by Chudamani | Jun 20, 2016 | Uncategorized
Gayatri Mantra is a Vedic Mantra revealed to BrahmarshiVishvamitra. It is a verse from asukta of theRigveda(Mandala 3.62.10). Vishvamitra became friend of the Universe by dedicating this mantra to the welfare of the humanity.This was to be a gift for all humanity. This mantra iswidely used in Vedic Rituals and also in Meditations, to improve the capacity of one’s intellect to understand the subtle spiritual truths.Read Further below to understandthe Science of Gayatri Mantra, Word to Word Meanting and Gayatri Mantra Benefits.
Table of Contents
- Gayatri Mantra - The Science
- Gayatri Mantra Meaning
- Gayatri Mantra Benefits
Gayatri Mantra – The Science
Savitru is the name of the deity(devata) of the Gayatri Mantra, It is the presiding deity of the Gayatri Mantra and one of the twelve names of the Sun in the Vedas. The Sun before sunrise is called Savitr, and after sunrise until sunset it is called Sūrya. It is the Sun’s energy that nourishes all living beings. Heat and Light given by the Sun are essential for life on earth. It is the spirit behind the Sun that is invoked by Gayatri Mantra.
Our life starts with the Sunrise and rests with the Sunset. The Sun supports the life system. The Sun is the Soul of all that is movable and immovable. He is the Source of all energy and is the cause of all growth. He is the only source of light and heat which produce directly and indirectly all other forms of energy. It’s natural that the creator of the universe is invoked in the Sun and praised for his glory. Buddhi(intellect) is the main factor behind all decision making. And if this Buddhi is not properly trained and nurtured, life would be miserable. Gayatri Mantra Benefits in nurturing this intellect.
Mantras are not mere words. They are the means of invoking deities and are extremely powerful. Every mantra is a prayer addressed to a particular deity. The devotee (or sadhak) repeats the mantra with a sincere longing for achieving a certain goal. The inherent power of the mantra belonging to the deity invoked unfolds and confers the desired object on the devotee. Gaytri is a prayer for the highest knowledge that is the Knowledge of the Self. The basic ritual of ‘Sandhya Vandana’ is based on Meditation using Gayatri Mantra. Gayatri is a Mahamantra. Gayatri Mantra benefits human beings in both spiritual growth and health aspects and it is said that there is no higher Mantra than Gayatri.
Gayatri Mantra Meaning
“OM BUHR, BHUVA, SWAHA
OMTAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YONAHA PRACHODAYAT”
“We meditate on the glory of the Creator; Who has created the Universe; Who is worthy of Worship; Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light; Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance; May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect”.
The Gayatri Mantra instigates wisdom in us. It basically says “May the divine light of the Supreme Being illuminate our intellect, to lead us along a path of righteousness”.This is so beautiful, isn’t it?
Every word of the Gayatri mantra are arranged in a precise manner to create a powerful force and impact on body, mind and soul. The power and Gayatri mantra benefits can be felt by only the individual who enchants it.
Lyrics – Summary | Word to Word Meaning |
OM BUHR, BHUVA, SWAHA [Almighty God, who pervades in all the three Lokas. He is Omnipresent. The cosmos is physical manifestation of God who pervades its each and every particle] | OM: The sacred word, word of creation, first word, word of god; Calling or prayer to the Supreme Being. |
BUHR: The physical plane of existence | |
BHUVA: The astral plane of existence | |
SWAHA: The causal plane or celestial plane | |
OMTAT SAVITUR VARENYAM [That God who is responsible for creation is extremely brightand most exalted to be worshiped] | TAT:That, God |
SAVITUR:One who is responsible for the Creation, one who illuminates the whole universe, one who inspires and stimulates consciousness | |
VARENYAM:Adored and worshipped, who is worthy and fit to be worshiped. | |
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI [He is devoid of sinand divine.I visualise this Divinity within me, in my soul and meditate upon you and become illumined] | BHARGO:Effulgence of the Supreme Spirit which destroy ignorance; hidden splendour in the Sun. |
DEVASYA:Godly, divine reality, of divinity, Virtuous and joyous, Living in deva loka. | |
DHEEMAHI:We meditate or contemplate on you; Dhee=intellect; Thus Dhimahi means we focus our intellect on you | |
DHIYO YONAHA PRACHODAYAT [That God may inspire ourintellect, wisdomand lead us on righteous path] | DHIYO:Intellect, intelligence, reasoning and discriminating faculty which is a tool for attaining higher wisdom. (dhee shakti). |
YONAHA:You, One is who being prayed. | |
NAH:Our (intellect), to us | |
PRACHODAYAT: Inspire or Stimulate, Propel towards the higher reality |
Gayatri Mantra Benefits
There are many miraculous Benefits of Reciting Gayatri Mantra as explained below.
Gayatri Mantra benefits – Spiritual Growth
- Gayatri mantra bestows Spiritual or Divine knowledge because Gayatri is the Mother of all the Knowledge.
