Gayatri Mantra

Among all the mantras, the Gayatri mantra is considered to be the esence of all mantras. According to vedic cosmology, there are seven luminous spheres of light (Lokas) which are Spheres of Consciousness or Planes of Existence. Each successive sphere or realm is more spiritually advanced and sublime that the previous one. Only the first three spheres or planes are physical; the rest are non-physical and are the dwelling places for highly evolved sentient and celestial beings like sages, saints, masters, siddhas and the like.

The Gayatri mantra is simply the sounds that summarize the vibrations of the seven luminous spheres and is meditation on spiritual light. Its purpose is to enlighten the mind and intellect. Images of Goddess Gayatri show her with five faces: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Radha and Bhu Devi. These heads represent, respectively, the primordial power of Manifestation, the power of Knowledge and divinely empowered speech, the power of Protection, the power of Ecstatic Bliss and the power of the Earth.

The Gayatri mantra was first mentioned in the Rig Veda. The short form is the more commonly practised one, the one that we all chant.. However the complete Gayatri Mantra is longer and the Arya Samaj is probably the only organisation in India that teaches it. The following is the complete Gayatri Mantra.

~ Om Bhur Om Bhuvaha Om Swaha

Om Maha Om Janaha Om Tapaha Om Satyam

Om Tat Savitur Vareniyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat ~

Meaning:~ O Self – Effulgent Light that has given birth to all the Lokas (spheres of Consciousness), who is worthy of worship and appears through the orbit of the Sun, illumine our Intellect. ~

Meaning of the individual phrases:~

Om Bhur ~~ Om and Salutations to the Earth Plane (first chakra)

Om Bhuvaha ~~ Om and Salutations to the Atmospheric Plane (second chakra)

Om Swaha ~~ Om and Salutations to the Solar Region (third chakra)

Om Maha ~~ Om and Salutations to the First Spiritual Region beyond the Sun (fourth chakra)

Om Janaha ~~ Om and Salutations to the Second Spiritual Region beyond the Sun (fifth chakra)

Om Tapaha ~~ Om and Salutations to the Third spiritual region beyond the Sun, sphere of the Progenitors (Sixth chakra)

Om Satyam ~~ Om and Salutations to the Abode of Supreme Truth (seventh chakra)

Om Tat Savitur Vareniyam ~~ Om and Salutations to that Realm which is beyond Human Comprehension

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi ~~ In that place where all the Celestials of the spheres have

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat ~~ Received enlightenment, kindly enlighten our intellect.

For the receipt and processing of spiritual knowledge, the Gayatri Mantra reigns supreme. It is the perfect mantra to practice with Pranayama.

Illustration: A Pata-chitra painting of Goddess Gayatri.