Shloka 12
Gāyatrī–Sandhyā Upāsanā: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, and Japa-Viniyoga
गायत्त्र्या विश्वामित्र ऋषिर्गायत्त्रीछन्दः / सविता देवता जपे विनियोगः / ॐ उदुत्यं जातवेदसं देवं वहन्ति केतवः / दृशे विश्वाय सूर्यम् / ॐ चित्रं देवानामुदगादनीकं चक्षुर्मित्रस्य वरुणस्याग्नेः / आप्रा द्यावापृथिवी अन्तरिक्षं सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्थुषश्च / ॐ तच्चक्षर्देवहितं पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुच्चरत् / पश्येम शरदः शतं जीवेम शरदः शतम् / शृणुयाम शरदः शतम् / ॐ विश्वतश्चक्षुरुत विश्वतोमुखोविश्वतो बाहुरुत विश्वतस्पात् / संबाहुभ्यां धमति संपत्रैद्यार्वाभूमी जनयन्देव एकः / देवा गातुविदो नाङ्गविद्वानाद्भमितमनसस्पत इमं देवयज्ञं स्वाहा वातेधाः जपेत्
gāyattryā viśvāmitra ṛṣirgāyattrīchandaḥ / savitā devatā jape viniyogaḥ / oṃ udutyaṃ jātavedasaṃ devaṃ vahanti ketavaḥ / dṛśe viśvāya sūryam / oṃ citraṃ devānāmudagādanīkaṃ cakṣurmitrasya varuṇasyāgneḥ / āprā dyāvāpṛthivī antarikṣaṃ sūrya ātmā jagatastasthuṣaśca / oṃ taccakṣardevahitaṃ purastācchukramuccarat / paśyema śaradaḥ śataṃ jīvema śaradaḥ śatam / śṛṇuyāma śaradaḥ śatam / oṃ viśvataścakṣuruta viśvatomukhoviśvato bāhuruta viśvataspāt / saṃbāhubhyāṃ dhamati saṃpatraidyārvābhūmī janayandeva ekaḥ / devā gātuvido nāṅgavidvānādbhamitamanasaspata imaṃ devayajñaṃ svāhā vātedhāḥ japet
Pour la Gāyatrī : le voyant (ṛṣi) est Viśvāmitra, le mètre est Gāyatrī, la divinité est Savitṛ—telle est la vinīyoga pour le japa. Om. Les étendards rayonnants (les rayons) portent au haut Jātavedas, le Soleil divin, afin que tous le contemplent. Om. Le visage merveilleux des dieux s’est levé—l’œil de Mitra, de Varuṇa et d’Agni ; il a rempli le ciel, la terre et l’espace médian ; le Soleil est l’Ātman même de tout ce qui se meut et de tout ce qui demeure. Om. Cet œil divin, bienfaisant pour les dieux, s’est levé à l’orient, éclatant ; puissions-nous voir cent automnes, vivre cent automnes, entendre cent automnes. Om. Ayant des yeux partout, des visages partout, des bras partout et des pieds partout—l’Unique Dieu, qui engendre ciel et terre, exhale par Ses deux bras et par Ses ailes. Ô dieux, connaisseurs de la voie ; ô Seigneur du mental, conduis cette offrande divine : svāhā. Ainsi doit-on le répéter en japa avec Vāte-dhāḥ (l’invocation du porteur du vent).
Lord Viṣṇu instructing Garuḍa (ritual/japa prescription within the discourse)
Concept: Sūrya/Savitṛ as the universal ‘cakṣus’ (divine eye) and as the Ātman of the moving and unmoving; contemplation yields longevity, clarity, and right orientation of mind.
Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin/Ātman as the inner Self of jagat (tatasthuṣaś ca); unity behind multiplicity (eka-deva with all-sided limbs).
Application: Use as a structured solar-japa: begin with viniyoga, contemplate the Sun as divine witness, then recite longevity-prayers and the all-pervading form to steady attention and cultivate sattva.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: cosmic-directional
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha sections): frequent use of Vedic mantras as ancillary recitations in rites; General Garuda Purana practice: japa-viniyoga framing before mantra use
FAQs
It specifies the ṛṣi (Viśvāmitra), chandas (Gāyatrī), and devatā (Savitṛ), establishing the correct ritual framework for japa so the recitation is aligned with Vedic tradition.
It declares “sūrya ātmā jagatas”—the Sun as the Self of all moving and unmoving beings, presenting Sūrya not only as a celestial body but as a cosmic principle sustaining life and awareness.
Use it as a morning japa/prayer to cultivate clarity (cakṣuḥ), gratitude for life-force, and disciplined daily worship—paired with ethical living (dharma) for steadiness and longevity.