सप्तर्षिमण्डलगता सोममण्डलवासिनी । सर्वज्ञा सान्द्रकरुणा समानाधिकवर्जिता
She dwells among the constellation of the seven sages, abides in the orb of the moon; all-knowing, of deep compassion, and without equal or superior.
सर्वोत्तुङ्गा सङ्गहीना सद्गुणा सकलेष्टदा । सरघा सूर्यतनया सुकेशी सोमसंहतिः
She is highest among all, free from attachment, endowed with virtues, giver of all desired things; destroyer of enemies, daughter of the Sun, with beautiful hair, and the essence of the moon.
हिरण्यवर्णा हरिणी ह्रींकारी हंसवाहिनी । क्षौमवस्त्रपरीताङ्गी क्षीराब्धितनया क्षमा
She is golden-hued, deer-like, uttering the syllable 'Hrīṃ', riding a swan, her body adorned with fine linen garments, the daughter of the milk ocean, and the embodiment of forbearance.
गायत्री चैव सावित्री पार्वती च सरस्वती । वेदगर्भा वरारोहा श्रीगायत्री पराम्बिका
She is Gayatri, indeed Savitri, Parvati, and Sarasvati; she who holds the Vedas within, of noble form, the auspicious Gayatri, the supreme Mother.
इति साहस्रकं नाम्नां गायत्र्याश्चैव नारद । पुण्यदं सर्वपापघ्नं महासम्पत्तिदायकम्
Thus, O Narada, this thousand names of Gayatri, bestower of merit, destroyer of all sins, and giver of great prosperity.
एवं नामानि गायत्र्यास्तोषोत्पत्तिकराणि हि । अष्टम्यां च विशेषेण पठितव्यं द्विजैः सह
In this way, these names of Gayatri bring about satisfaction; especially on the eighth lunar day, they should be recited together with the twice-born.
जपं कृत्वा होमपूजाध्यानं कृत्वा विशेषतः । यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं गायत्र्यास्तु विशेषतः
Having performed recitation, fire-offering, worship, and meditation in particular, this should not be given to just anyone, especially concerning Gayatri.
सुभक्ताय सुशिष्याय वक्तव्यं भूसुराय वै । भ्रष्टेभ्यः साधकेभ्यश्च बान्धवेभ्यो न दर्शयेत्
It should be spoken to a devoted, worthy disciple, indeed to a Brahmin; it must not be shown to the fallen, the unfit, or to relatives.
यद्गृहे लिखितं शास्त्रं भयं तस्य न कस्यचित् । चञ्चलापि स्थिरा भूत्वा कमला तत्र तिष्ठति
In whatever house this scripture is written, there is no fear for anyone; even the fickle goddess Lakshmi remains there, becoming steadfast.
इदं रहस्यं परमं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं महत् । पुण्यप्रदं मनुष्याणां दरिद्राणां निधिप्रदम्
This is a supreme secret, more hidden than the most hidden, and great; it bestows merit upon people and grants treasure to the poor.
मोक्षप्रदं मुमुक्षूणां कामिनां सर्वकामदम् । रोगाद्वै मुच्यते रोगी बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात्
It grants liberation to those who seek it, fulfills all desires for those who desire, the sick are freed from disease, the bound are released from bondage.
बह्महत्यासुरापानसुवर्णस्तेयिनो नराः । गुरुतल्पगतो वापि पातकान्मुच्यते सकृत्
Those who have committed the great sin of killing a Brahmin, drinking liquor, stealing gold, or approaching the teacher's wife, are freed from sins even by a single recitation.
असत्प्रतिग्रहाच्चैवाभक्ष्यभक्षाद्विशेषतः । पाखण्डानृतमुख्येभ्यः पठनादेव मुच्यते
Also from improper gifts, especially from eating forbidden food, and from association with heretics and liars, one is freed simply by recitation.
इदं रहस्यममलं मयोक्तं पद्मजोद्भव । ब्रह्मसायुज्यदं नॄणां सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः
This pure secret has been spoken by me, O you born from the lotus; it grants union with Brahman to people—this is the truth, the truth, without doubt.
मन्त्रदीक्षाविधिवर्णनम् नारद उवाच श्रुतं सहस्रनामाख्यं श्रीगायत्र्याः फलप्रदम् । स्तोत्रं महोन्नतिकरं महाभाग्यकरं परम्
The Description of the Rite of Initiation into the Mantra
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि दीक्षालक्षणमुत्तमम् । विना येन न सिध्येत देवीमन्त्रेऽधिकारिता
Now I wish to hear the supreme characteristics of initiation, without which one is not qualified for the mantra of the Goddess.
