Gayatri mantra
May 2024
The Power of the Gayatri Mantra
Navni Chawla explains the deeper significance of the ‘most powerful mantra’ by referring to quotes from the late Swami Veda Bharati, whose intuitive wisdom brings forth its splendour
“When you’ve made the right choice, and the brilliant Sun has begun to shine in you, and you have sustained it, and maintained it, it purifies that subtlest, the most Sattvic part of you, called the Buddhi, into which Atman, the pure Self, reflects.”
—Pandit Usharbudh Arya
The Gayatri Mantra, a timeless hymn is revered in Hinduism, transcends the boundaries of religious dogma to embody the essence of universal spirituality. Originating from the four Vedas, this mantra is a profound invocation to the divine cosmic energy, symbolised by the revered Sun. Legend intertwines with its inception, tracing back to the sage Vishwamitra and unveiling a tale of spiritual illumination. Its meaning encapsulates a cosmic prayer for guidance and wisdom, seeking enlightenment through the radiance of the Sun, a metaphorical beacon of cosmic consciousness. Uttered with devotion, the Gayatri Mantra transcends ritualistic boundaries, offering a profound connection with the Divine, making it not just a prayer but a celestial melody echoing through the corridors of time.
The chanting the Gayatri Mantra is akin to welcoming the dawn of spiritual illumination. With each chant, it’s as if the Universe responds by showering a gentle rain of Grace. This divine melody resonates through the core, cleansing the mind and the heart, and paving the way for a serene journey towards Self-discovery. Its Grace is a poetic dance between the seeker’s soul and the cosmic energies.
The Gayatri Mantra is written as follows: Om bhur bhuvah svah, tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo nah pra-chodayat
The Origin and Significance of the Gayatri Mantra
In one of his talks, Swami Vedaji shared a story about the devas (demigods) wanting to learn the secrets of the Universe. For this, they went to Lord Prajapati, who asked them to undertake the study of three of the four Vedas: the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, and the Sama Veda. It was a very arduous task for even the devas to understand all the laws of light and sound, as well as those of creating, maintaining, and dissolving the Universe. They went back to Prajapati and asked if it could all be made simpler for them. That’s when the Lord taught them the essence of the three Vedas in three segments. The first segment, tat savitur varenyam, is the essence of the Rig Veda, wherein the meaning of ten thousand mantras from this Veda is distilled. Then Prajapati taught them the second segment, bhargo devasya dhimahi, as the essence of the Yajur Veda. Finally, the third segment, dhiyo yo nah prachodayat, was taught by Him as the essence of the Sama Veda.
To further simplify it, He even gave the devas words that contained the essence of these segments in one word each: ‘Bhur,’ also pronounced as ‘Bhuh,’ means ‘the Earth’; ‘Bhuvah’ means ‘the sky’; and ‘Svah’ means ‘the heavens.’ These were also called the three great sounds or mega-utterances.
The three mega-utterances, Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, represent all possible trinities: Earth, sky and heaven; past, present, and future; wakefulness, dream, and sleep; the godly Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, that is, God the Creator, God the Maintainer, and God the Dissolver; and the morning, noon, and evening.
Swami Vedaji said, “The Gayatri is a purificatory mantra. Purification means to break through shortcuts into wisdom. Wisdom means Self knowledge, knowing what I am as a spiritual entity, the cosmic light and sound condensed all into one, which is the only source of knowledge, the only source of wisdom.”
He further added that it is a mantra that often hastens the karmic process for those who do it intensely. When you observe such an intensity of the karmic process, invoke the inner strength to endure it. Know that it’s a quick purging, a quick cleansing, and hence, do your best to endure it. When you emerge having completed the practice, you will find that all your subtle, intangible systems have been changed for the better.
The Meaning of the Gayatri Mantra The word ‘Gayatri,’ has many meanings, two of which are ‘She who protects the pranas,’ and ‘She who protects the one who sings it.’
The chanting the Gayatri Mantra is akin to welcoming the dawn of spiritual illumination. With each chant, it’s as if the Universe responds by showering a gentle rain of Grace. This divine melody resonates through the core, cleansing the mind and the heart, and paving the way for a serene journey towards Self-discovery. Its Grace is a poetic dance between the seeker’s soul and the cosmic energies.
The word ‘tat’ in the Mantra means ‘That’—all the glories (You are That, assuming the brilliance of ten thousand suns as your identity). ‘Savitur’ means ‘of the Sun’ (of that which creates, impels, and inspires). ‘Varenyam’ means ‘choice-worthy’ or ‘that which should be chosen.’ There is another meaning to it—‘Beautiful’ (Rediscovering the real beauty, the light that dwells within).
‘Bhargo’ is a very powerful word. It means the brilliant splendour, the beautiful, choice-worthy, and burning splendour of the Sun.
