Additional Meanings of Kama-gayatri
"Let us meditate upon that new transcendental Cupid of Vrndavana, Shri Krishna, who
is always enchanting and ever-youthful. By His desire, Syama plays in different
pastimes.
Let us try to know that Kamadeva, Shri Krishna, who has five arrows of flowers that
He shoots from the five threaded strings of His bow. Shri Krishna is Rasaraja, the king
of all the mellows of conjugal love, and He greatly pleases us by engaging us in His
transcendental loving service."
The Moons of Krishnacandra
kama'gayatri-mantra-rupa, haya krmera svarupa,
sardha'cabbisa aksara tara haya se aksara 'candra' haya, krsne kari'
udaya, trijagat kaila kamamaya
"Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is identical (krsnera svarupa) with the
Vedic hymn known as the Kama-gayatri (kama-gayatri-mantra-rupa), which is composed
of twenty-four and a half syllables. Those syllables are compared to moons that arise
in Krishna. Thus all three worlds are filled with desire." (Cc. Madhya 21.125)
"The Vedic hymn known as Kama-gayatri describes the face of Krishna as the king of all
moons. In metaphorical language, there are many different moons, but they are all
one in Krishna.
There is the moon of His mouth, the moon of His cheeks, the moon spots of
sandalwood pulp on His body, the moons of the fingertips of His hands and the moons
of the tips of His toes.
In this way there are twenty-four and a half moons, and Krishna is the central figure
of all of them."(TLC ch. lO)
Shrila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives a wonderful description of the 24-1/2
moons on Krishna's transcendental body:
"In the Kama-gayatri there are 24-1/2 syllables, and these form 24-1/2 full moons.
These full moons arise in Shri Krishna's bodily form and thereby make the three worlds,
kama-maya, or pervaded with His own transcendental lusty desire to sport.
The sastras describe the moon-identities amongst the syllables of the Kama-gayatri
mantra. Krishna's face is one moon; His cheeks are two; His forehead is a half-moon;
the tilaka on His forehead is a full moon; fingernails are ten moons; and His toenails
are ten moons.
Thus intelligent authorities have revealed that all the 24-1/2 syllables of the Kamagayatri
mantra systematically form the different moons which correspond to the
moons of Shri Krishna's bodily features.
"Although in the Chaitanya-charitamrita, Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja has also listed
the letters in the Kama-gayatri to be 24-1/2, a great doubt arose within me. It
seemed to me that Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja has somehow rejected the apparent
fact that the Kama-gayatri mantra contains 25 syllables. Therefore I wondered—
on the basis of what scriptural proof does he say that the mantra has only 24-1/2
syllables?
"Upon reviewing various sastras such as Hari-namamrita-vyakarana, the
Puranas, the Agamas, and the Natya-sastra, I discovered that the count of the
syllables in the Kama-gayatri mantra totals exactly 25. Furthermore, the Brihan
Naradiya Parana states, 'Shri Radha is the Princess of Vrndavana-dhama, and
Her transcendental form is composed of 25 syllables.'
After searching through all the works describing vowels and consonants, I could
not find proof anywhere that this mantra adds up to 24-1/2 syllables. Therefore,
I remained immersed in a great ocean of doubt.
"Is it possible that Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was unaware of all these
things? No this is not possible. He is definitely in full knowledge of everything,
and he is therefore completely free from the common material defects of
error, illusion, and so forth. In his great treatise, Shri Chaitanya-charitamrita,
Krishnadasa Kaviraja describes the moons on Krishna's transcendental body:
"In the mood of Shrimati Radhika, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu describes the
relationship between Krishna's transcendental form and the Kama-gayatri
mantra.
'Krishna's form is represented in the Kama-gayatri mantra, which contains
twenty-four and one-half syllables. These syllables are twenty-four and onehalf
moons that arise in Krishna and fill the three worlds with desire.
'Hey sakhi, Krishna's face is the king of moons, and His body is the throne on
which He sits to rule the kingdom and maintain the society of moons. Krishna's
two glistening cheeks, that defeat the shining of jeweled mirrors, are two full
moons.
