The Gayatri mantra is composed of a metre consisting of 24 syllables - generally arranged in a triplet of eight syllables each. Therefore, this particular meter (tripadhi) is also known as the Gayatri Meter or "Gayatri Chhanda."
Today, this mantra is meditated, chanted and sung not only in Indian subcontinent but all around the world with reverence, devotion and love. This mantra has soothing and beautiful flow of sounds with various rhythmic patterns making it the most powerful mantra for daily spiritual practice or spiritual enlightenment.
Gayatri mantra has a universal meaning and is applicable to whole mankind irrespective of their faith and religious beliefs.
Gayatri mantra is also known as ved mata or Savitri.(Mother of all Vedas).
Goddess Gayatri and gayatri mantra
Gayatri mantra is compulsorily recited by Brahmin (Especially in thread ceremony) as their daily rituals to praise god to give wisdom and enlightenment.
Origin of gayatri mantra
According to ancient scriptures, god gifted Sage vishwamitra this Gayatri mantra for his eons of deep meditation and penance. This was to be a gift for all humanity.
The Gayatri Mantra was first written in Sanskrit in the Rig Veda. So keeping in mind that rigveda is atleast 10000 years old, one can safely say that gayatri mantra was chanted at least before 8000 B.C.
Meaning of gayatri mantra
Gayatri mantra is derived from Sanskrit words:
gaya, meaning “vital energies” and
trâyte, meaning “protects , preserves, grants liberation , gives deliverance”.
So, In a very simple language, gayatri mantra means "May the divine light of the Supreme Being illuminate our intellect, to lead us along a path of righteousness".
More precise translation
O God. You are almighty creator of this Universe. You are omnipotent and omnipresent! You are supreme source of Knowledge, light and Bliss. You are Destroyer of all fear and evil. We meditate and bow upon your light for your light may guide our intellect in the right direction.
Gayatrî Mantra recitation is often prefaced as a short invocation or a long invocation. In either of the invocations, we begin the recitation by using the divine symbol 'Aum' to salute the formless and nameless Almighty Power.
Meaning of Gayatri mantra
Line by line meaning of gayatri mantra is
We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance;
May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect.
Detailed word by word meaning:
 | OM | Symbol of the Par Brahman |
 | Bhur | Bhu-Loka (Physical plane) referring to five basic elements of nature. |
 | Bhuvah | Antariksha-Loka (Astral plane) |
 | Swah | Swarga-Loka (Celestial plane) |
 | Tat | That; Transcendent Paramatman |
 | Savitur | Ishawara or Creator |
 | Varenyam | Fit to be worshipped or adored |
 | Bhargo | Remover of sins and ignorance.The Radiance, the Spiritual Effulgence, the Light that bestows Wisdom |
 | Devasya | Resplendent; Shining, Divine Reality |
 | Dheemahi | We meditate |
 | Dhiyo | Buddhis; Intellects; Understandings |
 | Yo | Which; who |
 | Nah | Our |
 | Prachodayat | Enlighten; Guide; Impel |
More detailed elaboration
A - emerges from the throat, originating in the region of the navel
U - rolls over the tongue
M - ends on the lips
A - waking, U - dreaming, M - sleeping
It is the sum and substance of all the words that can emanate from the human throat. It is the primordial fundamental sound symbolic of the Universal Absolute. Word ‘Aum’ is also called Pranav because its sound emanates from the Prana (vital vibration), which feels the Universe.
Aum-Sound of universe
AUM is the primeval sound from which all sounds emerge; AUM is metaphor for Source Energy or the Supreme Being. Sound created due to the rotation of earth, planets and galaxies is "AUM". Hence this sound "Aum" was agreed to be the name of the God, since this sound is available in all the three periods of time. Rishi Vishvamitra explained that the formless God can be understood through the sound of 'Aum'.
"Gita" also mentions that, "Omiti ekaksharam brahma", meaning that the name of the almighty God is Aum, which contains only one syllable.
'Bhur' means the earth, 'Bhuvah' the planets and 'Swah' means the Galaxy. So, collectively, om Bhur Bhuva Swaha is a preamble to the main mantra which means that we invoke the supreme being in our prayer and meditate the One who is our creator(earth, planets and galaxy), inspirer, and abode of supreme Joy.
The above three words of the Gayatri, literally means "past," "present," and "future," are called Vyahrities. Vyahriti is that which gives knowledge of entire cosmos or "ahriti".
The terms bhur, bhuvas, suvaha (mahâ vyâhritis) are invocations to honor the stages of our existence and to call to our aid the presiding deities of the three planes in which we live our ordinary life: the physical, astral and mental planes.
Tat Savitur Varenyam Tat meaning THAT, again representing the Supreme Being. Savitur meaning, the radiating source of life with the brightness of the Sun; and Varenyam, meaning the most adorable, most desirable.
Bhargo Devasya Deemah: Bhargo meaning splendor and luster, Devasya meaning divine or supreme and Deemahi meaning “We meditate upon”. It is advised to meditate upon the light of stars and perform the 'Aum' Japnam,to know the formless Creator. But the human mind being very restless cannot concentrate or meditate without the blessings of Lord Brahma
Deeyo Yo Naha, Prachodayaa : Deeyo meaning our understanding of reality, our intellect, our intention. Yo meaning He Who, and Naha meaning Our. Finally, Prachodayaat, meaning May he Inspire, Guide. O Almighty God ! Please give us the power to use our intellect in the right direction
How to chant gayatri mantra
If you intend to chant Gayatri mantra, it is very important to chant it correctly not only in pronunciation but also in intent and integrity. This also means that one needs to understand the meaning of gayatri mantra before they start chanting. Gayatri mantra is said to carry tremendous power if chanted correctly with good intention and pure heart.
Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha (Om Bhoor Bhoova Swa-Ha)
Om Tat Savitur Varenyam (Om Tat Sa-Vidoor Va-rain-yam)
Bhargo Devasya Deemahi (Bhaargo They-Vas-Ya Dee-Mahi)
Deeyo Yo Naha, Prachodayaat (Thee-Yo Yo-Na-Ha, Pra-Cho-Da-Yaat)
Gayatri Mantra
What it means to you:
As per the vedas, there exist seven spheres or planes or realms of existence, each spiritually advanced than the previous one. It is said that through spiritual deeds and development, one progressively advances through the seven realm at the end of which one merge with the Supreme god.
Hindus considers Gayatri mantra as a divine awakening of the individual soul (Atma) and mind, and the easiest way to unite with the supreme god- Brahman. Understanding and chanting Gayatri Mantra is considered as the most powerful mantra of realizing God.
Chanting this mantra enlighten the divine light of these seven chakras thus experiencing directly the seven spiritual spheres of existence.
Effects of gayatri mantra on human body
The Vedas say:
| Chanting Gayatri Mantra purifies the chanter. Listening Gayatri Mantra purifies the listener. |
Ancient sages selected the words of Gayatri mantra carefully and arranged them in such a way that they not only had good meaning but also create amazing vibrations inside the body thus enlightening the powers of righteous wisdom.
Vedic scriptures describe many sages attaining spiritual powers and enlightenment by deep meditation and consistent chanting of this gayatri mantra. Even spiritual practitioners, scientists and meta-physicists are studying and analyzing the effects of gayatri mantra on human mind and body. Even Nasa uses the word AUM to transmit it through the universe to attract inhabitants of other planets (aliens)
Recent research has said that the continuous chanting of this mantra stimulates the power centers located in your subtle body. Continuous enunciation of twenty four syllables of Gayatri Mantra creates a resonating effect on the threads and nerves of the human body. Pronouncing gayatri mantra creates a pressure on lips, tongue, palate, vocal cord and its connecting areas around the brain to generate the musical flow energizing the sensory energy centers.
Continuous repetition of Gayatri Mantra creates a magnetic charge to link the mind with supernatural power currents."
Effect of gayatri mantra
References to ancient scriptures
The Upanisads (secret texts) of Hinduism contain several references to the Gayatri Mantra.
Let us see some of them
1) This entire creation is Gayatri. And the Gayatri is speech - for speech sings (gayati) and protects (trayati) this entire creation. Gayatri indeed is all this, whatever being exists. Speech indeed is Gayatri; for speech indeed sings and removes fear of all this that exists.- Chandogya Upanisad 3.12.1
2) That which is this Gayatri, even that is this earth; for on this earth are all the beings established and they do not transcend it.- Chandogya Upanisad 3.12.2
3) This well-known Gayatri is four-footed and sixfold.- Chandogya Upanisad 3.12.5
Origin of Bhur Bhuvah Svah explained from Chandogya Upanisad 4.17.1-6
1. Prajapati (the progenitor of the worlds) brooded on the three worlds. From them he extracted their essences; fire from the earth, air from the sky and the sun from heaven.
2. He further brooded on these three deities. From them he extracted their essences: the Riks (Rg-veda) from fire, the Yajus-mantras (Yajur-veda) from air, and the Saman (Sama-veda) from the sun.
3. He brooded on the three Vedas. From them he extracted their existences; Bhuh from the Riks, Bhuvah from the Yajus-mantras and Svah from the Samans.
4-6. Therefore if the sacrifice is rendered defective on account of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans), then with the Mantra ‘Bhuh Svaha’ (or 'Bhuvah Svaha' or 'Svah Svaha'), the Brahman priest should offer an oblation in the fire. Thus verily, through the essence of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans), through the virility of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans), he makes good the injury of the sacrifice in respect of the Riks (or Yajus or Samans).
Brahadaranyaka Upanisad 5.14.4 (Gayatri as the Protector)
The Gayatri Mantra is based on truth. For truth is based on strength. Strength is breath, and is based on breath. So, Gayatri protects (tra) the wealth (gaya) (the breath!) of those who speak it with earnestness and devotion. When one recites Gayatri on behalf of someone, it protects that person's breath too!
Devotee of gayatri mantra (Gayatri mantra tattoo has become very popular in western countries). More tattoos can be found here
Brahadaranyaka Upanisad 5.14.5 (Four 'foots' of the Gayatri)
This verse talks about the unbounded wealth contained within the four 'foots' of the Gayatri Mantra.
The Gayatri Mantra is the Universal Prayer enshrined in the Vedas, the most ancient Scriptures of Man. -SATHYA SAI BABA
The Gayatri Mantra is a Prayer that can well be spoken with yearning by men and women of all creeds and climes in all centuries. Repetition of this Mantra will develop the Intelligence. -SATHYA SAI BABA
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