Depressed mind longs for liberation and
invokes Gayathri, the sun deity for inspiration. Gayathri Mantra is the
mystical utterances and in the mantra we invoke Gayathri, the sun deity, who
illuminates all, recreates all, from whom all proceeds, to whom all must return
for inspiration. Gayathri mantra forms a universal prayer and is dedicated to
the sun deity. It manifests as the totality of existence from the external most
physical to the internal most spiritual being. This is a prayer to the supreme
infinite Divine Reality for the enlightenment of all human beings to enable
them to realise the supreme truth. One of the most venerated rishis (sages)
Vishwamitra is credited as the author of the Gayathri mantra. The recitation of
the Gayathri mantra is proceeded with the syllable OM.
Kshatriya king Vishwamitra also known as Koushika
becoming Brahmarshi (super sage) is spiritually a highly inspiring story. Once
Koushika and his soldiers took rest in
sage Vasishta’s ashram (hermitage). The whole army was well fed and taken care of
by Brahmarshi Vasishta. The king Koushika doubted the possibilities and
expressed his surprise to Vasishta as to how he was able to take care of the
entire army. Vasishta replied that he
was gifted the calf Nandini (the daughter of the cow Kamadhenu) by Indra and
Nandini takes care of everything he needs.
Koushika was surprised and he thought that
such a rare and invaluable cow should be with the king rather than with the
rishi. He expressed his desire to Vasishta. Vasishta politely refused to give
the cow to the king, then Koushika got angry and ordered his soldiers to drive the
cow to his kingdom. Vasishta saved the cow by destroying the army with his
super human spiritual powers. Koushika went away in anger and vowed to return
to get the cow. After this, there were
several encounters and Vasishta won all the encounters. In the final encounter, Vasishta brings out
his brahma danda a wooden stick imbued
with powers of Brahman. Brahma danda
consumed all of koushika’s most powerful weapon including brahmastra. Koushika then realisedthat he should also
become Brahmarshi to possess such spiritual powers and did intense Tapas. He was called Rajarshi. But Rajarshi is not same as Brahmarshi. Koushika renounced the kingdom and began his
quest to become Brahmarshi and attain the same spiritual powers as Vasishta.
Koushika faced many challenges on his
journey to attain the position of Brahmarshi and eventually gave up his greed to
possess Nandini, the holy cow. Koushika at last obtained the title of
Brahmarshi from Vasishta himself.
The Gayathri mantra helps us to know our
true selves and to become one with supreme reality.
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