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 remember 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)
O bhr bhuva sva tt savitr vreya bhrgo devsya dhmahi dhyo y na pracodyt

Meaning (summary)

(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 physical, astral and causal worlds exist]

Bhur: The physical plane of existence (which is of the nature of 5 elements) Bhuvah: The astral plane of existence (which 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

Tt savitr vreya [That is the supreme reality from which creation happens, and it is the foremost]

Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost) Savitr : Source of all, creation, supreme reality, Divine illumination (of goddess Savitri or Shakti) Vreya: the foremost, fit to be worshiped, deserving oblations Bhrgo: Great spiritual effulgence, Radiant one, one who illumines all

Bhrgo devsya dhmahi [O divine effulgence we meditate upon you]

Devsya: Godly, divine reality, of divinity, Virtuous and joyous Dhmahi: We meditate on you; Dhee=intellect; Thus Dhimahi means we focus our intellect on you

Dhyo: Intellect, intelligence, reasoning and discriminating faculty which is a tool for attaining higher wisdom Dhyo y na pracodyt [propel our knowledge of the supreme reality] Yo: Who, One is who being prayed, You (supreme one) Nah: Our (intellect) pracodyt: Stimulate, Propel towards the higher reality