Deconstructing the Mahamantra By Khushwant Singh, The Deccan Herald, January 14, 2006
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan142006/editpage Some weeks ago, I asked readers to enlighten me on the exact connotation of the word swaha which appears at the end of many mantras including the opening line of the Gayatri Mantra- "Om bhur bhuwa swaha". I received hundreds of letters, booklets, etc, from all over the country explaining what the word stood for. I was happy to note that so many people were eager to know what the prayer meant than simply repeat it parrot-wise without knowing what they are reciting. Many readers who had scholastic credits attached to their names were of the opinion that the first line quoted above was in fact not a part of the Gayatri Mantra. I can scarcely believe that because every text I have seen has this line as well as every casette. Millions of Hindus who chant it every day always begin with it. So it is right and proper to include it. Om and the Lord The word Om (often spelt Aum) has no English equivalent. It is mystic, a sonorous sound to still the mind from wandering. I don't know any better way of doing so than chant a long-drawn Hari Om in silence. Both Buddhists and Sikhs have taken its derivatives - Hom Mani Padme hom (Buddhists) and Ek Omkar (Sikhs). Also, both equate it with God. So it is legitimate to use the word God for Om. Bhur stands for earth, Bhuwa for the sky or heavens. Swaha is an exclamation of wonder. Some readers wrote to say that in the Gayatri it is Swah and not Swaha. It is uttered when ingredients like sesame seeds, rice, etc, are tossed into the yagna fire (agni) because Swaha was the wife of Agni. I prefer to use the word as an expression of awe, wonder and acclaim. I translate the opening line as follows: Om, Lord God, Creater of the earth and heavens, hallowed be your name. The second line Tat (that) Savitur (the sun), Varenyam (desirable) should follow the first line as something to ask for as in a prayer, I translate it thus - "You who makes the sun rise at dawn and gives light and life to all things, infuse our beings with hope of enlightenment." The third line Bhargo (the purest), devasya (gift of God), Dhimayi (object of meditation), I render as "Lord grant us the power to cleanse our minds of dross and make them pure." The fourth and last line reads Dhiyo (intellect) Yoh (who) nah (our) prachodyat (inspire). In simple words: "Lord, inspire our minds to perform noble actions." I sum up my second attempt to translate the Mahamantra: "Om, Lord Creator of the earth and the heaven, hallowed be your name. You, who makes the sun rise at dawn and gives light & life to all things, in fuse our beings with hope of enlightment. Lord, grant us the power to cleanse our minds of dross and make them pure. Lord, inspire our minds to perform noble actions." Readers are welcome to point our errors and suggest improvements. -- This is ZESTGlobal. Post articles on international affairs to [email protected] If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTGlobal by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/join/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
