Gayatri Mantra — Meaning Word by Word
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
Word-by-Word Meaning
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ॐ | oṃ | The primordial sound; the supreme reality (Brahman) from which all creation arises |
| भूः | bhūḥ | The earth, the physical plane of existence (first vyahriti — sacred utterance) |
| भुवः | bhuvaḥ | The atmosphere or mid-region, the plane of life-energy and mind (second vyahriti) |
| स्वः | svaḥ | The heavens, the celestial plane of light and bliss (third vyahriti) |
| तत् | tat | "That" — the supreme divine reality, beyond name and form |
| सवितुः | savituḥ | Of Savitr, the divine Sun, the vivifying source of all life (genitive case) |
| वरेण्यं | vareṇyam | Most excellent, adorable, supremely worthy of being sought |
| भर्गः | bhargaḥ | Radiance, divine effulgence, the light that burns away ignorance |
| देवस्य | devasya | Of the deity, of the shining divine one (genitive case) |
| धीमहि | dhīmahi | We meditate upon, we hold in contemplation |
| धियः | dhiyaḥ | Intellects, thoughts, understanding (our faculties of insight) |
| यः | yaḥ | "Who" — that very divine light |
| नः | naḥ | Our (referring to the chanters collectively) |
| प्रचोदयात् | pracodayāt | May it inspire, impel, and set in motion (optative mood — a prayerful wish) |
Full Meaning
We meditate on the most excellent radiance of the divine Sun (Savitr); may that light inspire and illuminate our intellect
After Om and the three vyahritis (bhuh, bhuvah, svah — earth, atmosphere, heaven), the verse proper says: "We meditate (dhimahi) on that (tat) most adorable (varenyam) radiance (bhargah) of the divine (devasya) Savitr (savituh); may he inspire (pracodayat) our (nah) intellects (dhiyah)." It is both meditation and prayer: contemplating the divine light, and asking that the same light direct our understanding
How to Chant
Chant 108 times with a mala, slowly and clearly, pausing slightly after Om and after each vyahriti; keep the meaning in mind and visualize the rising sun at the point between the eyebrows
Pronunciation
OHM BHOOR bhoo-VUH SVUH-huh, TUHT suh-vee-TOOR vuh-RAYN-yum, BHUR-goh day-VUHS-yuh DHEE-muh-hee, DHEE-yoh YOH nuh-huh pruh-choh-DUH-yaht