ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Frequently asked questions about Gayatri Mantra
Where does the Gayatri Mantra come from?
Rigveda 3.62.10, in the mandala of the sage Vishwamitra, set in the gayatri metre of twenty-four syllables - which is where its name comes from. It is prefaced in recitation by the vyahritis, bhur bhuvah svah.
What does it ask for?
We meditate on that adorable light of Savitr; may it impel our thoughts. That is the whole of it - a prayer for the intellect to be moved rightly, with nothing material requested anywhere in the verse.
When and how many times is it chanted?
At the sandhyas, the junctions of dawn, midday and dusk, facing east in the morning and west in the evening. A mala of a hundred and eight is the usual count, ten or twenty-eight where time is short, with achman and pranayam before it.
Who may chant it?
Tradition is divided. The older rule tied the japa to upanayana initiation; reform movements from the nineteenth century onward - and the Gayatri parivar today - hold it open to all, women included, and millions chant it on that basis. Follow your family or your teacher, and do not let the dispute stop you from praying.
Does pronunciation have to be exact?
Vedic recitation is careful about the svaras, and learning it from a teacher or a good recording is worth the effort. But the tradition also holds that sincere effort is accepted - begin with the Roman text on this page and let the accuracy improve with practice. This page is the japa formula; the forty-verse hymn is the Gayatri Chalisa, and you can count repetitions with the japa mala counter.
About the Gayatri Mantra
The Gayatri Mantra - the most revered Vedic mantra, a prayer to the divine light of Savitr (the Sun) to illumine the intellect.
Meaning
A prayer from the Rigveda to Savitr, the divine solar power: "We meditate upon the adorable effulgence of the Creator; may that divine light illumine our intellect."
Benefits
Chanted daily (especially at dawn, noon and dusk) for wisdom, clarity, spiritual upliftment and the awakening of the higher intellect; considered the mother of the Vedas.
Word by Word Meaning
Om - the Pranava, the primordial sound. Bhur bhuvah svah - the three worlds: the earth (bhu-loka), the mid-region (bhuvar-loka) and the heavens (svar-loka); these three "great utterances" (maha-vyahritis) place the prayer in the whole of creation. Tat - that. Savitur - of Savitr, the vivifying power of the Sun. Varenyam - most adorable, worthy of being chosen. Bhargo - the effulgence, the radiant light. Devasya - of the divine. Dhimahi - we meditate upon. Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat - may he inspire (prachodayat) our (nah) intellects (dhiyah).
Taken together: "Om. Earth, mid-region, heaven. We meditate upon that most adorable effulgence of the divine Savitr; may he awaken and guide our intellect." The mantra comes from the Rigveda (3.62.10), was revealed to the sage Vishvamitra, and is composed in the Gayatri metre from which it takes its name.
How to Chant
The classical practice is japa at the three sandhyas - the junctions of the day: dawn, midday and dusk. At dawn one faces east as the sun rises; at dusk, west. Chant after bathing or at least after washing the face and hands, seated on a clean asana. Common counts are 10, 28 or a full mala of 108, counted on the finger joints or a tulsi or rudraksha mala. Soft or purely mental repetition is traditionally held higher than loud chanting.
Since the sandhya times follow the sun, they differ from city to city - you can check your own sunrise and sunset on the Panchang for today.
Who Chants It, and When
The Gayatri is classically imparted at the upanayana (sacred-thread) ceremony, but today it is chanted by devotees of every background - students before study, householders at dawn, and seekers as a daily meditation. Tradition asks only for regularity, cleanliness and an unhurried mind. It is called the mother of the Vedas: a complete prayer in itself, asking not for wealth or comfort but for an awakened intellect.
The Gayatri Mantra above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with - switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.
A mantra is a compact formula for japa, not a long hymn. Forty-verse hymns live under Chalisa; lamp-songs under Aarti; longer stotras under Stotram. Browse every formula on the Mantra index. Count repetitions with the online japa mala counter.
