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Gayatri Mantra Meaning in English and Lyrics

Gayatri Mantra in Original Sanskrit - Hindi
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The Gayatri Mantra first appears in the Rig Veda, the most ancient and the first among the four Vedas. The Gayatri Mantra is mentioned in the 3rd Chapter, 62nd Verse, and Line 10 (03.62.10) of the Rig Veda. The Gayatri Mantra may also appear in other Vedas, such as the Yajurveda.

There is a line in Sanskrit: “Gayantam Trayate iti Gayatri - गायंतम त्रायते इति गायत्री” which simply means "One who chants the Gayatri will get liberation". Most of the blogs on Gayatri state that the word Trayate means protection but that is not accurate, because the word Trayate or Taran (तारण) means protection, here we are saying that beyond the protection, a true liberation is not attached to any dependency anymore. Hence, Trayate means "Taranhar" (तारणहार) = One who leads us to liberation by protecting us with no dependency.

Gayatri Mantra is called the mother of all mantras because it follows all the Chhandas. Chhanda simply means verse or meter to scale mantra according to lyrics, grammar, music and others. In the Vedic culture and ancient times, it was a ritual to chant the Gayatri Mantra every morning, not just because it is beautiful to chant, but also because it is very meaningful and provides practical benefits.

Sanskrit Lyrics:

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

English Lyrics:

Om Bhur-Bhuvah Svah Tat-Savitur-Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat ||

The Gayatri Mantra is an ancient conversation between sages and Lord Brahma. It is a very serious conversation and is not meant for casual discussion. Therefore, it creates powerful vibrations in the body and the universe. It refines energy and connects us with the higher self.

It is also called the Savitri Mantra which is dedicated to Devi Gayatri, Savitri or Savitu. Many saints such as Swami Vivekananda described chanting Gayatri Mantra as a way to propel our minds in a good direction. In this blog, we will learn about the pronunciation, meaning, significance, benefits (physical and mental), usage, the timing of chanting, the days for chanting, preparation before chanting, how long we should chant, and much more.

It is not a coincidence that Gayatri Mantra also has Sacred Beej - Seed Mantra characters in the same uplifting sequence.
Here are the 7 Seed Mantras of Chakras: Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, Ham, Om and Omkar (लं, वं, रं, यं, हं, ॐ और ओंकार)
Sankrit language alphabets are: La, Va, Ra, Ya, Ha (ल, व, र, य, ह), Om is not considered an alphabet in Sanskrit. 

"La represents the Root Chakra. The Gayatri Mantra uplifts energy from the Root Chakra, so it does not include the alphabet 'La.'
The word 'Bhuva' has the alphabet 'Va,' which represents the Sacral Chakra.
The word 'Varenyam' contains the alphabets 'Ra' and 'Ya,' which represent the Solar Plexus and Heart Chakras.
The word 'Dhimahi' contains the alphabet 'Ha,' which represents the Throat Chakra, and Om represents the Third Eye and Crown Chakras."

meaning-of-gayatri-mantra

Meaning of Gayatri Mantra

Word by Word Meaning:

ॐ - OM - The Universal - Primitive Sound
भू - BHU - The material - physical world or Earth
भुवः - BHUVA - The celestial world or sky
स्वः - SVAHA - The paradise - heaven
तत् - TAT -  In simpler terms, TAT means “that”, because it states an indication through speech or language, the “Ultimate Reality.” That, God or Goddess;
सवितु - SAVITUR - Savitu, Savitri and Gayatri are names of Goddess of Energy
वरेण्यं - VARENYAM - Brilliant
भर्गो - BHARGO - Reputed
देवस्य - DEVASYA - Gods or Divine Entities
धीमहि - DHIMAHI - We meditate on or we contemplate
धियो यो - DHIYO YO - Intelligence or Mind
नः - NAH - Nah: our
प्रचोदयात् - PRACHODAYAT - Give Direction or Drive

Oh, my Brilliant Goddess of Energy, reputed among Devta (Divine Entities), we meditate on you, drive our minds in good direction,
From the material world (Bhu) to the celestial world (Bhuva) to a higher level of existence (Svaha).

The First Word “OM” – ॐ

The Ancient Sound

It is known as the Pranav sound because the sound of "Om" or "AUM" comes from Prana (vital vibration). Om is an ancient sound that represents the source of the universe and its expansion.

Om is the beginning of Vedic mantras. Most mantras that come from ancient practices start with "Om."

Bhu, Bhuvah, Svah

Material World to Higher Level

Bhu means "Earth," the material world where we live. "Bhu" also represents our root, foundation, or source area of the body called the Muladhara Chakra (Root).

Bhuva or Bhuvan means "Sky" or "Celestial World," where all the planets and galaxies exist. It also represents our chest area, the area of respiration, or the Anahata Chakra (Heart).

Svaha means beyond the material and celestial worlds, called Swarga Loka or Heaven. It also represents the top of the head area, which is outside our body in the energy field or aura, known as the Sahasrara or Crown Chakra.

Tat Savitur Varenyam

That Brilliant Goddess of Energy

The word "Tat" means "That," referring to someone or something that is far or beyond. "Savitur" contains "r," which is a conjunction. Hence, "Savitu" is another name for Savitri or Gayatri. The word "Varenyam" means brilliant.

So, "Tat Savitur Varenyam" means that brilliant Gayatri (the Goddess of Energy).

Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi

Reputed among Gods, we meditate on you

The word "Bhargo" simply means "Reputed" – one who has great reputation or fame. "Devasya" means "gods," and the word "Dhimahi" means "Meditate on."

Therefore, we meditate on that Goddess of Energy who has a great reputation among the "gods" ("Devta").

Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Drive our minds in good direction

"Dhiyo Yo Nah" means our minds or our intelligence. "Parchodayat" simply means to drive, to give direction, to propel, or to run. Therefore, "Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat" means please drive our minds in a good direction.

The "Gayatri Mantra" is not a simple mantra. Among the thousands of mantras, "Gayatri" was always deep and special and was called "Mother of all Mantras". No one could create a mantra better than "Gayatri" when comparing the musical notes, vibrations, interpretations, energy generation, alignment of energy and "prana," and much more.

benefits-of-gayatri-mantra

Benefits of chanting Gayatri Mantra

Spiritual and Scientific Benefits of Gayatri Mantra

Chanting this miraculous mantra is meant to have both scientific and spiritual effects on our body and mind. "Gayatri Mantra" uplifts our energy from material imagination to a higher level of imagination. It is a way to apply disciplined manifestation within the mind that may have illusions and seek a higher level of brilliance.

Our mind is designed to explore new things, and we usually lose our focus and concentration on our goals. "Gayatri Mantra" is a way to affirm and increase our attention to goals.

  • Calms the mind and body

    Sacred Vibrations

    According to studies, chanting the "Gayatri Mantra" helps in the release of endorphins and other relaxing hormones. The sound of this mantra sends a vibration through the lips, tongue, palate, back of the throat, and skull, which calms the mind. The vibrations from this mantra stimulate the "chakras" or the "extrasensory energy centers" and the "pineal gland."

    The vibrations of the "Gayatri Mantra" flow positive energy in the body, making the mind naturally calm.

  • Sharpens the intellect and brightens the memory

    Expansion and Concentration

    Studies have found that people who chant the "Gayatri Mantra" have better concentration and memory. It shows that when you chant the mantra, the resultant vibration first activates the upper chakras: the Vishuddha, Ajna, and Anahata. These three chakras help to sharpen the intellect, brighten the memory, and improve the connection with nature. The sacred syllables of the "Gayatri Mantra" are so devised that they allow a person to focus the mind.

    "Gayatri Mantra" is one of the affirmative manifestations, so it will positively prioritize your thoughts, and when something is not hectic, we usually enjoy it and do not ignore it. That is the secret of increasing the intellectual level or achieving better memory.

  • Brings clarity to life

    Removes Illusion

    As a mirror gathers dust and needs cleaning so that it can reflect clearly, similarly, our mind becomes tainted or dusty with time, the company that we keep, the knowledge we receive, and our latent tendencies. By chanting the "Gayatri Mantra," we give a deep cleansing to our minds to get better clarity in life. Through the mantra, one gains brilliance in both the inner and outer worlds.

    Confused energy leads to confused actions. "Gayatri Mantra" aligns human energy from low to high levels. When the energy gets aligned or reaches the highest possible levels, it gives proper direction with no illusions.

  • Sound Waves Clears Negative Energy

    Sound Waves of Wellness

    Regular chanting of the "Gayatri Mantra" creates waves of wellness. Sound waves generated by the "Gayatri Mantra" clear all negative energy that may have been stored in the body by anger, frustration, emotions, and other actions.

    When you chant the mantra, the pressure is exerted on your tongue, lips, vocal cords, palate, and the connecting regions in and around your brain to create a resonance or a vibration that helps strengthen and stimulate the functioning of your nerves. Apart from that, it also stimulates the proper release of neurotransmitters that help in the conduction of impulses.

  • Keeps depression and anxiety at bay

    Overwrite the stress

    Stress comes from situations in life. The mantra will not directly change life situations, but it will increase a peaceful environment, and you will easily handle stressful situations. A tranquil environment in daily life will not create unnecessary hectic situations.

    Regular chanting of this mantra gives a person relief from stress, making them more resilient. According to many studies, chanting of the "Gayatri Mantra" helped stimulate the functioning of the vagus nerve, which is a common form of treatment for people with depression and epilepsy.

  • Keeps the Paralysis away

    Good for proper alignment

    Paralysis is connected with the brain and spine. When we chant the "Gayatri Mantra," which has the highest vibration syllables such as "Bha - भ", "Dha - ध", "Na - ण" and many more, we get the energetic vibration in the spinal cord followed by the brain.

    There are certain energy benefits of reciting this mantra. The vibrations stimulate vital points in the body and on the face that help increase circulation. Proper blood circulation keeps a lot of diseases away.

  • Improves lungs capacity

    Better Prana Vayu Flow

    When you chant the "Gayatri Mantra," you automatically follow the breathing control ("Pranayama") and breathing awareness. The mantra is designed to be recited by holding the breath and chanting in a single breath. In yogic life, holding the breath is the secret of a calm mind.

    While chanting the mantra, you are required to take deep rhythmic breaths which eventually enhance the functioning and capacity of the lungs. Deep breathing helps oxygenate the body cells thereby keeping your whole body fit. It can also help to relieve the symptoms of asthma or other breathing disorders.

  • Improves other Hormones

    Adding the overall wellness

    Regular recitation of the "Gayatri Mantra" improves the flow of many important hormones. Modern science is still researching these ancient chants.

    Recitation of the "Gayatri Mantra" for a certain period improves the immunity of the body. It ensures that a person is protected from common diseases and infections. The powerful vibration from this mantra stimulates the hypothalamus gland, which helps in boosting the body's immune system. The hypothalamus helps produce hormones that regulate heart rate, body temperature, hunger, and the sleeping cycle.

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About Author: Sanjjay Raturi
The Seeker, Writer, Himalayan Philosopher
Sanjjay Raturi "Sagar" was born into a Brahmin family in the North Indian Himalayas. He has been connected to spirituality since birth, growing up in a beautiful place near the source of the holy river Ganges. This led him to start practicing mantra chanting and meditation during his childhood.
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