Why, How and the Importance of Gayatri Mantra!

Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri Mantra | Rig Veda 3.62.10

Sanskrit transcript:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Transliteration:
oṃ bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ। tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi।
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt॥
Hindi Translation:
ॐ हम उस दिव्य सूरज का ध्यान करतें हैं, जो सभी को प्रकाशित करता है, जिनसे सभी आगे बढ़ते हैं। हे प्रभु, क्रिपा करके हमारी बुद्धि को उजाला प्रदान कीजिये और हमें धर्म का सही रास्ता दिखाईये।
English translation:
We meditate on the glory of that being (Savitur, the sun) who has produced this universe, who is the essence of our life existence; May we imbibe his divinity and brilliance within us.

The purpose of Gayatri mantra is to offer prayers to the sun god, Savitur. The god which has given us everything, which has made life possible on this planet, which grants us light and energy. The sun which always gives and never asks for anything in return, the Gayatri mantra is a way of giving back in the form of prayer and respect to that ever-giving entity. This mantra invokes a sense of inclusiveness; imagine you offering respects to the sun on behalf of all the beings in this world, wouldn’t that make you think much larger than just yourself? The correct mindset that we all need when we begin our day.

Why Gayatri Mantra is so popular?

Gayatri Mantra is from one of the oldest texts ‘Rig Veda’, composed by Sage Vishwamitra. It is a popular belief that Vishwamitra after long practice and penance discovered Gayatri mantra which according to him was not just a boon for himself but for the entire mankind. Upon chanting this mantra, the chanter and the listener both are most benefited with the vibrational positive energy of the mantra. And the fact that many practitioners have found Gayatri mantra so enriching, it has become popular over the centuries.

The Analysis (Dissection) of the Gayatri Mantra:

ॐ (OM): The primeval sound
भूः (Bhur): Earth = Mooladhara; the physical body/physical realm
भुवः (Bhuvah): Akash; the life force/the mental realm
स्वः (Swah): Heaven= Swadhishthana; the soul/spiritual realm
महः (Maha): Heart region.
जनः (Jana): To say ‘no’ for life and death.
तपः (Tapa): Ascetic practices in vishuddhi & Agnya.
सत्यम् (Satyam): Up to the Third Eye ( Brahma-Randhra ).
तत् (Tat): That – situated as it is; That (God)
सवितुर् (Savitur/Savita): Sa + Va + Ta = Sun, Ganges, Fire, Earth etc. including those endowed with knowledge and yoga.

र्वरेण्यं (Vareñyam): Va + Re + N + Ya + M : God Varuna; adore
भर्गो (Bhargo): Bha + Ra + Ga; effulgence (divine light)
देवस्य (Devasya): Da + Va + S + Ya; Supreme Lord
धीमहि (Dhīmahi): Dha + Ma + Ha; meditate
धियो (Dhiyo/Dhiya): Dha + Ya; the intellect

यो नः (Yo Nah): Ya + Na; May this light, Nah: Our
प्रचोदयात् (Prachodayāt): Pa + Ra + Cha + Da + Ya + T; illumine/inspire

How to chant the Gayatri Mantra?

When to chant the Gayatri Mantra?

It is advised to repeat Shanti (peace) thrice at the end of the chanting of the Mantra, which will give peace to three entities – body, mind, and soul. During the three positions of sun namely lower sky in the east (morning), mid sky (noon) and lower sky in the evening (dusk), are the best times to chant Gayatri Mantra.

Therefore, the day is divided into three parts: