Introduction
Gayatri Mahima
Madhuri is a response to the
devotees who have asked me over the last ten years to explain the meaning of
different mantras. Since the
Brahma-gayatri is the most famous mantra, I have focused on that. In
India there are several spiritual groups that propagate the glories of the
Brahma-gayatri through the medium of books, tapes,
classes, stickers, posters, and so on. They even sell clocks with the Brahma-gayatri written in Sanskrit on the face of the clock.
According to them, Brahma-gajatri is the yuga-dharma, and chanting it will solve
all the problems of Kali-yuga.
There are literally thousands of mantras mentioned in the Vedas, but this book describes eight mantras that are important to Gaudiya Vaisnavas. The reader
learns that the actual position" of the Brahma-gayatri
is to support and assist the primary mantra
for this age which is the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the scripturally acclaimed
"great chant for deliverance" for all the souls of Kali- yuga. The astonishing power of the mystical Gopala-mantra will shine forth with all its inestimable
glories, what to speak of the Kama-gayatri and the
secret sannyasa mantra.
Much of the information in this book comes from the Hari- bhakti-vilasa
by Srila Sanatana Gosvami. The Hari-bhakti-vilasa explains
various Vedic rituals to point the general class of Vaisnavas
towards the worship and service of Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Secondly, it gives rituals specifically meant for Gaudiya Vaisnavas to use for
worshiping Radha and Krsna. It also has broad
instructions on rituals so that newcomers to Gaudiya Vaisnavism from other Vaisnava
traditions may practically engage in worshiping Krsna.
Gayatri Mahima Madhuri includes many verses and commentaries from the Gopala-tapani Upanisad, which
belongs to the Pippalada section of the Atharva Veda, one of the four original Vedas.
All Vaisnava acaryas accept this Upanisad as the most authoritative.
It is the most significant Upanisad for
Gaudiya Vaisnavas because
it contains a synthesis of all the lessons on Radha- Krsna
prema-bhakti that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu gave to the six Gosvamis.
Therefore, it is the favorite Upanisad of devotees interested in
cultivating vraja prema-bhakti because it establishes the supremacy of Sri Krsna as Vrajendranandana.
The remaining contents of Gayatri
Mahima Madhuri come from the books translated by my spiritual
master, Nitya-lila pravista
Om Vishnupada Sri Srimad AC. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, the fifty works listed in the appendix, and the interviews I did
with several prominent vrajavasi brahmanas and senior Gaudiya Vaisnava
sannyasis.
Although I am
limited, imperfect and incapable of writing such an important work, by the
causeless mercy of Sri Krsna and the Vaisnavas I have tried to produce a book that is
authoritative and true to the glorious Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta.
In this regard, Srila Rupa Gosvami has written a
beautiful verse in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: hrdi yasya
preranayii, pravartito 'ham
variika-rupo 'pi, tasya hareh pada-kamalam, vande caitanya- devasya, "Although I am the lowest of men and have no knowledge, the
inspiration to write transcendental literatures about devotional service has
been mercifully bestowed upon me. Therefore I am offering my obeisances at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who
has given me the chance to write these books." (Cc. Madhya
19.134)
Gayatri Mahima Madhuri is but a drop from the vast ocean of nectarean
knowledge on this subject. But I hope that this drop, being transcendental in
nature, will expand within all the devotees who read this book to fill them
with new taste and inspiration for chanting these mantras.
May all the
devotees realize the precious fruits of bhakti hidden within the sweet glories of Gayatri.
