Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha,
Tat Savitur Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi,
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
These are the sacred words of the Gayatri Mantra, one of the most powerful mantras which is popularly chanted by Hindus across the globe. It is a mantra from the Rigveda, and also called the Savitri Mantra, it is dedicated to the deity Savitr or Sun God. Sage Vishwamitra is said to have composed this mantra. Written during the Vedic period (1500-500 BCE), it has been chanted for thousands of years and is believed to consist of all the knowledge of the universe. Here is an insight into the meaning of the Gayatri mantra, the rules and benefits of chanting.
Don’t miss the cautionary advice shared at the end of this post.
Meaning of the Gayatri Mantra
The literal meaning of the words in the Gayatri Mantra is as follows:
Om: The sound of the universe (pranava)
Bhur: Bhuloka (physical plane)
Bhuvah: Antariksha (space)
Suvah: Swarga lok (heaven)
Tat: Supreme soul
Savitur: Sun god
Varenyam: Worthy of worship
Bhargo: One who removes sins and ignorance
Devasya: Glory
Dheemahi: We meditate
Dhiyo: Intellect
Yo: Which
Nah: Our
Prachodayat: Enlighten
The Gayatri mantra expresses gratitude towards the almighty for bestowing upon us the power to transform ourselves, the ability to achieve internal growth and attain self-realization. The mantra can be translated as:
Oh divine Mother/God/Protector, may your light illuminate/enlighten all realms of our existence. Please remove the darkness from our minds and bless us with true knowledge.
Benefits of Gayatri Mantra Chanting
Chanting the Gayatri mantra helps improve the intellect and boosts memory.
It helps you feel more positive by removing negative thoughts from the mind and lowering mental stress.
With daily chanting of the Gayatri mantra, one can get rid of sins and negativity and achieve purity of the mind.
This mantra is dedicated to the Sun God, chanting which, one is invoking light and energy into his life.
The mantra expresses gratitude towards the Sun God, thereby seeking his blessings to achieve clarity of thought, self-realization and enlightenment.
Chanting of the Gayatri mantra activates certain chakras in the body, improving one’s ability to focus and concentrate.
It is said that the vibrations created during the chanting of this mantra, activate certain points on the face and skin, whereby oxygen uptake by the body, increases.
The chanting of this mantra opens up the airways and improves breathing, which in turn benefits heart health and alleviates symptoms of asthma.
Chanting the Gayatri mantra is known to activate the hypothalamus in such a way that the immune system function improves, thus giving a boost to one’s immunity.
Daily chanting of this mantra reduces anxiety and puts one’s mind into a state of calm and happiness.
Rules for Chanting the Gayatri Mantra
As per experts, the best time to start chanting Gayatri mantra is the Brahma muhurta (early morning), and the chanting should be continued till sunrise.
The best time to chant Gayatri mantra for the second time in a day, is the afternoon.
A good time for chanting this mantra for the third time in the day, is to start sometime before sunset and continue till sunset.
It is said that one should chant the Gayatri mantra while holding the rudraksha mala in his hand. If not rudraksha, one can hold a tulsi mala or a Chandan mala while chanting.
It is believed that this mantra should be chanted in silence and that saying it aloud may reduce its impact.
According to experts, if chanting this mantra in the morning, one should face the east, and if chanting it in the evening, one should face the west.
It is advisable to chant the Gayatri mantra (or any other mantra for that matter) under the guidance of a guru till one learns it completely. This is to avoid any mistake in the words or pronunciations so that the maximum benefit of the mantra can be reaped.
While chanting the Gayatri mantra, clean clothes should be worn and satvik foods should be consumed.
Mystic Takeaway – Be Careful While Chanting!
Gayatri mantra is a powerful process. It was generally taught to every householder for wellbeing, health & success. But powerful sounds like Gayatri mantra need to be uttered properly. Improper usage of powerful sounds can cause disruptions in one’s life. – Sadhguru
Sadhguru tells a true story about a woman who lost her voice due to incorrectly chanting the Gayatri mantra. Watch the video for the complete narrative.
So set out a certain time of the day to chant the very powerful Gayatri mantra. It is one of the most sacred and the most universal of all Hindu mantras. Start chanting it a few times every day, and as you gain interest, increase it to 108 times or more, and seek blessings of the supreme source of light and positive energy – the Sun.
