Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas and the destroyer of sins. There is nothing more purifying on the earth as well as in the heaven than the Gayatri. The Japa of Gayatri brings the same fruit as the recitation of all the four Vedas together with the Angas. This single Mantra, if repeated three times a day, brings good (Kalyan or Moksha). It is the Mantra of the Vedas. It destroys sins. It bestows splendid health, beauty, strength, vigour, vitality and magnetic aura in the face (Brahmic effulgence).
Regarding Gayatri japa, it is said in Agni purana in Tulakaveri mahatmya Adhyaya 14 that japamala should not be used for counting Gayatri mantra. It should only be counted on the parvas or the folds of the right hand fingers. Starting from the middle fold of the ring finger, going down and left and upwards on the little finger and going right on the top folds and down the index finger giving 10 counts. For counting 28 or 108 therefore one has to count in tens on the right hand and note each cycle with the help of chalk markings or pebbles or left fingers.
It is said that the lower two folds of the middle finger are called Meru and the counting should be done circumambulating them. It is said that since Gayatri is the root of the Vedas and the Vedas are recited using the above-mentioned method for counting the sooktas, Gayatri should also be counted likewise. The following sloka is quoted for authority.
parvabhir ganayet sankhyam nakshamaladibhir nripa;
gayatrya vedamulatwad vedah parvasu giyate
Gayatri-japa, which is done during sandhyAvandana, should be done using finger phalanges (parva) only and not using tulasi-mala. There are prohibitions on usage of tulasi-mala for gayatri-japa:
Smriti quoted by Sri Srinivasatirtharu in Ahnikakaustubha:
vedamAtA tu gAyatrI vedaH parvasu gIyate |
parvabhishcha japennityaM na mAlAbhiH kathanchana ||
Smriti-manikya-sangraha quotes Agneya Purana:
asankhyAto.apavitrashcha japo niShphalatAm vrajet |
parvabhir gaNayet sankhyAM nAxamAlAdibhiH nRipa |
There are other verses which allow Gayatri Japa to be performed using tulasii mala; such as -
tulasIkAShThamaNinA nirmitena prayatnataH |
gAyatryAdi japaM kuryAt tasya nAsti mahadbhayam ||
Such verses are taken to refer to japa of Brahma-Gayatri*, and not Vishvaamitra-Gayatri.
Vishvaamitra-Gayatri should be used during sandhyA-vandana, and Brahma-Gayatri at other times - said Srimad Acharya in tantrasarasangraha:
vishvAmitrastu sandhyArthe tadanyatra prajApatiH
So, for our regular sandhyA, we should not use tulasi mala. For japa at other times, brahma-gayatri should be used.
In Gayatri mantra as a whole, there are bheeja mantras Bhur, Bhuwaha and Swaha, corresponding to each of its three segments. Besides, each of its 24 letters has a bheeja mantra of its own. The bheeja mantra in Gayatri is applied after the ‘Vyahriti’ (Bhur Bhuwaha Swaha) prefixing “Tatsaviturvarenyam...” It is also used as a suffix (samput) after “Prachodayat”.
Various samput can be added (before, in middle or at the end) in the Gayatri mantra for a specific purpose. Samput has great significance in mantra shastra. For example, samput Gayatri mantra for wealth and comforts: ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
* Chanting of the Brahma-Gayatri Mantra gives the blessing of Lord Brahma. Prayers are made to Lord Brahma seeking his divine support to achieve victory in all our endeavors.
॥ ॐ वेदात्मनाय विद्महे हिरण्यगर्भाय धीमहि तन्नो ब्रह्मा प्रचोदयात् ॥
Courtesy: Sri Sandhya Vandanam, Srivatsa Ve. Somadeva Sarma,
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