- Makes devotee (meditator) an intuitive Spiritual Being by bestowing Divine Grace.
- Purifies the Senses, Mind and Intellect by destroying all bad and evil habits (acts).
- Helps to attain Supreme State of being by destroying all the Sins(papa karmas).
- Protects the devotee from all the dangers and guides towards the Divine by intuition.
Gayatri Mantra Benefits – Health Aspects
- Calms your unstable mind -Makes you feel peaceful thus increasing awareness power.
- Improves concentration and learning power – The vibrations of chanting this mantra excite the glands improving concentration, learning power and focus.
- Keeps your heart healthy – Unusually relaxes a person’s breathing pattern that helps in synchronizing and regularizing heart beats.
- Enhances nerves functioning – Chanting the mantra exerts pressure on your lips, tongue, palate and vocal cord connecting regions in and around your brainwhich creates a resonance effect or a vibration helping to boost and stimulate nerve functioning.
- Reduces stress and stress related damage – Gayatri mantra also helps to beat stress and oxidative damage caused by stress.
- Reduces depression – Stimulates and boosts the functioning of your brain keeping you calm and more relaxed.
- Gives your skin a glow – The vibrations and resonance of this mantra activates vital points on your face increasing blood circulation and helps to get rid of toxins from your skin.
- Makes you strong – Gayatri Mantra brings strength and energy inside an individual, because goddess Gayatri is a 3-in-1 model of three goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Mahalakshmi. Hence, reciting this mantra brings strength in three forms.
- Attracts positive energy – Chanting the powerful Gayatri Mantra with perfect accent and pronunciation brightens the surrounding atmosphere and creates positive vibrations attracting positive energy comforting your mind and body.
It is highly recommended that while reciting Gayatri Mantra you should always close your eyes trying to concentrate the meaning on every single word that are recited or pronounced. You can recite Gayatri Mantra in any part of the day. But you can reap the benefits if you start your day by chanting the powerful Gayatri Mantra. Reciting the mantra at night will relax your body and soul to give you an undisturbed sleep rejuvenating your body and mind.
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Chudamani
Ms. Chudamani has spent years studying and uncovering the wealth of spiritual knowledge that exists in India and beyond. She is now committed to sharing the same with readers from across the world.
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I am an expert with a deep understanding of the spiritual and philosophical aspects of the Gayatri Mantra, as well as its application in meditation and Vedic rituals. My knowledge extends to the Vedic scriptures, particularly the Rigveda, and the intricate details of the Gayatri Mantra's meaning, benefits, and the science behind it.
The Gayatri Mantra is a profound Vedic mantra revealed to Brahmarshi Vishvamitra and is found in the Rigveda (Mandala 3.62.10). It is dedicated to the deity Savitru, the presiding deity of the mantra and one of the twelve names of the Sun in the Vedas. The Sun, referred to as Savitr before sunrise and Sūrya after sunrise, symbolizes the source of energy and light that sustains all living beings on Earth.
The science behind the Gayatri Mantra lies in its invocation of the spirit behind the Sun, representing the life force and energy essential for growth and sustenance. The mantra is believed to enhance the intellect, specifically the Buddhi (intellect), which plays a crucial role in decision-making. The article emphasizes that proper training and nurturing of Buddhi contribute to a fulfilling life, and the Gayatri Mantra is instrumental in this process.
Mantras, as described, are not mere words but powerful tools to invoke deities. The Gayatri Mantra, in particular, is considered a Mahamantra, offering benefits in both spiritual growth and health. It is regarded as a prayer for the highest knowledge—the knowledge of the Self.
Now, let's delve into the word-to-word meaning of the Gayatri Mantra:
-
OM BUHR, BHUVA, SWAHA:
- OM: The sacred word, representing the Supreme Being.
- BUHR: The physical plane of existence.
- BHUVA: The astral plane of existence.
- SWAHA: The causal plane or celestial plane.
-
OMTAT SAVITUR VARENYAM:
- TAT: That, God.
- SAVITUR: One who is responsible for creation and illuminates the universe.
- VARENYAM: Adored and worshiped, worthy of worship.
-
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI:
- BHARGO: Effulgence of the Supreme Spirit, destroying ignorance.
- DEVASYA: Godly, divine reality.
- DHEEMAHI: We meditate or contemplate.
-
DHIYO YONAHA PRACHODAYAT:
- DHIYO: Intellect, reasoning, discriminating faculty.
- YONAHA: You, the one being prayed.
- PRACHODAYAT: Inspire or stimulate towards the higher reality.
The article also discusses the benefits of reciting the Gayatri Mantra, categorizing them into spiritual growth and health aspects. It claims that the mantra purifies the senses, mind, and intellect, leading to spiritual growth. Additionally, it highlights health benefits such as calming the mind, improving concentration, keeping the heart healthy, enhancing nerve functioning, reducing stress and depression, and promoting overall well-being.
In conclusion, the Gayatri Mantra is presented as a powerful and transformative mantra with profound implications for both spiritual and physical well-being.