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2 aspects of Brahmana-diksha in Kali Yuga

1. The Vedic diksa (upanayana): by brahma-gayatri.

2. The Vaisnava pancaratrika-diksa by three pancaratrika-mantras (mula-mantras) and three pancaratrika-gayatris.

Gayatri Mantra

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of the Sanskrit of the Brahma gayatri is: “Let us meditate on that worshipable effulgence of the divine sun who enthuses our meditation.”

Gayatri Mantra – Etymological meaning

Gayatri trayate yasmad gayatri tvam tatah smritah

One who chants the gayatri-mantras is gradually delivered from the material clutches. In other words, that which delivers us from material entanglement is called gayatri.

Gaya – singing; tra - deliver

Structure of brahma-gayatri

1. om, the bija (seed syllable)2. The maha-vyahrtis (bhuh bhuvah and

svah), 3. The gayatri itself4. The word dhimahi (meditation or to

invoke the form and activities of the Supreme Lord) is standard in all gayatris.

Structure of Pancharatrika mantras and gayatris

1. The bija (seed syllable): aim or klim2. The namatmaka – the nama as the

central pivot of the mantra3. Svaha or namah indicating

obeisances4. The word dhimahi indicating

meditation

Why is Pancharatra diksha needed?

1. No one qualified in Kali yugaSkanda Purana: kalau-sudra-sambhavah.2. So Pancharatra system adopted

pancaratrasya krtsnasya vakta tu bhagavan svayam (Mahabharata; Paramatma Sandarbha, annucheda 18)

Meaning of Pancharatraratran ca jnanavacanam jnanam pancavidham smrtamtenedam pancaratram ca pravadanti manisinahPanca means five. Ratra means jnana or knowledge. According to authorities there are five kinds of knowledge; 1) vedic, 2) yogic, 3) mayik, 4) mukti, and 5) bhakti, the knowledge by which one attains to the loving devotional service of the Sri Sri Radha Krsna. (Narada Pancaratra 1.2.44 and Gaudiya Kanthahara 2.44)

Pancha-samskara within Pancharatra

tapah pundram tatha nama mantro yagas ca pancamah ami hi panca-samskarah paramaikanti-hetavahTapah, pundra, nama, mantra, and yaga; these five items comprise panca-samskara. They are the cause of intense devotion to Lord Hari.

Pancha-samskara

Tapah: performing austerities and accepting oneself as Krishna’s servantPundra: applying tilaka symbolizing the body as the temple of Hari. Nama: receiving the holy name from guruMantra: receiving various gayatri mantrasYaja: engaging in Deity worship

Bhagavata vidhi

• Focus on hearing and chanting• Both upanayana and pancharatra diksha

are aids to Bhagavata vidhi

Sacred Thread (Yajnopavita)

nine threads of yajnopavita symbolize the nine practices of suddha-bhakti (pure devotional service): sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, and atmanivedanam

Relationship bet brahma-gayatri & mahamantra

Mahamantra – from ignorance to prema

Brahma Gayatri: From goodness

to liberation