Gayatri

The Gayatri (Sanskrit: गायत्री, gāyatrī) is a Vedic hymn personifying Hindu goddess Gayatri.

According to I. K. Taimni, the power of the Gāyatrī mantra “can be invoked and utilized for the unfoldment of human consciousness and for attaining the ultimate goal of human effort—Self-realization. It is an integral part of the daily practice of the Hindus.

Translation and transliteration

The first seven lines reference the seven planes of human existence. The remainder of the mantra says: “We meditate upon the Divine Light of that adorable Sun of spiritual Consciousness which stimulates our power of spiritual perception. Om is the Waters, Light, Essence, the Immortal, Reality; the physical, intermediate and heaven worlds is Om.”

Here is the transliteration of the Sanskrit:

Oṃ bhūḥ

Oṃ bhuvaḥ

Oṃ suvaḥ

Oṃ mahaḥ

Oṃ janaḥ

Oṃ tapaḥ

Oṃ satyam

Oṃ tat savitur vareṇyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi

dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

Om āpo jyotī raso ‘mṛtaṃ Brahma

bhūr bhuvaḥ suvar Om

The entire mantra is chanted on three notes. It begins on the middle note and subsequent syllables are either on the same note, one step up or one step down. Short vowels are pronounced similarly to the same short vowels in English. Long vowels are indicated by a bar (macron) over them. ī is pronounced as in heat and ū as in boot. ḥ is a slight out-breathing or aspirate sound. c is pronounced ch.

Online resources

Recorded renditions

• Recording from Las Vegas Theosophical Society.
• Youtube has numerous versions.

Articles

• A Commentary on the Gayatri by William Q. Judge.

Books

• Taimni, I. K. Gayatri. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing house, 1989.