His forehead is shaped like a half moon, and the dot of sandalwood paste on it
is like one moon. His fingernails are like a market of moons that dance on His
flute. Their song is the melody of that flute. His toenails are a host of moons
that dance on the ground and whose song is the jingling of His ankle bells.'
(Cc. Madhya ch. 21)
"Even after considering this exhaustively from many points of view, I still could
not come to a sound conclusion. At this point, I gave up all endeavors for finding
the answer. Rejecting all eating and drinking, I became so upset in my mind that
I decided to give up my body.
In this sad mood, I sat motionless on the bank of Radha-kunda. If one is not
properly aware of even the syllables of the mantra, then how will it be possible
to become conscious of the Lord? Therefore it is befitting to give up the body.
"Well after midnight I finally dozed off to sleep. Then suddenly—I saw that
Shri Vrsabhanunandini, Shrimati Radhika Herself, had appeared to me and
began to speak:
'Oh Visvanatha! Oh Hari Vallabha! Please get up! That which Krishnadasa Kaviraja
has written is true. He is also My very confidential maidservant. By My mercy, he
knows everything about My secret innermost moods.
Please do not have any doubt about his statement. This mantra is the mantra for
worshiping Me—indeed I can be known by the syllables of this mantra. But without My
mercy, no one can learn anything about the mystery of these matters.
'The solution to the half-syllable question is found in the book known as Varnagamabhasvadi.
Seeing this book, Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja has written as he did. Now
please listen. After you wake up, refer to that book, and then compile all this evidence
for the benefit of others.'
"Hearing these words of Shrimati Radhika, I regained consciousness and quickly got
up. My confusion was now gone. But crying, "Alas! Alas!" I lamented again and again over
losing Radhika's darsana. Holding Her order in my heart, I endeavored to carry it out.
"While Radhika was describing the half-syllable to me in the vision, She had
spoken thus: 'The letter "ya" (devaya) which is followed by the letter
"vi" (vidmahe) is considered to be a half-syllable. This falls on Shri Krishna's
forehead, which forms the halo of a half-moon. All other letters of the mantra
are full syllables and therefore full moons.'
"The description of the half-syllable, as per the direct instruction of Shrimati
Radhika Herself, is indeed found in the book called Vamagama-bhasvadi thus:
'The letter ya when followed by the letter vi is celebrated as being a half
syllable.' That which delivers the chanter is known as Gayatri." (MD)
Shrila Bhakti-prajnana Kesava Maharaja once gave this definition of the Kamagayatri:
"The Kama-gayatri is Radha and Krishna. Just chant sincerely, and the mantra
will reveal everything to you." Jaya, Jaya Shri Radhe!
Meditations on Kama-gayatri
The Svayambhuva-agama sastra mentions this meditation on the Kama-gayatri
mantra:
"Overwhelmed in ecstasy, Shri Mukunda triumphantly plays on His murali as He
roams from grove to grove in the forests of Vrndavana. His beautiful body is
dressed in charming clothing and embraced by Shri Radha.
Completely subjugated by Radhika's love, Syama is addicted to enjoying with
Her. Full of love for Radhika, Syama sometimes reveals His lustful mood by
smiling and moving His eyebrows seductively."
Shrila Krishna dasa Kaviraja wrote the following verse for meditating on
Radha-Govinda at Yogapitha:
divyad-vrindaranya-kalpa-drumadhah
shrimad'ratnagara'simhasana'sthau
shrimad'Radha-shrila-govinda'devau
presthalibhih sevyamanau smarami
"I meditate upon the indescribably beautiful forms of Radha-Govinda, sitting on
a most elegant jewel-studded throne in the middle of a confidential kunja
beneath a kadamba tree in the center of Vrndavana, which is filled with
transcendental desire trees.
Radha-Govinda are surrounded by their most intimate sakhis and manjaris,
whose bee-like eyes are drinking the ambrosial nectar pouring from the lotus
faces of the Divine Couple.
Overwhelmed with prema, the sakhis are rendering various pleasing services like
fanning and offering tambula. May my mind and heart always be absorbed in
remembering this wonderful transcendental pastime." (Cc. Antya 1.6)
This verse, which is known by all Gaudiya Vaishnavas, actually depicts a very elevated
level of Krishna consciousness. A devotee who is spiritually advanced may remember
this verse along with the following meditation.
