Gayatri Mantra- Meaning, Origin and Benefits

Gayatri Mantra is considered mahamantra, that is, the greatest mantra. By chanting this mantra, ability and memory power increase. This increases the glory of the person and relieves sorrow.
Gayatri Mantra is the seed and from this, the entire Hindu religion has fostered in the form of a gigantic tree.

Sage Vishwamitra is said to be the discoverer of the Gayatri Mantra.

What is Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri Mantra- 'Om bhurbhuvah svah tatsaviturvarenyam

bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.'

'ॐ भूर्भुवः स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं  

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि

धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात्।'

Word-by-word meaning of Gayatri Mantra

Om – The primeval sound

Bhuh – the physical body

Bhuvah – the life force, destroyer of suffering

Swaha – the embodiment of happiness/ the celestial world

Tat – that Ultimate Reality meaning “that God”

Savitur – “Luminous like Sun” (The ultimate light of wisdom)

Varenium – “Adore”

Bhargo – “divine light” / destroyer of sins

Devasya – supreme lord or “Divine Grace”

Dheemahi – “We Contemplate” / may imbibe

Dhi – “Intellect”

Yo – “Who”

Nah – “Ours”

Prachodayat – may illumine/ may inspire


Meaning:–  O existence Absolute, Creator of the three dimensions! We engross your divine radiance in our conscience. May You enlighten our intellect and grant us real knowledge.

In simpler terms, the meaning of Gayatri Mantra is: O Divine lord! Our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us.

The Gayatri mantra has been translated in many ways.

Swami Vivekananda: "We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may She enlighten our minds.’

S.Radhakrishnan:

· (1947): "We meditate on the effulgent glory of the divine Light; may he inspire our understanding."

· (1953): "We meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may She inspire our intelligence."

Sri Aurobindo: "We choose the Supreme Light of the divine Sun; we aspire that it may impel our minds." Sri Aurobindo then adds, "The Sun is the symbol of divine Light that is coming down and Gayatri gives expression to the aspiration asking that divine Light to come down and give impulsion to all the activities of the mind."

The 24 letters in Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri has been called the mother of Indian culture. All divine knowledge from Vedas to Dharma-Shastras is an extension of Gayatri Beejakshars.

Gayatri mantra has 24 letter syllables including, tat, sa, vi, tur, va, re, ni, yam, bhar, go, de, va, sya, dhi, ma, hi, dhi, yo, yo, nah, pra, cho, da, and yat.

Gayatri’s 24 letters are symbols of 24 powers, siddhis. The knowledge and science of the whole world are filled in the sacred twenty-four letters of the Gayatri Mantra.

The 24 letters that make up the Gayatri mantra correspond to the 24 vertebrae of the spine. Our backbone acts as the foundation and center of stability. Similarly, the Gayatri mantra promotes mental stability.

Panchmukhi Gayatri Mata

It is stated that Goddess Gayatri is a divine manifestation of all the qualities of the supreme Brahman. 

Panchmukhi Gayatri Mata has five heads (Mukta, Vidruma, Hema, Neela, and Dhavala), 10 eyes that can see in eight directions in addition to the earth and heaven, and ten arms that can bear a variety of weapons that are credited to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma.

Gayatri's five faces essentially symbolize the human body's five sheaths or Panchkoshas.


i. Annamaya-Kosh: physical perception, physical existence, and physical body

ii. Pranamaya-kosh: vitality, energy, and work.

iii. Manomaya-Kosh is the term for the mental body, mind, rational plane of being, and memory.

iv. Vijnanamaya Kosh: the psyche, aspirations, and intuitive plane of existence.

v. Anandamaya Kosh: is a state of being that evokes the joy of life.

These five faces also represent the 5 essential elements responsible for the creation of the Universe, Panchamahabhuthas - Akaash, Vayu, Agni, Jala, and Prithvi.

Also included are 5 knowledge senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin),

5 action senses (mouth, hands, legs, genitalia, anus), and

5 sensory objects (smell, taste, form, touch, and sound).

Many often identify Maa Gayatri as Maa Saraswati because of her vaahan white swan and a book in her hand. However, she represents the goddesses Saraswati, Parvati, and Lakshmi, who stand for wisdom, beauty, and wealth respectively.

The 4 Vedas and Mata Gayatri

Gayatri Mantra is also known as the Veda mantra and Ma Gayatri is as Vedmata- the mother of four Vedas- Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. The Vedas represent the divine breath. The foundation of the Vedas is the Gayatri mantra.

Gayatri mantra first appears in the Rig Veda, the first Veda, which was created, authored and collated ten thousand years ago during Satya-Yug, the first Golden Age of Truth. Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda contain the first improvisations of the Gayatri Mantra.

Later on, these Vedas created Darshan, Upanishad, Purana, Smriti, etc.

Scientific Proof of the power of Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is the most powerful hymn in the world.

An American scientist named Dr. Howard Steingeril gathered mantras, hymns, and mantras from all over the world and tested them for power in his physiology laboratory.

110,000 sound waves per second were produced by the Hindu Gayatri Mantra.

This hymn was rated as the highest and most powerful in the entire world.

This Mantra is said to be capable of producing special spiritual potential outcomes by blending sound or sound waves of a particular frequency.

How to Chant Gayatri Mantra

While reciting the Gayatri mantra, keep the following in mind:


1. When we recite Gayatri Mantra, we pause five times and take five breaths symbolizing the five pranas. The Panchabhuthas (Akasa, Vayu, Agni, Jala, and Prithvi) and Panchakoshas, or the five sheaths of the body, make up the five pranas.

