The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri mantra is one of the oldest, most powerful and sacred of Sanskrit mantras.  It is believed to be 5000 years old and thought to inspire wisdom and to remove all obstacles on our path to spiritual growth.  It is also believed that meditating on the Gayatri mantra can assist you in transcending the experience of suffering.  For maximum benefit it is best to chant this mantra 108 times.  All of the chakras of the body are positively affected, hence the importance of proper pronunciation.

Gayatri Mantra in Sanskrit

Om bhur bhuvah svah

tat savitur varenyam

bhargo devasya dhimahi

dhiyo yonah prachodayat

Translation

Oh God!  Thou art the Giver of Life,

Remover of pain and sorrow,

The Bestower of happiness,

Oh!  Creator of the Universe,

May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,

May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.

The Meaning of each word of the Gayatri Mantra

tat – that (God)

savitur – of the sun

varenyam – the best

bhargo (bhargas) – light, illumination

devasya – divine

dhimahi – let us meditate

dhiyo (dhiyah) - thought(s)

yo (yah) – which

nah – of us, our

prachodayat – May it push, inspire

I learned to chant the Gayatri mantra by listening to and chanting with Deva Premal.  Deva Premal has a beautiful voice and rhythm that transport me to that place of divine Peace.

Martha Salazar