Gayatri Mantra
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This is an article dedicated to 'Gayatri Mantra or sacred religious chant common to Hinduism and Brahmoism.
The Gayatri, considered to be the holiest verse of the Vedas, has been paraphrased in different ways. The original Sanskrit is in the shape of a Vedic mantra and forms a formula for daily devotion of all Brahmins in the land.
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[edit] Western interpretation of mantra
- "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, whom we invoke to direct our understanding aright in our progress towards his holy seat."
[edit] Hindu interpretation of mantra
- "O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive Thy supreme sin-destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction."
[edit] Brahmo interpretation of mantra
The word Savitr in the original Sanskrit may be interpreted in two ways, first as the sun, secondly as the "originator or creator".
Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Maharshi Debendranath Tagore used that word in the second sense. Interpreted in their way the whole formula may be thus rendered :
- "We meditate on the worshipable power and glory of Him who has created the earth, the nether world and the heavens (i.e. the universe), and who directs our understanding."[1]
[edit] Gayatri mantra in Brahmoism[2]
- In 1818, Rammohun Roy writes a dissertation on meaning and importance of Gayatri Mantra.
- In 1826, Rammohun Roy writes a Sanksrit dissertation on "Divine Worship by Gayatri Mantra", along with an English translation.
- From 1830, the Gayatri Mantra is used for private devotion of Brahmos.
- In 1843, the First Covenant of Brahmo Samaj requires Gayatri Mantra for Divine Worship.
- From 1848/1850 with the rejection of Vedas, the Adi Dharm Brahmins use Gayatri Mantra in their private devotions.
[edit] Text
See Sanskrit for details of pronunciation.
- In Devanagari:
- ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
- तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।
- भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
- धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
- In IAST
- oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
- (a) tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
- (b) bhargo devasya dhīmahi
- (c) dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt
- In IAST Long Form
- oṃ bhūr oṃ bhuvaḥ oṃ svaḥ oṃ maḥ oṃ janaḥ oṃ tapaḥ oṃ sat yaṃ
- (a) oṃ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
- (b) bhargo devasya dhīmahi
- (c) dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt
[edit] In popular culture
A version of the Gayatri Mantra composed by Richard Gibbs serves as the opening theme for the TV series Battlestar Galactica.
