LalithA SahasranAma [420] GAyatri

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GAyatri : The metre consisting of twenty-four syllables is called

GAyatri. The KUrma Pr : "I am GAyatri among the metres" [vide Bha.-

gitA, X. 35].

 

Or, a cowherd's daughter is called GAyatri, who is the younger wife

of BrahmA. This story occurs in the PAdma Pr : Once in the Puskara,

when BrahmA was performing a sacrifice, he called SAvitri [his wife]

who was with Laksmi and others. She did not come, but replied "I will

come with the others";enraged at this speech he substitued a

cowherd's daughter bestowed by the hand of Indra, and thus addressed

Visnu, Then BrahmA said to Visnu, "let us hasten for the sacrifice,

ther is here, O Lord, a very virtous woman called GAyatri". Thus

address, Visnu replied to BrahmA, "do you wed this [woman] by the

GAndharva [form of] marriage? I give her to you, O Lord, do not

hesitate. Take the hand of this cowherd's daughter"; and thus the

grandsire wedded [her] by the GAndharva marriage. etc.

 

OR GAyatri, the mother of the Vedas. According to the BhAradvAja-

smr. "Because she protects [tra] the singer, [GA] she is called

GAyatri" As mother is inseparable from GAyatri, she is thus named.

The PAdma Pr, "After bathing in the Puskara, one should repeat me

[ie GAyatri] the mother of the Vedas. Though I abide in the eight

syllables [of each aprt], yet this universe is pervaded by me" The

Devi Pr., "As [everyone] sings [gAyana] [her] and approaches

[gamana], she is called GAyatri, worshipped by Devas". The ChA. up.,

[iII. 12.1]:"Sings forth [gAyati] and protects [trAyate]" The

VAsistha RAm, "GAyatri, because she is in the form of song"

 

BhAskararAya's Commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry