Gayatri Mantra is one of the most known and beneficial of the ancient Sanskrit mantras. Gayatri is a mantra for dispelling darkness, a physical, emotional, and mental healing, purifying the subtle karmas, protection from the onslaught of obstacles, and of spiritual awakening or Self-realization.
Gayatri mantra has been bestowed the greatest importance in Vedic dharma. This mantra has also been termed as Savitri and Veda-Mata, the mother of the Vedas. The literal meaning of the mantra is:
God! You are Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Almighty.
You are all Light. You are all Knowledge and Bliss.
You are Destroyer of fear; You are Creator of this Universe,
You are the Greatest of all. We bow and meditate upon your light.
You guide our intellect in the right direction.
The mantra, however, has a great scientific import too, which somehow got lost in the literary tradition. The modern astrophysics and astronomy tell us that our Galaxy called Milky Way or Akash-Ganga contains approximately 100,000 million of stars. Each star is like our sun having its own planet system. We know that the moon moves round the earth and the earth moves round the sun along with the moon. All planets round the sun.
Each of the above bodies revolves round at its own axis as well. Our sun along with its family takes one round of the galactic centre in 22.5 crore years. All galaxies including ours are moving away at a terrific velocity of 20,000 miles per second.
And now the alternative scientific meaning of the mantra step-by-step:
Om bhur bhuvah swah:Bhur the earth, bhuvah the planets (solar family), swah the Galaxy. We observe that when an ordinary fan with a speed of 900 RPM (rotations Per minute) moves, it makes noise. Then, one can imagine, what great noise would be created when the galaxies move with a speed of 20,000 miles per second.
This is what this portion of the mantra explains that the sound produced due to the fast-moving earth, planets and galaxies is Om. The sound was heard during meditation by Rishi Vishvamitra, who mentioned it too their colleagues. All of them, then unanimously decided to call this sound Om the name of God, because this sound is available in all the three periods of time, hence it is set (permanent). Therefore, it was the first ever-revolutionary idea to identify formless God with a specific title (form) called upadhi. Until that time, everybody recognized God as formless and nobody was prepared to accept this new idea. In the Gita also, it is said, "Omiti ekaksharam Brahma", meaning that the name of the Supreme is Om, which contains only one syllable (8/12). This sound Om heard during samadhi was called by all the seers nada-Brahma a very great noise), but not a noise that is normally beyond a specific amplitude and limits of decibels suited to human hearing. Hence the rishis called this sound Udgith musical sound of the above, i.e., heaven. They also noticed that the infinite mass of galaxies moving with a velocity of 20,000 miles/second was generating a kinetic energy= 1/2MV2 and this was balancing the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence they named it Pranavah, which means the body (vapu) or storehouse of energy (prana).
Tat savitur varenyam:Tat that (God), savitur the sun (star), varenyam worthy of bowing or respect. Once the form of a person along with the name is known to us, we may locate the specific person. Hence the two titles (upadhi) provide the solid ground to identify the formless God, Vishvamitra suggested. He told us that we could know (realize) the unknowable formless God through the known factors, viz., sound Om and light of suns (stars).
A mathematician can solve an equation x2+y2=4; if x=2; then y can be known and so on. An engineer can measure the width of a river even by standing at the riverbank just by drawing a triangle. So was the scientific method suggested by Vishvamitra in the mantra in the next portion as under
Bhargo devasya dheemahi:Bhargo the light, devasya of the deity, dheemahi we should meditate. The Rishi instructs us to meditate upon the available form (light of suns) to discover the formless Creator (God). Also he wants us to do Japam of the word Om (this is understood in the Mantra) . This is how the sage wants us to proceed, but there is a great problem to realize it, as the human mind is so shaky and restless that without the grace of the Supreme (Brahma) it cannot be controlled. Hence Vishvamitra suggests the way to pray Him as under.
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat:Dhiyo (intellect), yo (who), nah (we all), prachodayat (guide to right Direction). O God! Deploy our intellect on the right path.
Full scientific interpretation of the Mantra:
The earth (bhur), the planets (bhuvah), and the galaxies (swah) are moving at a very great velocity, the sound produced is Om, (the name of formless God.) That God (tat), who manifests Himself in the form of light of suns (savitur) is worthy of bowing / respect (varenyam). We all, therefore, should meditate (dheemahi) upon the light (bhargo) of that deity (devasya) and also do chanting of Om. May He (yo) guide in right direction (prachodayat) our (nah) intellect dhiyo
So we notice that the important points hinted in the mantra are:-
1) The total kinetic energy generated by the movement galaxies acts as an umbrella and balances the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence it was named as the Pranavah (body of energy). This is equal to 1/2 mv2 (Mass of galaxies x velocity)
2) Realizing the great importance of the syllable OM, the other later date religions adopted this word with a slight change in accent, viz., amen and Ameen.
3) The God could be realized through the saguna (gross), upasana (method), i.e.,
(a) by chanting the name of the supreme as OM and
(b) by meditating upon the light emitted by stars (suns).
Gayatri Mantra - Chant & Invocation Of Gayathri
OM BHUR BHUVAH SWAH
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT
I have searched a lot for the mantra video that has the right vibes! I love Sathya Sai Baba's Gayathri Mantra chant the most.
