This is the simple and inner meaning of the Gayatri Mantra. And this is the original Vedic interpretation.
The presiding deity of this Mantra is Sabita (one aspect of the rising Sun) and the meter is Gayatri (one of the seven Vedic meters). The Vedic Rishis described this particular meter as the Rhythm of Fire. The basic concept is to hold on to the idea that a flame within you is continuously going upward, trying to merge into the Cosmic space.
The Rishi or the Seer of the Gayatri Mantra is Viswamitra. Like Gautama Buddha, he loves everyone in the world and everyone loves him. While meditating on the Mantra, you have to keep in mind the significance of the meter as well as the importance of the Seer. You have to start the Practice (sadhana) with a strong feeling that the upward flame of your aspiration, combined with an inclination to love one and all is flowing out of your heart to reach the Supreme Beyond.
As mentioned before, the deity is Sabita- the rising Sun. He is still below the horizon but His rays, like the tips of myriad golden arrows are spreading all across the sky. The image of dawn has to be imprinted deep inside. The applied meaning is- the Lord Resides behind the screen of our outer self but the whole existence is lighted by His Radiance.
Next comes the meaning of the prayer. The effulgent deity Sabita is awakening us every moment with His golden touch. His pure rays carry the intensely scorching energy within (Bhargah) which would burn all our impurities. His Touch is tormenting. Yet we embrace that as a token of His love and carefully bring that into the deep cave of our heart (Dhimohi) because we know that this Fire will cleanse all or impurities and transmit our purified intelligence and awakened consciousness to the Eternal Light.
The Bliss of the Celestial Heat pouring down from the heaven to our heart is awakening us and pulling us towards the Effulgent Purity. This is the real concept of the Gayatri Mantra.
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The Sanskrit language is the most expressive language of the world, and the same way it is the most silent one (so suggestive).We can simply experience this when we try to gradually understand the layered connotations of the Gayatri mantra. Realized seers like Sri Anirvan help us recognizing the adherent dimensions of 'being' and to evolve to. He becomes the Mantra,and the Meaning itself. Now it is at our disposal up to which dimension of his consciousness we can evolve through his language.
PATHER KATHA
(Letters written to Asu Ranjan Debnath)
The explanation I have given for the term ‘Aparna’ is in accordance with Yajurveda. In the Vedas the word ‘Parna‘ has a double meaning~ a leaf and/or a wing. In the word ‘Suparni‘ it means wings. Hence ‘Saparni’= Female Bird.
The Vedas have depicted in various ways how Gayatri, as a bird, had penetrated the solar region and collected the Soma from the region of the Gandharvas. As the Soma or the moon exist below the Sun so also it does beyond. The lower moon is a part of the universal Nature and goes through the fortnightly wane and wax. Here everything is controlled by the law of birth and death and immortality can not be attained as long as one is governed by this law. Consumption of earthly soma brings about intoxication- a blind attachment for material objects. Unless the same soma is purified and carries the supra cosmic ecstasy from beyond the solar region or cosmic cycles, the true function of the Soma is not fulfilled. In order to sublimate the Somayag, the Vedas have indicated some unique methods that demand rigorous discipline.
The rising of the Kundalini in the Hathayoga is very similar to this concept. The latent fire or the spiritual energy all over the body has to be channelized to flow upwards and the imagery is that of a liquid radiance moving up through Sushumna along the core of the spinal cord. Gayatri is the rhythm of Agni~ she is the power or Shakti of Agni. She is being described as an one-year old girl when she brings down Soma from the upper regions. She is also a stealer of our hearts~ but her lure has nothing earthly in nature ~ everything in her is celestial.
She is ‘Suparni” when, poised on her powerful wings, she brings the nectar of Immortality for mortals from the heaven above. Again the same one is called ’Aparna’ (without wings) when she is besides herself in ecstasy in Cosmic Vastness~ like a bird with its wings folded going down in the depth of Impassable.
Some hints on the meditation on Gayatri:
A scorching radiance from the Cosmic Nothingness coming down through the passage on the top of the head and moving along the spinal way is hitting the ground. Its blazing effulgence is filling the whole entity consisting of physical, vital and mental beings. Then the same blazing radiance is going up from the base (Muladhara) along the spine up through the passage on the top of the head (Brahmarandhra) and expanding into the same Cosmic Nothingness.