Do you want to start mantra meditation but are still looking for the perfect mantra that aligns with your intention? Or do you have an established chanting practice and are looking for a new mantra full of spiritual power and potential?
If so, the Gayatri mantra might be for you. This sacred mantra is one of the oldest known invocations from Vedic times. It has been chanted for thousands of years and remains a popular choice among bhakti yogis, kirtan enthusiasts and avid meditators today.
So what makes this mantra so special and what spiritual qualities could you unlock by chanting it? Read on to discover the Gayatri Mantra meaning, pronunciation, benefits and more.
What does the Gayatri Mantra mean?
The Gayatri Mantra was recorded in the Rig-Veda, the first of the four Vedas and one of the oldest scriptures written thousands of years ago. A powerful and sacred mantra, it is said that all knowledge of the universe is contained within its twenty-four syllables.
Gayatri is also sometimes referred to as the Savitri Mantra. Its meaning and translation vary, but go along the lines of:
O Divine Mother, may Your pure Divine Light illuminate all areas (physical, mental and spiritual) of our being. Drive out all darkness from our hearts and give us true knowledge.
Essentially, the mantra calls on the goddess Gayatri to remove all darkness from your being and replace it with positive light and wisdom. Regularly chanting the Gayatri mantra helps you to connect with your own true nature and allows you to experience pure awareness.
The originally chanted Sanskrit mantra reads:
- Om bhuh, bhuvah, Swaha
- Tat savitur varenyam
- Bhargo devasya dhimahi
- Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
To further understand the meaning, we can break down the mantra to see what each word individually constitutes.
- Om: The original basic sound of the universe
- Bhur: The physical body, the earth, the physical realm
- Bhuvah: The life energies, heaven, consciousness
- Suvah: The soul, the inner space, the spiritual realm, bliss
- Deed: That
- Savitur: Divine Sun, Solar Powers, Ultimate Light of Wisdom
- Varenyam: The best, adore
- Bhargo: Self-luminous, divine light
- Devasya: Divine Grace
- Dhimahi Dhiyo: Intellect
- Yo: Which
- Nah: Ours, from us
- Prachodayat: Enlighten, inspire
Goddess Gayatri: The Divine Mother
The goddess Gayatri Devi is known as the giver of knowledge and is often referred to as the “Mother of the Vedas”. She is known to have the power to remove darkness and channel the light and wisdom of the entire cosmos into our minds.
The goddess Gayatri is also known as Savitri, a sun deity in the Vedas. It is believed to be the force behind the sun, which is a symbol of spiritual light in the Vedic teachings.
Many ancient works of art depict the goddess Gayatri with 5 heads and 10 arms riding a swan. The five faces symbolize the five pranas and the five elements of the universe.
How to chant the Gayatri Mantra
Traditionally, this mantra is recited mentally rather than aloud. However, you can sing it out loud in a soft tone if you prefer.
The Gayatri mantra contains 24 seed syllables but is typically divided into three groups of eight syllables. Here is the original mantra with the phonetic pronunciation of each syllable.
- Om bhuh, bhuvah, swaha (Aumm Bhoor Bhoo-va Su-va-ha)
- Tat savitur varenyam (Tat Sa-vee-toor Var-ayn-yam)
- Bhargo devasya dhimahi (Bar-go Day-vas-ya Dhee-ma-hee)
- Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat (Dhee-yo Yo nah Pra-cho-da-yaat)
Once you become comfortable with the mantra, you can add visualization to connect more deeply with the divine oneness of Goddess Gayatri.
As you sing, imagine the sun’s rays streaming down from the universe and entering your heart. Next, imagine this solar energy cleansing your heart and soul, drawing out any negativity or toxins before it leaves your body from the center of your heart and returns to the universe.
When should you chant the Gayatri Mantra?
According to Vedic teachings, the best time to chant the Gayatri mantra is between 4am and 8am or 4pm and 8pm, known as satva time. Satva is one of the three gunas taught in the yoga tradition, each representing a different state of being.
Satva is a state of calm, balance and harmony in which you are neither overactive nor underactive. Therefore, satva times are the best times to meditate, chant, or engage in other spiritual practices.
To prepare the body and mind for chanting the Gayatri mantra, it is best to do a simple pranayama such as nadi shodana (alternating breathing through the nostrils).
How often should one chant Gayatri Mantra?
Some ancient yoga texts state that you should repeat the Gayatri mantra 10 times a day. It is believed that this will remove your sins in this life. If you go further and chant it 100 times a day, it is also said to remove the sins of your past lives.
In addition, chanting 1000 times can remove the sins of three yugas. A yuga is an age cycle from Hindu philosophy, and each yuga cycle lasts 4,320,000 years.
I recommend using mala beads for mantra chanting of 100 repetitions or more. These age-old meditation tools will help you keep track of your reps and stay focused.
Most mala beads have 108 count beads as 108 has great spiritual significance. You can find mala beads in different materials, such as crystals, sandalwood, lava rock or bodhi seeds.
Each material has specific qualities and benefits, so I recommend choosing one that reflects your intention for mantra chanting. For example, sandalwood malas, like this one from Anzhongli, have spiritual meaning that can calm, purify, and uplift your mind and soul.
Alternatively, Tiger Eye is a very earthy gemstone that helps you stay grounded, eliminates anxiety and promotes mental calm and focus. Tiger eye malas like these from BaliBali are beneficial for connecting with the elements, especially earth and fire (connected to the sun).
Benefits of Chanting Gayatri Mantras
Each Sanskrit mantra has a specific meaning and power. Chanting the Gayatri mantra helps us get closer to our true intelligence and to understand ourselves and the world around us on a deeper level.
The Gayatri mantra also helps clear negative energy in our body, mind and spirit, raising our vibrations and advancing us on our spiritual path.
In addition, chanting powerful mantras like Gayatri can bring the following benefits:
- More mental clarity and calm (reduction of mental fluctuations)
- Improved focus and concentration, resulting in better memory and learning ability
- Less stress and anxiety
- regulation of the nervous system
- Improved respiratory system function
Where you can learn more about the meaning of Gayatri Mantra
If you are interested in learning more about the Gayatri Mantra and developing a regular chanting practice, I highly recommend reading The Hidden Power of the Gayatri Mantra by Om Swami.
This insightful book delves deep into the meaning of the Gayatri mantra and its origins, exploring the sublime energy it contains that makes it one of the most powerful Vedic mantras. Om Swami then gives a simplified method to invoke the power of Goddess Gayatri and gain a deeper intuition and wisdom.
Final Thoughts on the Gayatri Mantra
Reciting the sacred Sanskrit words of the Gayatri mantra will not only clear your mind and promote calmness and serenity. The mantra also installs deeper spiritual wisdom and connection to the divine. If that is not enough, chanting the Gayatri mantra can draw out negativity and fill your heart and soul with light and love.
Have you ever tried chanting this mantra? How did that make you feel?
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘4372931912749977’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
| TOI.NEWS YOGA | Click here |
Follow and Subscribe to Our YouTube, Instagram and Twitter – Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Disclaimer: We do not claim nor take any responsibility for the information and information provided in the article. Consult your doctor before apply on your body any provided advice here mentioned in the above article.
News & Image Credit – Click Here
- Rosette fashion is the latest Y2K comeback trend - March 30, 2023
- ‘Tragic Loss’: Two US Army Helicopters Collide Killing 9 in Kentucky - March 30, 2023
- The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 5 Ending Explained - March 30, 2023
