Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ
bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt
When first entering into the world of “Yoga” you may come into contact with the Gayatri Mantra. At first, mantras and the Gayatri Mantra seem alien, and with the language of sanskrit it makes it even more mystical. So, we may tend to look aside as to something that isn't for us. I was the same. I knew about it and it’s popularity, as well as its reverence, and power. I didn't like that words could have power, so I decided not to pay attention to it, and placed It aside.
The problem was that it always came up, and eventually I had to look at it and explore what I now know to be the beauty of it.
Gayatri Mantra is a Hymn from the ancient Indian scripture RigVeda (10:16:3). It is also often repeated in other scriptures like Upanishads. It is attributed to sage Vishwaamitra and it is called Gayatri Mantra or Savitri Mantra because it is directed towards goddess Gayatri, who is not considered a deity or demigod, but the single supreme personality.
Gayatri is recited by a spiritual aspirant to remember the higher purpose of life. It can also be an invocation or prayer to the supreme god to lift our consciousness upwards.
It is usually recited by the people who consider 'knowing the ultimate truth' as the primary purpose of their life.
There are numerous benefits of chanting Gayatri mantra. Here are some of the positive effects of chanting Gayatri Mantra.
1 It increases learning power.
2 It increases concentration.
3 It brings prosperity.
4 It gives people eternal power.
5 It is very useful for peace.
6 It is the first step to go to the way of the spiritual road.
7 It is correlated with God.
8 It strengthens the mind and improves the health condition.
9 It improves the rhythmic pattern of breathing.
10 It keeps our hearts healthy.
11 It protects the devotee from all the dangers and guides towards the
Divine by intuition.
12 It improves our family life.
How to Chant Gayatri Mantra?
Chanting Gayatri Mantra has many benefits. However, there is a certain process of chanting. Thus, it is highly advisable that people should follow certain rules while chanting the Gayatri Mantra. While chanting the Gayatri Mantra, you should always close the eyes and should try to concentrate on every word and understand their meaning. Each word or even the sound should be uttered correctly, as it should be. Although it can be chanted at any time of the day, it is suggested that it is better to chant the mantra, early in the morning as well as at the night before sleeping.
Eventually, the mantra is an expression of gratitude, to both the life-giving Sun and the Divine. It boosted devotee taking a heart-centered approach to the mantra. The sensibility it awakes is more significant than the literal meaning. It’s an offering, a way to open to grace, to inspire oneself.
This is what it means!
Om, Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah
[Ultimate reality, in which physical, astral and causal worlds exist]
Om: The sacred word, word of creation, first word, word of god; (Equivalent of Holy Ghost in trinity) usually used at the beginning of a hymn;
Bhur: The physical plane of existence (which is of the nature of 5 elements)
Bhuvah: The astral plane of existence (which is of the nature of subtle elements)
Svah: The causal plane or celestial plane (plane where the existence is as subtle as ideas or notions, from which creation happens).
Tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ
[That is the supreme reality from which creation happens, and it is the foremost]
Tat: That, God, (Equivalent of son, in the Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost)
Savitúr : Source of all, creation, supreme reality, Divine illumination (of goddess Savitri or Shakti)
Váreṇyaṃ: the foremost, fit to be worshiped, deserving oblations
Bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
[O divine effulgence we meditate upon you]
Bhárgo: Great spiritual effulgence, Radiant one, one who illumines all
Devásya: Godly, divine reality, of divinity, Virtuous and joyous
Dhīmahi: We meditate on you; Dhee=intellect; Thus, Dhimahi means we focus our intellect on you
Dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt
[propel our knowledge of the supreme reality]
Dhíyo: Intellect, intelligence, reasoning and discriminating faculty which is a tool for attaining higher wisdom
Yo: Who, One is who being prayed, You (supreme one)
Nah: Our (intellect)
pracodáyāt: Stimulate, Propel towards the higher reality
Give it a try! You may find that there is magic behind this practice! I hope you find it!
Namaste!