The Gayatri Mantra is considered the most sacred of all mantras in Sanaatana Dharma (Vedic Hindu religion). Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that among all the mantras, He is the Gayatri. The Gayatri Mantra originates from the Rig Veda – the most ancient of Indian scriptures and the Mantra’s power was revealed to Brahmarishi Vishwamitra.
It is known as Gayatri as it is set on the Vedic meter called ‘Gayatri’. It is made of three lines with eight syllables in each totalling twenty four syllables. It is also called ‘Savitri Mantra’ as it invokes ‘Savitr’ – a Vedic God who is often linked to the Sun God ‘Surya’.The Gayatri Mantra is unique in that it is a praise to God, a spiritual practice, and a prayer – all 3 rolled into one. It goes as follows.
“Aum Bhoor Bhuvah Svahaa
Thath Savitur Varenyam
Bhargho Devasya Dhee Mahi
Dheeyo Yo Nah Prachodhayaath”
Basically, the meaning of the Mantra is “We behold the illuminating radiance of the Sun God (i.e., Savita). May He inspire our minds and lead us onto the righteous path”.
[wp_ad_camp_1]
The first part of this mantra is a praise to the Almighty who created the three worlds – the earth, the astral world and the heavens respectively – and who is that divine force that created everything and worthy of our admiration. The second part is a yogic practice which requests the Almighty who is the brilliant destroyer of sins to descend and grace our minds to remove our sins. The third part is a prayer to Gayatri Devi to enlighten our minds and raise our intellects to the highest levels possible towards righteousness or Dharma.
This mantra, when chanted after knowing the meaning, makes the aspirant access the whole cosmos in a few syllables, draws the aspirant’s minds first outwards to the three major worlds, and then after the consciousness expands from dullness, it brings us back inwards with a spiral energy flow requesting the divine to burn the darkness in the aspirant’s brains and then elevate the aspirant’s consciousness outward again to the highest level possible – now as an individual soul more integrated with the Divine spirit present everywhere.
Only twenty four sages since creation have been credited to have understood the essence of Vedas and obtained the grace of Gayatri Devi. Sage Vishwamitra was the first and Sage Yagynavalkya was the last.
The perseverance and austere Tapas (penance) of Sage Vishwamitra are world recognized. As per the Indian epic “Ramayana”, He achieved in a single birth what was considered an impossibility – a warrior class person elevating to the higher Priest class by austerity and selflessness alone. Sage Vishwamitra was able to form a new heaven and new stars with constellations in the sky through the power of the Gayatri mantra. He also imparted various spiritual lessons and secret weapons to Lord Rama which was to help Sri Rama in his wars later for reinstating righteousness (Dharma).
The Buddha pays homage to Sage Vishwamitra as one of the Saptrarishis (7 Highest Sages) who understood the Vedas and their messages. More recently, the author Hemad Pant also pays his respects to all Brahmarishis and Maharishis to bless the Sai Satcharita – which is the primary biography of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba’s holy life (Sage Vishwamitra is among those in his list).
Gayatri Devi – the Goddess personifying the Gayatri Mantra, is the essence of everything i.e., Brahman -the Universal Spirit. She is depicted with five faces and is the equivalent of the Hindu Trinity of Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. She is also worshipped as the unified form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati – the Goddesses who are consorts of the Trinity of Gods. It is well accepted for thousands of years that Gayatri Devi removes sufferings and adversity of whoever prays to Her and She motivates that devotee gradually towards the path of righteous wisdom.
The All World Gayatri Pariwar – created by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya provides valuable guidance on Gayatri awareness, spiritual practices and self-realization Saadhana.
Author’s website: bharathkumark.simplesite.com
Gayatri….one university in west has studied the frequencies of vibrations generated by various hymns of various religions and found that Gayatri has 11000 units and highest of all.
some body inform that ladies cannot chat this mantra
Request for a powerful mantra and the proceedure of recitation for early marriage
The Gayartri mantra was the first mantra that I learned and totally connected to. I feel its power each time I chant it. Blessings to all who chant this powerful mantra! Namaste ♡
In Hindu in Indonesia , every day we recite the Gayatri Mantra 3 times a day (Tri – Sandya).
In spiritualism there is no discrimination for sex. Every one , every sex is equally qualifies to practice spiritualism. Hence there is no restriction in any manner to practice Gayatri Mantra by females.It is seen that father and mother love their daughters more than sons.The same is true in this case also. I sincerely argue you people to read literature of Sami Sri Ram Acharya- the great preacher on Gayatri.
Anyone can chant the Gayathri, including girls. I am 100% sure about this. A girl friend of mine chanted it correctly and told me many of the material and spiritual benefits she experienced.
