The Gayatri Mantra

The Universal Prayer

The Gayatri is a universal prayer which can be used by men and women of all races and creeds, for it calls upon the Supreme Intelligence that is immanent (throughout) the universe to arouse, awaken and strengthen human intelligence, so that it may lead one through spiritual effort and activities to success. It does not ask for mercy or pardon, but asks for a clear intellect (Buddhi) so that Truth may be reflected therein without distortion.

Sathya Sai Baba speaks on Gayatri Mantra

At the Upanayanam ceremony held at Prasanthi Nilayam on 17-3-1983, (Bhajanavali Tape no 14) Sai Baba told the students: "You may or you may not chant any other Mantra, but do remember that by chanting the Gayatri Mantra, the benefits are there for you to see. By continuously chanting the Gayatri Mantra you yourself will reach the state of fulfilment, a sense of feeling that you have achieved something.

But there is an inner meaning in this Gayatri Mantra being given to young children. We have in this Mantra the concluding words- "Dhi Yo Yo Nah Prachodayat". The meaning is this: Before you have been given this Mantra, you have been backward intellectually, mentally, a bit lazy & with a few negative points to your credit. But after you have been given this Mantra, you have become sharper in Intellect, more zealous, more enthusiastic and certainly qualified to get better marks, better rank & first classes.

From tomorrow, the children by virtue of chanting this Mantra in the morning & in the evening, may they be endowed with a rare Intelligence which will take care of their fortunes that will be presiding over their destiny. They will become highly qualified. They will become model citizens so that the future of the country will be safe in their hands. "

In his discourse in the Prasanthi Mandir on 23-8-1995, Sai Baba said," It (the Gayatri Mantra) is an essential requisite for the young, because it ensures a bright & auspicious future for them."

Gayatri is sometimes spelled Gayathri, and Gayathree, which are phonetic spellings for a sanskrit word. All spellings are acceptable, and in this website, we will be spelling we will be using is Gayatri.



Gayatri Mantra

Ninefold Description

The first nine words of this mantra contain a ninefold description of the Ultimate Reality, as follows:

  1. AUM  -  The Symbol of Brahman.


  2. BHUR  -   The Earth, the gross, the physical plane of existence.


  3. BHUVAH  -  The Atmosphere, the ether, the subtle, the astral plane.


  4. SWAHA  -   Heaven, (Swarga) the Causal, the celestial plane.


  5. TAT  -   Stands for THAT. The Ultimate Reality is simply referred to as THAT because it defies description through language.


  6. SAVITUR  -   Stands for the Divine Savitri, equated with the vivifying power contained within the Sun.


  7. VARENYAM  -   Most excellent.


  8. BHARGO  -   Radiance, Effulgence, Illumination.


  9. DEVASYA  -   Divine Radiance or Grace.


The Remaining line constitutes the PRAYER.
  • DHEEMAHI  -   We contemplate or meditate upon


  • DHIYO  -   The Intellect


  • YO  -  Who


  • NAH  -   Our


  • PRACHODAYATH  -   Requesting, Urging, Praying.




The Goddess Gayatri, with 5 faces

Gayatri, with 5 Faces.

English Translation

The prayer is directed to the Divine Mother:

'O Divine Mother,
Our hearts are filled with darkness.
Please make this darkness distant from us
and promote illumination within us.'

Other interpretations of the Gayatri Mantra are given below:

[1] 

May the Supreme Light 
that illuminates the three worlds,
illumine our intellect also, fully,
and direct the rays of our intelligence
to the path of virtue

[2] 
We meditate on the Divine Light 
of that adorable Sun of Spiritual Consciousness. 
may it illumine our intellect just as the
splendorous sunlight dispells our darkness.

[3] 
Earth, sky, heaven.
Let us meditate on these]
and on the most excellent
Light of that adorable Sun.
We pray that they may
guide our intellect

Recitation of The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra has to be recited three times a day

  1. in the morning,
  2. at noon, and
  3. at sunset.
These are called "Sandhya Kaalam", the coming together
  • of night and day
  • of morning and evening
  • of day and night.
In Practice, tbe Gayatri is recited:
  • When one wakes up from bed;
  • Before one goes to sleep;
  • At noon, before taking one's meal; when the food will be sanctified and become an offering to God;
  • When one is taking a shower or bath, when it will also mean offering ablutions (abhishekhams) to the God resident within oneself. In practice, as the outside is washed and purified, the Gayathri will purify the the mind and intellect.

The recital of the Gayatri Mantra need not be limited to these times. It may be repeated anywhere, at anytime, including night time. It may be recited by anyone (men and women) while travelling, walking,working, or lying awake, and may be chanted aloud, silently, or mentally.

Benefits of Gayatri Mantra

  • Parents in many families (particularly in India) worry that the marriage of their children (especially girls) is postponed for some reason or other (DOSHAM - information from the stars as seen from the horoscope). Regular chanting of the Gayatri Mantra dilutes the gloom in the family and throws light and new hope, and destroys all illustions; thus belated marriages are settled.
  • Gayathri is Annapoorani. In the home where She is worshipped, the family will not wail for food or shelter.
  • Gayatri grants 'santana bhagyam', the good fortune of children in the family.
  • Peace and prosperity, health and wealth are obtained in the home.
  • Gayatri is the embodiment of Tri-Devata, that is, Saraswathi, Durga, and Lakshmi and hence the blessings from them grant deeper intellect, better prosperity, and easier automatic relief of family, social and other problems respectively.
  • Exercise of chanting Gayatri is essentially Pranayama, hence breathing is regulated, chanellised and perfected.
  • If the mantra is chanted before taking food, all diseases of the stomach are removed.
  • Gayatri protects from harm, whereever we are, in a bus, car, railway, or aircraft, in a bazzar or on the road.
  • It gives immediate relief from bites of poisonous insects, snakes, etc.
  • It gives us power to face our enemies
  • The mantra gives immediate relief from sins committed by
    1)use of harsh speech and bad words, which should not have been done in a particular situation.
    2) consumption of food and drink deleterious to spiritual health.
    3) speaking of lies.
    4) speaking ill of the food served in a public function, etc, etc.
  • Gayatri gives protection to those who have had rituals done against them for harm or ill.

Question and Answer

  • Do we need any protection other than what we can get by chanting the Gayatri Mantra?
  • No. Sathya Sai Baba tells us that the Gayatri Mantra is enough to protect the person who chants it.
  • Why is the Gayatri Mantra enough to protect the person who chants it?
  • The Gayatri Mantra is enough to protect the person who chants it because, as Sathya Sai Baba tells us, the Gayatri Mantra embodies all the Divine Potencies






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