Goddess

Goddess

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Tales of the Goddess Part 2 - Gayatri



Gayatri

Goddess Gayatri, in different texts, is variously spoken of as the consorts of any one of the Trimurthis. She is popularly visualized as having five faces, ten arms, seated on a lotus, and with the swan as her vahana.

Her five faces are interpreted to represent the pancha pranas (five vital breaths), and, pancha bhoothas (five elements). While one hand is in abhaya mudra (granting protection) and the other in varada mudra (bestowing gifts); the other eights hands are depicted as bearing weapons, as well as lotus, rosary, vedic manuscripts, and jar of ambrosia.



Whatever the origin story, the one disputable truth about Devi Gayatri is that she is synonymous with the Gayatri Mantra – a 24-syllabled mantra from the Rig Veda – that invokes the Divine for the ultimate gift: self-realization.

Among the famous temples of Goddess Gayatri is the Gayatri Temple in Rega, Andhra Pradesh.


Gayatri Temple in Rega, Andhra Pradesh

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