Gayatri Mantra

• "Let us meditate on the supreme effulgence of Brahman, from whom these three worlds Bhuh(earth), Bhuvah(atmosphere), Suvah (shining heavens) originated and who manifests to our eyes as the shining Sun. May those purifying divine rays enlighten our minds."
• What is the meaning of gayatri ? The word gayatri is a combination of two Sanskrit words: ganat (what is sung) and trayate (gives deliverance and protection).
• Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra should be in sets of 3 or 12 at sunrise, noon and sunset

 Meaning of Gayatri Mantra: Here are transliterated Sanskrit and English versions of the mantra, along with meanings:

Om bhur bhuvah suvah tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yó naḥ pracodayāt On the absolute reality and its planes, On that finest spiritual light, We meditate, as remover of obstacles That it may inspire and enlighten us.

AUM/OM: Absolute reality. That which encompasses the three states of waking, dreaming, deep sleep, represented by AUM, the three levels of gross, subtle, causal, the three levels of conscious, unconscious, subconscious, and the three universal processes of coming, being, and going. Absolute silence beyond the three levels is the silence after AUM. Bhur: Physical realm or plane; earth. Bhuva: The subtle or astral plane. Svah: The highest celestial plane, the realm of shining effugelence, heaven.

Tat: That, the essential essence. Savitur: Bright, luminous, sun-like, inner power of spiritual light, which brings one to Self-realization. Varenyam: Finest, best, choicest, fit to be sought.

Bhargo: Destroyer of obstacles. Effulgence Devasya: Divine, resplendent, shining Dhimahi: We meditate.

Dhiyo: Our being of intelligence, intellect, understanding, mind/heart Yo: Who, which Naha: Our Prachodayat: May enlighten, direct, inspire, guide, impel.

AUM being the sound symbol of Parmatman (Supreme Reality), it is considered to be the first vibration as sound emanating at the beginning of creation. From the three matras of AUM came out the three 'feet' of Gayatri, and from its three 'feet' came out the three Vedas and the three Vyaahrtis BHUR-BHUVAH-SUVAH representing the three cosmic world planes of existence.

From A came out tat savitur varenyam which expanded itself into the Rg-Veda and the cosmic plane Bhuh.

From U came out bhargo devasya dhimahi, which expanded itself into Yajur Veda and the plane of Bhuvah.

From M came out dhiyo yo nah prachodayat- which expanded itself into Sam Veda, and the plane of Suvah.

The first Veda RG is stuti-para - devoted to devotion. The second Veda Yajur is kriya-para - devoted to work (action). The third Veda Sam is jnana-para -devoted to knowledge.

Translation

Om, we meditate(dhimahi) on the spiritual effulgence(bhargas) of that adorable Supreme Divine Reality (varenyam devasya), the source or projector (savitr) of the three phenomenal world planes: the gross or physical (bhuh) the subtle or psychical (bhuvah) and the potential or causal (suvah), both macro cosmically or externally and micro cosmically or internally.
May the Supreme Divine Being(Tat) stimulate, enlighten, guide(prachodayat)
our(nah) intellect(dhiyah), so that we may realize the Supreme Truth.

Common Error made by westeners: Please do not replace Swaha (I bow to) for Suvah (realm of Celestial Light)

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