Universal
Gayatri mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्
Oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur vareṇyaṁ bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
Simple reading: Om bhoor bhu-vah svah, tat sa-vi-tur va-ren-yam, bhar-go de-vas-ya dhee-ma-hi, dhi-yo yo nah pra-cho-da-yaat
About this mantra
Among the most revered verses of the Vedas — a prayer to Savitṛ, the vivifying light of the sun, to awaken and inspire the intellect.
Meaning
We meditate on the most excellent radiance of the divine Savitr — may that light awaken our understanding. The prayer names three worlds (bhur, bhuvah, svah) and asks for exactly one thing in them: dhi, the faculty that discerns. Nothing outer is requested at all. It is the tradition's boldest bet, renewed at every sunrise — give a person one kindled intellect, and everything else follows.
When to recite it
The sandhya mantra — traditionally at sunrise, noon, and sunset, counted 10, 28, or 108 times. Upanayana begins a lifetime with it; students and seekers keep it daily.
Word by word
- भूर्भुवः स्वःbhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
- earth, atmosphere, heaven — the three worlds
- तत्tat
- that
- सवितुःsavituḥ
- of Savitṛ, the vivifying sun
- वरेण्यंvareṇyaṁ
- most excellent, worthy of reverence
- भर्गःbhargaḥ
- radiance, divine light
- देवस्यdevasya
- of the divine
- धीमहिdhīmahi
- we meditate upon
- धियो यो नःdhiyo yo naḥ
- he who our intellects
- प्रचोदयात्pracodayāt
- may he inspire
Source: Ṛgveda 3.62.10 (with the vyāhṛtis of the Yajurveda)