WHY GAYATHRI MANTRA IS GIVEN TO CHILDREN AT TENDER AGE – Sathya Sai Speaks There is an inner meaning in initiating the young children into chanting the Gayathri mantra. The mantra concludes with ‘…Dheeyoyona prachodayath’ meaning, prior to the initiation to the mantra, one who is backward intellectually, a tad lazy mentally and has other negative traits becomes one of sharp intellect, active, zealous and smart after the initiation. There is darkness before the sunrise. Likewise there is the darkness of ignorance and unknowing prior to the giving of the Gayathri mantra. The rays of the sun dispel the darkness and fill the world with light and brightness. So also the rays of the Gayathri mantra, ‘…dheeyoyona prachodayath’, dispels the darkness of ignorance and blossoms the faculties of knowledge, wisdom and learning. Swami hopes that the children initialised into the Gayathri mantra will take up the practice of chanting the mantra twice a day and reap the benefits thereof namely one with good conduct, good education and wisdom and become the ideal citizens of the country. Divine Discourse, Mar 17, 1983 #sathyasai #saibhakta