Om Bhoor Bhuvah Svah Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayaat. ShantiMayi's New Book on the Gayatri Mantra Gayatri Mantra Pronunciation Gayatri Links on this site: - ShantiMayi speaks on the Gayatri Mantra - Descending the Gayatri Mantra, a potent meditation. - You can also listen to the Gayatri Here.

The Gayatri Mantra is not only being chanted around ShantiMayi, but people all over the world are also chanting this deeply moving prayer at the very same time.
The Gayatri Mantra is one of the keynotes to the transformation of consciousness and is an identical vibration to the vital force in nature. It is one of the oldest prayers known to humanity, being as ancient as light and also the vital force itself. The Mantra is chanted in the Sanskrit language and is most effective chanted in original Sanskrit.
This prayer appeals to the highest wisdom; to the brilliance of the cosmos to illumine an understanding of our true nature. The appeal requests that we become subtle and receptive to the divine wisdom that pervades the experience of life and is the essence of our very Self.

To chant the Gayatri Mantra purifies the chanter. To listen to the Gayatri Mantra purifies the listener It is said that this sacred prayer spirals through the entire universe from the heart of the chanter, appealing for peace and divine wisdom for all.

Notes on the Gayatri Mantra.

Savitur is radiant brilliance shinning forth from nowhere.

Savitur must not be regarded as only the light of the solar sun.

Often our solar sun is said to symbolizes Savitur, the illuminator of existence. The light of the solar sun may be a symbol for Savitur however the sun can not actually be Savitur.

Let us examine the Mantra. Here is how it starts:

It is "Tat Savitur" with which the Mantra begins.

It is "Tat Savitur" which is the body of the Mantra.

Also the appeal of the Mantra is directed to "Tat Savitur".

 

ShantiMayi's explanation:

Tat Savitur is "The essential Illuminator"

The brilliance inherent in cognition, in perception.

"That" which illuminates the three worlds.

 

The three worlds:

1.Existence (the imaginary, the apparent, material, physical and all that it contains).

2. Consciousness (the field of cognition, infinity and eternity and all that may occur within it).

3.Totality (the incomprehensible, un-dividable, Absolute, Potential.)

 

The Solar Sun is perceived by the power of Tat Savitur. It is not Tat Savitur.

When all the stars and solar systems in space have died away, Tat Savitur will again be the illuminator of what may, what can, be experienced, forever.

If it were not so, the mantra would not appeal for the Enlightened Awareness for all.

It is Enlightenment, which empties out every last trace of appearance or concept that may be perceived. Including the Solar Sun and all that it nurtures. This mantra speaks of a power that is itself beyond (and immanently saturates) the perceivable and im-perceivable cosmos. Life as it is experienced.

 

The Gayatri Mantra is extremely powerful and its divine implications are not easily comprehended. The Mantras power is so universal in scope that we can not confine it to actually understanding it's subtle nuances. The language of the mantra is a more symbolic and metaphysical one. It is similar to Enlightenment, Impossible to understand and yet so very intimately present.

The Gayatri is a 24-syllable hymn from the Rig Veda (III, 62, 10). The phrase Om Bhoor Bhuvah Svah is generally added when the mantra is recited. The Sanskrit word Gayatri is formed by two words, ganat (or gayanath), which means "that which is sung," and trayate, which means "that which delivers." In other words, the Gayatri is a song of deliverance.
It is the most renowned mantra of the Vedas. It is addressed to the divine life-giver as supreme God, symbolized in Savitri, the Sun. For this reason this prayer is also called Savitri.
The words from the Gayatri can be interpreted as follows:

 

The information on this page has been revised, increased and published in: ShantiMayi's New Book on the Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri Mantra Pronunciation
or You can listen to the Gayatri Here.

A very detailed exposé of the Gayatri can be found in the preface of The Vedic Experience: Hinduism's Contemporary Holy Bible, by Professor Raimon Panikkar. See also the article by Srila Sridhara Maharaj.

 

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