Chanting Gäyatri mantra three times a day

Hare Krishna to all!

My obeisances to all devotees!

According to the UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ Krishna instructed us to chant Gäyatré mantra three times a day:

sandhyopästyädi-karmäëi vedenäcoditäni me

püjäà taiù kalpayet samyak-saìkalpaù karma-pävaném

Concentrating the mind on Me, one should worship Me by the performance of his prescribed duties, such as chanting the Gäyatri mantra three times a day. Such performances are enjoined by the Vedas and they purify the worshiper of all reactions of karma. (Uddhava-Gita: 21.11)

Dear senior devotees, please instruct me the appropriate way of chanting the Gäyatri mantra three times a day along with Maha-mantra.

Your valuable instructions in this regard will be highly appreciated.

Your servant,

Amal

Udhava Gita is knowledge which Sri Krishna explained to Udhava. This conversation is closely explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, therefore there is no need for other sources.

Anyway, the Gāyatrī meter has twenty-four syllables.

Sri Krishna says to Udhava :

SB 11.16.12 — Among the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahmā, and of all mantras I am the three-lettered oṁkāra. Among letters I am the first letter, “a,” and among sacred meters I am the Gāyatrī mantra.

The Vedic famous Gayatri mantra from Rig Veda which we chant in Iskon is this :

Om bhoor-bhuvah-svah
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.

Gayatri should be chanted at medium speed, and each mantra chant should be immediately followed by the next chant, such that a cycle (spiral) of chants is formed and pervades around the chanter.

No precautions as such are necessary , but the following are worth noting :

1. The mind should be positive, and no negative thoughts should be entertained. Because, what ever thoughts we entertain during Gayatri chant, gets multiplied.

2. Specific time and place for regular chant is more helpful in the longer run.

Gayatri, as the name says, should be chanted three times, at sunrise, noon and sunset.

Anyway, Gayatri is mentioned for twice born Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, which strongly hate serving and working for Shudras and outcaste ones, because its sinful and contaminated for them.

lets see what Sri Krishna says to Uddhava :

SB 11.27.8 — Now please listen faithfully as I explain exactly how a person who has achieved twice-born status through the relevant Vedic prescriptions should worship Me with devotion.

SB 11.27.9 — A twice-born person should worship Me, his worshipable Lord, without duplicity, offering appropriate paraphernalia in loving devotion to My Deity form or to a form of Me appearing upon the ground, in fire, in the sun, in water or within the worshiper’s own heart.

SB 11.27.10 — One should first purify his body by cleansing his teeth and bathing. Then one should perform a second cleansing by smearing the body with earth and chanting both Vedic and tantric mantras.

SB 11.27.11 — Fixing the mind on Me, one should worship Me by his various prescribed duties, such as chanting the Gāyatrī mantra at the three junctures of the day. Such performances are enjoined by the Vedas and purify the worshiper of reactions to fruitive activities.

Its good to mentioned when a Vedic mantra is chanted within the mouth, so that only the chanter can hear, the chanting is called japa. But when such mantras are chanted loudly, it is called kīrtana.

Gayatri is usually chanted within the mouth, that only the chanter can hear, but can be also sung.

Anyway, In the present Age of Kali it is recommended by Lord Caitanya that simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one can attain all perfection.

Replies

3ruf705dlznca November 25, 2015 at 5:18pm

Udhava Gita is knowledge which Sri Krishna explained to Udhava. This conversation is closely explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, therefore there is no need for other sources.

Anyway, the Gāyatrī meter has twenty-four syllables.

Sri Krishna says to Udhava :

SB 11.16.12 — Among the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahmā, and of all mantras I am the three-lettered oṁkāra. Among letters I am the first letter, “a,” and among sacred meters I am the Gāyatrī mantra.

.

The Vedic famous Gayatri mantra from Rig Veda which we chant in Iskon is this :

Om bhoor-bhuvah-svah
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.

Gayatri should be chanted at medium speed, and each mantra chant should be immediately followed by the next chant, such that a cycle (spiral) of chants is formed and pervades around the chanter.

No precautions as such are necessary , but the following are worth noting :

1. The mind should be positive, and no negative thoughts should be entertained. Because, what ever thoughts we entertain during Gayatri chant, gets multiplied.

2. Specific time and place for regular chant is more helpful in the longer run.

.

Gayatri, as the name says, should be chanted three times, at sunrise, noon and sunset.

Anyway, Gayatri is mentioned for twice born Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, which strongly hate serving and working for Shudras and outcaste ones, because its sinful and contaminated for them.

lets see what Sri Krishna says to Uddhava :

.

SB 11.27.8 — Now please listen faithfully as I explain exactly how a person who has achieved twice-born status through the relevant Vedic prescriptions should worship Me with devotion.

.

SB 11.27.9 — A twice-born person should worship Me, his worshipable Lord, without duplicity, offering appropriate paraphernalia in loving devotion to My Deity form or to a form of Me appearing upon the ground, in fire, in the sun, in water or within the worshiper’s own heart.

.

SB 11.27.10 — One should first purify his body by cleansing his teeth and bathing. Then one should perform a second cleansing by smearing the body with earth and chanting both Vedic and tantric mantras.

.

SB 11.27.11 — Fixing the mind on Me, one should worship Me by his various prescribed duties, such as chanting the Gāyatrī mantra at the three junctures of the day. Such performances are enjoined by the Vedas and purify the worshiper of reactions to fruitive activities.

.

Its good to mentioned when a Vedic mantra is chanted within the mouth, so that only the chanter can hear, the chanting is called japa. But when such mantras are chanted loudly, it is called kīrtana.

Gayatri is usually chanted within the mouth, that only the chanter can hear, but can be also sung.

Anyway, In the present Age of Kali it is recommended by Lord Caitanya that simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one can attain all perfection.
- Amal > 3ruf705dlznca November 26, 2015 at 7:49am
  
  Hare Krishna Dean Prabhu!
  
  Please accept my pranam for your wonderful explanations! I am contented for your elaborate response and completely understood the answer of my question. Now I am in a conclusion that as a fallen soul, I just need to continue chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
  
  Respectfully,
  
  Your servant,
  
  Amal
  - 3ruf705dlznca > Amal January 2, 2016 at 1:36pm
    
    Dont be disheartened.
    
    Humble vaishnavas are always qualified as the celestials on the sky.
E-Counselor

Radha Rasamayi DD November 25, 2015 at 10:53am

Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

PAMHO.

In ISKCON, we chant gayatri mantra 3 times a day after taking brahman initiation - IInd initiation. For that, you have to first take 1st Iniitiation - harinaam diksha. For that, you have to choose your guru and take shelter. Then you have to chant guru's pranam mantra for minimum 6 months.

Its a process prabhu. Since the desire is there in your heart, you will do so very soon.

Haribol,

Your servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD
- Amal > Radha Rasamayi DD November 26, 2015 at 7:19am
  
  Hare Krishna Radha Rasamayi Mataji!
  
  Thank you very much for clarifications and good words regarding the feelings of my heart.
  
  Your Servant,
  
  Amal

This reply was deleted.