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Re: gAyatrI mantra: tradition
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To: ghen@netcom.com
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Subject: Re: gAyatrI mantra: tradition
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From: GOPAL Ganapathiraju Sree Ramana <gopal@ecf.toronto.edu>
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Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 10:24:59 -0400
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu, soc.culture.indian
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Organization: Academic disscussions only incorporated
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References: <4kks8b$kam@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <4kt6sd$jdb@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <ghenDqB1sD.Juq@netcom.com>
In article <ghenDqB1sD.Juq@netcom.com>, Kunal Singh <nnyxsi@ny.ubs.com> wrote:
>
>In article <4l8qsv$acq@babbage.ece.uc.edu> KrisP <karnal@slip.net> writes:
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> I believe the Gayatri Mantra is handed down to and between the Brahman
> Caste, or to those who have shown proper Brahman(Brahmin) qualities.
>
>I don't know what the tradition in other parts of India is, but this
>is not the case in Bihar where the Gayatri is fairly well known.
there is a distinction made between abhyaasa and adhyayana. while any
mantra can be learnt and understood, the *practice* or repeatitive
chanting requires -- from what i have heard --a mantra to be learnt
from a teacher, probably for making sure that the pronounciation and
meters/raaga are not distorted, and the correct interpretation is
understood. it is easy to understand this, since most of scriptures
have been kept alive through such a formal oral tradition.
i am not referring to castes or gender.