While silently chanting the Kama-gayatri mantra in the mind and heart, the sadhaka
should meditate on Radha and Krishna sitting in the middle of a big pink lotus flower
throne, studded with jewels in a golden temple on the banks of the Yamuna.
This place is known as Govindasthali or the Vrndavana Yogapitha. Radhika is offering
pan to Krishna, and the spiritual master is standing on the side waiting to render
service to Shri Radha. The disciple is there in his siddha-deha assisting his guru by
holding a jug of scented water or a camara whisk for him to offer to Shrimati Radhika.
Benefits of Chanting Kama-gayatri
"Gayatri emanated as the song of Krishna's flute. It entered Lord Brahma's ears and
immediately manifested within his lotus mouth. Thus receiving the Gayatri as it
emanated from the divine flute song of Shri Krishna, the original guru, Lord Brahma
was elevated to the status of twice-born." (BS v. 27)
"The divine vibration of Krishna's flute is the sound of truth, cognizance, and ecstasy
(saccidanandamaya). The paragon of the Vedas is present within that divine sound.
Kama-gayatri is superior amongst all Gayatris because the prayer and meditation
contained within it are full of the highest transcendental pastimes (Krishna and the
gopis in Vrndavana) which are not found in any other Gayatri.
"This Kama-gayatri, which is attained as the sequel to the Gopala-mantra, indicates
the realization of the transcendental pastimes of gopi-jana-vallabha, the beloved of
the gopis, after perfecting one's meditation and prayer to attain the service of that
transcendental God of love, Kamadeva, the spiritual Cupid known as Shri Krishna.
In the whole spiritual world there is no higher form of divine love than that of
attaining an ecstatic rasa-filled relationship with Krishna under the shelter of the
gopis." (BS v. 27, adapted)
The Brahma Samhita says, "By chanting the Kama-gayatri one will realize
Krishna's sublime beauty." One will see the transcendental form of Krishna,
Syamasundara, in the core of his heart, and, if the Lord so desires, one may
see Krishna outside as well, saksad-darsana.
This mantra helps a devotee develop Krsna’s transcendental qualities, and
enables one to perceive the blissful transcendental pastimes of Radha and
Krishna in aprakrta Vrndavana.
Krishna will manifest Himself before the sadhaka in the form of Radhika-
Syama surrounded by the sakhis. Thus one will get a chance to serve Yugalakisora
in Their blissful transcendental pastimes.
"Whoever faithfully chants the kama-bija combined with Kama-gayatri again and
again will attain prema-siddhi, and will without a doubt obtain the loving service
of Radha and Krishna in Vrndavana." (SKS)
"By meditating upon Kama-gayatri, Lord Brahma began to think, 'I am an eternal
maidservant of Krishna.' Although the profound mysteries of acting as a maidservant
of Krishna were not revealed to him, his discrimination between spirit and matter
developed to such a degree that Lord Brahma became well acquainted with the ocean
of truth.
When all the truths of the Vedas were thus manifested within him, he offered this
prayer (Brahma-samhita), which is the essence of all the Vedas, to the Supreme Lord
Krishna. Since the Brahma-samhita contains the complete vaishnava-siddhanta, Shri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught this hymn to His favorite devotees." (BS v. 28 p.)
Mantra Siddhi
There is no restriction regarding the number of times one can chant Gayatri or the
Gopala-mantra. Vedic scriptures suggest chanting the Gayatri mantra 108 times,
thirty-two times, or twenty-eight times.
Some gurus prescribe ten times, others twelve, and some Gaudiya acaryas request
their disciples to chant one round of the Gopala-mantra at each sandhya. The main
point is to chant the number of times requested by the spiritual master, and chant
more if time permits.
In this regard, Shrila Prabhupada once said we should chant a minimum of sixteen
rounds on the japa beads and unlimited rounds off the beads. Kirtaniya sada hari!
According to mantra sastras, mantra-siddhi (perfection in a particular Vedic or
pancharatrika mantra) can be attained by chanting it one thousand times the number
of syllables in the mantra.
