Dheemahi - The Glory of Gayatri Mantra

Gaayatri mantra plays the main role in a braahmin retaining his braahminhood. His braahminhood will be at risk if he spends even one day without chanting this mantra. Therefore it is mandatory for a braahmin to chant this mantra. But it is futile to chant it without comprehending its meaning and significance. In this background it is highly necessary to know and understand the meaning of Gaayatri mantra.

Already many sages and scholars have interpreted and explained its meaning. But our revered guru Shri Satyaatma Tirtha Shreepaadangalavaru who enjoys the benign presence of all the mentors, has mandated his disciples to chant 36 crores of Gaayatri japa. In order to gain maximum benefits from this holy ritual he performed Gaayatri Homa at Tirukkoilur at the sannidhaana of his guru and it is no exaggeration to say that the meanings of Gaayatri mantra he has explained on these occasions exceeds a thousand as on to-day.

While in the days of yore, Sage Vishwamitra, with the blessings of the Lord, envisioned the Gaayatri mantra, our Guru to-day has envisaged many unique and distinctive connotations to this mantra and it is possible to confer on him the sobriquet Abhinava Vishwamitra. I am sure that my opinion would be endorsed by those who have gone through the experience of listening to the erudite explanations of our Guru.

In order that these interpretations emerging from the discourses do not float away through the clouds, the favorite disciple of our Guru, Pt. Kanteshacharya has, with great effort, compiled all these interpretations and has brought them out in a book entitled Dheemahi. This is indeed a great service rendered to our Guru. Kanteshacharya has already brought out the Kannada version of Vaadaavali and has also published Swamiji's discourses like Jignaase, Satyatma Sudha and others which have been translated into other languages, too. I pray God to bless him with the ability to bring out many more such books which will be useful to people.

Shri E.D.Narahari, one of our favorite disciples and an ardent devotee of our Guru has translated this book into English with a view that the erudite thoughts of our Guruji reach a larger readership. May Lord Lakshmi Narasimha bless him with good health and long life.