ガヤトリー・マントラ

『リグ・ヴェーダ』3.62.10 に現れる、太陽神サヴィトリ（Savitṛ）への賛歌。

「ガーヤトリー」とはこの賛歌で使われている韻律で、8音節の句を3つ並べたものをいう。

『バガヴァッド・ギーター』10.35 では、クリシュナが自分がもっとも優れたものであることを表現して「聖句のうちでは私はガーヤトリーである(gāyatrī chandasām aham)」と言っている。

この詩節を唱えることはバラモンのドヴィジャ（師につくことによる第二の誕生）の儀式にはじまる学生期間においてとりわけ重要であり、師が父、ガーヤトリーが母とみなされる。

本来は自分の思考にサヴィトリ神が影響を与えるように願う文句であるが、神秘的な解釈が行われた。

『サーヴィトリー・ウパニシャッド』では世界を構成する物をサヴィトリ（男性）とサーヴィトリー（女性）に二分し、両者の交感によって万物が生成されるとした。そして聖音オームと3つの発声(bhūr, bhuvaḥ, svar)に続けてサーヴィトリー詩節を唱えるとしている。

仏典（スッタ・ニパータ3章）にもサーヴィトリー詩節について述べられている箇所がある。

Gayatri Mantra Lyrics

Om ... Om ... Om ... Om

Om bhur bhuvaha svaha

Tat savitur varenyam

Bhargo devasya dhimahi

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

Sanskrit Lyrics:

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

オーム(宇宙の始まりの音)

物質界、天界の世界に満ち満ちている至高の神・サヴィトリー女神の実在を讃えます。

究極の精神の輝き、聖なる真理を、深く瞑想いたします。

叡智によって、我らに光が与えられ、真理を悟ることができますように。

Meaning of Gayatri Mantra

Word by Word Meaning:

ॐ - OM - The Universal - Primitive Sound
भू - BHU - The material - physical world or Earth
भुवः - BHUVA - The celestial world or sky
स्वः - SVAHA - The paradise - heaven
तत् - TAT -  In simpler terms, TAT means “that”, because it states an indication through speech or language, the “Ultimate Reality.” That, God or Goddess;
सवितु - SAVITUR - Savitu, Savitri and Gayatri are names of Goddess of Energy
वरेण्यं - VARENYAM - Brilliant
भर्गो - BHARGO - Reputed
देवस्य - DEVASYA - Gods or Divine Entities
धीमहि - DHIMAHI - We meditate on or we contemplate
धियो यो - DHIYO YO - Intelligence or Mind
नः - NAH - Nah: our
प्रचोदयात् - PRACHODAYAT - Give Direction or Drive

Oh, my Brilliant Goddess of Energy, reputed among Devta (Divine Entities), we meditate on you, drive our minds in good direction,
From the material world (Bhu) to the celestial world (Bhuva) to a higher level of existence (Svaha).

The First Word “OM” – ॐ

The Ancient Sound

It is known as the Pranav sound because the sound of ‘Om’ or ‘AUM’ comes from the Prana (Vital Vibration). Om is an ancient sound that represents the source of the universe and its expansion.

Om is the beginning of Vedic Mantras, most mantras that come from ancient practices start with "OM".

Bhu, Bhuvah, Svah

Material World to Higher Level

Bhu means "Earth" the material world where we live. "Bhu" also represents our root, foundation, or source area of body called Muladhara Chakra (Root). 

Bhuva or Bhuvan means "Sky" or Celestial World, where all the planets and galaxies exist. It also represents our chest area, respiration area or Anahata Chakra (Heart).

Svaha means beyond the material and celestial world called Swarga Loka or Heaven. It also represents the top of the head area which is outside in our energy/aura called Sahasrara or Crown Chakra.

Tat Savitur Varenyam

That Brilliant Goddess of Energy

The word Tat means "That", which means someone or something that is far or beyond. Savitur contains "r" which is a conjunction. Hence, Savitu is a name of Savitri or Gayatri. The word Varenyam means brilliant.

So, Tat Savitur Varenyam means that brilliant Gayatri (Goddess of Energy).

Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi

Reputed among Gods, we meditate on you

The word Bhargo simply means "Reputed" - One who has a great reputation or Fame, Devasya means Gods, and the word Dhimahi means "Meditate on". 

Therefore, we meditate on that Goddess of energy who has a great reputation among the Gods (Devta).

Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Drive our minds in good direction

Dhiyo Yo Nah means our minds or our intelligence. Parchodayat simply means to drive, to give direction, to propel, or to run. Therefore, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat means please drive our mind in a good direction.

