GAYATRI MANTRA
The Gāyatrī,also known as the Sāvitrī mantra, is a highly revered mantra from the Rig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10), dedicated to Savitr, the sun deity. Gāyatrī is the name of the Vedic meter in which the verse is composed.[1] Its recitation is traditionally preceded by oṃ and the formula bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, known as the mahāvyāhṛti, or "great (mystical) utterance". Vishvamitra is said to have created the Gayatri mantra.
The main mantra appears in the hymn RV 3.62.10. During its recitation, the hymn is preceded by oṃ (ॐ) and the formula bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ (भूर् भुवः स्वः).
This prefixing of the mantra proper is described in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.11.1-8), which states that it should be chanted with the syllable oṃ, followed by the three Vyahrtis and the Gayatri verse. Whereas igāyatrī mantra specifies three pādas of eight syllables each, the text of the verse as preserved in the Samhita is one short, seven instead of eight. Metrical restoration would emend the attested tri-syllabic vareṇyaṃ with a tetra-syllabic vareṇiyaṃ.[10]
The Gayatri mantra is,[9] in Devanagari:
- ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
- तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरेण्यं॒
- भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑धीमहि ।
- धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥
- oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
- tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ
- bhargo devasyadhīmahi
- dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
- – Rigveda 3.62.10[11]
The Gāyatrī is dedicated to Savitr, a Vedic Sun deity.[12][13]
The Gayatri mantra has been translated in many ways.[note 1] Quite literal translations include:
- Monier Monier-Williams(1882): "Let us meditate on that excellent glory of the divine vivifying Sun, May he enlighten our understandings."[14][15]
- Ralph T.H. Griffith (1896): "May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the god: So may he stimulate our prayers."[16]
More interpretative translations include:
- Shriram Sharma : Om , the Brahm , the Universal Divine Energy , vital spiritual energy (Pran), the essence of our life existence, Positivity , destroyer of sufferings , the happiness , that is bright, luminous like the Sun , best, destroyer of evil thoughts , the divinity who grants happiness may imbibe its Divinity and Brilliance within us which may purify us and guide our righteous wisdom on the right path. [17]
- Sivanath Sastri (Brahmo Samaj) (1911): "We meditate on the worshipable power and glory of Him who has created the earth, the nether world and the heavens (i.e. the universe), and who directs our understanding."[20][note 2]
- Swami Vivekananda: "We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds."[21]
- Swami Sivananada:
Om - Para Brahman; Bhur - Bhuloka (Physical Plane); Bhuvah - Antariksha Svah; Svarga Loka Tat - Paramatma Savitur; Isvara (Surya); Varenyam; Fit to be worshipped; Bhargo - Remover of sins and ignorance; Devasya - Glory (Jnana Svaroopa); Dheemahi - We meditate; Dhiyo - Buddhi (Intellect); Yo - Which; Nah - Our; Prachodayat - Enlighten.
BHAVA-ARTHA
"Let us meditate on Isvara and His Glory who has created the Universe, who is fit to be worshipped, who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May he enlighten our intellect. "
The aspirant prays to Mother Gayatri, "O Beloved Mother! At the present moment I have taken my body as the self owing to Avidya or ignorance, through my impure intellect. Give me a pure intellect which will enable me to know my real nature. Give me light and knowledge. "
In the Gayatri Mantra there are 9 names, viz. , 1. Om, 2. Bhur, 3. Bhuvah, 4. Svah, 5. Tat, 6. Savitur, 7. Varenyam, 8. Bhargo and 9. Devasya.
Through these nine names the Lord is PRAISED.
Dheemahi is WORSHIP of the Lord.
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat is PRAYER.
Herein there are five halts or stops viz.: 'Om' is the first stop; 'Bhur Bhuvah Svah' the second; 'Tat Savitur Varenyam' the third; 'Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi' the fourth; and 'Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat' the fifth. While chanting or doing Japa of the Mantra, we should stop a little at every stop or halt.
Savita is the presiding deity of the Gayatri Mantra, Fire (Agni) is the mouth, Vishwamitra is the Rishi and Gayatri is the metre. It is recited in the investiture of sacred thread, practice of Pranayama and Japa. What Gayatri is, the same is Sandhya, and what Sandhya is, the same is Gayatri. Sandhya and Gayatri are identical.
