Gayatri Mantra is a hymn from the ancient Indian scripture RigVeda (10:16:3), which is also often repeated in other scriptures such as the Upanishads. It is attributed to sage Vishwaamitra. It is also called Gayatri Mantra or Savitri Mantra because it is directed to Goddess Gayatri, who is not considered a deity or demigod, but the only supreme personality.
Gayatri Mantra is recited by a seeker to remember the higher purpose of life, it can also be an invocation or a prayer to the supreme god to elevate our consciousness upwards. It is usually recited by people who regard “knowing the ultimate truth” as the main purpose of their life.
Sri Gayatri Mantra in English:
Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha |
Tat Savitur Varenyam |
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi |
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||
Sri Gayatri Mantra Meaning:
(O) Supreme one; (who is) the physical, astral (and) causal worlds (himself).
(you are) the source of all, deserving all worship
(O) radiant, divine one; (we) meditate (upon you)
Propel our Intellect (towards liberation or freedom)
Gayatri Mantra Stanzas with Meanings of Words:
| Stanzas with meaning | Meanings of the Words |
| Om, Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah [Ultimate reality, in which physical, astral and causal worlds exist] | Om: The sacred word, word of creation, first word, word of god; (Equivalent of Holy Ghost in trinity) usually used at the beginning of a hymn; Bhur: The physical plane of existence (which is of the nature of 5 elements) Bhuvah: The astral plane of existence (which is of the nature of subtle elements) Svah: The causal plane or celestial plane (plane where the existence is as subtle as ideas or notions, from which creation happens). |
| Tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ [That is the supreme reality from which creation happens, and it is the foremost] | Tat: That, God, (Equivalent of son, in the Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost) Savitúr: Source of all, creation, supreme reality, Divine illumination (of goddess Savitri or Shakti) Váreṇyaṃ: the foremost, fit to be worshiped, deserving oblations |
| Bhárgo devásya dhīmahi [O divine effulgence we meditate upon you] | Bhárgo: Great spiritual effulgence, Radiant one, one who illumines all Devásya: Godly, divine reality, of divinity, Virtuous and joyous Dhīmahi: We meditate on you; Dhee=intellect; Thus Dhimahi means we focus our intellect on you |
| Dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt [propel our knowledge of the supreme reality] | Dhíyo: Intellect, intelligence, reasoning and discriminating faculty which is a tool for attaining higher wisdom Yo: Who, One is who being prayed, You (supreme one) Nah: Our (intellect) pracodáyāt: Stimulate, Propel towards the higher reality |
Also Read:
Gayatri Mantra Lyrics in English | Hindi | Kannada | Telugu | Tamil
