GAYATRI
MoNA Collection
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 68 x 99 cm
Year: 2010
About the Art
The Gāyatrī Mantra is a potent Vedic chant that is specifically devoted to the divine entity known as Gāyatrī. The Rigveda, an ancient and revered scripture within the Vedic tradition, contains this mantra. The divinity, Goddess Gāyatrī holds a significant position within the religious framework of Hinduism. The mantra is directed towards the solar deity Savitr, who represents the universal concept of enlightenment. It is through this enlightenment that individuals acquire a profound understanding of the fundamental realities of life. The Gāyatrī Mantra serves as a symbolic embodiment of this concept, as it is recited to attain inward illumination and comprehend the fundamental truth. According to prevalent beliefs, Gāyatrī is regarded as the primordial deity, responsible for the creation of the entire universe, therefore earning the title of the Mother of Vedas. The symbolic representation of Gāyatrī as the “Mother of Vedas” carries profound intellectual significance. Within the context of Hinduism, the Vedas are regarded as the most ancient and authoritative literary works, encompassing a wealth of knowledge and wisdom bestowed by the ancient seers, commonly known as ṛṣis. The Gāyatrī Mantra is commonly regarded as the quintessence of the Vedas due to its ability to succinctly summarize the essential teachings and concepts espoused within the Vedas
Seated on a lotus close to a white swan, Gayatri is the mother of the four sacred Vedas hence also referred to as Vedamata. Her five heads represent the five elements (tatva) and energies (prana) in the colors of white, red, yellow, blue and green portrayed in a quality of brightness. In her ten hands, she holds various implements to provide deliverance from suffering due to ignorance, infirmity and deficiency. Her mantra is known to be the most chanted and popular mantra in Hinduism.
