Gayatri Mantra lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning
-
Mantra#
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्।।Oṁ Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ.
Tat Savitur vareṇyaṁ,
bhargo devasya dhīmahi,
dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt.ॐ। हम उस दिव्य सविता देव अर्थात सूर्य स्वरूप परमात्मा के श्रेष्ठ और तेजस्वी प्रकाश का ध्यान करते हैं। वे हमारी बुद्धि को सही मार्ग की ओर प्रेरित करें।
Om. We meditate upon the glorious splendour of that divine Sun — may He illumine our minds.
Completed your Gayatri Mantra?
Count it below, light a diya, or share it with family.
Read nextMahamrityunjaya Mantraमहामृत्युञ्जय मन्त्रSpotted an error? Suggest a correction.
Gayatri Mantra — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ॐ | oṃ | The primordial sound; the name of Brahman, the Supreme |
| भूः | bhūḥ | The earth — the physical world |
| भुवः | bhuvaḥ | The space between — the realm of breath and life |
| स्वः | svaḥ | Heaven — the realm of light |
| तत् | tat | That |
| सवितुः | savituḥ | Of Savitr — the divine Sun, the one who brings forth and impels |
| वरेण्यम् | vareṇyam | Most excellent; worthy to be chosen and adored |
| भर्गः | bhargaḥ | Radiance — the brilliance that burns away impurity |
| देवस्य | devasya | Of the divine one |
| धीमहि | dhīmahi | May we meditate upon |
| धियः | dhiyaḥ | Intellects, thoughts, understanding |
| यः | yaḥ | Who |
| नः | naḥ | Our |
| प्रचोदयात् | pracodayāt | May he inspire, awaken and direct |
What Gayatri Mantra means
The Gayatri Mantra is a prayer for one thing above all: a clear and awakened mind. It does not ask for wealth, victory or long life. It asks the divine light of Savitr — the Sun as the source and mover of all life — to illumine our understanding, because everything else in life follows from how we see.
The opening 'Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah' names the three worlds — earth, the space between, and heaven — and places the one who chants within the whole of creation. Then comes the verse itself: 'We meditate on that most excellent radiance of the divine Savitr; may he inspire our minds.' The word for meditate, dhimahi, and the word for minds, dhiyah, come from the same root: we hold the light in our thought, so that the light may move our thought.
It is significant that the prayer is in the plural: 'our' minds, not 'my' mind. The chanter prays for the understanding of all. For this reason the Gayatri has been called the mother of the Vedas (Veda-mata), and the tradition holds that one who chants it with attention is purified and guided.
How to chant Gayatri Mantra
- WhenAt the three sandhyas — dawn, noon and dusk; dawn is the most traditional
- Count108 times on a mala, or 3, 10 or 28 when time is short
- MalaRudraksha, tulsi or crystal (sphatik)
- FacingEast in the morning, west in the evening
- Prepare. Bathe or wash hands, feet and face, and sit on a clean mat with the spine straight.
- Settle the breath. Take a few slow breaths and bring your attention to the light of the rising sun, or to a lamp before you.
- Chant clearly. Chant at a steady, unhurried pace, either softly aloud or silently. Many traditions keep 'vareṇyam' as four syllables ('vare-ṇi-yam') so that each line has eight.
- Keep count. Move one bead of the mala with each recitation, without crossing the head bead (sumeru); turn the mala back to continue.
- Close in silence. Sit quietly for a minute after the last recitation before rising.
Traditionally the Gayatri is received from a guru at the upanayana (sacred thread) ceremony; today it is chanted by devotees of every background. Follow the practice of your family or teacher.
Where Gayatri Mantra comes from
The verse is from the Rigveda (Mandala 3, Sukta 62, Mantra 10). Its seer (rishi) is Vishvamitra, its deity Savitr, and its metre the Gayatri — three lines of eight syllables each — which gives the mantra its name. The same verse appears in the Yajurveda and the Samaveda.
The three words 'Bhur Bhuvah Svah' (the vyahritis) are not part of the Rigvedic verse; they are prefixed to it in recitation, together with Om, in the sandhya worship that has been kept every day for thousands of years.
About Gayatri Mantra
The most sacred mantra of the Rigveda, invoking the divine light of Savitr to illuminate our intellect. Traditionally chanted at dawn, noon, and dusk. It comes from the Rigveda, Vedic (c. 1500 BCE). The text is in Sanskrit.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Gayatri Mantra?
Gayatri Mantra comes from the Rigveda (Vedic (c. 1500 BCE)).
Where can I read Gayatri Mantra lyrics in English?
This page has the full Gayatri Mantra in Sanskrit (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.
गायत्री मन्त्र का अर्थ क्या है?
इस पेज पर गायत्री मन्त्र के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।
How many verses are there in Gayatri Mantra?
Gayatri Mantra has 1 verse as given on this page.
In which language is Gayatri Mantra?
Gayatri Mantra is in Sanskrit. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.
How long does it take to recite Gayatri Mantra?
A full recitation takes about 1 min.
To whom is Gayatri Mantra dedicated?
Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitr (Sun). The most sacred mantra of the Rigveda, invoking the divine light of Savitr to illuminate our intellect. Traditionally chanted at dawn, noon, and dusk.
What does the Gayatri Mantra ask for?
It asks the divine light of Savitr to illumine and guide our understanding: 'We meditate on that most excellent radiance of the divine Savitr; may he inspire our minds.'
How many times should the Gayatri Mantra be chanted?
The traditional count is 108 times on a mala; 3, 10 or 28 times is also common when time is short. Steady daily practice matters more than the number.
Which Veda is the Gayatri Mantra from?
The Rigveda, Mandala 3, Sukta 62, Mantra 10, seen by the sage Vishvamitra. It is also found in the Yajurveda and the Samaveda.
Why is it called Gayatri?
Gayatri is the name of its Vedic metre: three lines of eight syllables. The mantra is also revered as the goddess Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas.
