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Re: gAyatrI mantra: tradition
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To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: gAyatrI mantra: tradition
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From: Mukti Parupudi <pp002963@pop3.interramp.com>
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Date: Fri, 03 May 96 15:07:03 PDT
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: PSI Public Usenet Link
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References: <4kks8b$kam@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <4kt6sd$jdb@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <ghenDqEMIu.3Av@netcom.com> <ghenDqH8Mr.7tq@netcom.com> <ghenDqntBt.L5u@netcom.com> <ghenDqs92I.4zv@netcom.com>
In Article<ghenDqs92I.4zv@netcom.com>, <pxa@netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov> write:
> Well stated points. One must be of pure mind and body before undertaking
> Gayatri Mantra japa. Luckily for Vaidik Brahmins like myself , the
> sandhyvandanam procedure is quite nicely laid out, so that the mental
> and physical pre-preparation for doing the 'Gayatri mahamantra japam
> karishye..' is a part of the sandhya pooja itself. I am not sure to what
> extent these traditions have been passed on among other Hindus.
>
> But, essentially, as you pointed out , a pure mind and body is the
> main prerequisite I feel. In a cassette I have on 'Yajurveda
sandhyavandanam'
> by the noted Vedic scholar Shri Hari Achutharama Sastry, he mentions that
> Gayatri can be chanted by one and all. As far as I am concerned , if it
> enhances your spiritual progress and brings you closer to 'stithaprajna' ,
> then by all means, partake of the Sacredness of the mantra.
>
> Prabhu
My two cents:
There are more than a dozen variations of the Gayatri mantra in addition
to the Maha Gayatri which is traditionally chanted by Brahmins. The
variations are for non-brahmins, foreigners, to please other deities etc.
In other words, Maha Gayatri is not recommended universally.
Cheers
Mukti
