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Understanding Gayatri mantra

The Gayatri mantra is regarded as the gateway to divine bliss. While it appears to refer to Savitr, a Vedic solar deity, philosophers assert that the mantra transcends mere sun worship, celebrating the supreme divine, the cause of existence.

Swami Vivekananda explained, "We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may She enlighten our minds."

Sage Yajnavalkya elaborates on the Gayatri Mantra as follows: 

"We, the worshippers of the Highest, meditate on the Supreme and omnipresent spirit within this splendid Sun. We meditate on this Supreme spirit, earnestly sought by those who fear further mortal births. This spirit, residing in every being as the all-pervading soul and controller of the mind, constantly guides our intellect and actions towards virtue, wealth, physical enjoyment, and ultimate happiness."

"Om bhur bhuvah svah

Tat savitur varenyam

Bhargo devasya dhimahi

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat."

  • Om: The sacred syllable representing the primordial sound and the essence of the universe. It is the ultimate reality, encompassing everything.
  • Bhur: The physical world or the earth.
  • Bhuvah: The mental world or the realm of consciousness.
  • Svah: The spiritual world or the heavens.
  • Tat: That (referring to the ultimate reality or God).
  • Savitur: The Sun, symbolizing the divine light and power of creation.
  • Varenyam: Adorable or worthy of worship.
  • Bhargo: The divine radiance that dispels ignorance.
  • Devasya: Of the divine.
  • Dhimahi: We meditate upon.
  • Dhiyo: Intellect or understanding.
  • Yo: Who.
  • Nah: Our.
  • Prachodayat: May inspire or guide.

    • The syllable OM represents the Supreme Being and the cause of existence. The phrase "bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ" represents the three layers of existence: physical, mental, and spiritual.

    The concept of OM is the most significant one in the Hindu philosophy.

     “Through the help of Om, you contemplate the Supreme Spirit” (Mundaka Upanishad).

    “All rites ordained in the Vedas, such as oblation to fire and solemn offerings, pass away; but the letter Om is considered that which does not pass away… The sole repetition of Om and the Gayatri can lead a Brahmin to beatitude. Whether he performs other religious rites or not, being a friend to all creatures, he is styled a knower of God” (Manu) ( Brahmin is the one who knows Brahmn , the ultimate reality )

    Raja Rammohan Roy observed that the term 'Om' bears a striking similarity, both in sound and application, to the Greek participle 'ὤν,' from the verb 'εἰμί,' which means 'to be.' It is not improbable that one may have influenced the other. The similarity is clear, and in the Septuagint, 'ὤν,' like 'Om,' is applied to Jehovah, the ever-existing God. In Exodus 3:14, it is written, 'ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν' (I am the one who is).

    Yogi Yajnavalkya says, "God is declared to be the object signified, and Om to be the term signifying. By knowing even the letter Om, the symbol, God becomes favorable."

    The phrase "OM Tat Sat" means "that which has absolute existence," referring to the Supreme Being that exists in the absolute sense, with all else existing in relation to it.

    So, the Gayatri Mantra refers to the Divine consciousness that has created the effulgent Sun and proclaims that we , human beings possess the same divinity within us.

    The Maha Nirvan Tantra states: "We meditate on Him from whom all things proceed and perish; who spreads over the three realms; that eternal Spirit, who inwardly rules the sun and all living creatures; most desirable and all-pervading; and who, residing in intellect, directs the operations of the intellectual power of all material beings."

    The Chandogya Upanishad says: "He who inwardly rules the Sun is the same immortal spirit who inwardly rules you."

    "We meditate on the cause of all, pervading all, and internally ruling all material objects, from the sun, down to us."

    Sir William Jones refers to the Gayatri as "THE HOLIEST VERSE OF THE VEDAS," stating: "Let us adore the supremacy of that divine sun, the godhead who illuminates all, who recreates all, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return. We invoke him to guide our understandings rightly in our progress toward his holy seat."

    "What the sun and light are to this visible world, the Supreme good and truth are to the intellectual and invisible universe; just as our physical eyes perceive objects illuminated by the sun, our souls gain knowledge by meditating on the light of truth from the Supreme Being. This is the light that alone can guide our minds on the path to beatitude."


    indebted to THE GAYUTREE , by Raja Rammohan Roy. 

    certain words and phrases within the quotes had to be changed since the original prose was written more than 200 years ago in difficult and old English writing styles. This is done to enhance readability.

    https://archive.org/details/translationseve00roygoog/page/n124/mode/2up?view=theater

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