Vishvamitra Rishi

   Every mantra is a sound, a word, a phrase or a sentence visualized by a drushtara who later comes to be known as Rishi, associated with that mantra. Before realizing this, the sage must take to dhyana, invoke a devata, get into a mode of transcendental meditation. Here, the devata is paramatma narauana  and the person Koushika, son of Gadhin, who became the Rishi Vishva Mitra, The mantra so visualised is in the Gayatree Chhandas of 3 and a half metres. This mantra comes in Mandala III of Rk Veda. 

   The Rk Veda is a collection, samhita, of 10, 552 mantra grouped under 64 suktas. Each mantra is a divine sound, word, phrase visualized by a sage in his transcendental meditative trance, samadhi. Gayatri mantra is found in Rk Veda, Mandala III. It has a very deep and vast meaning and purport and its power is transformative! This mantra is credited to Sage Vishvamitra.

 Here is an example how a person named Koushika, son of Gadhi, became a Raja rishi with determination, 'dhruti'. This proves that anybody can attain the highest state, param padam, and become a great Rishi of the status of one of the saptarshis, a brahmarishi! In his purvashrama, before Koushika becoming a Rishi Vishvamitra, was proud, arrogant and short-tempered. It is only on an an expedition, he met Sage Vashishtha that became a turning point in his life. He had to struggle hard to overcome his weaknesses- pride, arrogance, attachment, and jealousy. He failed several times becoming a Rishi. A person can become a sanyasi, or a saint, but very difficult to become a Rishi. One has to visualize, become a drushtara, of at least a mantra, a sacred sound, word or phrase to become a Rishi. This sound is anahata dhvani, sound from space (akasha) heard by the soul! Vishvamitra is known for his Gayatri mantra visualized and explained in Mandala X of the Rk Veda. He expounded a mantra in a Metre, Chhandas, that is called Gayatri. This mantra is not an easy one to understand and practice by us! The Mantra expounded by Vishvamitra is in Gayatri metre, But, the mantra is altogether different! The Gayatri Chandah is of three-and- a- half pada. The first pada is the Pranava Om. The second one is the vyahruti, seven levels of Consciousness. It is also important to note that these are realms of elemental  Gods. The third one is the real mantra that has twelve vaidiki or mantra devata and another twelve tantrika devata. The mantra credited to vaidika devata is the potential one, full of powers. The tantrika is of the executive nature, a creative, dynamic power, that can elevate us to divine status.

   Here, we touch upon his contribution to our knowledge about the Gayatri mantra. The contribution of Vishvamitra Rishi lies in the prayer to Paramatma Sri Hari Narayana, invoking the devata of the mantra and thereby became a great Rishi Vishva Mitra, a friend of the world, like Sun! 

   The first pada, foot of the Metre (Chhandas) Gayatri is the Pranava Om. Pranava 'Om' is by itself a powerful mantra that has along spiritual background! In fact, getting mastery over this sacred 'sound' is by itself enough for us. Om is the beginning and end by itself!  However, it is extremely difficult to reach this level of understanding and attain to it!

   The second foot is the vyahruti. It is the upper seven levels, but there are nevertheless seven lower ones, t oo. What we have toreach the highest,climbing, getting mastery over each one of the upper seven levels- bhu, bhuvah, svah,mahah, janah, tapah, and finally, the 'sat'. each one of these levels is of the bhu, the elemental world of earth (soil, food), followed by the intermediate space bhuvah, the realm of the Moon, and svah (the heaven) realm of the Sun, mahah (the Greater space, realm of the manes, pitrus- departed souls), janah, the level or realm of the pitamahah, almost like the devata. The next level or realm is of the tapo-janah, Rishis, and finally, the highest raelm of the 'brahmn'!The twenty-four devata of the Gayatri are"

 Adhya shaktistathaa brahmi vaishnavi shambhaviti ca | vedamata devamata vishvamata rutambhara || 

mandakinyajapa chaiva ruddhi siddhi prakirtita | vaidikani tu namani purvoltani hi dvadasha ||

savitri saeaswati jnyeya lakshmi durga tathaiva ch | kundalini pranagnishcha bhavani bhuvaneshvari ||

annapurneti namani mahamaya payasvini | tripura chaiveti vijnyeya tantrikani ca dvadasha ||

    These twentyfour vaidiki and tantriki devata have the bijakshara, such as: the tat savitru varenyam bhargo devsya dhi mahi dhi yo yo na prachodayat || Actually, these bijakshara by itself a mantra that has a realm and a position in our physical body and that can be activated by the chant of mantra with phonetic perfection giving stress on the letter with focused attention! There is a separate mandala for each one of these!

    Now, there is a condition as stated in: Gayatri mantra pranayame viniyogah | This ordains the a person should sit in yogic posture and do pranayama, holding breath in kumbhaka while chanting Gayatri in a ratio of 1:2:1, and then increase 2:4:2, raising it to 4:8:4 and finally, if possible  8:16:8 ! Taking breath in with one mantra, holding breath with 2 mantra chants and leaving breath slowly with one chant is the ratio in the beginning! This ratio should be stepped up, that too,  keeping in view all the above and this seems an imposibility for us??