishnu, the ] of Shiva, and ]. | ||
| She also has an fearsome three-faced depiction; two faces look like that of goddess ] and one calm one and holding weapons like the deity ]. She is shown mounted on a ] holding lotus, noose, trident, Scimitar and vard mudra in right whereas conch, discus, bow-arrow, goad and abhaya mudra in left. | She also has an fearsome three-faced depiction; two faces look like that of goddess ] and one calm one and holding weapons like the deity ]. She is shown mounted on a ] holding lotus, noose, trident, Scimitar and vard mudra in right whereas conch, discus, bow-arrow, goad and abhaya mudra in left. | ||
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| ==Associations== | ==Associations== | ||
| {{Cleanup section|reason=This section requires grammatical corrections, formatting, and standardisation of font.|date=September 2022}} | {{Cleanup section|reason=This section requires grammatical corrections, formatting, and standardisation of font.|date=September 2022}} | ||
| In ]{{ |
In ]{{efn|Taittirīya Araṇyaka Pariśiṣṭa 10.25}} of Krishna ], Gayatri is described as white-colored (]: {{lang|sa|श्वेतवर्णा}}, ''{{IAST|śvetavarṇā }}''), having the ] of sage ] (]: {{lang|sa|सान्ख्यायनस गोत्रा}}, ''{{IAST|sānkhyāyanasa gotrā}}''), composed of 24 letters (]: {{lang|sa|चतुर्विंशत्यक्षरा}}, ''{{IAST|caturviṃśatyakṣarā}}''), three-footed (]: {{lang|sa|त्रिपदा}}, ''{{IAST|tripadā}}''), six-bellied (]: {{lang|sa|षट्कुक्षिः}}, ''{{IAST|ṣaṭkukṣiḥ}}''), five-headed (]: {{lang|sa|पञ्चशीर्षः}}, ''{{IAST|pañcaśīrṣaḥ}}'') and the one used in ] of {{transliteration|sa|dvijas}} (]: {{lang|sa|उपनयने विनियोगः}}, ''{{IAST|upanayane viniyogaḥ}}'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://estudantedavedanta.net/Mahanarayana%20Upanishad%20-%20Swami%20Vimalananda%20%5BSanskrit-English%5Dc.pdf|title=Mahanarayana_Upanishad|work=]|pages=209–214|edition=2|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math|year=1968|access-date=2020-05-21|archive-date=2016-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527195641/http://estudantedavedanta.net/Mahanarayana%20Upanishad%20-%20Swami%20Vimalananda%20%5BSanskrit-English%5Dc.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| As mentioned in Taittiriya Sandhya Bhashyam, the three feet of Gayatri is supposed to represent the first 3 vedas (Ṛk, Yajus, Sāma). The six bellies are supposed to represent 4 cardinal directions, along with the two more directions, Ūrdhva (]) and Adhara (]). The five heads represent 5 among the ], namely, ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>Taittirīya Sandhyā Bhāṣyam, p.83, Sri Krishna Pandita, Vavilla Press (Chennai), 1916.</ref> | As mentioned in Taittiriya Sandhya Bhashyam, the three feet of Gayatri is supposed to represent the first 3 vedas (Ṛk, Yajus, Sāma). The six bellies are supposed to represent 4 cardinal directions, along with the two more directions, Ūrdhva (]) and Adhara (]). The five heads represent 5 among the ], namely, ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>Taittirīya Sandhyā Bhāṣyam, p.83, Sri Krishna Pandita, Vavilla Press (Chennai), 1916.</ref> | ||
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| The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 Vedic Devatas. They are: 1.], 2.], 3.], 4.īśāna, 5.savitā, 6. ], 7.], 8. maitrāvaruṇa 9.], 10.āryamaan, 11.], 12.tvaṣṭā, 13.pūṣā, 14. indrāgni, 15.vāyu, 16.vāmadeva, 17.maitrāvaruṇi 18. viśvedevā, 19. mātṛkā, 20.viṣṇu, 21.vasu, 22. ], 23.] and 24.] | The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 Vedic Devatas. They are: 1.], 2.], 3.], 4.īśāna, 5.savitā, 6. ], 7.], 8. maitrāvaruṇa 9.], 10.āryamaan, 11.], 12.tvaṣṭā, 13.pūṣā, 14. indrāgni, 15.vāyu, 16.vāmadeva, 17.maitrāvaruṇi 18. viśvedevā, 19. mātṛkā, 20.viṣṇu, 21.vasu, 22. ], 23.] and 24.] | ||
