Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

> 1. Can it be recited loud ?

"Firstly, the Gayatri Mantra is not to be said loudly. Gayat means to sing, but singing can be done loudly or very softly. The Gayatri Mantra should be sung in a low whispering voice." (Letter January 1969)

> 2. What are the qualification to recite Gayatri ?

"Who is eligible to chant the G'e4yatr'e9 mantra? Those who are controlled by the modes of ignorance and passion can never chant the G'e4yatr'e9 mantra, what to speak of attaining perfection in chanting it. Only those who possess the qualities of a br'e4hma'eba and are situated in the mode of goodness are eligible to chant the G'e4yatr'e9 mantra."
(Renunciation Through Wisdom, Chapter 4)

One must first acquire the qualities of the perfectly situated person, the qualities of goodness according to the laws of material nature, in order to chant the G'e4yatr'e9 mantra." (Gita 10.35 purport)

"This G'e4yatr'e9 mantra is meant for spiritually advanced people. When one is successful in chanting the G'e4yatr'e9 mantra, he can enter into the transcendental position of the Lord. One must therefore acquire brahminical qualities or be perfectly situated in the quality of goodness in order to chant the G'e4yatr'e9 mantra successfully and then attain to the stage of transcendentally realizing the Lord, His name, His fame, His qualities and so on." (Bhagavatam 1.1.1 purport)

> 3. Was it Srila Prabhupada the first person to give Gayatri to women devotees ?

I dont know.

> 2. What are the qualification to recite Gayatri ?

"You must be very careful before you award the brahminical thread by recommending a man to me. Now that we are dividing our society into the four orders as much as possible, it is not that every man has to be made a brahmana after a year. Especially if one cannot even get up early and go to mangala arati he cannot become a brahmana." (Letter May 1974)

"You may teach them to count on the finger divisions and play the tape of me reciting gayatri mantra into their right ear. Instruct them fully in the qualifications for becoming brahmana, and henceforth they must be very, very careful not to commit any sinful acts or otherwise I shall have to suffer as their spiritual master." (Letter December 1972)