Gayatri Mantra

The Power of Gayatri

We all want to increase our intelligence, concentration, memory and capacity for information. The key to strength and success in this information age is the Gayatri Mantra; it encourages creative thinking, not as mere human invention but as our portion of cosmic intelligence. The best way to do this is to harness the power of “inner Sun”, which is to connect with cosmic intelligence through mantra and meditation. Each one of us possesses a portion of the “Light of Consciousness”, a ray of universal consciousness, which endow us with understanding. This faculty is called “dhi” in Vedic thought and refers to the meditative aspect of the mind (dhyana manas) and “buddhi” referring to awakened intelligence.

The best mantra for awakening the higher mind is the Gayatri Mantra, which is a mantra to the “Solar light of Consciousness” (Savita), to awaken our meditative mind (dhi). It brings us the Divine Solar power of Consciousness, Love and Prana the supreme light of truth. The Gayatri Mantra encourages us to attune ourselves to the cosmic mind and its laws of Dharma. This chant is as valuable and appropriate in the modern world as it was in ancient times. We can use it whenever we wish to gain new insight and inspiration or to increase memory and concentration, even for mundane tasks.

Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Meaning

Om – Almighty God
Bhur – Embodiment of vital spiritual energy
Bhuvah – Destroyer of sufferings
Swah – Embodiment of happiness
Tat – That
Savitur – Bright, Luminous like the Sun
Varenyam – Best
Bhargo – Destroyer of sins
Devasya – Divine radiance
Dhimahi – May imbibe/recieve
Dhiyo – Intellect
Yo – Who
Nah – Our
Prachodayat – May inspire

“Oh Almighty God, the embodiment of vital spiritual energy, destroyer of sufferings, the embodiment of happiness. May we receive your bright, best, sin destroying, divine radiance that may inspire us to the righteous path”

(In short: “May Almighty illuminate our intellect to guide us to the righteous path”)

History

Gayatri Mantra is a gift to the world of the great Rishi Vishwamitra, the seer of third book of the RigVeda. Vedas are the manifestation of solar intelligence, the light of consciousness on Earth. The Vedic mantras carry light and power both for the body and the mind. In contemporary times, Yug-rishi, Vedmurti, Taponishtha Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, has unfolded the power of Gayatri to the humanity by his unparalleled “Gayatri Sadhana”, since the Vedic age. He has poured his insight and experiences of Gayatri Mantra in his book titled “Gayatri Maha-Vigyan” (The great science of Gayatri). In his words, “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”.

Recitation

Recitation of mantras has an internal as well as an external effect. The sound of recitation creates vibrations like the water currents in the deeper layers of ocean and the air in outer atmosphere. This recitation affects various centres of power in the human body and mind, which creates its own effect. Vibrations of a definite wavelength create mysterious forces and wonderful effects. Recitation done in a certain organised pattern and its results can be illustrated scientifically in a laboratory. Recitation of mantras in a methodical order can create wonderful results. The different organs and various centres of power in the body are affected by recitation and the resulting vibrations sharpen the intellectual. One feels elevated, awakened and supremely confident, and this exercise has a direct impact on one’s psyche.