The pause should be performed as instructed below, keeping in mind that it symbolizes the five pranas:

Aum (pause)

Bhur Bhuvah Swaha (pause)

Tat Savitur Varenyam, (pause)

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi (pause)

dhiyo yo nah prachodhayat (pause)

2. At dawn, noon, and dusk each day, the Gayatri mantra must be recited three times with faith and devotion. It is called "Trikaala sandhya". This mantra purifies all the karma done by a person during the day. One who frequently and devotedly performs the Gayatri mantra can recite it at any moment.

3. The Gayatri mantra should not be recited loudly, It is a gupt (hidden) and the most powerful mantra. Either you should recite it as loud as it is audible only to you. However, the best way to chant this mantra is to do it in your mind without even moving the tongue. Each word must be clear. Do not speed through it or mumble. Enjoy it gradually.

3. The Gayatri mantra is supposed to be recited 108 times. However, depending on your level of interest and attention, you can chant the Gayatri mantra three, nine, or eleven times or more.

4. Before learning to chant the Gayatri Mantra, understand its meaning. This will increase both your gross and subtle levels of intellect, memory, and attention. The energy field thus created will shield you from disease and danger at the most critical times.

Can Women Chant Gayatri Mantra?

In contrast to what we chant now, the original Gayatri Mantra as described in the Rig Veda is different. It contains the lines listed below:

'Tatsaviturvarenyam’

‘Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi’

‘Dhiyo yo nah Prachodayat’


Earlier, it was said that women should not chant Gayatri Mantra. It was said that because of the power of the mantra, the masculine characters in the women become more active, which affects the reproductive health of women.

However, later the words- “Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swaha” were included following the syllable Om, which made Gayatri Mantra universal. That means it could be chanted by women too. The words balance the whole mantra.

Bhur – activates Muladhara chakra

Bhuvah – activates Swadhisthan chakra

Swaha – activates Manipura chakra


These vyahritis are added to the original Gayatri Mantra so that not only the Ajna chakra but the above-mentioned three important chakras are also activated. Now this version, that is, the whole mantra-

'Om bhurbhuvah svah tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat' - Could be chanted by all.

Tripada Gayatri:

Gayatri is also baptized as ‘Tripada’. i.e. three-staged

Theism (jap – shraddha), Spirituality (Dhyan – Nishtha), and Religiosity (tapa- Pragya)

These are known as the three souls - three streams of Gayatri.

Theism: 

Keep faith in God. He is omnipresent, everywhere, and all-seeing. His justice is fair and impartial. Whatever we do, we will get the result accordingly. This restraint of faith inspires every man to be good and honest.

There are three types of bodies – gross, subtle, and Karana. 

Shraddha (Faith) in the gross,
Nishtha (fidelity) in the subtle, and
Pragya (wisdom) and nishtha (fidelity) in the Karana body.

As soon as these three are harmonized, one can see the benefits.

One knows very well that to produce a plant, the seed alone is not enough. Along with this, the manure and water are essential too. The same is with Gayatri upasana.

Spirituality:

Spirituality means knowing oneself- self-realization, and self-reliance.
Due to our negligence about ourselves, we keep roaming and strolling outdoors.
Heaven and hell are very much within us.
Therefore, we should try our best to improve ourselves so that the circumstances become favorable for us.

Religiosity:

Righteousness, is the performance of selfless duties, karma, and dharma.
It is our sacred duty towards the country, society, religion, and culture to take full care to make them prosperous.
It is also the duty to save one's soul by getting rid of greed and attachment.

If we can worship Gayatri with devotion, and do swaadhyaaya (spiritual practice)- through self-purification, self-refinement, and self-struggle, it can open the door to spiritual and material successes of the person.

Positive Effects of Chanting Gayatri Mantra

In Atharvaveda following prayer is offered to goddess Gayatri.

“ॐ स्तुता मया वरदा वेदमाता, प्रयोदयन्ताम पावमानी द्विजानां।

आयुः प्राणं प्रजां पशुं कीर्तिम द्रविणम ब्रह्मवर्चसम मह्यमुदतवा व्रजत ब्रह्मलोकम”।।

“Om Stuta Maya Varada Vedmata, Prayodayantam Pavamani Dwijanam.

Ayuh Pranam Prajam Pashum Kirtim Dravinam Brahmavarchasam Mahyamudatva Vrajata Brahmalokam”

Meaning: "May Vedmata Gayatri, to whom I offer prayer, purify dvijas (cultured people), and grant them longevity, courage, followers, Animals, fame, wealth, and salvation”.

The seven benefits of chanting the Gayatri mantra, in this prayer are –

Ayuh- longevity (age)

Pranam – life, better health, immunity, Positive personality, strong willpower, creativity

Prajam - All subordinates, family members, etc. get divine protection and positive direction

Pashum - Gets wealth (in the olden days, the more animals you possessed, the wealthier you were considered)

Keertim – fame, and cooperation from the society

Dravinam - Gets money and prosperity

Brahmavarchasam – salvation, breaks all the bonds of attachments and worldly ego.


Here are some of the positive effects of chanting the Gayatri Mantra.


1. It improves learning and concentration.

2. It improves eyesight.

3. It brings prosperity.

4. It endows users with limitless power.

5. It is highly beneficial for maintaining peace.

6. It is the initial step in the spiritual journey.

7. It is connected to God.

8. It boosts the mind and enhances physical wellness.

9. It improves breathing.

10. It keeps our hearts in good condition.

11. It guards against all threats and intuitively directs the believer toward the Divine.

12. It enhances the quality of our family life.


Gayatri is universal, irrespective of caste, creed, or gender, the path is open for everyone to worship her.

Don't approach the chanting of the Gayatri mantra lightly or as a pastime. It must be repeated with devotion, self-control, and purity of body and mind. If you wish to experience the spiritual benefits of the Gayatri mantra, be consistent with your sadhana, and don't ever second-guess yourself after you've decided to practice it.