The following chant video is also good.
Sathya Sai Baba's Gayatri Mantra Chantra
Meaning Of The Gayatri Mantra
Om: The primeval sound
Bhur: The physical world
Bhuvah: The mental world
Swah: The celestial, spiritual world
Tat: That; God; Transcendental Paramatma
Savitur: The Sun, Creator, Preserver
Varenyam: Most adorable, Enchanting
Bhargo: Luster, Effulgence
Devasya: Resplendent, Supreme Lord
Dheemahi: We meditate upon
Dhiyo: The intellect, Understanding
Yo: May this light
Nah: Our
Prachodayat: Enlighten, Guide, Inspire
Sathya Sai Baba: About Gayatri
“Gayatri is known as Panchamukhi, meaning she has five faces. What
are they? Aum is the first face; ‘Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha’ is the
second; ‘Tat Savitur Varenyam’ is the third; ‘Bhargo Devasya
Dheemahi’ is the fourth; ‘Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat’ is the fifth.
The Gayatri has three parts: 1. Praise, 2. Meditation, and 3.
Prayer. First, the Divine is praised, then it is meditated upon in
reverence and lastly, an appeal is made to the Divine to dispel
the darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the
intellect. ‘Dheemahi’ is related to the meditative aspect. ‘Dhiyo
Yo Nah Prachodayat’ relates to the aspect of prayer. Chanting of
the Gayatri Mantra purifies the mind and confers devotion,
detachment and wisdom. Young men must necessarily chant the
Gayatri Mantra. Today we find people getting initiated into the
Gayatri Mantra in the advanced stages of their youth. Intellect
will blossom and shine forth in all its splendor only after
initiation into the Gayatri Mantra. That is why it is essential
that Upanayanam be done at the age of eight. One who is initiated
into the Gayatri Mantra at an early age will become highly
intelligent. Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra will sanctify man’s
life.”
Sathya Sai Baba: Three Potencies In Man
“The first line in the Gayathri Manthra is Om Bhurbhuvassuvah.
This manthra is assumed to refer to three worlds: the earth, the
middle world and heaven (or Swarga, the land of the gods). Bhu
refers to the body. It is made up of the five elements (Pancha
Bhutas). These five elements constitute nature (Prakriti). There
is an intimate relationship between the body and nature. The same
five elements that are in nature are also in the body. Bhuvah is
the life force that animates the body (Praana Sakthi). Even if the
life force exists, without Jnana (Awareness) the body will be of
no use. It is on this account that the Vedas declared: Prajnaanam
Brahma (Constant Integrated Awareness is Brahmam). It is by the
presence of Prajnaana that the life force is able to animate the
body. The body represents inert matter. The life force operates in
the body as a vibration. This vibration derives its power from
Prajnaana, which finds expression in radiation.
Therefore, the body, the life force and the Prajnaana are all
within man. The entire cosmos is present in miniature within man.
lt is because of these three constituents that we are able to see
the cosmos and experience many other things. Every potency is
within us. The external is a reflection of the inner being.
It follows from this that true humanness (maanavathvam) is
divinity itself (Daivathvam). Hence, the Vedas declared that the
divine appears in human form. Every human being is inherently
divine, but owing to his attachment to the body he considers
himself a mere man.
How did this human body get animated by the life force?
Whence has this life force come? It is from the Atma Sakthi (the power of the
Self). Making use of this power of the Self, the life force
carries out all activities.”
Sathya Sai Baba: Triple Aspects Of Gayatri
“Who is Gaayathri? Gaayathri is not a Goddess. Gaayathri is the
mother of the Vedas (Gaayathri Chandasaam maathaa).
Gaayantham thraayathe ithi Gaayathri. Gaayathri is that which redeems the
chanter of the manthra. Gaayathri is present wherever the manthra
is chanted. Gaayathri, however, has three names: Gaayathri, Saavitri,
Saraswathi. These three are present in everyone. Gaayathri
represents the senses. It is the master of the senses. Savitri is
the master of the life force (Praana). Many Bharatiyas are
familiar with the story of Saavitri who brought back to life her
dead husband, Sathyavaan. Saavitri signifies truth. Saraswathi is
the presiding deity of speech (Vaak). The three represent purity
in thought, word and deed (Thrikarana Suddhi). Although Gaayathri
has three names, all the three are in each of us as the senses
(Gaayathri), the power of speech (Saraswathi) and the life force,
(Saavithri).
Gaayathri is said to have five face and hence is called
Panchamukhi. Is there anybody in the world with five faces? No. In
the Ramayana, Ravana is said to have ten heads. If really he had
ten heads, how would he be able to lie in his bed or move about?
This is not the inner meaning of this description. He is said to
be ten headed because he was the master of the four Vedas and the
six Sastras. Likewise, Gaayathri is described as five faced. The
five faces are: Om (the Pranava) is the first face. The Pranava
principle represents the eight different forms of wealth (Ashta
Aiswarya). The second face is: Bhurbhuvas-suvaha. The third is:
Thath-Savitur-varenyam. The fourth is: Bhargo Devasya dheemahi.
