Original Research

An analysis of the Gayatri mantra as a mega-compression: A cognitive linguistic perspective in light of conceptual blending theory

Suren Naicker
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 75, No 4 | a5325 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5325 | © 2019 Suren Naicker | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 09 November 2018 | Published: 27 November 2019

About the author(s)

Suren Naicker, Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

In this article, the Gayatri mantra, one of the most sacred chants to be found in Hindu lore, will be analysed as a blend, where an entire philosophy is compressed into these few syllables, which will be expounded upon here in more detail. Drawing upon insights from conceptual blending theory, this sacred mantra will be unpacked and explored, and it will be shown here that this ancient Rigvedic hymn is actually a nucleic compression which once tapped into leads the practitioner to new insights and higher levels of spiritual awareness as the inner meaning unfolds. Practising Hindus around the world revere and recite this mantra with the utmost reverence, and this is true of the Indian diaspora in South Africa as well. Aside from presenting this hymn through the lens of blending theory, the aim is to demonstrate and explain why exactly this mantra is chanted with such reverence and given precedence over the many other mantras found throughout the Vedic texts.

Keywords

Hindu philosophy; Vedas; Sankhya; cognitive linguistics; conceptual blending theory; Gayatri mantra

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