***
Various meanings of the words used in the Gayatri Mantra
| Bhuh | Bhuvah | Svah |
| Earth | Atmosphere | Beyond Atmosphere |
| Past | Present | Future |
| Morning | Noon | Evening |
| Tamas | Rajas | Sattwa |
| Gross | Subtle | Causal |
***
A form of the mantra with all seven vyahrtis prefixed is found in the last book of the Taittiriya Aranyaka, better known as the Mahanarayana Upanishad.[25]
It is as follows:
oṃ bhūḥ
oṃ bhuvaḥ
oṃ svaḥ
oṃ mahaḥ
oṃ janaḥ
oṃ tapaḥ
oṃ satyam
oṃ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ।
oṃ āpo jyotī raso'mṛtaṃ brahma
bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om ॥
Meaning:
1: Om, (I meditate on the) Bhu Loka (Physical Plane, Consciousness of the Physical Plane),
Om, (I meditate on the) Bhuvar Loka (Antariksha or Intermediate Space, Consciousness of the Prana),
Om, (I meditate on the) Swar Loka (Swarga, Heaven, Consciousness of the beginning of the Divine Mind),
(The above have relatively grosser manifestations to start the meditation; Then the meditation goes to subtler levels)
2: Om, (I meditate on the) Mahar Loka (Great, Mighty, Still subtler Plane felt as All-Pervading Consciousness),
Om, (I meditate on the) Janar Loka (Generating, Still subtler Plane felt as All-Creating Consciousness),
Om, (I meditate on the) Tapo Loka (Filled with Tejas, Still subtler Plane felt as filled with Divine Tejas or Illumination of Shakti),
Om, (I meditate on the) Satya Loka (Absolute Truth, Most subtle Plane merging with the Consciousness of Brahman),
3: Om, on that Savitur (Divine Illumination) which is most Adorable (Varenyam) and which is of the nature of Divine Effulgence (Bhargo Devasya), I meditate,
4: May that Divine Intelligence (Dhiyah) Awaken (Pracodyat) our (Spiritual Consciousness),
5: Om, that Divine Consciousness which is:
Apah (All-Pervading),
Jyoti (Divine Effulgence),
Rasa (Divine Essence),
Amritam (Immortal and Nectar-like Blissful),
Brahma (Sacchidananda Brahman ) ...
... (has manifested in grosser forms as) Bhu Loka (Physical Plane), Bhuvar Loka (Antariksha or Intermediate Space) and Swar Loka (Swarga or Heaven), ...
... (but which is) Om (in essence).
***
The vyahritis were made at the beginning of creation and represent the seven planetary systems including Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Tapah, and Satyalokas. Besides denoting the seven worlds, the vyahritis denote the seven planes of consciousness. The mantras are prayers directed to the elemental forces on the seven planes. These elemental forces are manifestations of the Parabrahman itself.
The seven worlds are embodied in the trinity of bhur, bhuvah, and svah.
Bhur or bhu represents earth or the physical plane.
Bhuvah represents the sky or astral plane.
Svah represents heaven or the mental plane.
Maharloka represents a higher plane.
Janah represents the place of birth, a still higher plane.
Tapah represents the mansion of the Blessed, an even higher plane.
Satyam represents the abode of truth, the highest plane.
It is sometimes said that these vyahritis (bhur, bhuvah, svah) which appear in the beginning of the Brahma-gayatri represent the SAPTA RSI (seven great sages) including Visvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasistha, and Kasyapa.
The seven DEVATAS of this mantra (bhur, bhuvah, and svah) are Agni, Vayu, Aditya, Brhaspati, Varuna, Indra, and Visva Devata.
Besides referring to the upper, middle and lower planets (i.e. the complete universe or creation), bhur, bhuvah, svah signify the material body. Sripada Madhvacarya says Om means Lord Visnu, the reservoir of all vitures;
bhu—the perfection of qualities;
bhuvah—all power;
svah—to His blissful nature.
It is also said, "Thou art the bhuh—creator of all beings; bhuvah—the sustainer of all beings; svah—the final goal of all beings." Bhur, bhuvah, and svah indicate the totality of all levels of existence in the universe, which is the effect of the Supreme cause, the original cause of everything.
(Source): Krishna Science: Gayatri Mahima Madhuri.
***
However, traditionally, the stanza RV.3.62.10 is the Sāvitrī imparted only to Brahmin boys.
Other Sāvitrī verses are used in the upanayanam ceremony for non-Brahmins: RV.1.35.2, in the Trishtubh meter, for a Kshatriya;
and, either RV.1.35.9 or RV.4.40.5, in the Jagati meter, for a Vaishya.
ā kṛṣṇena rajasā vartamāno
niveśayann amṛtam martyaṃ ca |
hiraṇyayena savitā rathenā
devo yāti bhuvanāni paśyan ||
RV1.35.2
Existing with all the light and the darkness, dwelling in the imperishable
Brahman as well as the perishable creation, Savita, with the pure essence of
Brahman and with the desire that causes movement in it (and results in
creation), moves into all beings including the gods and experiences through
them all the worlds and the beings of this diverse creation.
hiraṇyapāṇiḥ savitā vicarṣaṇir
ubhe dyāvāpṛthivī antar īyate |
apāmīvām bādhate veti sūryam
abhi kṛṣṇena rajasā dyām ṛṇoti ||
RV 1.35.9
It's excellent....In Vishyam exists saptarishi mandalam, pancha bhutamulu, universe of galaxies, human nature/ behaviour, planets energy levels all related to this Nature. And vaari adbhuta divya drushti kaligi vipulikarincharu....We r now realised the importance of Gayatri Mantra though chanting regularly.... Namaskaram....
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