For example, you can attain perfection in the eighteen-syllable Gopala-mantra by
chanting it 18,000 times; the twenty-four syllable Kama-gayatri, by chanting it
24,000 times, and so on.
The Hare Krishna maha-mantra, however, is independent of this concept, for even one
pure recitation of Hare Krishna can give the highest perfection of pure love of God.
What does it mean to attain mantra-siddhi? It means one gets perfection in
that particular mantra, and quickly receives the benefits or fruits of that
mantra. Generally, siddhi means obtaining whatever the mantra offers.
For example, Hanuman mantra-siddhi gives darsana of Hanuman and
benedictions such as strength. The Brahmanda Purana provides another
example of mantra-siddhi:
"Reciting the Nrsimha Kavaca 32,000 times with a purified heart grants the
most auspicious of all auspicious things. Material enjoyment and liberation are
understood to be already available to such a person."
Lord Brahma himself achieved mantra-siddhi after chanting the Gopala-mantra
thousands of times. He attained the perfection of hearing Krishna's transcendental
flute. Then in his trance of meditation, Brahma saw Lord Govinda and the spiritual
world of Goloka Vrndavana.
The initiation rites mentioned in Hari-bhakti-vilasa describe pumsacarya as a method
of obtaining siddhi by chanting. Following the pumsacarya process and chanting the
prescribed number of times brings darsana of the ista-deva of a particular mantra.
The sadhaka then requests a boon from that devata. This is a "forced darsana"
technique not appreciated by devotees aspiring for the unalloyed service of Radha
and Krishna.
Above all, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu prayed, "My dear Lord Krishna, I only
want to serve You birth after birth without any motivation or cessation." Upon
understanding the actual meaning and benefits of Gopala-mantra and Kamagayatri,
a devotee will eagerly chant them again and again.
Krishna will arrange everything for a sadhaka who is greedy for spiritual
advancement and intensely desirous of nothing but Radha-Madhava premabhakti.
The Best Chanting Time
One should always keep this principle in mind: All activities in devotional service
should be performed solely to give pleasure to Radha and Krishna who
mercifully manifest before us as the worshipable Deities of Radha-Madhava,
Radha-Govinda, Radha-Syamasundara, or Gandharvika-Giridhari.
Sastras indicate that to please the Deities, Gayatri mantras should be chanted
while They are awake. In other words, between 21:30 and 3:30 am, one should
not chant Gayatri because Krishna rests at this time.
The scriptures give exact details on the proper times to chant the Gayatri
mantra because these times are the best periods for meditation.
The sunrise sandhya lasts from 24 minutes before sunrise to 24 minutes after
sunrise. The day's first Gayatri should be chanted at this time.
Chanting when the stars are still visible and before the sun has risen is best;
chanting when the stars have disappeared but the sun has not yet risen is
second class; and chanting when the sun is visible is third class.
The noon sandhya occurs when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky
between sunrise and sunset.
The evening sandhya starts 24 minutes before sunset and lasts 24 minutes
after sunset.
Chanting the evening Gayatri within the 24 minutes before sunset is best;
chanting after sunset but before the stars appear overhead is second class;
and chanting after the stars have appeared is third class.
If all this seems too difficult, then Shrila Prabhupada's simple suggestion
should be followed to chant Gayatri at six a.m.; twelve noon, and six p.m. Of
course, the main point is to chant the Gayatri mantras three times a day!
By chanting Gayatri at the proper times one worships Lord Vishnu's divine
consorts, who are all expansions of Shrimati Radhika. Vishnu's consorts
personally preside over these times of the day.
In the smarta tradition, brahmanas worship Brahma and his consort Sarasvati
in the morning; Vishnu and Laksmi at noon; and Siva and Parvati in the evening.
The Vaishnava tradition explains that Sandhya-devi, Gayatri-devi, Savitri-devi
and Sarasvati-devi are basically different expanded forms Laksmi-devi. The
only distinction between Gayatri and Laksmi is that Laksmi is the original, and
Gayatri is Her expansion, or specific sakhi as a chandas (poetic meter) to
assist us in realizing Vishnu.