| The ] (in Sṛṣṭi Kānḍa) mentions 24 Adhi-Devatas (presiding deities) for each of the 24 letters of ]. They are 1.], 2.], 3.], 4.], 5.], 6.], 7.], 8.], 9.], 10.], 11.], 12. ], 13.], 14.], 15.], 16.], 17.], 18.viśvedevā, 19.], 20.], 21.] (]), 22.], 23.] and 24.].<ref>{{cite book|author=N. A. Deshpande|title=Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda|volume=2|url=https://archive.org/details/padma_purana_part2_english|year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |pages=1989}}</ref> | The ] (in Sṛṣṭi Kānḍa) mentions 24 Adhi-Devatas (presiding deities) for each of the 24 letters of ]. They are 1.], 2.], 3.], 4.], 5.], 6.], 7.], 8.], 9.], 10.], 11.], 12. ], 13.], 14.], 15.], 16.], 17.], 18.viśvedevā, 19.], 20.], 21.] (]), 22.], 23.] and 24.].<ref>{{cite book|author=N. A. Deshpande|title=Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda|volume=2|url=https://archive.org/details/padma_purana_part2_english|year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |pages=1989}}</ref> | ||
| The ''Yoga yājñavalkya'' mentions 24 Devatas for each of the 24 letters of ]. They are 1.], 2.], 3.], 4.īśāna, 5.], 6.], 7.pitri, 8.bharga, 9.āryamān, 10.], 11.], 12. maitrāvaruṇa, 13.], 14.], 15.vāmadeva, 16.maitrāvaruṇi, 17.jñeya, 18.viśvedevā, 19.], 20.], 21.sarvadevā, 22.], 23.] and 24.].<ref>Gāyatryanuṣṭhānatattvaprakāśikā (Telugu), M. G. Subbaraya Sastri, Sriniketana Mudraksharasala (Chennai), 1904.</ref> | The ''Yoga yājñavalkya'' mentions 24 Devatas for each of the 24 letters of ]. They are 1.], 2.], 3.], 4.īśāna, 5.], 6.], 7.pitri, 8.bharga, 9.āryamān, 10.], 11.], 12. maitrāvaruṇa, 13.], 14.], 15.vāmadeva, 16.maitrāvaruṇi, 17.jñeya, 18.viśvedevā, 19.], 20.], 21.sarvadevā, 22.], 23.] and 24.].<ref>Gāyatryanuṣṭhānatattvaprakāśikā (Telugu), M. G. Subbaraya Sastri, Sriniketana Mudraksharasala (Chennai), 1904.</ref> | ||
| ===24 Śaktis of Gayatri=== | ===24 Śaktis of Gayatri=== | ||
| The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 ]s. They are: 1.vāmadevī, 2.priyā, 3.satyā, 4.viśwabhadrā,{{ |
The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 ]s. They are: 1.vāmadevī, 2.priyā, 3.satyā, 4.viśwabhadrā,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as ''viśwā''.}} 5.vilāsinī,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as ''bhadravilāsinī''.}} 6.prabhāvatī, 7.jayā, 8.śantā, 9.kāntā, 10.durgā, 11.saraswatī, 12.vidrumā, 13.viśālesā,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as two; ''viśālā and īsā''.}} 14.vyāpinī, 15.vimalā, 16.tamopahārini, 17.sūkṣmā, 18.viśwayoni 19.jayā,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as ''jayāvahā''.}} 20.vaśā, 21.padmālayā, 22.parāśobhā,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as ''padmaśobhā''.}} 23.bhadrā, and 24. tripadā. | ||
| ===24 ] of Gayatri=== | ===24 ] of Gayatri=== | ||
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| {{main|mudra}} | {{main|mudra}} | ||
| {{see also|Sandhyāvandanam}} | {{see also|Sandhyāvandanam}} | ||
| The Gayatri mantra represents some mahāmudras (great hand gestures). They are 1. sumukha,{{ |
The Gayatri mantra represents some mahāmudras (great hand gestures). They are 1. sumukha,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as ''sanmukha''}} 2. sampuṭa, 3. vitata, 4. visṛta, 5. dvimukha, 6. trimukha, 7. catuḥ, 8. pañcamukha, 9. ṣaṇmukha, 10. adhomukha, 11. vyāpakāñjali, 12. śakaṭa, 13. yamapāśa, 14. grathita, 15. sanmukhonmukha, 16. vilamba,{{efn|Some texts refer to it as ''pralamba''}} 17. muṣtika, 18. matsya, 19. kūrmah 20. varāhaka, 21. simhākrānta, 22. mahākrānta, 23. mudgara, 24. pallava, 25. triśūla, 26. yoni, 27. surabhi, 28. akṣamāla, 29. linga, 30. ambuja.{{clarify|no #23?|date=October 2020}} | ||
| Since, the first 24 are used before Gayatri Japa, they are traditionally referred as Pūrva Mudras. | Since, the first 24 are used before Gayatri Japa, they are traditionally referred as Pūrva Mudras. | ||
| == Legends == | == Legends == | ||
| In some Puranas, Gayatri is said to be the other names of ], the wife of Brahma.<ref>{{cite book|title=Guru Granth Sahib an Advance Study|date=2002 |publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170103219|page=294|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8170103215|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022317/https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:8170103215|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the ], ]'s left half emerged as a female, who is celebrated under the names of Sarasvati, Savitri, and Gayatri.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ludvík|first1=Catherine|title=Sarasvatī, Riverine Goddess of Knowledge: From the|date=2007|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004158146|page=119|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=9004158146|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022320/https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:9004158146|url-status=live}}</ref> In ], Gautama rishi was blessed by Goddess Gayatri and able to eliminate the obstacles he faced in his life. The ] writes that Gayatri is married to Brahma, making her a form of ].<ref name="vans">{{cite book|last1=Kennedy|first1=Vans|title=Researches Into the Nature and Affinity of Ancient and Hindu Mythology by Vans Kennedy|date=1831|publisher=Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green|pages=–324|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_JpgIYbEtdQ8C}}</ref> | In some Puranas, Gayatri is said to be the other names of ], the wife of Brahma.<ref>{{cite book|title=Guru Granth Sahib an Advance Study|date=2002 |publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170103219|page=294|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8170103215|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022317/https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:8170103215|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the ], ]'s left half emerged as a female, who is celebrated under the names of Sarasvati, Savitri, and Gayatri.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ludvík|first1=Catherine|title=Sarasvatī, Riverine Goddess of Knowledge: From the|date=2007|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004158146|page=119|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=9004158146|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022320/https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:9004158146|url-status=live}}</ref> The three represent purity in thought, word, and deed (thrikarana shuddhi). Although Gayatri has three names, all three are in each of us as the senses (Gayatri), the power of speech (Saraswathi), and the life force (Savitri). In ], Gautama rishi was blessed by Goddess Gayatri and able to eliminate the obstacles he faced in his life. The ] writes that Gayatri is married to Brahma, making her a form of ].<ref name="vans">{{cite book|last1=Kennedy|first1=Vans|title=Researches Into the Nature and Affinity of Ancient and Hindu Mythology by Vans Kennedy|date=1831|publisher=Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green|pages=–324|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_JpgIYbEtdQ8C}}</ref> | ||
| A few Puranic scriptures say that Gayatri is distinct from Sarawati and is married to Brahma. According to the ], Gayatri is an ] girl who helps Brahma in the performance of yajna in Pushkara.<ref>{{cite book|first=K. Damodaran |last=Nambiar |title=Nārada Purāṇa, a Critical Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADIqAAAAYAAJ |year=1979 |publisher=All-India Kashiraj Trust, 1979 |page=145}}</ref><ref name="Wadia 1969"/><ref name="Arya 1988"/> | |||
| According to some texts, Brahma's first wife is Savitri, and Gayatri is the second. The story goes that Savitri became angry knowing the wedding of Gayatri with Brahma, and cursed all the gods and goddesses engaged in the event.<ref name="bulbul">{{cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=Bulbul|title=The book of Devi|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780143067665|pages=72–75|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=on_ZhlB5taUC|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022320/https://books.google.com/books?id=on_ZhlB5taUC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ban">{{cite book | last1=Bansal | title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses | publisher=Smriti Books | date=2005 | first1=Sunita Pant | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xhrnkdByWDIC | page=23 | isbn=9788187967729 | access-date=2019-08-20 | archive-date=2016-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514201346/https://books.google.com/books?id=xhrnkdByWDIC | url-status=live }}</ref> | According to some texts, Brahma's first wife is Savitri, and Gayatri is the second. The story goes that Savitri became angry knowing the wedding of Gayatri with Brahma, and cursed all the gods and goddesses engaged in the event.<ref name="bulbul">{{cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=Bulbul|title=The book of Devi|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780143067665|pages=72–75|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=on_ZhlB5taUC|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022320/https://books.google.com/books?id=on_ZhlB5taUC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ban">{{cite book | last1=Bansal | title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses | publisher=Smriti Books | date=2005 | first1=Sunita Pant | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xhrnkdByWDIC | page=23 | isbn=9788187967729 | access-date=2019-08-20 | archive-date=2016-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514201346/https://books.google.com/books?id=xhrnkdByWDIC | url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
| However, the Padma Purana narrates the same story with some modifications. After Savitri was appeased by ], ], and ], She accepts Gayatri |
However, the Padma Purana narrates the same story with some modifications. After Savitri was appeased by ], ], and ], She accepts Gayatri as her sister happily.<ref name="bar">{{cite book|last1=Holdrege|first1=Barbara A.|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic|date=2012|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9781438406954|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YlvikndgEmIC|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820030816/https://books.google.com/books?id=YlvikndgEmIC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Arya 1988">{{Cite book|last=Arya|first=Sharda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KDQqAAAAYAAJ&q=abhira|title=Religion and Philosophy of the Padma-purāṇa|date=1988|publisher=Nag Publishers|isbn=978-81-7081-190-9|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| Gayatri further developed into a fierce goddess who could even slay a demon. According to ] and ], Goddess Gayatri slew the demon Vetrasura, the son of ] and river ], on a ] day.<ref>{{cite book|last1=B K Chaturvedi|title=Varaha Purana|date=2017|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|isbn=9788128822261|pages=108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6KkDgAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bibek|first1=Debroy|title=The holy Puranas Volume 2 of The Holy Puranas: Markandeya, Agni, Bhavishya, Brahmavaivarta, Linga, Varaha|date=2002|publisher=B.R. Pub. Corp.|isbn=9788176462969|page=519|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IpwlAQAAIAAJ|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022321/https://books.google.com/books?id=IpwlAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> | Gayatri further developed into a fierce goddess who could even slay a demon. According to ] and ], Goddess Gayatri slew the demon Vetrasura, the son of ] and river ], on a ] day.<ref>{{cite book|last1=B K Chaturvedi|title=Varaha Purana|date=2017|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|isbn=9788128822261|pages=108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6KkDgAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bibek|first1=Debroy|title=The holy Puranas Volume 2 of The Holy Puranas: Markandeya, Agni, Bhavishya, Brahmavaivarta, Linga, Varaha|date=2002|publisher=B.R. Pub. Corp.|isbn=9788176462969|page=519|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IpwlAQAAIAAJ|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012022321/https://books.google.com/books?id=IpwlAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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| == References == | == References == | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ⚫ | ==Notes== | ||
