What is the Gayatri Mantra?
The Gayatri Mantra is a Sanskrit mantra that has been chanted for thousands of years. It’s found in the oldest Vedic scripture, the Rig Veda. It is, also, known as the Savitri mantra, as it is in honour of the Sun God, Savitr.
Gayatri is the name of the Goddess of the Vedic meter in which the verse is composed. The Gayatri metre is a stanza of three 8-syllable lines.
The Gayatri mantra, acknowledging the radiant light of the Divine and the transformative power that it has, is said to contain all the knowledge of the universe.
Recitation of the mantra purifies us. It raises our vibration, allowing us to access deep wisdom and radiate our light out into the world.
The Gayatri Mantra
Om bhuh, bhuvah, swaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
Why are there 4 lines, not 3?
Now, as per the rules stated above, the Gayatri mantra should only have 3 lines. But it clearly has 4. The last 3 lines were taken from the Rig Veda but ‘OM Bhuh Bhuvah Swaha’ was added at the beginning of the mantra. This line has been added as an invocation. It invokes the universe, in its entirety, before beginning to chant.
Bhuh is for Bhuloka, the earth plane. Swaha is for Swarglokam loka, the celestial plane. And Bhuvah is Bhuva loka, the space in between.
The meaning of the Gayatri Mantra
Calling on the Sun Goddess! May my heart be illuminated. Cleanse me of all delusions, so that I can shine forth like thou art shining.
Why do we chant it?
The Sun symbolizes the essence of the Divine. As we chant this mantra, we tune into that Divine light, harnessing its power, increasing the value of light within us.
That’s what enlightenment is, an ever-increasing value of light in consciousness.
Who is Gayatri Devi?
The mantra is personified by the Goddess Gayatri Devi, the bestower of knowledge, the mother of the Vedas. She is often depicted as having five heads, with the ten eyes looking in the eight directions plus the earth and sky. Her ten arms hold all the weapons of Vishnu, symbolizing all her reincarnations.
What are the benefits of chanting the Gayatri?
Chanting the Gayatri mantra helps to release negativity and lower emotional states. It raises our vibration, strengthens the energetic field and impacts positively the field around us.
It brings us back to truth, to our own true nature, Chitta, that pure consciousness, reminding us that we are part of an interconnected whole.
When to chant the Gayatri Mantra?
The Gayatri mantra can be chanted at any time of the day but it is really great in the morning or before sleeping. It can, also, be used to help with healing as it revitalises the system.
The mantra can be chanted out loud, or silently. Continue to repeat the mantra daily until you feel its radiant light filling you up and overflowing out of you.
Visit the Mantra Lab on Sattva Connect to learn how to chant the mantra for japa practices or bhakti purposes. You may also join Saraswati's 54-day Gayatri Sadhana to build a positive mind.
By - Sattva Connect
Publish date - 2023-02-20
Previous Posts
Kundalini & Samskaras
July 2024
Healing Trauma: How Yoga Offers Support for PTSD
July 2024
Discovering Bliss: The Joyful Release of Ananda Balasana (Happy Baby Pose)
July 2024
Flowing Wellness: Understanding the Relationship Between Yoga & the Lymphatic System
July 2024
The Art of Body Scan Meditation: A Guide to Deep Relaxation of Body & Mind
July 2024
Saundarya Lahari - Waves of Beauty
September 2024
Sambhavi Mudra: Harnessing Inner Serenity & Spiritual Insight
September 2024
Exploring Bandhas: Unlocking Your Inner Power
September 2024
The 8 Obstacles to Enlightenment
September 2024
Purposeful Living: The Triangle of Dharma
September 2024
Kamala Mudra: The Graceful Unfoldment of Consciousness
September 2024
Understanding the Energetic Currents: Exploring the Five Prana Vayus
November 2024
Muladhara Chakra: Grounding Your Energy for a Life of Strength and Stability
November 2024
Yoni Mudra: Unlocking the Creative Potential of Existence
November 2024
Unlocking Vitality: Exploring the Yogic Pawanmuktasana Awakening Series
November 2024
What is Yogic Sleep?
March 2023
How Yoga Affects Your Brain
March 2023
Who is Durga and why do we celebrate Navratri?
March 2023
How Yoga Impacts The Vagus Nerve
March 2023
Mindfulness meditation alters neurophysiological characteristics that are linked to anxiety and depression
March 2023
How Breathing Calms Your Brain, And Other Science-Based Benefits Of Controlled Breathing
March 2023
What is Hatha Yoga?
April 2023
Bliss Consciousness
April 2023
How to End Suffering?
April 2023
Hanuman, the Monkey God
April 2023
How Listening to Silence Changes Our Brains
April 2023
What Is a Yantra and How to Use it in Meditation?
April 2023
Stress: It is not only in your head, it is in your nervous system!
April 2023
Yoga in the workplace and health outcomes: a systematic review.
April 2023
What are the Yamas & Niyamas?
May 2023
What is Enlightenment?
May 2023
Longer Exhalations Are an Easy Way to Hack Your Vagus Nerve
May 2023
Being busy is killing our ability to think creatively
May 2023
What is the Meaning of Namaste?
May 2023
Understanding Pain
May 2023
How Yoga Can Help You Sleep
May 2023
How Does Yoga Benefit Your Spine
May 2023
What is Sattva Prenatal Yoga?
May 2023
Can gemstones change my destiny?
June 2023
Who is the One Thinking?
June 2023
Shakti, Prana & Kundalini
June 2023
Scientists Prove DNA Can Be Reprogrammed By Our Own Words
June 2023
50-year-olds can have the brains of 25-year-olds if they meditate, memory and decision-making research shows.
June 2023
Healing Hands - The Power of Mudras
June 2023
Why Practice Yoga Every Day?
June 2023
How Sattva Yoga Transformed My Life Coaching Practice
June 2023
Discover the Benefits of Sattva Yin practice: A Gentle and Nurturing Practice
June 2023
What is Witness Consciousness?
July 2023
How to Move Through Anger?
July 2023
Delhi Neurosurgeons studying impact of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra on severe brain injury patients
July 2023
The Audacity to Care
July 2023
Meditation and yoga practice linked to reduced volume in brain region tied to negative emotions
July 2023
Better Posture, Improved Living
July 2023
The Importance of Self-Care
July 2023
Unraveling Anxiety through Yoga and Mental Health
July 2023
Featured Courses
Saundarya Lahari
9 MONTHS OF BLOSSOMING
Warrior of Wisdom
Awakening Shiva Immersion Retreat
Chandogya Upanishad
Ayurveda: Your Pathway To Self-Healing
The Yoga of Love
Teachings of the Himalayan Yogis for Full Value Living
The Art of Relating
The Alchemy of Life
The Bhagavad Gita
Joga ir gerovė
The Devotional Path of Chanting
Enlivening the Spirit
The Road to Dharma
Practice Live Together
Himalayan Kundalini
with 79
09 Dec 2024 07:30 IST
Kriya Meditation
with 31
09 Dec 2024 19:00 IST
Integrative Practice
with 24
03 Dec 2024 20:00 IST
Himalayan Kundalini
with 2
04 Dec 2024 20:00 IST
Himalayan Kundalini
with 80
05 Dec 2024 15:30 IST
Kriya Meditation
with 25
05 Dec 2024 20:00 IST
Integrative Practice
with 70
06 Dec 2024 20:00 IST
Live Satsang
with 1
08 Dec 2024 19:00 IST
Membership Plans
$21 (70 cents a day)
Gain unlimited access to a great variety of wisdom, yoga and meditation classes, daily live streams from experienced international teachers and Enlivening the Spirit, a 5-day retreat from the foothills of the Himalayas.
7 days free trial, cancel anytime
$210 (Save $42, 50 cents a day)
Commit to yourself for a year and get an additional 2 months free. Gain unlimited access to a great variety of wisdom, yoga and meditation classes, daily live streams from experienced international teachers and Enlivening the Spirit, a 5-day retreat from the foothills of the Himalayas.
7 days free trial, cancel anytime
