The Gayatri Mantra is also known as the Savitri Mantra or Surya Gayatri, believed to please the Sun (Surya). The mantra contains 24 syllables (Aksharas) and was revealed by the sage Viswamitra Maharishi.

The 24 syllables of the Gayatri Mantra are derived by taking the first letter of every 1000th sloka (verse) in the Ramayana, starting from the first sloka. For example, the 1st Sloka begins with 'त' (tha) in Tapasvadhyaya Niratam..., the 1001st Sloka begins with 'स' (sa) in Sahatva Rakshasan Sarvan..., and the 2001st Sloka begins with 'वि' (vi) in Viswamitrasthu...

When continued up to the 23001st sloka, these letters spell out the complete Gayatri Mantra, showcasing Valmiki Maharishi's genius. This connection is particularly significant because Viswamitra is the Rishi associated with the Mantra, and Rama, while on his internship with Viswamitra, chanted a japa called Savitri Japa (Gayatri Mantra).

The traditional structure of Surya's (the Sun's) celestial travel is rich with symbolism. Surya's chariot has only one wheel (known as Sampat Saram), which necessitates continuous travel from East to West. The chariot is drawn by seven horses, which represent the seven chandas (poetic meters, including Gayatri). The charioteer is Arunan (Aruṇa), who is the older brother of Garuda.

Rama's Lineage and Worship

Rama belongs to the Solar Dynasty (Surya Vamsa or Raghu Kulam). In the Yuddha Kanda, when Rama was exhausted, Agastya Rishi taught him the hymn Aditya Hridayam, which is dedicated to the Sun. Chanting it leads to victory and good health. The solar belt (around 23° North) was historically known for prominent Surya worship, with temples like Modhera (Gujarat) and Dev (Bihar).

Hanuman's Education and Service

Hanuman studied under the tutelage of Surya Deva, who was an apt teacher due to his constant movement. Hanuman became proficient in nine forms of grammar (Nav Vyakaran Pandit). As Guru Dakshina (fee), Surya requested Hanuman to serve as an advisor (Sachivan) to his son, Sugriva (referred to as Tarani Suta). Hanuman's commitment to this role keeps him with Sugriva. As a child, Hanuman mistook the rising Sun for a ripe fruit (pazham) and attempted to leap towards it.

Spiritual and Historical Importance

Praying to Surya was considered effective for good health and curing skin disorders like leprosy. While worship of the Sun, Moon, and stars was common across cultures, only Sanatana Dharma continues to emphasize nature worship with such depth. The Gayatri Mantra itself is fundamental to Surya worship, illustrating the Sun's enduring spiritual significance.

This blog post is based on notes taken from the following video : Video Source: Watch on YouTube For a more detailed explanation, I highly recommend watching the original video.

These articles are based on discourses by Sri Dushyanth Sridhar, who renders discourses in English & Tamil on Rāmāyana, Mahābhārata, Bhāgavata, Vishnu Purāna, Bhagavad Gitā, Vishnu Sahasranāma, and Divya Prabanda in the upanyāsam, pravachanam, or kālakshepam style. Visit https://desikadaya.org for more information. These notes are presented solely for educational purposes to help viewers download and benefit from these teachings. Any incorrect interpretations or inaccuracies are mine and unintentional—please forgive me. For any feedback, please send an email.