ब्राह्मणानां क्षत्रियाणां विशां स्त्रीणां तथैव च । सामान्यविधिना सर्वं विस्तरेण वद प्रभो
For Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and women as well, by the general rule, tell everything in detail, O Lord.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु दीक्षां प्रवक्ष्यामि शिष्याणां भावितात्मनाम् । देवाग्निगुरुपूजादावधिकारो यया भवेत्
Sri Narayana said: Listen, I will explain the initiation for disciples whose minds are purified, by which one becomes qualified for the worship of the gods, fire, and teacher.
दिव्यं ज्ञानं हि या दद्यात्कुर्यात्पापक्षयं तु या । सैव दीक्षेति सम्प्रोक्ता वेदतन्त्रविशारदैः
That which gives divine knowledge and destroys sin is indeed called initiation by those skilled in the Vedas and Tantras.
अवश्यं सा तु कर्तव्या यतो बहुफला मता । गुरुशिष्यावुभावत्राप्यतिशुद्धावपेक्षितौ
It must certainly be performed, for it is considered to yield many fruits; both the teacher and the disciple are required to be extremely pure therein.
गुरुस्तु विधिवत्प्रातः कृत्यं सर्वं विधाय च । स्नानसन्ध्यादिकं सर्वं यथाविधि विधाय च
The guru, having properly completed all morning duties according to prescribed rules, and having performed all acts such as bathing and the sandhyā ritual as prescribed,
कमण्डलुकरो मौनी गृहं यायात्सरित्तटात् । यागमण्डपमासाद्य विशेत्तत्रासने वरे
holding a water pot and observing silence, should go from the riverbank to his house; reaching the sacrificial pavilion, he should enter and sit on the best seat there.
आचम्य प्राणानायम्य गन्धपुष्पविमिश्रितम् । सप्तवारास्त्रमन्त्रेण जप्तं वारि सुसाधयेत्
After sipping water and controlling the breath, he should prepare water mixed with fragrance and flowers, having recited the mantra seven times over it.
वारिणा तेन मतिमानस्त्रमन्त्रं समुच्चरन् । प्रोक्षयेद्द्वारमखिलं ततः पूजां समाचरेत्
With that water, while reciting the mantra with focused mind, he should sprinkle the entire entrance, and then proceed to perform the worship.
ऊर्ध्वोदुम्बरके देवं गणनाथं तथा श्रियम् । सरस्वतीं नाममन्त्रैः पूजयेद्गन्धपुष्पकैः
On an elevated fig-wood platform, he should worship the deity, the Lord of Hosts, Śrī, and Sarasvatī with their respective name-mantras, offering fragrance and flowers.
द्वारदक्षिणशाखायां गङ्गां विघ्नेशमर्चयेत् । द्वारस्य वामशाखायां क्षेत्रपालं च सूर्यजाम्
On the right side of the entrance, he should worship Gaṅgā and Gaṇeśa; on the left side of the entrance, he should worship Kṣetrapāla and Sūryajā.
देहल्यां पूजयेदस्त्रदेवतामस्त्रमन्त्रतः । सर्वं देवीमयं दृश्यमिति सञ्चिन्त्य सर्वतः
On the threshold, he should worship the guardian deities of weapons with the weapon-mantra, contemplating everywhere that all is pervaded by the Goddess.
दिव्यानुत्सारयेद्विघ्नानस्त्रमन्त्रजपेन तु । अन्तरिक्षगतान्विघ्नान्पादघातैस्तु भूमिगान् ॥ १४ वामशाखां स्पृशन्पश्चात्प्रविशेद्दक्षिणाङ्घ्रिणा । प्रविश्य कुम्भं संस्थाप्य सामान्यार्घ्यं विधाय च
He should dispel all obstacles of divine origin by reciting the weapon-mantra, and those in the sky by stamping his feet, and those on the earth likewise; then, touching the left side of the entrance, he should enter with his right foot, place the pot inside, and prepare the general offering.
तेन चार्घ्यजलेनापि नैर्ऋत्यां दिशि पूजयेत् । वास्तुनाथं पद्मयोनिं गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिभिः
With that offering water, he should worship in the southwest direction the Lord of the Site and Padmayoni, with fragrance, flowers, rice grains, and the like.
ततः कुर्यात्पञ्चगव्यं तेन चार्घ्योदकेन च । तोरणस्तम्भपर्यन्तं प्रोक्षयेन्मण्डपं गुरुः
Then he should prepare pañcagavya, and with that offering water, the guru should sprinkle the pavilion up to the gateway pillars.