Gāyatri-Upāsanā can be performed mentally at any time in any circumstance. It is doubtlessly beneficial in every condition. Nevertheless, performing it regularly and religiously has greater significance and spiritual impact.. Any experiment or task if conducted systematically with due concentration and punctuality assures completion and comprehensive output. The same is true of devotional practices. The rituals associated with the daily upāsanā of Gayatri are devised to help desired mental and emotional conditioning of the sadhaka. These are simple and could be practised by every one. It should be noted that these are not mere customs or mechanical acts. Rather, these are derived from in-depth understanding of the spiritual nature of human self. For adept performance of daily upāsanā it is important to note the implications and sentiments associated with them as highlighted below.
One is free to choose the sākāra or nirākāra mode of upāsanā as per his mental makeup. One needs to select an appropriate place where he or she could perform the upāsanā at the scheduled time every day without any disturbance. Usually a separate room or a quiet corner of a room in the house for this purpose. Or, one may go to a nearby temple, on a bank of a river or in a garden and adjust the daily practice at such a time and spot which is relatively silent…. The place of worship (pūjāsthali) should be kept clean. In sākāra upāsanā, a photo of Gayatri Mātā is placed on a small stool and is worshiped every day by flowers etc. (A special photograph for this “devasthāpanā” are available at Shantikunj, Hardwar or at any local center of Gayatri Pariwar). Nirākāra upāsanā does not require any photo or idol, as here, the rising sun or some subtle concept is meditated upon.
Early morning is the best time for regular upāsanā. One should commence it only after the routine cleansing of the body. In case of sickness or weather constraints. bathing could be replaced by partial cleaning-or sponging. The pancakarma sandhyā as described below should be performed through heart before japa and dhyāna in the daily upāsanā. This could be relaxed in case of travelling etc. In similar unavoidable conditions, the daily upāsanā could be performed only by japa and dhyāna.
Daily Upasana with Panca Karma Sandhya: Sit on a cloth or kush carpet in a comfortable posture (preferably with cross-folded legs or “sukhāsana”) with erect spinal cord. Keep a kalasa or small glass full of water and lit a dipaka and agarbatti in the pūjāsthali. The rosary (preferably of basil or sandalwood beads) should also be kept handy. The upāsanā procedure has four parts – (1) Pancakarma of purification; (2) Deva Āvhāhan (Invocation); (3) Japa and Dhyana and (4) Sūryārdhya-dāna. Each could be performed in 2 to 5 minutes except japa and dhyāna. The latter should be performed for 15 minutes at least; the sādhaka could choose a longer duration as per his convenience.
(1) The Pancakarma Sandhya (or the Brahm-Sandhyā): The following five (panca) rituals are meant for the purification of the body and mind and harmonized activation of the flow of prāna:
(i) Pavitrīkarana: Hold some water in the left palm and cover it with the right hand and chant the following mantra. Sprinkle this water on the body while chanting the terminating segment → “Punātu…” of the mantra with a feeling that this water energized by the spiritual vibrations of the mantra is purifying your body externally and internally.
The Mantra:
Oam Apavitraḥ Pavitro Vā Sarvāvsthā Gatoapi Vā, Yaḥ Smaret Pundarikākśam Sa Bahyantaraḥ śuciḥ |
Oam Punātu Puṇḍarikākśaḥ, Punātu Puṇḍarikākśaḥ, Punātu ||
(ii) Acamanah: Hold some water in the right palm; chant the first mantra and drink the water with the chant of “swahā”. Repeat the same with the second and third mantras.
The Mantras:
Oam Amratopastaraṇmasi Swāhā |1|
Oam Amṛatāpidhānamasi Swāhā | 2|
Oam Asatyam Yaśaḥ śṛirmayi śṛiḥ Śrayataṁ Swāhā |3|
These three acamaṇas are performed with an intense feeling of drinking the Hrim, Srim and Klim currents of Gayatri Śakti; as though an infant is gaining vital energy by sucking his mother’s milk.
(iii) Śikha Vandana: Tie the śikhā or touch this central spot (above the suture) on the skull. Close the eyes and chant the following mantra with a determination that the divine radiance of Gayatri attracted thereby is being absorbed in the brain and is inspiring righteous thinking and illumination of mind.
The Mantra:
Oam Cidrūpiņi Mahāmāye, Divya Tejaḥ Samanvite | Tiştha Devi Sikhā Madhye, Tejo Vraddhim Kuruşva Me ||
(iv) Prāṇāyāma: Prāṇāyāmas are well known breathing exercises for harmonizing the breathing. A simple prāṇākarṣaṇa prāṇāyāma is performed in the pancakarma after enunciating the following mantras. For this, inhale slowly at a steady pace with a feeling that the prāṇa śakti of Gayatri inspissated around is being drawn-in with the breath. Hold the breath for few seconds to absorb this mahāprāṇa that is sparkling like immense glow of the rising sun… Now exhale the breath at the same pace with a firm belief that the impurities and vile assimilation from inside are being expelled forever. Hold the breath out for few seconds with a feeling that the mahāprāṇa is spreading out in the infinity after destroying the vices and sinş inside. Repeat this cycle three times. The duration of holding the breath is normally maintained as half that of inhalation/exhalation in each cycle….
The Mantras:
Oam Bhuḥ, Oam Bhuvaḥ, Oam Swaḥ, Oam Mahaḥ, Oam Janaḥ, Oam Tapaḥ, Oam Satyam |
Oam Tatsaviturvareṇyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yonaḥ Pracodayāt ||
Oam Apo Jyotiḥ Rasoamratam Brahm Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ Oarh ||
(v) Nyasa: In this process, the fingers of the right hand are successively soaked in the water hold in the left palm and touched upon (from left to right) to the mouth, nose, eyes, ears arms and thighs after chanting the respective mantras. The water remaining in the hands is sprinkled over the entire body in the end.
The Mantras:
Oam Vangme Asyestu | (mouth).
Oam Nasorme Prāṇorastu | (nose).
Oam Aksnorme Caksurastu | (eyes).
Oam Karnayorme Śrotramastu | (ears).
Oam Bahvorme Balamastu (arms).
Oam Urvorme Ojoastu | (thighs).
Oam Ariṣṭāni Meňagāni Tanustanvā Me Saḥsantu | (whole body).
The process of purification by the pancakarmas signify that only those possessing the piety of body and mind are worthy of deva pujana (worshiping the God). It may be noted that all the pancakarmas could also be performed by chanting only the Gayatri Mantra. Deva Pujana begins after the pancakarmas.
(2) Deva Pujana: Prathvī pūjana is the first step here. We are born and brought-up in the lap of mother earth. Our life has no existence without its shelter and support. This motherland is thus like a devatā to us. Therefore the earth (prathvi), the motherland is worshiped before the principal God (ista devata) of the upāsanā. As a mark of gratitude, one spoon of water is sacrificed to the earth and it is worshiped by flower etc and paid regards (praṇāma) while chanting the following mantra – with the sentiments that we should also be endowed with the endurance, generosity and forbearance like the earth.
The Mantra:
Dam Prathvi Twayā Dhṛatā Lokā, Devi Twam Visņunā Dhṛatā, Twam Ca Dhareya Mām Devi, Pavitram Kurū Casanam |
Invocation of Gayatri:
Invocation of the Adi Sakti Gayatri is then prayed through the following mantra with the intrinsic feel (through the depth of the heart) that the divine power of Gāyatrī is descending and consecrating in our inner self.
The Mantra:
Oam Ayātu Varade Devi, Tryakśare Brahmvādini, Gayatri Chandasām Mātā Brahmyone Namostute
Oam Śrī Gāyatryai Namaḥ| Avhāhyāmi, Sthāpayāmi, Pūjayāmi, Dhyāyāmil Tato Namaskāram Karomi
Invocation of the Guru: Guru is an angelic reflection of thy-glow that guides the righteous evolution of the devotee… With a prayer for the blessings of our divine gurusattā – Rev. Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya and Van. Mataji Smt. Bhagavati Devi Sharma – for the adept performance of the upāsanā, we invoke the grace of the guru by the following mantra:
Oam Gurbrahmā, Gururviśņu, Gurureva Maheśvaro | Gurureva Parabrahm, Tasmai Śrī Gurūve Namaḥ |||
Akhanda Mandalākāram, Vyāptam Yena Carācaram | Tatpadam Darśitam Yena, Tasmai Śrī Guruve Namaḥ ||
Oam Sri Guruve Namaḥ| Avhāhyāmi, Sthāpayāmi, Pūjayāmi, Dhyāyāmi| Tato Namaskāram Karomi |
Source: Gayatri Sadhana – Why and How?
