The Gayatri Mantra is the most revered mantra in the Vedic tradition, from the Rigveda (3.62.10). It is addressed to Savitru — the divine Sun as the source of all light and wisdom.
Sanskrit:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम्।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Transliteration:
Om Bhur Bhuva Svah.
Tat Savitur Varenyam.
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi.
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat.
| Word | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| Om | The primordial sound, Brahman |
| Bhur | The physical plane (earth) |
| Bhuva | The vital/astral plane |
| Svah | The celestial plane |
| Tat | That (referring to Brahman/divine) |
| Savitur | Of the divine Sun (Savitru) |
| Varenyam | Most worthy of worship, most excellent |
| Bhargo | The divine radiance/spiritual light |
| Devasya | Of the deity/divine |
| Dhimahi | We meditate upon |
| Dhiyo | Intellects/understanding |
| Yo | Who |
| Nah | Our |
| Prachodayat | May inspire/illuminate |
Om — We meditate upon the divine radiance of that supreme Solar Being who is worthy of worship. May that divine light illuminate our intellects.
The three words Bhur, Bhuva, Svah are the Vyahritis — the three cosmic realms:
- Bhur (भूः) — Bhu Loka — the physical world of matter
- Bhuva (भुवः) — Bhuvar Loka — the vital/intermediate world
- Svah (स्वः) — Svar Loka — the celestial/spiritual world
The mantra thus invokes divine light across all three planes of existence.
Best time: Brahma Muhurta (90 minutes before sunrise), sunrise, noon, and sunset — the four Sandhya times.
Position: Sit facing east (sunrise), spine erect, eyes half-closed.
Mala: Use a rudraksha or crystal quartz (sphatik) mala of 108 beads.
Minimum daily practice:
- Beginners: 11 repetitions
- Regular practice: 108 repetitions (1 mala)
- Advanced: 1008 repetitions (10 malas)
For Upanayana (Sacred Thread ceremony): Boys are traditionally initiated into the Gayatri at the time of the sacred thread ceremony.
The Gayatri is said to contain the essence of all the Vedas. The sage Vishwamitra composed it. Chanting the Gayatri is believed to:
- Purify the mind and intellect
- Awaken spiritual wisdom (Viveka)
- Remove ignorance (Avidya)
- Bestow long life, health and prosperity
- Grant liberation (Moksha) through sustained practice