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| ⚫ | {{Commons category |
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| == External links == | == External links == | ||
| ⚫ | * {{Commons category-inline}} | ||
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| {{HinduMythology}} | {{HinduMythology}} | ||
Latest revision as of 23:27, 3 January 2025
Personification of the Gayatri Mantra For Gayatri metre, see Vedic metre. For other uses, see Gayatri (disambiguation).| Gayatri | |
|---|---|
| Mother of the Vedas Personification of the Gayatri Mantra | |
| Member of Pancha Prakriti | |
 Illustration by Raja Ravi Verma. In illustrations, the goddess often sits on a lotus flower and appears with five heads and five pairs of hands. | |
| Other names | Saraswati, Savitri, Vedamata |
| Devanagari | गायत्री |
| Sanskrit transliteration | gāyatrī |
| Affiliation | Devi, Saraswati, Parvati, Lakshmi, Mahadevi |
| Abode | Satyaloka, Manidvipa |
| Mantra | Gayatri Mantra |
| Symbol | Vedas |
| Mount | Hamsa |
| Festivals | Gayatri Jayanti, Saraswati Puja |
| Consort | Brahma; Sadashiva (according to Shaivism) |
Gayatri (Sanskrit: गायत्री, IAST: Gāyatrī) is the personified form of the Gayatri Mantra, a popular hymn from Vedic texts. She is also known as Savitri, and holds the title of Vedamata ('mother of the Vedas'). Gayatri is the manifestation of Saraswati and is often associated with Savitṛ, a solar deity in the Vedas, and her consort in the Puranas is the creator god Brahma. Gayatri is also an epithet for the various goddesses and she is also identified as "Supreme pure consciousness".
Origin
Gayatri was the name initially applied to a metre of the Rig Veda consisting of 24 syllables. In particular, it refers to the Gayatri Mantra and the Goddess Gāyatrī as that mantra personified. The Gayatri mantra composed in this triplet form is the most famous. Most of the scholars identify Gayatri as the feminine form of Gayatra, another name of the Vedic Solar god which is also one of the synonyms of Savitri and Savitṛ.
Iconography
Early bronze images of Gayatri appear in the Himachal Pradesh, where she was revered as the consort of Sadasiva. Some of these forms are terrific in nature. One of the bronze images of Gayatri dated back to 10th century CE was obtained from Champa region and now preserved in Delhi museum. It appears with five faces and ten hands holding, sword, lotus, trident, disc, skull, Varada in left and goad, noose, a manuscript, the jar of ambrosia and Abhaya in right. She resides in the mount Nandi. Modern depictions illustrates swan as her mount. Old iconography of Shaivite Manonmani Gayatri was misunderstood as the same of Brahmanic Gayatri later and paintings of Gayatri appears from 18th century CE in which she is often portrayed with third eye, crescent moon and five heads with five different colors same like Sadasiva.
The well known form of Gayatri with the Saivite influence appears having five heads (Mukta, Vidruma, Hema, Neela, Dhavala) with the ten eyes looking in eight directions plus the earth and sky, and ten arms holding various types of weapons attributed to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. Another recent depiction is accompanied by a white swan holding a book to portray knowledge in one hand and a cure in the other, as the goddess of learning. She is also depicted four-armed, seated on a swan, holding weapons symbolising the Trimurti: The Vedas of Brahma, the discus of Vishnu, the trident of Shiva, and Varada mudra.
She also has an fearsome three-faced depiction; two faces look like that of goddess Kali and one calm one and holding weapons like the deity Mahakali. She is shown mounted on a lotus holding lotus, noose, trident, Scimitar and vard mudra in right whereas conch, discus, bow-arrow, goad and abhaya mudra in left.
Associations
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In Mahanarayana Upanishad of Krishna Yajurveda, Gayatri is described as white-colored (Sanskrit: श्वेतवर्णा, śvetavarṇā), having the gotra of sage Viswamitra (Sanskrit: सान्ख्यायनस गोत्रा, sānkhyāyanasa gotrā), composed of 24 letters (Sanskrit: चतुर्विंशत्यक्षरा, caturviṃśatyakṣarā), three-footed (Sanskrit: त्रिपदा, tripadā), six-bellied (Sanskrit: षट्कुक्षिः, ṣaṭkukṣiḥ), five-headed (Sanskrit: पञ्चशीर्षः, pañcaśīrṣaḥ) and the one used in Upanayana of dvijas (Sanskrit: उपनयने विनियोगः, upanayane viniyogaḥ).
As mentioned in Taittiriya Sandhya Bhashyam, the three feet of Gayatri is supposed to represent the first 3 vedas (Ṛk, Yajus, Sāma). The six bellies are supposed to represent 4 cardinal directions, along with the two more directions, Ūrdhva (Zenith) and Adhara (Nadir). The five heads represent 5 among the Vedangas, namely, vyākaraṇa, śikṣā, kalpa, nirukta and jyotiṣa.
By citing from Gayatri Tantra, the text Mantramahārṇava gives the significance of Gayatri's 24 letters and its representation that are given below.
24 Letters of Gayatri mantra
Gayatri mantra has 24 letters. That is why it called as gāyatrī caturviṃśatyakṣarā (Sanskrit: गायत्री चतुर्विंशत्यक्षरा). They are 1.tat, 2.sa, 3.vi, 4.tur, 5.va, 6.re, 7.ṇi, 8.yaṃ, 9.bhar, 10,go, 11.de, 12.va, 13.sya, 14.dhī, 15.ma, 16.hi, 17.dhi, 18.yo, 19.yo, 20.naḥ, 21.pra, 22.cho 23.da and 24.yāt.
When counting the letters, the word vareṇyam is treated as vareṇiyam. But, while chanting, it ought to be chanted as vareṇyam only.
24 Rishis of Gayatri
The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represents 24 Vedic Rishis. They are: 1.vāmadeva, 2.atri, 3.vaśiṣṭha, 4.śukra, 5.kaṇva, 6.parāśara, 7.viśvāmitra, 8.kapila, 9.śaunaka, 10.yājñavalkya, 11.bharadwāja, 12.jamadagni, 13.gautama, 14.mudgala, 15.vyāsa, 16.lomasa, 17.agastya, 18.kauśika, 19.vatsa, 20.pulastya, 21.manḍūka, 22.dūrvāsa, 23.nārada, and 24.kaśyapa.
24 Meters of Gayatri
The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 Vedic Meters (i.e. Chandas). They are: 1.gāyatri, 2.uṣnik, 3.anuṣṭubh, 4.bṛhati, 5.paṃkti, 6.triṣṭubh, 7.jagati, 8.atijagati, 9.śakvari, 10.atiśakvari, 11.dhṛti, 12.atidhṛti, 13.virāṭ, 14.prastārapaṃkti, 15.kṛti, 16.prakṛti, 17.akṛti, 18.vikṛti, 19.saṃskṛti, 20.akṣarapaṃkti, 21.bhūḥ, 22.bhuvaḥ, 23.swaḥ, 24.jyotiṣmati.
24 Vedic Devatas of Gayatri
The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 Vedic Devatas. They are: 1.agni, 2.prajāpati, 3.soma, 4.īśāna, 5.savitā, 6. āditya, 7.bṛhaspati, 8. maitrāvaruṇa 9.bhaga, 10.āryamaan, 11.gaṇeśa, 12.tvaṣṭā, 13.pūṣā, 14. indrāgni, 15.vāyu, 16.vāmadeva, 17.maitrāvaruṇi 18. viśvedevā, 19. mātṛkā, 20.viṣṇu, 21.vasu, 22. rudra, 23.kubera and 24.aśvins
The Padmapurana (in Sṛṣṭi Kānḍa) mentions 24 Adhi-Devatas (presiding deities) for each of the 24 letters of Gayatri mantra. They are 1.agni, 2.vāyu, 3.sūrya, 4.ākāśa, 5.yama, 6.varuṇa, 7.bṛhaspati, 8.parjanya, 9.indra, 10.gandharva, 11.pūṣā, 12. mitra, 13.tvaṣṭā, 14.vasu, 15.marut, 16.soma, 17.āṅgiras, 18.viśvedevā, 19.aśvins, 20.prajāpati, 21.akṣara (tattva), 22.rudra, 23.brahma and 24.viṣṇu.