Contents
Introduction |
xi |
Chapter
One Diksa and Upanayanam |
1 |
The
Three Margas |
1 |
Mantra |
3 |
Mantra
Potency |
6 |
Upanayanam |
11 |
Upanayanam and the Gaudiya Tradition |
13 |
The Panca Samskaras |
15 |
Diksa |
16 |
Qualities
of a Guru |
17 |
Ordinary
Characteristics |
18 |
Exceptional
Characteristics |
19 |
Qualities
of a Disciple |
19 |
Proper
Time for Mantra Diksa |
20 |
Chapter
two Brahma Gayatri |
21 |
Identity
of Brahma-gayatri |
21 |
Origin
of Brahma-gayatri |
24 |
Meaning
of Om |
4 |
Meaning
of the Vyahrtis-Bhur, Bhuvah,
Svah |
28 |
Meaning
of Tat |
28 |
Meaning
of Savitur |
28 |
Meaning
of Varenyam |
30 |
Meaning
of Bhargo |
31 |
Meaning
of Devasya |
32 |
Meaning
of Dhimahi |
32 |
Meaning
of Dhiyo yo nah |
32 |
Meaning
of Pracodayat |
32 |
Meaning
of Brahma-gayatri Mantra |
32 |
Sambandha, Abhidheya, and Prayojana |
35 |
Benefits
of Chanting Brahma-gayatri |
38 |
Brahma-gayatri and Srimad Bhagavatam |
39 |
Brahma-gayatri and Hare Krsna Maha-mantra |
42 |
Prabhupada
Gayatri Stories |
51 |
Chapter
Three Upavita and Rules of Chanting |
53 |
The
Sacred Thread |
53 |
How
To Make A Brahmana Thread |
55 |
Upavita Nectar |
56 |
Meaning
of Mantra |
57 |
How
to Chant Mantras |
59 |
Bhuta Suddhi Prayers |
63 |
Mantra
Siddhi |
65 |
The
Best Chanting Time |
66 |
Chapter
Four Guru Gayatri |
69 |
Vision
of Guru |
69 |
Meaning
of Aim |
70 |
Meaning
of Guru-mantra |
71 |
Guru-gayatri Meaning of Words |
72 |
Meaning
of Guru-gayatri |
72 |
Chapter
Five Gaura Gayatri |
75 |
Meaning
of Gaura Mantra |
75 |
Gaura-gayatri Meaning of Words |
76 |
Meaning
of Gaura-gayatri |
77 |
Chapter
Six The Gopala Mantra |
78 |
Identity
and Importance |
78 |
Gopala-mantra and Sambandha |
79 |
Gopala-mantra -Svarasiki and Mantra Upasana |
81 |
Purpose
of the Gopala-mantra |
83 |
Meaning
of Klim |
85 |
Meaning
of Krsnaya |
86 |
Meaning
of Govindaya |
87 |
Meaning
of Gopijanavallabhaya |
88 |
Meaning
of Svaha |
89 |
Gopala-mantra Word Meanings 89 |
|
Meaning
of Gopala-mantra |
91 |
How
to Chant Gopala-mantra |
93 |
Benefits
of Gopala-mantra |
93 |
Gopala-mantra and Chanting Hare Krsna |
94 |
Lord Caitanya and Gopala-mantra |
95 |
Chapter
Seven Kama Gayatri |
97 |
Identity |
97 |
History
of Brahma's Enlightenment |
98 |
Sri Vrndavana Dhama |
105 |
Brahma-samhita Prayers of Brahma |
107 |
Summary
of Brahma's Enlightenment |
110 |
Meaning
of Klim |
111 |
Meaning
of Kamadevaya |
113 |
Meaning
ofVidmahe |
114 |
Meaning
of Puspa, Banaya, Dhimahi |
114 |
Meaning
of Tan |
115 |
Meaning
of Ananga |
115 |
Meaning
of Pracodayat |
116 |
Meaning
of Kama-gayatri |
116 |
KLIMKAMA-DEVAYA
VIDMAHE |
118 |
PUSPA-BANAYA-DHIMAHI |
118 |
TAN
NO 'NANGAH PRACODAYAT |
118 |
Additional
Meanings of Kama-gayatri |
119 |
The
Moons of Krsnacandra |
119 |
Meditations
on Kama-gayatri |
122 |
Benefits
of Chanting Kama-gayatri |
123 |
Chapter
Eight Gopi Bhava Mantra |
125 |
The Sannyasa Mantra (of the avadhuta-brahmana) |
125 |
Beg
for Prema |
126 |
Meaning
of Om |
127 |
Meaning
of Klim |
127 |
Meaning
of Gopi Bhava |
128 |
Meaning
of Asrayaya |
131 |
Meaning
of Svaha |
133 |
Meaning
of Gopi-Bhava Mantra |
134 |
Gopi-Bhava Mantra Meditations |
135 |
When to
Chant the Gopi Bhava Mantra? |
137 |
Sannyasa Siksamrta |
139 |
Qualifications
for Sannyasa |
139 |
Sannyasa Initiation |
143 |
Sannyasa Dasa Samskaras |
143 |
Sri Caitanya's Sannyasa Initiation |
147 |
The
Messenger |
148 |
Manjari Bhava |
150 |
Proper
Conduct |
150 |
Prabhupada
Quotes for Contemplation |
151 |
First
Qualification |
151 |
Swami
Jesus |
152 |
Four
Stages |
152 |
Do
the Needful |
153 |
Successful
Preaching |
153 |
Love
Means Cooperation |
154 |
Read
and Preach |
154 |
Meaning
of Sannyasa Danda |
154 |
Sannyasa Perfection |
156 |
Srila Prabhupada Takes Sannyasa |
156 |
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-A Sannyasa Lila |
156 |
Prema Bhiksu-Krsna Takes Sannyasa |
157 |
References |
160 |
Introduction
Gayatri Mahima
Madhuri is a response to the
devotees who have asked me over the last ten years to explain the meaning of
different mantras. Since the
Brahma-gayatri is the most famous mantra, I have focused on that. In
India there are several spiritual groups that propagate the glories of the
Brahma-gayatri through the medium of books, tapes,
classes, stickers, posters, and so on. They even sell clocks with the Brahma-gayatri written in Sanskrit on the face of the clock.