The morning Gayatri invokes Gayatri Devi; noon—Savitri Devi; and evening—
Sarasvati Devi.
Should one ask for boons from these presiding Deities of the sandhyas upon
concluding his Gayatri worship? Gaudiya Vaishnavas do not ask the consorts of
the Lord for any boons, other than the mercy to advance in the Lord's pure
devotional service.
Since there is a personality underlying all the practices of devotional service, it
is an offense to Gayatri-devi, the embodiment of the sandhyas (time
junctures), not to chant the Gayatri mantras at the proper time. "Those who
do not perform the sandhya rites are ungrateful, and fall into the hell known as
Raurava." (SP)
There are traditional means of atonement given for this offense. Some
authorities say if you miss the morning Gayatri, you should fast until lunch and
chant two sets of Gayatri at the proper sandhya. Fasting until evening is the
atonement for missing the noon sandhya.
However, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said there is no offense and no atonement
necessary if the proper Gayatri sandhya is missed due to being engaged in sankirtana
or preaching Krishna's glories at that time. Such glorification of the Lord is the very
essence and meaning of chanting the Gayatri mantra.
Although no fasting is required, the missed Gayatris should be made up. If one
misses morning Gayatri, one should chant two sets of mantras at noon. If one misses
the morning and noon mantras then one should chant three sets of mantras during the
evening sandhya.
If one misses the proper time for chanting, it is better to wait until the next sandhya
and chant two sets, than to chant the Gayatri mantras at the wrong time. Chanting
the day's three Gayatris before taking rest is definitely the wrong course of action.
"At both junctions of day and night, namely, in the early morning and in the evening,
he should be fully absorbed in thoughts of the spiritual master, fire, the sun-god and
Lord Vishnu, and by chanting the Gayatri-mantra he should worship them." (SB 7.12.3
Comments
The following sastric quotations explain the amazing potency of the seed mantra klim.
Although Prabhodananda Sarasvati describes many transcendental visions that
manifest from the bija syllabic klim, such repetition is faultless for its sole purpose
is to glorify Radha and Krishna. After all, a rasagula is always refreshingly sweet and
pleasing no matter how many times it is taken.
"In the forest of Vrndavana, which is filled with splendid bliss emanating
from the bija syllable of the Kama-gayatri mantra, a teenage boy stands with
a teenage girl.
“The girl is the personified treasure of very wonderful and sweet ecstatic
love. From each of Her transcendental limbs a nectar ocean of golden
splendor emanates. The boy is the personified form of the most wonderful
and sweet nectar.
"Within the splendid ocean of light manifested from the bija syllable klim of the
Kama-gayatri mantra, the sweet abode named Vrndavana is manifest. Within that
Vrndavana resides an unlimitedly sweet fair and dark complexioned couple absorbed in
enjoying amorous pastimes. Please worship and serve Them.
“Beyond the material world dominated by the three modes of nature is the divine ocean
of bliss that is the bija syllable klim of the Kama-gayatri mantra. In that ocean is an
incredibly beautiful island.
“On that island is the realm of Vrndavana, and in a secluded place of Vrndavana is an
enchantingly beautiful forest garden. In that garden are Gandharvika-Giridhari, the two
great treasures of intense transcendental bliss. Please worship Them with great devotion.
"Far from the material energy, which is the root of numberless material
universes, is the sweet nectar of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's
effulgence. Within that effulgence are the Vaikuntha planets, and in the
most confidential portion of Vaikuntha is this blissful, glorious Vrndavana,
splendid with the Kama-gayatri bija.
“Please worship Vrndavana's trees, which grow on a splendid island of sweet
nectar risen from the effulgent spiritual ocean of the Kama-gayatri bija.
These trees are the wonderful object of love for the very charming fair
and dark divine couple.
"That realm is eternally free from the slightest touch of any material desire. It is
manifested from the bija -syllable of the Kama-gayatri mantra. It is filled with the
nectar of ecstatic love.
“This place is the form of the Kama-gayatri bija and the bliss of transcendental
pastimes. In this place the supremely beautiful Gandharvika-Giridhari always stay." (VM)