Gayatri Mantra

What it is ?

The Gayatri (Vedic prayer to illuminate the intellect) is the universal prayer enshrined in the Vedas (Divine Knowledge), the most ancient scriptures of man. It is addressed to the Immanent and Transcendent Divine, which has been given the name 'Savitha', meaning 'that from which all this is born.' Also known as Annapurna, the Mother, the sustaining Force that animates all life.

The Gayatri is considered as Vedasara --"the essence of the Vedas." Veda means knowledge, and this prayer fosters and sharpens the knowledge-yielding faculty. As a matter of fact, the four mahavakyas or 'core-declarations' enshrined in the four Vedas are implied in this Gayatri mantra.

What it consists of?
The Gayatri may be considered as having three parts: (1) praise, (2) meditation, and (3) prayer. First the Divine is praised, then It is meditated upon in reverence, and finally an appeal is made to the Divine to awaken and strengthen the intellect, the discriminating faculty of man.

The first nine words of the mantra
Om-Bhur-Bhuvas-Suvah-Thath-Savithur-Varenyam-Bhargo-Dhevasya-- represent the attributes of the Divine.

Dheemahi pertains to dhyana (meditation).

Dheyo yo nah Prachodayath is the prayer to the Lord.


When you should say the Gayatri?

Chant it when you bathe as well as before every meal, when you wake from sleep, and when you go to bed. And also repeat santhi thrice at the end, for that repetition will give santhi or peace to three entities in you --body, mind, and soul.
The Gayatri mantra has to be recited three times a day: in the morning at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset. These are called "sandhya kalam" --the time of coming together of night and day, of morning and evening, and of day and night.
Time, like man, has three qualities: sathwa, rajas, and thamas (poised or pure or serenity, passion, and inertia). The day is divided into three parts:
* 4am to 8am and 4pm to 8pm have the sathwic (equanimous) quality;
* 8am to 4pm are rajasic (passionate);
* 8pm and 4am are tamasic (inaction).
The eight hours from 8pm to 4am are used mainly for sleep. The eight hours of the day (from 8am to 4pm) are employed by all beings, including animals and birds, in the discharge of their day to day duties and are regarded as rajasic (active pursuit). When the four sathwic hours of the morning are used for engaging oneself in good actions like worship, virtuous deeds, and keeping good company, one is sure to raise oneself from the human to the Divine level.
It is during the sathwic period (4am to 8am and 4pm to 8pm) that the Gayatri mantra should be recited.

What to think when you are saying the Gayatri ?
In the practice of the Gayatri mantra, one should realise that everything is within one and thereby develop confidence in the Self.