The Yoga yājñavalkya mentions 24 Devatas for each of the 24 letters of Gayatri mantra. They are 1.agni, 2.vāyu, 3.sūrya, 4.īśāna, 5.āditya, 6.āṅgiras, 7.pitri, 8.bharga, 9.āryamān, 10.gandharva, 11.pūṣā, 12. maitrāvaruṇa, 13.tvaṣṭā, 14.vasu, 15.vāmadeva, 16.maitrāvaruṇi, 17.jñeya, 18.viśvedevā, 19.viṣṇu, 20.prajāpati, 21.sarvadevā, 22.kubera, 23.aśvins and 24.brahma.
24 Śaktis of Gayatri
The 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 Śaktis. They are: 1.vāmadevī, 2.priyā, 3.satyā, 4.viśwabhadrā, 5.vilāsinī, 6.prabhāvatī, 7.jayā, 8.śantā, 9.kāntā, 10.durgā, 11.saraswatī, 12.vidrumā, 13.viśālesā, 14.vyāpinī, 15.vimalā, 16.tamopahārini, 17.sūkṣmā, 18.viśwayoni 19.jayā, 20.vaśā, 21.padmālayā, 22.parāśobhā, 23.bhadrā, and 24. tripadā.
24 Tattvas of Gayatri
Main article: Tattva (Shaivism) § Twenty-four impure tattvas See also: Prana § VāyusThe 24 Letters of Gayatri mantra represent 24 Tattvas. They are
- Five Bhūtas, namely, pṛthivi (Earth), apas (Water), agni (Fire), vāyu (Air) and ākāśa (Sky).
- Five Tanmātras, namely, gandha (smell), rasa (taste), rūpa (form), sparśa (touch) and śabda (sound).
- Five Karmendriyas (i.e. motor organs), namely, upasthā (sexual organ), pāyu (anus), pāda (leg), pāni (hand) and vāk (mouth).
- Five Jñānendriyas (i.e. sense organs), namely, ghrāna (nose), jihvā (tongue), caksus (eye), tvak (skin) and śrotra (ear).
- Four Vāyus (air), namely, Prāṇa, Apāna, Vyāna and Samāna
However, in classical definition of 24 tattvas, the last four are the antahkaranas (i.e. sense organs), namely, manas (mind), buddhi (intellect), citta (state of mind) and ahaṅkāra (ego).
The Mudras of Gayatri
Main article: mudra See also: SandhyāvandanamThe Gayatri mantra represents some mahāmudras (great hand gestures). They are 1. sumukha, 2. sampuṭa, 3. vitata, 4. visṛta, 5. dvimukha, 6. trimukha, 7. catuḥ, 8. pañcamukha, 9. ṣaṇmukha, 10. adhomukha, 11. vyāpakāñjali, 12. śakaṭa, 13. yamapāśa, 14. grathita, 15. sanmukhonmukha, 16. vilamba, 17. muṣtika, 18. matsya, 19. kūrmah 20. varāhaka, 21. simhākrānta, 22. mahākrānta, 23. mudgara, 24. pallava, 25. triśūla, 26. yoni, 27. surabhi, 28. akṣamāla, 29. linga, 30. ambuja.
Since, the first 24 are used before Gayatri Japa, they are traditionally referred as Pūrva Mudras.
