Shiva
Rudra Gayatri
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि । तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Oṁ tatpuruṣāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhīmahi, tanno rudraḥ pracodayāt
Simple reading: Om tat-pu-ru-shaa-ya vid-ma-he, ma-haa-de-vaa-ya dhee-ma-hi, tan-no rud-rah pra-cho-da-yaat
About this mantra
The Gayatri of Shiva as Mahadeva, the great god, from the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad — one of a set of Gayatris there, each turning the ancient metre toward a different deity.
Meaning
We know that supreme person; we meditate on Mahadeva; may Rudra set our minds in motion. The Gayatri mould turns a name into a practice — first acquaintance, then absorption, then the request that the absorption not stay idle. And the impelling is asked of Rudra, the storm-form: what moves us toward the great god may be fierce, and the prayer accepts that.
When to recite it
For deep Shiva sadhana — Mondays, Pradosh evenings, Sawan, and abhishek rites; kept by practitioners building a long daily discipline rather than a moment's bow.
Word by word
- तत्पुरुषाय विद्महेtatpuruṣāya vidmahe
- we know that supreme being
- महादेवाय धीमहिmahādevāya dhīmahi
- we meditate on the great god
- तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्tanno rudraḥ pracodayāt
- may Rudra inspire us
Source: Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 10 (Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad)