GAYATRI, THE HIGHEST MEDITATION FOR ILLUMINATION

Gayatri meditation is also known as Sandhyopasana or Sandhyavandana, which means a meditation at dawn and dusk every day. The ancient wisdom of the Himalayas declares that this is the highest meditation for meditation for illumination. If one practices this spiritual discipline sincerely, one realizes God in a very short time, so, practise this meditation regularly and attain illumination.

Sundhya means meeting period of day and night, i.e. dawn and dusk. Upasana means meditation. Thus, Sandhyopasana means the meditation during early morning and early evening. As this meditation is done through the sun which symbolizes the Light of Truth, it is also known as Sandhyavandana or salutations to that Light of Truth.

The early morning and early evening periods are considered as periods of peace or times of spiritual power. The inhalation and exhalation is balanced during those hours and meditation becomes profound and peaceful.

Practice of Gayatri meditation destroys all karma-s and sins. By purifying the heart and the mind, it opens the third eye of illumination. Man lives long with a healthy body, shining like light, and helps humanity in hastening its evolution.

Some practise this meditation four times a day, i.e. early three midday, early evening and midnight. Some practise it three times, i.e. dawn, noon, and dusk. When times is a problem, all must practise at least twice a day - that is in the early morning and early in the evening.

"Sins committed consciously or unconsciously during the day are destroyed by evening meditation and those of the night are reduced to ash by the morning meditation", says Manu. In other words, Gayatri meditation keeps our mind and heart always pure, and therefore we attain transcendental peace. Sings dare not touch that man who rigidly practices this discipline.

To practise this meditation, the place should be simple, sacred, and secluded. In a secluded spot, the mind remains undisturbed; therefore, concentration becomes easy and spontaneous. In a sacred atmosphere, sacred thoughts alone comes. In a simple place, the mind becomes humble. In a place which is frequented by people, where sinful act are done, and which is luxurious, the mind concentrate and the bad vibration of the place invariably disturbs the meditation. A holy pilgrimage centre, a place where holy men have meditated, the bank of river, a cave, a mountain retreat, and asrama or hermitage, a confluence where rivers meets, a peaceful garden or the foot of a tree, a house of God or temple, or the shores of an ocean are places conducive to meditation. In one's own house one can sit in one's meditation room, which should be used only for the purposes of prayer, meditation, and worship of God.

When the day breaks into night and night breaks into day, one should practise meditation. Manu, the lawgiver, says, "The Sandhya or Gayatri meditation that is done before sunrise, while the still visible, is supreme. The meditation begun in the morning when the stars are invisible is medium and the meditation done after sunrise is ordinary."

Similarly, in the evening the meditation that is done exactly during the sunset is considered as supreme. That meditation is medium that is done after the sunset but before all the stars are visible. If the meditation is done after all the stars are visible, such a meditation is considered as ordinary.

Esoterically speaking, the best time for meditation is when your heart is filled with love for God.

No food is to be taken before the Gayatri meditation is the morning.

If, due to negligence or some reasons, you could not practise your daily meditation, then you have to purify yourself by fasting for a day and a night. As an atonement for negligence, you have to do 1,008 Gayatri-japa or repetition of Gayatri-mantra. "If you have given up the have to undergo Upanayanam or the sacred thread ceremony once again"

If one is very ill, the death of someone near and dear has occurred, the house is on fire or the country is in danger,or some calamity has occurred, on such occasions one need not atone for his inability to practise this meditation. Even during such times, to repeat the Gayatri-mantra mentally averts dangers and brings physical protection and mental solace. At any cost, this daily spiritual discipline must be maintained and should not be neglected with the lame excuses. This is the strict word of the sages for our own good. Suppose you are traveling and time is a problem, then meditate on Gayatri just before you sleep or meditate as soon as you get up in the morning. To repeat whenever you can mentally also brings blessings.

While you chant the mantra if you know the meaning of what you chant, then such a meditation becomes all the more profound and peaceful. Of course, when you chant with faith, the healing vibration of the mantra brings you blessings of peace, whether you know its meaning or not. But knowing meaning when you meditate, your intellect will have no doubts and therefore the meditation becomes peaceful. Before you begin the meditation you should chant the name of the sage who has realized this mantra, the prosody of the mantra, and the presiding deity over the mantra. This will have very powerful effects. Similarly, to offer while chanting the mantra will yield the fruit of such worship very soon. But the highest meditation is prayer for enlightenment and the grace of God. Millions of people would pray for health, wealth, longevity, progeny, etc., and the mantra, even though intended for illumination, also fulfuls the desires of its votaries.

When you meditate, sit facing, sit facing east, west, or north; but while you offer oblations and salutations to the sun-god, you should face the sun-god and do your worship. In other words, the morning meditation should be done facing the east. In the evening you can face the west and offer your evening oblations. Facing the south is avoided the to the fact described in the scriptures that the abode of the God of Death is in the southern direction.