According to them, Brahma-gajatri is the yuga-dharma, and chanting it will solve
all the problems of Kali-yuga.
There are literally thousands of mantras mentioned in the Vedas, but this book describes eight mantras that are important to Gaudiya Vaisnavas. The reader
learns that the actual position" of the Brahma-gayatri
is to support and assist the primary mantra
for this age which is the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the scripturally acclaimed
"great chant for deliverance" for all the souls of Kali- yuga. The astonishing power of the mystical Gopala-mantra will shine forth with all its inestimable
glories, what to speak of the Kama-gayatri and the
secret sannyasa mantra.
Much of the information in this book comes from the Hari- bhakti-vilasa
by Srila Sanatana Gosvami. The Hari-bhakti-vilasa explains
various Vedic rituals to point the general class of Vaisnavas
towards the worship and service of Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Secondly, it gives rituals specifically meant for Gaudiya Vaisnavas to use for
worshiping Radha and Krsna. It also has broad
instructions on rituals so that newcomers to Gaudiya Vaisnavism from other Vaisnava
traditions may practically engage in worshiping Krsna.
Gayatri Mahima Madhuri includes many verses and commentaries from the Gopala-tapani Upanisad, which
belongs to the Pippalada section of the Atharva Veda, one of the four original Vedas.
All Vaisnava acaryas accept this Upanisad as the most authoritative.
It is the most significant Upanisad for
Gaudiya Vaisnavas because
it contains a synthesis of all the lessons on Radha- Krsna
prema-bhakti that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu gave to the six Gosvamis.
Therefore, it is the favorite Upanisad of devotees interested in
cultivating vraja prema-bhakti because it establishes the supremacy of Sri Krsna as Vrajendranandana.
The remaining contents of Gayatri
Mahima Madhuri come from the books translated by my spiritual
master, Nitya-lila pravista
Om Vishnupada Sri Srimad AC. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, the fifty works listed in the appendix, and the interviews I did
with several prominent vrajavasi brahmanas and senior Gaudiya Vaisnava
sannyasis.
Although I am
limited, imperfect and incapable of writing such an important work, by the
causeless mercy of Sri Krsna and the Vaisnavas I have tried to produce a book that is
authoritative and true to the glorious Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta.
In this regard, Srila Rupa Gosvami has written a
beautiful verse in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: hrdi yasya
preranayii, pravartito 'ham
variika-rupo 'pi, tasya hareh pada-kamalam, vande caitanya- devasya, "Although I am the lowest of men and have no knowledge, the
inspiration to write transcendental literatures about devotional service has
been mercifully bestowed upon me. Therefore I am offering my obeisances at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who
has given me the chance to write these books." (Cc. Madhya
19.134)
Gayatri Mahima Madhuri is but a drop from the vast ocean of nectarean
knowledge on this subject. But I hope that this drop, being transcendental in
nature, will expand within all the devotees who read this book to fill them
with new taste and inspiration for chanting these mantras.
May all the
devotees realize the precious fruits of bhakti hidden within the sweet glories of Gayatri.
