Meaning of Gayatri Mantra
Gayatri is a Mantra(vedic hymn) which inspires righteous wisdom its meaning is that the Almighty God may illuminate our intellect which may lead us to righteous path. This is most important teaching. All the problems of a person are solved if he is endowed with the gift of righteous wisdom. Having endowed with far sighted wisdom, a man is neither entangled in calamity nor does he tread wrong path. Righteous wisdom stars emerging as soon as a methodical recitation of this Mantra is performed.
- OM
- Almighty God
- BHOOR
- Embodiment of vital or spiritual energy
- BHUVAHA
- Destroyer of suffering
- SWAHA
- Embodiment of happiness
- TAT
- That (indicating God)
- SAVITUR
- Bright, luminous, like and sun
- VARENIYAM
- Supreme, best
- HARGO
- Destroyer of sins
- DEVASYA
- Divine
- DHEEMAHI
- May receive
- DHIYO
- Intellect
- YO
- Who
- NAHA
- Our
- PRACHODAYAT
- May inspire
Translated it means: "O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive thy supreme, sin-destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction."
1. Om stands for "The Almighty God". He pervades in all the worlds viz. Bhulo-lok, bhuvah-lok and swah-lok. He is omnipresent. All this Creation. World, universe or cosmos is physical manifestation of God who pervades in each and every particle. That I am seeing Him every where. I should always remain aloof from evil thoughts and evil deeds and perform true worship of God by extending cooperation in promoting happiness, peace and beauty this universe which is his creation.
2. This(tat) i.e.: God is extremely bright(savitur) choicest (vareniyam) devoid of sin (bhargo) and divine(devasya). I am assimilating such God within me, in my conscience,. By such assimilation, I am also becoming bright, virtuous, sinless and divine. Every moment this virtues are developing in all the pores and particles of my mind, brain and body. I am becoming one with these virtues, these characteristics of God.
3. That God may inspire (prachodayat) our(nah) intellect (dhiyo) and lead us on the righteous path. May our intellect become pious. May He lead us righteous path. On getting the righteous wisdom we may be able to enjoy celestial bliss in this life and make our life successful.
We should contemplate and meditate on these three determinations slowly and gradually pausing for a moment on each word and an imaginary picture of that word should be drawn in the mind. The man gets enriched in divine elements by contemplating and meditating on this meaning of Gayatr. These sentiments are extremely powerful, encouraging, righteous and elevating.
One should contemplate these feelings daily for some time. By such contemplation, the meaning of Gayatri Mantra is fully assimilated in the heart of the person. The result is that in a few date his mind gets diverted from evil deeds and he starts taking enthusiastic joy in righteous thinking and good actions. How so ever little this tendency may be in the beginning, it is almost certain that if it persists, the innerself of sadhak becomes spiritually advanced day by day and ultimate aim of life appears to have come closer and closer.
"The Gayatri Mantra does not belong to any particular sect of worship or it is not restricted to any certain community. It is universal, for the whole world. It contains in it the culture not of any particular society, but the culture of humanity. The Gayatri Mantra is a treasure and heritage that belongs to the whole of humanity without exclusion."
-Thanks to Sri Sriram Sharma Acharya