Universal
Gayatri mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्
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
Oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur vareṇyaṁ bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
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 the rest follows.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Whole mantra
This mantra is a single line. Learn it whole, then add it to your review deck so it comes back for a check.
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
0not said yet
Aim for eleven. Stop reading as soon as the whole mantra comes on its own.
Progress stays on this device.
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)