Legends
In some Puranas, Gayatri is said to be the other names of Sarasvati, the wife of Brahma. According to the Matsya Purana, Brahma's left half emerged as a female, who is celebrated under the names of Sarasvati, Savitri, and Gayatri. The three represent purity in thought, word, and deed (thrikarana shuddhi). Although Gayatri has three names, all three are in each of us as the senses (Gayatri), the power of speech (Saraswathi), and the life force (Savitri). In Kurma Purana, Gautama rishi was blessed by Goddess Gayatri and able to eliminate the obstacles he faced in his life. The Skanda Purana writes that Gayatri is married to Brahma, making her a form of Saraswati.
According to some texts, Brahma's first wife is Savitri, and Gayatri is the second. The story goes that Savitri became angry knowing the wedding of Gayatri with Brahma, and cursed all the gods and goddesses engaged in the event.
However, the Padma Purana narrates the same story with some modifications. After Savitri was appeased by Brahma, Vishnu, and Lakshmi, She accepts Gayatri as her sister happily.
Gayatri further developed into a fierce goddess who could even slay a demon. According to Varaha Purana and Mahabharata, Goddess Gayatri slew the demon Vetrasura, the son of Vritra and river Vetravati, on a Navami day.
Shaivism
Shaivism sees Gayatri as the consort of eternal blissful absolute Parashiva who manifests in the form of Sadasiva. Sadashiva's consort Manonmani is none other than the mantra form of Gayatri, who possess the power of her husband Bharga, within her. The popular form of Gayatri with five heads and ten arms was initially found in Saivite iconographies of Manonmani in North India beginning from 10th century CE. The Saivite view on Gayatri seems a later development from the combination of vedic practice of Gayatri reverence and its Saivite inclusion as a manifestation of Shakti. This could be the root for the sublime aspect of Gayatri explained in the later puranas as the killer of demon Vetra identifying her with Adi Parashakti.
See also
Notes
- Taittirīya Araṇyaka Pariśiṣṭa 10.25
- Some texts refer to it as viśwā.
- Some texts refer to it as bhadravilāsinī.
- Some texts refer to it as two; viśālā and īsā.
- Some texts refer to it as jayāvahā.
- Some texts refer to it as padmaśobhā.
- Some texts refer to it as sanmukha
- Some texts refer to it as pralamba
References
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- Ludo Rocher (1988). "The Purāṇas (A History of Indian Literature". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 51 (2): 355.
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- Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin India. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- Bradley, R. Hertel; Cynthia, Ann Humes (1993). Living Banaras: Hindu Religion in Cultural Context. SUNY Press. p. 286. ISBN 9780791413319. Archived from the original on 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- Constance Jones, James D. Ryan (2005), Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Infobase Publishing, p.167, entry "Gayatri Mantra"
- Roshen Dalal (2010), The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths, Penguin Books India, p.328, entry "Savitr, god"
- "WIL Cologne Scan".
- Das, Keshav (1990). Gāyatrī, the Highest Meditation. Motilal Banarsidas. p. 51. ISBN 9788120806979.
- ^ Bansal, Sunita Pant (2005). Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Smriti Books. p. 23. ISBN 9788187967729. Archived from the original on 2016-05-14. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- Ramachandra Rao, Saligrama Krishna (1998). R̥gveda-darśana: Gāyatri mantra. Kalpatharu Research Academy. p. 77. Archived from the original on 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ Omacanda Hāṇḍā (1992). Śiva in art: a study of Śaiva iconography and miniatures. Indus Publication House.
- ^ B.N. Sharma (1976). Iconography of Sadasiva. Abhinav Publications. pp. 25–29. ISBN 9788170170372.
- "Gayatri Mantra". Vedic Rishi. Vedicrishi Astro. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- "Mahanarayana_Upanishad" (PDF). Swami Vimalananda (2 ed.). Sri Ramakrishna Math. 1968. pp. 209–214. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
- Taittirīya Sandhyā Bhāṣyam, p.83, Sri Krishna Pandita, Vavilla Press (Chennai), 1916.
- Mantramahārṇava Devikanda (Hindi), Ramkumar Rai, Prachya Prakasan (Varanasi), 2000.
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External links
Media related to Gayatri at Wikimedia Commons
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