Savitr (the Sun)

Gayatri Mantra

गायत्री मंत्र

The Gayatri Mantra is one of the oldest and most revered mantras of the Vedic tradition. It is a prayer to the divine light of the sun for clarity of mind.

Source: Rigveda (3.62.10)
Language: Sanskrit
Traditional times: Dawn, noon and dusk
Common practice: 108 repetitions with a mala

About the Gayatri Mantra

The mantra is found in the Rigveda and is traditionally attributed to the sage Vishvamitra. It is in the Gayatri metre, and it is addressed to Savitr, the sun as the giver of light. It is a single verse, short enough to learn by heart, and is chanted as part of daily sandhya vandan in many families.

Meaning

In essence, the mantra is a prayer to the divine light that illuminates the world, asking that this light guide and awaken our understanding.

Full text

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

अर्थ: सृष्टिकर्ता, प्रकाशमान परमात्मा के तेज का हम ध्यान करते हैं। वह परमात्मा (या उसका तेज) हमारी बुद्धि को सद्मार्ग (सही रास्ते) पर चलने के लिए प्रेरित करे।

ॐ –: परब्रह्मा / मूल ध्वनि
भूः –: भूलोक (पृथ्वी लोक / प्राण स्वरूप)
भुवः –: अंतरिक्ष लोक (दुःख नाशक)
स्वः –: स्वर्ग लोक (सुख स्वरूप)
तत् –: उस
सवितुः / सवितु –: सूर्य / सृष्टिकर्ता / ईश्वर
वरेण्यं –: पूजनीय / श्रेष्ठ
भर्गः –: अज्ञान तथा पापों का नाश करने वाला तेज
देवस्य –: दिव्य / देवस्वरूप परमात्मा
धीमहि –: हम ध्यान करते हैं
धियो –: बुद्धि
यो –: जो
नः –: हमारी
प्रचोदयात् –: (सद्मार्ग की ओर) प्रेरित करे

Source: Rigveda 3.62.10 (Vedic mantra); text and meanings to be checked by a pandit

When to recite

The three sandhya times: sunrise, midday and sunset. Sunrise is the most common.
At the start of a puja or study, and during sacred thread ceremonies as per tradition.

How to recite at home

Sit calmly in a clean place, facing the rising sun if you can.
Many people chant 108 times with a rosary (mala). Practice and rules vary by family and tradition, so follow what your family or guru teaches.
Chant with correct pronunciation. If you are learning, listen to a guru or a trusted recording first.

Customs differ by region and family. Follow what your own family or guru teaches.