Shri Gayatri Mantra (Rig Veda)

Rig veda

Gayatri Mantra

 

Gayatri Mantra is considered as mother of veda. The mantra is the foremost revered mantra in Hinduism. It inspires wisdom. For the first time it got recorded in Rig Veda (Reference: iii, 62, 10). The Veda was written in Sanskrit about 2500 to 3500 years ago so also the GayatrMantra. However this moola mantra may have been chanted for many generations before that.
The word Gayatri is formed from combination two important Sanskrit words:
1. gayanath = what is sung, giving of praise (or) gaya = vital energies
2. trayate = preserves, protects, gives deliverance, grants liberation
3. mantra = an instrument of thought, a sacred text. a prayer of praise
Now you will understand the overall meaning of Gayatri Mantra as: a prayer of praise that awakens the vital energies and gives liberation.

Aum. Let us invoke the three realms of earth (-bhur), wind (-bhuvah) and fire (-swaha). 

Sri Gayatri Prayer:

Om Bhoor bhuwah swah, tat savitur varenyam 

Bhargo devasya dheemahi, 

Dhiyo yo nah pra-chodayaat

Meaning: God is dear to me like my own breath, 

He is the Dispeller of my pains, and Giver of happiness.

 I meditate on the supremely adorable Light of the Divine Creator, 

that it may inspire my thought and understanding.

Another meaning

“O Effulgent, Infinite, Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent being,
bless me with Right Understanding and Clarity of Thinking.”
- Gayatri Mantra (Rig Veda)


(Meaning by Swami Srikantanandaji
Personality Development Course V.I.H.E*)

*Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence, Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad  



Realising the great importance of the syllable OM or AUM , the other later date religions adopted this word with a slight change in accent, Viz. Amen, Ameen.