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Om Bhoor Bhuvah Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayaat.
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The Gayatri Mantra is not only being chanted around ShantiMayi, but
people all over the world are also chanting this deeply moving prayer at
the very same time.
The Gayatri Mantra is one of the key notes to the transformation of consciousness
and is an identical vibration to the vital force in nature. It is one of
the oldest prayers known to humanity, being as ancient as light and also
the vital force itself. The Mantra is chanted in the sanskrit language and
is most effective chanted in original sanskrit.
This prayer appeals to the highest wisdom; to the brilliance of the cosmos
to illumine an understanding of our true nature. The appeal requests that
we become subtle and receptive to the divine wisdom that pervades the experience
of life and is the essence of our very Self.
To chant the Gayatri Mantra purifies the chanter. To listen to the Gayatri
Mantra purifies the listener It is said that this sacred prayer spirals
through the entire universe from the heart of the chanter, appealing for
peace and divine wisdom for all. 
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The Gayatri is a 24-syllable hymn from the Rig Veda (III, 62, 10).
The phrase Om Bhoor Bhuvah Svah is generally added when the mantra
is recited. The Sanskrit word Gayatri is formed by two words, ganat
(or gayanath), which means "that which is sung," and trayate,
which means "that which delivers." In other words, the Gayatri is a song
of deliverance.
It is the most renowned mantra of the Vedas. It is addressed to the divine
life-giver as supreme God, symbolized in Savitri, the Sun. For this reason
this prayer is also called Savitri.
The words from the Gayatri can be interpreted
as follows:
| Sanskrit |
Translation | English
Version | |
OM | All of existence. Perceptive
vibration of the cosmos. The Almighty. Life. |
Throughout the experience of Life | |
BHOOR | Coming. The physical
world. Vital energy. | |
BHUVAH | Going. The mental
world. Destroyer of suffering. | |
SVAH | Balance. The intellectual
world. Embodiment of happiness. | |
TAT | That; indicates the
three planes of experience, isness, pure being, God. |
That essential nature | |
SAVITUR | Bright, luminous
like the sun. Knowledge. Male principle. |
illuminating existence | |
VARENYAM | Adorable. Venerable.
Supreme. | is the adorable
| | BHARGO |
Permeated with Magnificence. The destroyer of sins. |
One. | | DEVASYA
| Divine. Intrinsically
pure and brilliant. | |
DHEEMAHI | Meditation-focused,
absorbed. Receiving. |
May all beings perceive through subtle and meditative intellect |
| DHIYO |
Intellect. | | YO
| Who. | |
NAH | Us (Out of one into
many; Yo-Nah: Female principle.) | |
PRACHODAYAAT | Inspire,
enlighten and ignite. |
the brilliance of enlightened awareness. |
A very detailed exposé of the Gayatri
can be found in the preface of The
Vedic Experience: Hinduism's Contemporary Holy Bible, by Professor
Raimon Panikkar. See also the article by
Srila Sridhara Maharaj.
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For more information, please contact
1750 30th Street, Suite 223
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 530-2452
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