Gayatri mantra lyrics and meaning Gayatri Mantra is a Hymn from the ancient Indian scripture RigVeda (10:16:3), also often repeated in other scriptures like Upanishads, It is attributed to sage Vishwaamitra. It is called Gayatri Mantra or Savitri Mantra because it is directed towards goddess Gayatri, who is not considered a deity or demigod, but the single supreme personality. Gayatri is recited by a spiritual aspirant to the higher purpose of life, it can also be a invocation or prayer to the supreme god to lift our consciousness upwards. It is usually recited by the people who consider 'knowing the ultimate truth' as the primary purpose of their life.
Lyrics (English)
Meaning (summary)
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ bhárgo devásya dhīmahi dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt
(O) Supreme one; (who is) the physical, astral (and) causal worlds (himself). (you are) the source of all, deserving all worship (O) radiant, divine one; (we) meditate (upon you) Propel our Intellect (towards liberation or freedom)
Stanzas with meaning
Meanings of the words Om: The sacred word, word of creation, first word, word of god; (Equivalent of Holy Ghost in trinity) usually used at the beginning of a hymn;
Om, Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah [Ultimate reality, in which
Bhur: The physical plane of existence (which is of the nature of 5 elements)
physical, astral and causal
Bhuvah: The astral plane of existence (which
worlds exist]
is of the nature of subtle elements) Svah: The causal plane or celestial plane (plane where the existence is as subtle as ideas or notions, from which creation happens). Tat: That, God, (Equivalent of son, in the
Tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ [That is the supreme reality from which creation happens, and it is the foremost]
Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost) Savitúr : Source of all, creation, supreme reality, Divine illumination (of goddess Savitri or Shakti) Váreṇyaṃ: the foremost, fit to be worshiped, deserving oblations Bhárgo: Great spiritual effulgence, Radiant one, one who illumines all
Bhárgo devásya dhīmahi [O divine effulgence we meditate upon you]
Devásya: Godly, divine reality, of divinity, Virtuous and joyous Dhīmahi: We meditate on you; Dhee=intellect; Thus Dhimahi means we focus our intellect on you
Dhíyo: Intellect, intelligence, reasoning and discriminating faculty which is a tool for attaining higher wisdom Dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt [propel our knowledge of the supreme reality]
Yo: Who, One is who being prayed, You (supreme one) Nah: Our (intellect) pracodáyāt: Stimulate, Propel towards the higher reality