Benefits of chanting Gayatri Mantra

Spiritual and Scientific Benefits of Gayatri Mantra

Chanting this miraculous mantra is meant to have both scientific and spiritual effects on our body and mind. Gayatri Mantra uplifts our energy from Material imagination to a higher level of imagination. It is a way to apply disciplined manifestation within the Mind that may have illusions and seek a higher level of brilliance. 

Our mind is designed to explore new things and we usually lose our focus and concentration on our goals. Gayatri Mantra is a way to affirmation and increase your attention to goals.

Calms the mind and body

Sacred Vibrations

According to studies, chanting the Gayatri mantra helps in the release of endorphins and other relaxing hormones. The sound of this mantra sends a vibration through the lips, tongue, palate, back of the throat and skull which calms the mind. The vibrations from this mantra stimulate the chakras or the extrasensory energy centers and pineal gland.

The vibrations of the Gayatri Mantra flow the positive energy in the body that makes the mind naturally calm.

Sharpens the intellect and brightens the memory

Expansion and Concentration

Studies have found that people who chant the Gayatri mantra have better concentration and memory. It shows that when you chant the Mantra the resultant vibration first activates the upper chakras: the Vishuddha, Ajna and Anahata. These three chakras help to sharpen the intellect, brighten the memory and improve the connection with nature. The sacred syllables of the Gayatri Mantra are so devised that they allow a person to focus the mind.

Gayatri Mantra is one of the affirmative manifestations, so it will positively prioritize your thoughts and when something is not hectic, we usually enjoy it and do not ignore it. That is the secret of increasing the intellectual level or a nice memory.

Brings clarity to life

Removes Illusion

As a mirror gathers dust and needs cleaning so that it can reflect clearly. Similarly, our mind becomes tainted or dusty with time, the company that we keep, the knowledge we receive and our latent tendencies. By chanting the Gayatri mantra, we give a deep cleansing to our minds to get better clarity in life. Through the mantra, one gains brilliance in both the inner and outer worlds.

The confused energy makes confused actions. Gayatri Mantra aligns human energy from low to high levels. When the energy gets alignment or reaches to most possible higher levels, it gives the proper directions with no illusions.

Sound Waves Clears Negative Energy

Sound Waves of Wellness

Regular Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra creates Waves of Wellness. Sound Waves generated by the Gayatri mantra clear all negative energy that may have been stored in the body by anger, frustration, emotions, and other actions.

When you chant the mantra the pressure is exerted on your tongue, lips, vocal cord, palate and the connecting regions in and around your brain to create a resonance or a vibration that helps strengthen and stimulate the functioning of your nerves. Apart from that it also stimulates the proper release of neurotransmitters that help in the conduction of impulses.

Keeps depression and anxiety at bay

Overwrite the stress

Stress comes from situations in life. Mantra will not directly change life situations but it will increase a peaceful environment and you will easily handle stressful situations. A tranquil environment in daily life will not create unnecessary hectic situations again. 

Regular chanting of this mantra gives a person relief from stress making them more resilient. According to many studies, the Gayatri Mantra chant helped stimulate the functioning of the vagus nerve, which is a common form of treatment for people with depression and epilepsy.

Keeps the Paralysis away

Good for proper alignment

Paralysis is connected with the brain and spine. When we chant the Gayatri Mantra which has the highest vibration syllable such as "Bha - भ", "Dha - ध", "Na - ण" and many more, we get the energetic vibration in the spinal cord followed by the brain.

There are certain energy benefits of reciting this mantra. The vibrations stimulate vital points in the body and on the face that help increase circulation. Great blood circulation keeps a lot of diseases away.

Improves lungs capacity

Better Prana Vayu Flow

When you chant the Gayatri Mantra, you automatically follow the breathing control (Pranayama) and breathing awareness. The Mantra is designed to recite and hold the breath and chant mantra in a single breath. In Yogic life, holding the breath is the secret of a calm mind.

While chanting the mantra you are required to take deep rhythmic breaths which eventually enhance the functioning and capacity of the lungs. Deep breathing withholds oxygenate the body cells thereby keeping your whole body fit. It can also help to relieve the symptoms of Asthma or other breathing disorders.

Improves other Hormones

Adding the overall wellness

Regular recitation of the Gayatri Mantra improves the flow of many important Hormones. Modern science is still researching these ancient chants. 

Reciting of Gayatri mantra for a certain period improves the immunity of the body. It ensures that a person is protected from common diseases and infliction of infections. The powerful vibration from this mantra stimulates the hypothalamus gland, which helps in boosting the body's immune system. The hypothalamus helps produce hormones that regulate heart rate, body temperature, hunger, and the sleeping cycle.