Sri Gayatri Mantra

The Most Glorious Mantra

Gayatri (pronounced "Gaayatree") is a Sanskrit mantra consisting of two syllables:

Gaa: To sing or recite.
Yatree: Protection.

Therefore "Gayatri" is a mantra for divine protection and guidance.

Gayatri is actually the Great Goddess known by countless names.

Within the Sanatana Dharma it is generally understood that God is One and that sages merely use diverse forms and names to describe the Indescribable, and so Srimati Gayatri Devi is understood as a conceivable form of the utterly transcendent Ek Devata or One God. Hence, those who seek Her find the One Who transcends all. Those who recite the Gayatri are therefore seeking the protection and guidance and singing the praises of Ek Devata however conceived.

As Sri Krsna explains in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita:

9:23, 24: Also those who are devotees of other gods, and who worship them, endowed with faith, they actually worship Me alone, O son of Kunti, but by a lesser method.
I indeed am the Enjoyer and God of all sacrifices, but not knowing Me in truth they fall down.
(Translation my own. Read the entire Gita at my Sri Jagannatha.com)

The Gayatri Mantra is arguably the most powerful, most universal mantra (prayer/meditation/contemplation/hymn) found within the Sanatana Dharma (the combined "Hindu" religions). Those who regularly recite it invariably realize spiritual development and divine protection.

I must confess that while the part of my beliefs that are termed Vaisnava run deep within my heart and soul, I do not always chant even the requisite minimum 16 rounds of japa mala (1728 recitations) of the Maha Mantra:

However there is not a day that goes by that I don't recite the Sacred Gayatri.

For the exact pronunciation of Sri Gayatri, Click Here The Gayatri will be properly spoken 108 times over a period of 18 minutes. Thanks to Gayatri Mantra Online for this resource.

My Translation of Sri Gayatri Mantra:

Oh Ek Devata!
You are the Giver of all Life,
You are the Remover of all pain and sorrow,
You are the Bestower of all happiness,
Oh Ek Devata!
You are the Creator of the Universes!
May we all receive Your divine ignorance destroying Light of Truth,
May You guide our intellects in the right pathways.

Added to the Sacred Gayatri are sampradaya ("denomination") specific prayers. Here is the main one I recite:

The Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaisnava Gäyatri

om bhür bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayät
aim gurave namah
aim gurudeväya vidmahe krshnänandäya dhîmahi
tan no guroh pracodayät
klîm gauräya namah
klîm caitanyäya vidmahe vishvambharäya
dhîmahi tan no gaurah pracodayät
klîm krishnäya govindäya gopîjana-
vallabhäya svähä
klîm kämadeväya vidmahe pushpabäjäya
dhîmahi tan no nangah pracodayät

But the essential Gayatri for everyone is:

Om Tat Sat,
~Jagannatha Prakasa

Sri Jagannatha.com

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Om Jai Jagannatha!	Sri Jagannatha.com Home Page
	Bhagavad Gita translated by Jagannatha Prakasa
	Gitabhasya of Jagannatha Prakasa