SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBER 3

Gayatri Mantra itself suggest that it has three parts.

The Gayatri may be considered as having three parts: (1) praise, (2) meditation, and (3) prayer.

Gayatri Mantra has three goddesses, namely Gayatri, Savitri, and Saraswathi. These three are present in everyone.

Gayatri represents the senses; it is the master of the senses.

Savithri is the master of Prana (Life Force). Many Indians are familiar with the story of Savitri, who brought back to life her dead husband, Sathyavan. Savithri signifies truth.

Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech (vaak). The three represent purity in thought, word, and deed (thrikarana shuddhi).

It improves one’s Mental, Physical and Spiritual Health.

Hereagain the main mantra (without pranavam and vyharutis) consists of three parts as below:-

tat savitur vareNyam : 
That (tat or Brahmam) which creates and vivifies everything (savitur) is the best for worship (vareNyam).  bhargo devasya dhImahi : 
light (bhargo) of the divine (devasya), let us meditate on (dhImahi).
dhiyo yo naH prachodayAt : 
that which (yo) kindles and inspires (prachodayAt) our (na) intellect (dhiyo) 

The gAyatrI proper should never be chanted in isolation in gAyatrI japam . It is ordained that the gAyatrI should be chanted with the praNavam and thevyAhRutis 

 Gayatri  Full mantra:

|AUM |   bhUr bhuva suvaH  | 

tat savitur vareNyam | 
bhargo devasya dhImahi |
dhiyo yo naH prachodayAt |        || AUM ||

The number ‘3’ represents the three worlds viz., bhur,  bhuva and the swaha or the three worlds of heaven, earth and hell.

We have heard that there are 33 koti devatas. Though  Litterally ‘koti’ may sound as ‘crore’ it is not so.  If we go deep into the language of Sanskrit ‘koti’ means ‘types’ or families of Gods.  They are 12 Adityas + 11 Rudras + 8 Vasus + 2 Ashwini Kumar.  

The other meaning of ‘koti’ is ‘supreme’ or ‘pre-eminent’ or ‘excellent’.

Here also 3 finds a place in  ‘33’  or 3+3=6 (Main deities as earlier stated or 3 x 3 =9 which we will deal later.  As 3,,9 is a good combination.

12 Adityas are the sons of Aditi and hence called Adityas. The names of these 12 Adityas are Tvashta , Pusha , Vivasvan , Mitra , Dhata, Vishnu, Bhaga , Varuna , Savitru , Shakra , Ansha  and Aryama.  They were the sons of Kashyapa rishi.

We are mainly worshipper of Nature.  There are relations to the above in nature.  the twelve months of a year called Adityaas, they cause the lapse of the term of existence of each object or being.

One of these Aditya, Vivasvan was the father of Vaivasvat Manu from whom the genealogies of kings started.

11  Rudras are those Rudraganas who are said to have originated from Brahmadeva's anger. Their names are Manyu, Manu, Mahinas, Mahan, Shiv, Rutudhvaj, Ugrareta, Bhava, Kaal, Vamdev and Dhrutavrat. Their names vary in different scriptures but the number remains same.

Again in nature they are Praana, Apaana, Vyaana, Samaana, Udaana, Naag, Kurma, Krikal, Devadutta, Dhanajaya. The 11^th is the human soul.

8 Vasus are sons bron from Dharma rishi and Vasu. Their names are Drona , Pran , Dhruva , Aka, Agni, Dosha , Vasu  and Vibhavasu.  Again in nature they are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Moon, Sun, and Star.

The 2 Ashwini Kumars were born from the Sun and were the doctors of the Devas. They are Indra and Prajapati.

Indra which is also known as the (all-pervading) electricity, as it is productive of great force.  Prajaapati , also called the “Yajna” because it benefits mankind by the purification of air, water, rain and vegetables and because it aids the development of various arts and in it the honor is accorded to the learned and the wise.

33 becomes  6, and six becomes 3, and 3 becomes ‘1’ that   ‘Brahman’  ( not god Brahma or Brahmin).  And in that ONE everything is contained.

** The number ‘3’ represents the three lines of a triangle the first least sided polygon. The triangle, a polygon with 3 edges and 3 vertices, is the most stable physical shape. For this reason it is widely utilized in construction, engineering and design.

** The number ‘3’ represents the three types of breath viz., the in breath, the out breath and the held breath.

**  Three is the only number to equal the sum of all the terms below it

**   Three non-collinear points determine a plane and a circle.

**   There are only three distinct 4×4 pan magic squares.

**   3 is the first number, according to Proclus, i.e. n² is greater than 2n.

**   3  is the number of dimensions that humans can perceive. We perceive our universe to have three spatial dimensions, but some theories, such asstring theory, suggest there are more that we're not able to detect.

**   The ability of the human eye to distinguish colors is based upon the varying sensitivity of different cells in the retina to light of different wavelengths. Humans being trichromatic, the retina contains 3 types of color receptor cells, or cones.

**    Usually in all the games there are 3 chances.

**    Normally only three prizes are awarded.

**  Plato divided his Utopian city into three populations: Laborers – Guardians (warriors) – Philosophers (rulers)

**   The three Borromeam Rings are three rings that are interlocked.

If any single ring is removed, the two remaining rings will fall apart.

This has been used as a symbol of “strength in unity” for centuries in many parts of the world. The symbol of the three rings that are interlocked is also known as “The Tripod of Life”.

**   On the Nobel Peace Prize Medal there is engraved a picture of three naked men. 

**   Only three primary colors are needed to mix most other colors; red, yellow and blue.  

**   According to Benjamin Disraeli (British Prime Minister, 1804-1881) there are three degrees of lies:  Lies – Damned Lies – Statistics

**   The octopus has three hearts.

**   Camels have three eyelids.

**   Cats have a third eyelid. It is called the haw.

In ‘acchamanam’  we take water three times.

Gandhiji  preached three things, viz.,  Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. See No Evil