Dheeyo yo nah prachodayaath is the fifth face. When the Gaayathri
mantra is understood in this way, it will be realised that all the
five aspects of Gaayathri are within each of us.”
Sathya Sai Baba: Power Of Gayathri Manthra
“The Gaayathri manthra has all the three elements which figure in
the adoration of God : description, meditation and prayer. The
first nine words of the mantra represent the attributes of the
divine, Om Bhur-Bhuvas-Suvah Thath Savitur Varenyam Bhargo
Devasya. Dheemahi pertains to dhyaana (meditation).
Dheeyo yo nah Prachodayaath is the prayer to the Lord. The mantra is thus a
prayer to God to confer all powers and talents.
Sarvaroganivaarini Gaayathri: Gaayathri is the reliever of all
diseases. Sarvaduhkha parivaarini Gaayathri: Gaayathri wards off
all misery. Sarvavaancha phalasri Gaayathri: Gaayathri is the
fulfiller of all desires. Gaayathri is the bestower of all that is
beneficial. If the mantra is chanted, various kinds of powers will
emerge in one. Hence the Gaayathri mantra should not be treated casually. In our
respiration process the sound of Gaayathri is imbedded. That sound
is a reminder of our true form. In the breathing process, there is
inhalation and exhalation. In the Yoga Sastra inhalation is termed
Poorakam and the exhalation is called Rechakam.
Holding the breath is called Kumbhakam. When air is inhaled, the sound that is
produced is So-o-o. When it is exhaled the sound is Ham-m-m.
So-ham, So-ham (Bhagavan demonstrated how this happens while
breathing in and out). So is That. Ham is I. I am That. I am
Divine. Every breath proclaims this. The Vedas declared the same
thing in the pronouncements: Thath Thvam Asi (That thou art), Aham
Brahmaasmi (I am Brahman), Ayam Atma Brahma
(This Atma is Brahman). Don’t imagine God is somewhere remote from you. He is within you .
You are God. People want to see God. Sathyam Jnaanam Anantham
Brahma say the scriptures. Truth is God. Wisdom is God. Both these
are present everywhere. They transcend the categories of time and
place. Truth is that which is valid at all times past, present an
future. That truth is Gaayathri. Gaayathri is thus the indweller in the heart (Hridaya). Hridaya
contains the word Daya meaning compassion. There is compassion in
every heart. But to what extent is it shown in real life? Very
little. All the while only anger, jealousy, pride and hatred are
displayed. These evil qualities are not natural to man. They are
opposed to human nature. Well, what is the real meaning of the word Gayathri? Does any one
try to know it today? The word is taken to mean either a Goddess
or a formula. Gayathri is that which protects (Thra) the Gaya-s,
or Pranas or the Indriyas, beginning with Vaak. Besides, it is
said, ‘Gaayantham thraayathe yasmaad gayathri, thena thathyathe’.
That is to say that which saves those who sing it, or revere it
and repeat it or meditate on it is called Gayathri. It is this
sacred Manthra that transformed a Rajarshi like Viswamithra into
Brahmarshi. The Vedamaatha, the mother that is the Veda, will
confer all boons on all those who worship Her. That Goddess is
described in glorious terms in Brahmanas and in the Dharmasuthras:
if you understand these clearly, you can realize it, unaided.”
Other Types Of Gayatris
Gayatri of Ganesha:
OM Ekadantaya Vidmahe Vakkratundaya Dheemahi,
Tanno Danti Prachodayat
Gayatri of Vishnu:
OM Narayanaya Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dheemahi, Tanno Vishnuh Prachodayat
Gayatri of Siva:
OM Tatpurshaya Vidmahe Sahasrakshaya Mahadevaya Dheemahi, Tanno
Rudrah Prachodayat
Gayatri of Rama:
OM Dasarathaye Vidnahe Sitavallabhaya Dheemahi, Tanno Ramah
Prachodayat
Gayatri of Krishna:
OM Devakinandanaya Vidnahe Vasudevaya Dheemahi, Tannah Krishnah
Prachodayat
Gayatri of Durga:
OM Katyayanyai Vidmahe Kanyakumaryai Dheemahi, Tanno Durga
Prachodayat
Gayatri of Lakshmi:
OM Mahadevyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnupatnyai Cha Dheemai Tanno Lakshmih
Prachodayat
Gayatri of Saraswati:
OM Vagdevyai Cha Vidmahe Kamarajaya Dheemai Tanno Devi Prachodayat
Gayatri of Shakti, Cosmic Power:
OM Sarvasammohinyai Vidmahe Visvajananayai Dheemai Tannah Shaktih
Prachodayat
Gayatri of the Guru:
OM Gurudevaya Vidmahe parabrahmane Dheemai Tanno Guru Prachodayat
Gayatri of Surya, the Sun:
OM Bhaskaraya Vidmahe Mahadyutikaraya Dheemai Tanno Adityah
Prachodayat
Phonetic Spellings: guyatree guyatre guyatri guyathri giyatri
giyathri gayathri gayatree gayatre guyahtre guyahtree guyahtri
guyahthri
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