I have been chanting the gayathri manthra for many years now and have realized the power of it. I have done much research on the gayathri. However, book knowledge is second hand information, but personal experience 1st hand and as such will never go wrong. This is based personal experience: The important thing is we must chant it with correct and clear pronounciation without haste in order to be effective. One can lay claim that the Gayathri is the most powerful manthra provided its chanted correctly.
Regards
I feel the power of GAYATRI MANTRA before about 25 years. It create much much power in person, who believe in. But I become anger at that time, why I not know. After that I stop Gayatri Mantra.
Now I again want to start this. Can you guide in the same.
Gayatri is the mother of all Vedic mantras : “Gayatri chandasaam maataa “.
To be effective, it must be imparted by one who is qualified ( ie who has practised the japa of the mantra and attained some competence ). In South India, brahmin boys are routinely imparted this mantra with lot of fanfare mostly by the fathers. As the father is considered a natural guru, this meets with orthodox approval, but if the father himself does not practise the japa of the mantra, what is his competence? What power can he impart ? And most boys attending English medium schools ( who does not nowadays? ) do not do japa at all!
In astrological circles, it is said that no parihara will work if the person who is duty-bound to recite Gayatri fails to do so! Any other mantra on other deities will not yield results unless Gayatri is recited first. Such conditions were known to the older generation.
Gayatri is a mantra, and also a prayer for enlightenment. I really do not know why anyone cannot use it as a prayer!
The book “Gayatri ” by I K. Taimni is a valuable resource, full of practical suggestions. It explains the significance of the mantra in modern idiom, without diluting its religious.spiritual and mystical significance.
request for prayer for self confidence and respect
The reason for advising ladies not to chant GAYATRI MANTRA IS ONLY FOR THEIR SAFETY.When chanting gayatri mantra,the pranava ‘OM’ should be generated from the NABHI.When a Lady does it there is a very high possibility of her UTERUS get shrinked and may even get damaged,This will affect her child bearing capability.That is theonly reason not to chant GAYATRI.Generating the pranava ‘OM’ just from the lips as many many do will will be ineffective This is advised by Kanchi Paramacharya SRI SRI CHANDRASEKARA SARASWATHI MAHA SWAMIGAL.
Am just a beginner in Gayatri worship today – though initiated by prescribed ceremony by my parents in 1987 when I was a lad of 15 then. Gayatri Devi helps the believer in unbelievable ways i found by many real incidents in my life.
I found that is as much a surrender to the cosmic forces – a mystical experience and a prayer – than just a mechanical ritual. For those interested, here’s a way i do the Gayatri Mantra recital. It was dawned on me around the time writing this article occured to me.
Step 1:
By heart, learn all word meanings in Gayatri.
Step 2: When reciting words in the mantra, visualize in parallel the corresponding scenery or God there while maintaining a steady calm breath.
For example, i visualize while reciting the first line “Aum bhoor bhuva suvaha” (a picture of the galaxy with planets in bluish white and violet colours)
For second line “Tat Savitur varenyam” (a bright sun and mountains rivers green trees and flowers with picture of Aditya Sun God in His Chariot going around seeing His grand creation)
For third line “Bhargho Devasya Dheemahi” (visualize a reddish yellow sun rays from the sun descending to the seeker’s head through his / her Guru’s right hand).
For the fourth and final line, “Dheeyo Yonaha Prachodayaath” (i visualize first my guru sitting below Arunachala Hill and then let my consciousness move up towards the peak of Arunachala hill which is actually limitness in blessing us with wisdom and inspiring us with dharmic qualities etc. – which is essentially our prayer on the fourth line.
Hope the imagery helps those renewing their worship and practice of Gayatri Devi.
Gayatri Mantra is eternal & prayer for self enlightment
Gayatri mantra is based on Sun.To get benefits, like any acts, it must be pronounced correctly with proper resonance creating vibrations that make the body and mind energized and give proper effect and benefits.It is very nice to know that in Indonesia Hinduism is practiced most sincerely and their airline is named as Garuda! Unfortunately Hinduism is mostly neglected in its origin-al place.
Gayatri is a protective mantra and rightly it is said that ‘Gayantham thrayate ithi Gayatri’ Gayatri protects those who recite the mantra properly and with dedication. Whatever one says about Gayatri unless one experiences the effect personally no purpose will be served.Hence do the japa and experience the great effects on the body and mental system.
For those having trouble concentrating so as to complete a 108 chant of the Gayatri, may i suggest trying a string of 108 beads such as a tulsi or rudraksha maala rosary. I have found it works wonders in making counting easy and controlling most external distractions while chanting.