Gayatri Mantra for Saraswati (video)

Deva Premal "Gayatri Mantra" via Ganesha on YouTube; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

The Gāyatrī (Sāvitri or Saraswati) Mantra is a highly revered chant from the Rig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10), dedicated to the Goddess Savitri, the deity (devi) of five elements.

Gāyatrī is the name of the Vedic meter in which the verse is composed (Frits Staal, "The Sound of Religion," Numen, 33, June 1986, Fasc. 1: 33–64).

Its recitation is preceded by Oṃ and the formula bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, known as the mahā vyāhṛti or "great (mystical) utterance."

Vishvamitra had it created, and it is cited widely in Vedic and post-Vedic texts, such as the mantra listings of the Śrauta liturgy and classical Hindu texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita, Harivamsa, and Manusmṛti.

The Buddha

The mantra and its metric form was known by the Buddha, and in one sutra the Buddha is described as "expressing their appreciation" for the mantra (Brett Shults, "On the Buddha's Use of Some Brahmanical Motifs in Pali Texts," Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies. 6: 119).

The mantra is an important part of the rite of passage upanayana ceremony for young males in Hinduism and has long been recited by "twice born" (dvija) males as part of their daily rituals.

Modern Hindu reform movements have spread the practice of this mantra to include women and all castes. Its use is now very widespread (Rinehart, 2004, p. 127; Lipner, 1994, p. 53). More

Cow Urine for Monks and All

In ancient times asce-tics (yogis, shramanas, bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, and other wandering mendicants) utilized a somewhat strange medicine: fermented cow urine. It was effective, free, and had a long history of use.

• VIDEO: Cow Urine drink set to launch in India

Even today ascetics in India, and Buddhist monastics in Asia in particular, utilize it for various ailments. Of course, they are not limited to this remedy. Nor, one imagines, are they required to use it. But it remains in their vows. An alternative and superior vegan option is apple cider vinegar.

As repugnant as it sounds, American consumers have long used cow urine in countless cosmetic products and medicines. (Read your labels). It usually goes under the name "urea" (uric acid = urine) and similar names.

It's used because it's effective -- not in making one more beautiful but in making a product more stable and lucrative for cosmetic companies. Horse urine is what millions of American women consume in the medicine Premarin (short for "pregnant mare urine"). However, rubbing pee all over one's face to become pretty is a far cry from drinking it on purpose.

While most Americans don't drink cow urine, they do eat a lot of it, not only as medicine but as food. It's the principle "ingredient" in aujus (French for "it's [own] juice") -- the salty dipping sauce (originally derived from liquid drippings) oozing out of roast beef [beef = cow], steak, and hamburgers during cooking.