The GÃÂyatrë Mantra (), also known as the SÃÂvitrë Mantra (), is a sacred mantra from the á¹Âig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10), dedicated to the Vedic deity Savitr. The mantra is attributed to the brahmarshi Vishvamitra.
The term GÃÂyatrë may also refer to a type of mantra which follows the same Vedic metre as the original GÃÂyatrë Mantra (without the first line). There are many such GÃÂyatrës for various gods and goddesses. Furthermore, is the name of the Goddess of the mantra and the meter.
The Gayatri mantra is cited widely in Hindu texts, such as the mantra listings of the à Ârauta liturgy, and classical Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Harivamsa, and Manusmá¹Âti. The mantra and its associated metric form was known by the Buddha. The mantra is an important part of the initiation ceremony. Modern Hindu reform movements spread the practice of the mantra to everyone and its use is now very widespread.
The GÃÂyatrë mantra is dedicated to Savita, a solar deity. The mantra is attributed to the much revered sage Vià ÂvÃÂmitra, who is also considered the author of Mandala 3 of the Rigveda.
The main mantra appears in the hymn RV 3.62.10. During its recitation, the hymn is preceded by ' () and the formula ' (), known as the ', or "great (mystical) utterance". This prefixing of the mantra is properly described in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.11.1-8), which states that it should be chanted with the syllable ', followed by the three Vyahrtis and the Gayatri verse.
Whereas in principle the gÃÂyatrë mantra specifies three pÃÂdas of eight syllables each, the text of the verse as preserved in the Samhita is one short, seven instead of eight. Metrical restoration would emend the attested tri-syllabic ' with a tetra-syllabic '.
The Gayatri mantra with svaras:
The Gayatri mantra has been translated in many ways. Quite literal translations include:
More interpretative translations include:
Gayatri mantra, called Gayatri Chandas in Sanskrit, is twenty-four syllables comprising three lines (Sk. padas, literally "feet") of eight syllables each, in this case starting from tat savitur vareá¹Âyaá¹Â. The first line, oá¹ bhà «r bhuvaḥ svaḥ, is not part of the gayatri syllables, but an introduction to invoke the mantra to work on three VyÃÂhá¹Âti or planes (physical, mental and spiritual).
The Gayatri mantra as received is short one syllable in the first line: '. Being only twenty-three syllables the Gayatri mantra is Nichruth Gayatri Chandas ("Gayatri mantra short by one syllable"). A reconstruction of ' to a proposed historical ' restores the first line to eight syllables. In practise, people reciting the mantra may retain seven syllables and simply prolong the length of time they pronounce the "m", they may append an extra syllable of "mmm" (approximately va-ren-yam-mmm), or they may use the reconstructed '.
The Gayatri mantra is cited widely in Hindu texts, such as the mantra listings of the à Ârauta liturgy, and cited several times in the Brahmanams and the Srauta-sutras. It is also cited in a number of grhyasutras, mostly in connection with the upanayana ceremony in which it has a significant role.
The Gayatri mantra is the subject of esoteric treatment and explanation in some major Upanishads, including Mukhya Upanishads such as the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Shvetashvatara Upanishad and the Maitrayaniya Upanishad; as well as other well-known works such as the Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana. The text also appears in minor Upanishads, such as the Surya Upanishad.
The Gayatri mantra is the apparent inspiration for derivative "gÃÂyatrë" stanzas dedicated to other deities. Those derivations are patterned on the formula , and have been interpolated into some recensions of the Shatarudriya litany. GÃÂyatrës of this form are also found in the Mahanarayana Upanishad.
The Gayatri mantra is also repeated and cited widely in Hindu texts such as the Mahabharata, Harivamsa, and Manusmá¹Âti.
In Majjhima Nikaya 92, the Buddha refers to the SÃÂvitri (Pali: sÃÂvittë) mantra as the foremost meter, in the same sense as the king is foremost among humans, or the sun is foremost among lights:
In Sutta Nipata 3.4, the Buddha uses the SÃÂvitri mantra as a paradigmatic indicator of Brahmanic knowledge:
Imparting the Gayatri mantra to young Hindu men is an important part of the traditional upanayana ceremony, which marks the beginning of study of the Vedas. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan described this as the essence of the ceremony, which is sometimes called "Gayatri diksha", i.e. initiation into the Gayatri mantra. However, traditionally, the stanza RV.3.62.10 is imparted only to Brahmana. Other Gayatri verses are used in the upanayana ceremony are: RV.1.35.2, in the tristubh meter, for a kshatriya and either RV.1.35.9 or RV.4.40.5 in the jagati meter for a Vaishya.
Gayatri japa is used as a method of prÃÂyaà Âcitta (atonement). It is believed by practitioners that reciting the mantra bestows wisdom and enlightenment, through the vehicle of the Sun (Savitr), who represents the source and inspiration of the universe.
In 1827 Ram Mohan Roy published a dissertation on the Gayatri mantra that analysed it in the context of various Upanishads. Roy prescribed a Brahmin to always pronounce om at the beginning and end of the Gayatri mantra. From 1830, the Gayatri mantra was used for private devotion of Brahmos. In 1843, the First Covenant of Brahmo Samaj required the Gayatri mantra for Divine Worship. From 1848 to 1850 with the rejection of Vedas, the Adi Dharma Brahmins use the Gayatri mantra in their private devotions.
In the later 19th century, Hindu reform movements spread the chanting of the Gayatri mantra. In 1898 for example, Swami Vivekananda claimed that, according to the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita, a person became Brahmana through learning from his Guru, and not because of birth. He administered the sacred thread ceremony and the Gayatri mantra to non-Brahmins in Ramakrishna Mission. This Hindu mantra has been popularized to the masses, pendants, audio recordings and mock scrolls. Various Gayatri yajñas organised by All World Gayatri Pariwar at small and large scales in late twentieth century also helped spread Gayatri mantra to the masses.
The Gayatri Mantra forms the first of seven sections of the TrisandhyÃÂ Puja (Sanskrit for "three divisions"), a prayer used by the Balinese Hindus and many Hindus in Indonesia. It is uttered three times each day: 6 am at morning, noon, and 6 pm at evening.
The term GÃÂyatrë refers to the Vedic meter in which the main part of the present mantra is composed. A number of other "GÃÂyatrë mantras" not found in the Rigveda are associated with various Hindu gods and goddesses. Some examples include:
Vishnu Gayatri:
Indra Gayatri:
Krishna Gayatri:
Shiva Gayatri:
Ganesha Gayatri:
Durga Gayatri:
Saraswati Gayatri:
Lakshmi Gayatri: