The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered mantra, based on a Vedic Sanskrit verse from a hymn of the Rigveda and attributed to Rishi Bhrigu. For centuries, this prayer was kept a secret and was accessible only to a specific group of Brahmins. Today, Gayatri Mantra is chanted by people from all across the world.
The Gayatri mantram chanted for enlightenment is also known as the Savitri mantram as it calls upon Savita, the sun’s brightness, to bestow us with knowledge, inspire our intellect, and thus dispel darkness and ignorance.
Gayatri is Shabda Brahman
Gayatri Chhandasam Matha, meaning Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas. Gayatri is sarvadevata swarupini and sarvamantra swarupini (emodiment of all gods and all mantras).It is said that there is no need to chant any other mantra if one chants the Gayatri mantra.
It is the basic prayer for Hindu brahmins, especially men who wear a janeyu (a sacred thread worn around the shoulder of a person, also called Upanayana), and by reciting the four lines of the mantra, they are invoking the mother goddess represented by savitr or sun god. Thus it is recited at sunrise or sunset. Gayatri Mantra is also the basic prayer taught to young Hindu boys at the time of their upanayanam or janeyu ceremony, initiating the study of the Vedas. Such teaching of the Gayatri mantra is called Gayatri deeksha.
Gayatri is the greatest of all Mantras as its presiding Deity is none other than Para Brahman himself. The Gayatri itself is the crest-jewel or the king of all Mantras. It is the most powerful of all Mantras. Na gayatryah paro mantrah “There is no Mantra greater than the Gayatri.” Each word, each letter of Gayatri, bears its head on the highest Vedantic concept of the absolute, supreme truth. Do Japay of the Gayatri, it will give you the most excellent fruit, the fruit of immortality.
Let us recite the mantra;
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् Om bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt
Gayatri is known as Panchamukhi, meaning she has five faces, so while chanting the Mantra; one should pause after every part.
- First Part: Om
- Second Part: Bhur bhuvah svah
- Third Part: Tat savitur varenyam
- Fourth Part: Bhargo devasya dheemahi
- Last Part: Dhiyo yo nah prachodayaaat.
Meaning of Gayatri Mantra
We meditate on the glory of the creator who has created the universe, who is fit to be worshipped, who is the embodiment of knowledge and light, and who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May He enlighten our intellect!
These four syllables’ literal translations are Om or Para Brahman, Bhur or the physical plane, Bhuvah or the astral plane, and Svaha or the celestial plane.
The actual meaning is to meditate upon the supreme being who is the ruler of the physical, astral and celestial planes.
Tat means ultimate reality, Savitur means the source of all and Varenyam means fit to be worshipped.
The verse hails the Supreme Goddess as the ultimate truth from where all life forms emerge and who is worthy of worship.
Bhargo means spiritual entity, Devasya means divine reality and Dhimahi means we should meditate.
The implication is to let us meditate upon the ultimate divine and spiritual entity.
Dhiyo is our intellect, Yo is which, Nah is ours and Prachodayat means to enlighten.
The prayer appeals to the supreme goddess to awaken our intellect so that we proceed on the path of enlightenment.
The Gayatri mantra has 24 letters corresponding to the 24 vertebrae of the spine. These vertebrae provide support and stability to our body, and the Gayatri mantra provides stability to our intellect.
The essence of an English translation of the Gayatri mantra is;
'Let my mind and the whole existence be illuminated and purified by your radiance'
Benefits of Chanting Gayatri Mantra
Gayantham Trayate ithi Gayatri (Gayatri protects the one who recites it).
The Gayatri Mantra is the impregnable spiritual armor of every true Hindu. The divine power of Gayatri Mantra can bless humans with the brilliant light of the highest spiritual illumination. Whoever may be one’s favorite Deity, the regular repetition of a few malaas (rosary of a hundred and eight beads) of Gayatri Japa every day will shower upon one incalculable benefits and blessing.
The japa (repetition) of Divine Names or Mantras is a fundamental aspect of worship across religions. Japa serves as a systematic means to focus the mind inwardly. Through rhythmic chanting, the vibrations produced by specific mantras create pulsations of vital energy, stimulating the body’s energy centers. This practice, called japa-sadhana, aims to unlock supernatural abilities and latent potential.
The structure of Gayatri Mantra is in perfect tune with the science of cosmic sound. The japa of the Gayatri Mantra enables a harmonious linkage and flow of the individual consciousness (of the sadhaka) with the cosmic consciousness.
For every Brahmin of any creed, Gayatri Mantra has been prescribed as being the sole transcendental guiding light. One can recite Gayatri Mantra while doing meditation of any kind.
Chanting mantra is an ancient method of raising our consciousness, our attitude, the aim of life, and preparing ourselves for perceiving higher states of being. The vibrations produced while chanting the mantra awaken our higher awareness, invoke positive energies to help us overcome obstacles and oppositions, and also heal our minds and bodies from diseases or negativity.
There are a number of benefits one can get by regularly chanting the Gayatri Mantra. Some of these are mentioned here;
Improvements in concentration and enhancement of learning abilities
Many studies have revealed that people who chant the Gayatri Mantra on a regular basis have greater concentration and memory. It is postulated that this mantra activates various Chakras presence in the face and head, which are associated with the glands responsible for improving memory and concentration.
It calms the mind and thus reduces stress and anxiety.
The Gayatri Mantra starts with OM, a well-known logic sound associated with relaxation. This sound initiates a vibration from lips to tongue through the back of our throat and skull, calming down our mind and releasing relaxing hormones. It heals the stress-related damage to our cells, thus giving relief to our body from stress, anxiety, and other psychological problems. Gayatri mantra also improves our way of thinking and removes negativity from our thoughts.
It improves the functioning of the Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems
The Chanting of Gayatri Mantra improves the synchronization and regulation of our heartbeat by slowing down the breathing process, which in turn keeps the blood pressure in check. This, in turn, improves the functioning of our heart and keeps us away from heart-related diseases such as stroke, heart attack, etc.
The deeper and controlled breaths taken during the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra improve the
lungs’ functioning and refine our breathing process. It improves breathing, thus the capacity of the lungs to get pure oxygen. Proper oxygenation helps to remove harmful toxins from the body.
Best time to chant Gayatri Mantra?
Gayatri is the embodiment of the mother principle. We should chant the Gayatri mantra every day, in the morning (Prata Sandhya) and evening (Sayam Sandhya).
According to Vedas, time has three qualities: satva, rajas, and tamas (purity, passion, and inaction). Satva is the best time to chant the Gayatri Mantra.
- 4 am to 8 am: satvic
- 8 am to 4 pm: rajasic
- 4 pm to 8 pm: satvic
- 8 pm and 4 am: tamasic
Gayatri Mantra should be recited between 4 am and 8 am, and 4 pm and 8 am.
Gayatri Japa Day
Gayatri Japa Day is one of the holiest and most glorious days for Hindus, which intends to remind the sacred Gayatri Mantra, the most glorious of all Mantras.
Gayatri Japa is observed on the day after the Raksha Bandhan or Avani Avittam (July-August). Vedic scripture has outlined the immense benefits of Gayatri Japa on this day. Repeating it at least 100 times (1,008 is better!) on the Gayatri Japa day and continuing it at least 108 times daily without missing even a single day.