Contents
Introduction |
xi |
Chapter
One Diksa and Upanayanam |
1 |
The
Three Margas |
1 |
Mantra |
3 |
Mantra
Potency |
6 |
Upanayanam |
11 |
Upanayanam and the Gaudiya Tradition |
13 |
The Panca Samskaras |
15 |
Diksa |
16 |
Qualities
of a Guru |
17 |
Ordinary
Characteristics |
18 |
Exceptional
Characteristics |
19 |
Qualities
of a Disciple |
19 |
Proper
Time for Mantra Diksa |
20 |
Chapter
two Brahma Gayatri |
21 |
Identity
of Brahma-gayatri |
21 |
Origin
of Brahma-gayatri |
24 |
Meaning
of Om |
4 |
Meaning
of the Vyahrtis-Bhur, Bhuvah,
Svah |
28 |
Meaning
of Tat |
28 |
Meaning
of Savitur |
28 |
Meaning
of Varenyam |
30 |
Meaning
of Bhargo |
31 |
Meaning
of Devasya |
32 |
Meaning
of Dhimahi |
32 |
Meaning
of Dhiyo yo nah |
32 |
Meaning
of Pracodayat |
32 |
Meaning
of Brahma-gayatri Mantra |
32 |
Sambandha, Abhidheya, and Prayojana |
35 |
Benefits
of Chanting Brahma-gayatri |
38 |
Brahma-gayatri and Srimad Bhagavatam |
39 |
Brahma-gayatri and Hare Krsna Maha-mantra |
42 |
Prabhupada
Gayatri Stories |
51 |
Chapter
Three Upavita and Rules of Chanting |
53 |
The
Sacred Thread |
53 |
How
To Make A Brahmana Thread |
55 |
Upavita Nectar |
56 |
Meaning
of Mantra |
57 |
How
to Chant Mantras |
59 |
Bhuta Suddhi Prayers |
63 |
Mantra
Siddhi |
65 |
The
Best Chanting Time |
66 |
Chapter
Four Guru Gayatri |
69 |
Vision
of Guru |
69 |
Meaning
of Aim |
70 |
Meaning
of Guru-mantra |
71 |
Guru-gayatri Meaning of Words |
72 |
Meaning
of Guru-gayatri |
72 |
Chapter
Five Gaura Gayatri |
75 |
Meaning
of Gaura Mantra |
75 |
Gaura-gayatri Meaning of Words |
76 |
Meaning
of Gaura-gayatri |
77 |
Chapter
Six The Gopala Mantra |
78 |
Identity
and Importance |
78 |
Gopala-mantra and Sambandha |
79 |
Gopala-mantra -Svarasiki and Mantra Upasana |
81 |
Purpose
of the Gopala-mantra |
83 |
Meaning
of Klim |
85 |
Meaning
of Krsnaya |
86 |
Meaning
of Govindaya |
87 |
Meaning
of Gopijanavallabhaya |
88 |
Meaning
of Svaha |
89 |
Gopala-mantra Word Meanings 89 |
|
Meaning
of Gopala-mantra |
91 |
How
to Chant Gopala-mantra |
93 |
Benefits
of Gopala-mantra |
93 |
Gopala-mantra and Chanting Hare Krsna |
94 |
Lord Caitanya and Gopala-mantra |
95 |
Chapter
Seven Kama Gayatri |
97 |
Identity |
97 |
History
of Brahma's Enlightenment |
98 |
Sri Vrndavana Dhama |
105 |
Brahma-samhita Prayers of Brahma |
107 |
Summary
of Brahma's Enlightenment |
110 |
Meaning
of Klim |
111 |
Meaning
of Kamadevaya |
113 |
Meaning
ofVidmahe |
114 |
Meaning
of Puspa, Banaya, Dhimahi |
114 |
Meaning
of Tan |
115 |
Meaning
of Ananga |
115 |
Meaning
of Pracodayat |
116 |
Meaning
of Kama-gayatri |
116 |
KLIMKAMA-DEVAYA
VIDMAHE |
118 |
PUSPA-BANAYA-DHIMAHI |
118 |
TAN
NO 'NANGAH PRACODAYAT |
118 |
Additional
Meanings of Kama-gayatri |
119 |
The
Moons of Krsnacandra |
119 |
Meditations
on Kama-gayatri |
122 |
Benefits
of Chanting Kama-gayatri |
123 |
Chapter
Eight Gopi Bhava Mantra |
125 |
The Sannyasa Mantra (of the avadhuta-brahmana) |
125 |
Beg
for Prema |
126 |
Meaning
of Om |
127 |
Meaning
of Klim |
127 |
Meaning
of Gopi Bhava |
128 |
Meaning
of Asrayaya |
131 |
Meaning
of Svaha |
133 |
Meaning
of Gopi-Bhava Mantra |
134 |
Gopi-Bhava Mantra Meditations |
135 |
When to
Chant the Gopi Bhava Mantra? |
137 |
Sannyasa Siksamrta |
139 |
Qualifications
for Sannyasa |
139 |
Sannyasa Initiation |
143 |
Sannyasa Dasa Samskaras |
143 |
Sri Caitanya's Sannyasa Initiation |
147 |
The
Messenger |
148 |
Manjari Bhava |
150 |
Proper
Conduct |
150 |
Prabhupada
Quotes for Contemplation |
151 |
First
Qualification |
151 |
Swami
Jesus |
152 |
Four
Stages |
152 |
Do
the Needful |
153 |
Successful
Preaching |
153 |
Love
Means Cooperation |
154 |
Read
and Preach |
154 |
Meaning
of Sannyasa Danda |
154 |
Sannyasa Perfection |
156 |
Srila Prabhupada Takes Sannyasa |
156 |
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-A Sannyasa Lila |
156 |
Prema Bhiksu-Krsna Takes Sannyasa |
157 |
References |
160 |