Is the So-called Gayatri Mantra, Actually the Savitri Mantra?

O Learned and Devoted Servants of God,

[Dr. Nikhil asked:- The so-called Gayatri Mantra is actually the Savitṛ Mantra. This is a well-known fact which has also been explained by Swamiji several times.]

Swami replied:- You are perfectly correct. In fact, the boy also in the ritual asks his father to give Savitri Mantra (Saavitriim anubruuhi). Saavitrii means the hymn for which the deity is Savitaa or the creator of the world. It is not Gaayatrii because it is only a poem written in Gaayatrii meter. This Saavitrii hymn is very very popularly called as Gaayatrii Mantra and I find hardly any person calling this as Saavitrii Mantra. In Saavitrii Mantra, the meter is called Gaayatrii. This name of the meter is only for just identification (samjnaa) without application of the meaning of the word Gaayatrii. In this mantra, Gaayatrii is neither deity (because Savitaa is the deity) nor there is application of the meaning of the word Gaayatrii. Gaayatrii means the mode of singing (which is most pleasant) the praise of God for protection from Him (Gaayantam traayate). Hence, Gaayatrii can’t be the deity even in general sense because it only means a specific mode (singing) of worship. The word Gaayatrii can also mean that she protects the souls (Gayaan traayate). In this, the means to please the God is not mentioned. Hence, you can add both ways of definition and say that Gaayatrii means the special mode of worship through singing the praise of God so that the pleased God protects the souls. Some say that the light of the sun is mentioned in the mantra (Savituh… bhargah) and hence, the creation- power is mentioned, which is a different deity other than God. Only creation is item existing other than God and God merges with a selected part of the creation for the sake of visualization of the devotees.

A part of the power or creation is merged by the God and visualization of God is possible only when the power becomes His medium for expression. In fact, the creation (product form of power) is non-existent if you give a separate place to it. If you take this power as the causal form, it is the very God itself because two unimaginable items can’t exist separately. The power in product form is stressed here because it alone gives us the way to approach God standing as His medium. The word ‘Saavitrii Mantra’ gives us real facilitation to say that this mantra is not Gaayatrii Mantra even if you call it as Gaayatrii based on the name of its meter. If you have written a verse on Krishna in the meter, called Shaarduula Vikriiditam, will you call the verse as prayer to Krishna or prayer to Shaarduula Vikriiditam? It is also said that the three deities of morning, noon and evening are called Gaayatrii, Saavitrii and Saraswatii. In such case also, you can’t call this mantra recited in these three times of day as Gaayatrii or Saavitrii or even both since Saraswatii will be missing!

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