Gāyaŧrī Manŧra - गायत्री मंत्र

Gāyaŧrī Manŧra is the most popular Sanskṛiŧ shlok (verse) of the Veđas (Veđs). Hinđū/s love to chant this sacred religious shlok as manŧra. It is sometimes called 'Mahā Manŧra'. Mahā means 'great'.

In ĐevaNāgarī script:

Without Stress Marks & Halant:

Transliteration of the Gāyaŧrī Manŧra

Transliteration of the manŧra using our Nīrajā-Latin transliteration scheme:

ॐ (ओ३म्) = Om or AUm
भूर्भुवः (भूर्-भुवः) = bhūr-bhuvaħ
स्वः = svaħ

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् (तत्-सवितुर्-वरेण्यम्) = ŧaŧ-saviŧur-vareṇ'yam

भर्गो (भर्-गो) = bhargo
देवस्य = đevas'ya
धीमहि = đhīmahi

धियो = đhi'yo
यो = yo
नः = naħ
प्रचोदयात (प्‌रचोदयात) = pracho-đa'yāŧ

Interpretations of the Gāyaŧrī Manŧra

There are variations in the interpretations of the Gāyaŧrī Manŧra by various scholars. All agree that it is a great prayer.

By Max Muller:
Let us obtain (meditate on) the adorable splendour of Saviŧrī (Sun God), may He arouse our minds.

By Đayānanđ Sarasvaŧī:
'O God, You are the giver of life, the remover of pain & sorrow, the giver of happiness; O Creator of the universe, may we receive Your supreme sin-destroying light; may You guide our intellect in the right direction.'

Meaning of Words in the Manŧra

Om = praṇav manŧra = a word related to God

bhū(r) = bhūħ = the earth
bhuvaħ = bhuvar-lok, the air (vāyu-mandal)
svaħ = svarg, heaven

ŧaŧ = that
saviŧ(ur) = saviŧaħ = Sun, deity*
vareṇya(m) = adopt(able), follow

bhargo = energy, light (sin-destroying power)**
đevasya = of the deity
đhīmahi = meditate (or imbibe!)

đhiyo = plural of đhiyaħ = mind/s, intellect/s
yo = Who (God)
naħ = our
prachođa'yāŧ = inspire, awaken

* "Saviŧur" (Saviŧr) mainly denotes the Sun in its pre-dawn phase or as a solar deity, rather than just its rays alone. Although certain views link it to the motivating force of solar rays, its core meaning points to the Sun prior to full sunrise—setting it apart from "Sur'ya," the name for the risen Sun embodying comprehensive life-giving energy.

** "Bhargo" probably signifies Saviŧr's divine, purifying golden radiance—not the intense midday heat of Sur'ya.

Other Translations

Some scholars say 'bhūr-bhuvaħ svaħ' (भूर्भुवः॒ स्वः॒) is a V'yāhṛiŧi. A typical translation of this manŧra subtly suggests that it is intended for group prayer. Please excuse me for providing the following translations of the manŧra.

Words written in round brackets '(' and ')' (also called parentheses) are not to be pronounced. Words in square brackets '[' and ']' may be pronounced or omitted.

For A Group - Hindi

व्याहृति/पुकार:

हे प्रभू; [ओ] धरती, वायु और स्वर्ग;

प्रार्थना:

[हम] उस वरण करने योग्य सूर्य-देवता (सवित) के [पाप नाशक] दैविय तेज [प्रकाश या उर्जा] का ध्यान करते हैँ; वह [जो] हमारी बुद्धियोँ को प्रेरित करता है।

Alternatively, the translation can be combined into one paragraph:

हे प्रभू; [ओ] धरती, वायु और स्वर्ग; [हम] [तीनोँ लोकोँ के] उस वरण करने योग्य सवित (सूर्य-देवता) के [अवगुण व पाप नाशक] दैविय तेज [प्रकाश या उर्जा] का ध्यान करते हैँ; वह हमारी बुद्धियोँ को प्रेरित करता है।

For A Group - English

address/call:

Oh Almighty; O the Earth, the Atmosphere and the Heaven;

prayer:

That Saviŧ (Sun God) who is to be followed (adopted), we think-of (meditate-on) His energy (power), may He inspire (guide) our minds (intellects).

For An Individual [Hindi]

हे प्रभु; ओ धरती, वायु और स्वर्ग; मैँ उस वरण करने योग्य सुर्य देवता (सवित) के तेज [प्रकाश या उर्जा] का ध्यान करता हूँ, वह मेरी बुद्धि को प्रेरित करे।

For An Individual [English]

Oh Almighty; O the Earth, the Atmosphere and the Heaven; that Saviŧ (Sun God) who is to be followed (adopted), I meditate on His energy, may He inspire my mind.

Download the Gāyaŧrī Manŧra PDF File

Click here to download the Gāyaŧrī Manŧra composed in a PDF file.

V'yāhṛiŧi according to Đayānanđ Sarasvaŧī:
bhūħ (bhūr) = praṇāđhār (basis of life)
bhuvaħ = remover of sorrow
svaħ = giver of happiness
other scholars don't seem to agree with him.

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