The Gayatri mantra given by Rishi Viswamitra is primarily the mantra of illumination for the human mind and its intellectual faculties by the higher light of the Divine. Since the mind is, at present, the highest faculty of man, the leader of the bodily life in man, setting it right and illumining it is the best way to help our other parts such as will and feelings and life to align with the spiritual life, hence the importance.
[2] If the Gayatri Mantra is addressed to God Savita, why do we have an image of a goddess?
The goddess generally depicted is the Vedmata Gayatri, which refers to the metre of the mantra as well as the power behind it. It is not Sun as the static Source of all creation, a passive witness Deity that is being invoked but its dynamic power, as the Impeller, arouser, in its active mode. It is the Shakti or power of the Sun to illumine us that is being invoked. Shakti is the Divine Mother, the eternal Feminine power.
[3] Its meaning according to you?
Sri Aurobindo reveals the essence of this mantra in The Secret of the Vedas.
‘They held the opinion that the boon of light for which the Rishis prayed to God was not the light of the material sun but the light of the Sun of Knowledge, the Sun which is mentioned in the mantra of ‘ Gayatri’, the Sun which Vishwamitra had seen. This light is tatsavitur-vareṇyam devasya bhargaḥ, that power and light of the Divine Sun, this god is yo no dhiyaḥ pracodayāt, he who impels all our thoughts towards the principles of the Truth.’
[4] Sadhana of this mantra can be done in both vedic/puranik as well as tantrik paddhati. Which is the best way as per you? I am asking this because it is mentioned in tantrik literature that vedic practices are not effective in kaliyuga.
Vedic practices mean different things including elaborate mantras for invoking occult powers. The inner sense of many of these mantras and rituals have been lost and hence the difficulty. Because the mantra invokes the Shakti, power of the Sun hence it is also used in Tantra. However the Gayatri Mantra belongs to a class of mantras that have been potentiated through practice over generations. It has become a universal mantra and usually doesn’t require an initiation into it for the practice. Though someone who has practiced it sincerely and perfected the mantra and its powers, the siddhi so to say, can facilitate the awakening or transmit its energies into others.
[5] Which siddhi this mantra grants?
The siddhi of opening the human mind to the light of Truth and through this opening awakening the faculties of inspiration, revelation, intuition etc.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
Follow up question: I heard that Gayatri mantra can also be practiced using beejaksharas for faster progress. Kindly guide me on this or if possible direct me to someone you know who may be in a position to help me.
I have not heard about the practice of Gayatri mantra using beejaksharas and don’t know anyone of this kind. But if you are meant for it then the person will find you. That is how spiritual logic works.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