Swami Vedaji explains: “The Gayatri Mantra is a mantra of burning splendour, burning in so many different ways. It burns your impurities. It burns your past karma. When you have practised the mantra and prepared yourself, then Grace burns your past samskaras. Grace for some can be an experience of burning. It often is. And you have to be prepared to go through that fire. But most people want it easy. They want all the Grace, but they don’t want the impurities burnt. They hold back. They resist. They run away.”
Swamiji further says that the Gayatri Mantra takes you through the process of tapas, just like gold is heated to burn all its impurities. When it’s been burnt that way, then the burning splendour of the Sun, which is the purest light, shines in it. What happens to that light? You will become That!
The word ‘devasya’ means ‘of the Deva,’ ‘Divine,’ or ‘Divinity.’ The ‘Div’ in ‘Divinity’ is meant to be the playful God. It also reminds us of the most beautiful qualities of God, which are playfulness and light. So this mantra is not to be chanted seriously but with joy. It is meant to be enjoyed while you remember it. It’s all God’s play, his Lila. ‘Deva’ also means ‘to shine’ or ‘to radiate.’ That is why the Devas are also known as the shining ones.
The word ‘dhimahi’ means, ‘May we meditate upon and sustain, hold, and maintain in ourselves the light. We meditate upon that choice-worthy and beautiful, brilliant splendour of the divine Sun.’
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The ultimate attainment from the Gayatri through this process of burning and choosing, and experiencing this choice-worthy beauty and brilliance results in ‘dhiyo yo nah pra-chodayat.’ ‘Dhiyo’ means ‘intelligence and wisdom,’ ‘yo’ means ‘who,’ ‘nah’ means ‘ours,’ and ‘pra
chodayath’ means ‘may impel and inspire.’
In a nutshell the Gayatri Mantra translates to, “Oh, creator of the universe. We meditate upon thy supreme splendour. May thy radiant power illuminate our intellects, destroy our ignorance and guide us in the direction of enlightenment by purifying our inner hearts.”
The Gayatri Mantra, with its profound meaning, serves as a key to unlocking inner wisdom, bestowing a sense of clarity, peace, and spiritual Grace upon those who chant it with sincerity and devotion.
How must one chant the Gayatri Mantra? The japa of the Gayatri Mantra must be done with intense feeling and not merely with an intellectual understanding of the translation. One should love doing it. Ideally, a practitioner
must do the practice three times a day: morning (before sunrise), noon, and evening (before sunset). Doing the morning, noon, and evening Gayatri means Gayatri is done from the heart. A sincere practice reveals to the practitioner many layers, insights, fruits, and truths. In the process, the things that need to be weeded out of your personality are brought to the surface. It purifies your psycho-physiological existence at all levels. Soon, one realises that the words of the Mantra have started conveying the internal realities when the japa practice gets deeper, subtler, and more silent (internal).
Chanting the Gayatri Mantra involves a deep connection between the practitioner’s intent and the rhythmic recitation. Here are some general guidelines to enhance the experience:
• Focus on pronunciation: Enunciate each syllable clearly, embracing the correct pronunciation. This attention to detail helps maintain the purity of the Mantra.
• Practise with the right intent: Chant with a sincere and pure heart, letting the intent
of seeking spiritual wisdom and connection guide your practice.
• Repeat regularly: Consistent chanting can deepen the impact. Repeating the Mantra with regularity fosters a sense of continuity and spiritual discipline.
• Mind the breath: Sync your breath with the chanting, allowing each inhalation and exhalation to align with the rhythm. This mindfulness enhances the meditative aspect of the practice.
• Focus mentally: Visualise the radiant energy of the Sun and connect with the divine source. Let your mind dwell on the profound meaning of the Mantra as you chant.
• Chant at daybreak: Traditionally, chanting the Gayatri Mantra during the early hours
is considered auspicious. The serene ambience of the morning enhances the spiritual impact.
Remember, the essence of chanting the Gayatri Mantra lies in the sincerity and devotion with which it is practised. Tailor your approach to resonate with your own spiritual journey, allowing the mantra to become a personal conduit to higher realms of consciousness.
Swami Vedaji suggested that ‘to spiritually awaken a child right from their birth,’ the parents must start a three-year intensive practice of the Gayatri Mantra before pregnancy and continue it during pregnancy.
He said, “The Gayatri has been regarded, next to Om, as the most powerful mantra in the entire tradition. The Gayatri is the central mantra of the solar science, a science of hidden energies.”
About Swamiji
The late Swami Veda Bharati was the founder and spiritual guide of both the worldwide organisation Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International (AHYMSIN) and the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh, India. He was born into a Sanskrit-speaking family. His parents, especially his mother, kept an intense practice of the Gayatri Mantra when he was in her womb. He says that it was the result of this practice that he did not need to go to school even for a single day in his life. From the age of nine, he captivated audiences with the depth of his knowledge and intuition in the Vedas and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. All of his knowledge came to him intuitively, through which he attained the highest academic degrees: BA (Honours) (London), MA (London), and D. Lit. (Holland). He also authored many books.
Navni Chawla, a Delhi based writer has a heart brimming with passion for life and loves capturing the beauty of the world through words.
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