luminary, and render him homage in true Brāhman style by what is called Arghya. This is an offering of water to any respected guest. Repeating the Gāyatri, the worshipper throws water in the air from the palms of the hands joined together with the sacred thread round the thumbs. The Gāyatri is the hymn par excellence, and is said to contain the sum and substance of all Vēdic teaching.
After these items, the worshipper sits down, and does Japam (recitation of prayers in an undertone). The Gāyatri, as repeated, consists of the Gāyatri proper Vyāhritis, and Gāyatri Siromantra. It runs as follows: —
Ōm, Bhuh; Ōm, Bhuvah;
Ōm, Suvah; Ōm, Mahaha;
Ōm, Janaha; Ōm, Thapaha;
Ōm, Sathyam.
Ōm, Thatsaviturvarenyam;
Bhargodēvasya dhimahi dhiyo-yonah prachodayat;
Ōm, Jyotiraso amrutam
Brahma, Bhur, Bhuvasvarūm.
The Vyāhritis are generally taken to refer to the seven worlds, and the prefixing of the Pranava (Ōm) means that all these worlds have sprung from the Supreme Being. The Pranava given above means " All the seven worlds are (the visible manifestations of) Ōm, the all-pervading Brāhman. We think of the adorable light of the Lord, who shines in our hearts, and guides us. May he guide our intellects aright. Water, light, all things that have savour (such as trees, herbs, and plants), the nectar of the gods, the three worlds, in fact everything that is Brāhman, the universal soul."
The mystic syllable Ōm is the most sacred of all Hindu utterances. Concerning it, Monier Williams writes that it is " made up of the three letters A,U,M,
