The Gayatri Mantra
The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most beautiful of the Vedic /Hindu mantras. It is said that if a person chants the Gayatri every day they will break free from the karmic cycle of life and death and reach enlightenment in just one life. It is also believed that each syllable of the Gayatri Mantra has been formulated to energise specific chakras and provide healing energies for the major internal organs. Regularly chanting the Gayatri is therefore a highly beneficial practice for both physical well-being and spiritual growth.
The Gayatri has three parts to it. 1. Praise 2. Meditation and 3. Prayer. First of all the Divine is praised, then meditated upon in reverence and finally an appeal is made to the Divine to awaken and strengthen the intellect.
The Gayatri Mantra
OM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA
OM TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT OM
Meaning of the Gayatri Mantra
Oh God, the Protector, the basis of all life. Who is self-existent, who is free from all pains and whose contact frees the soul from all troubles, Who pervades the Universe and sustains all, the Creator and energiser of the whole Universe, the giver of happiness. who is worthy of acceptance, the most excellent, who is pure and the purifier of all, let us embrace that very God, so that He may direct our mental faculties in the right direction.
The Gayatri can be used as both as an on going spiritual practice and as a meditation.
As an ongoing spiritual practice simply chant the Gayatri three times in the morning, three times in the afternoon and three times in the evening finishing with Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti after each session - this is done to provide Shanti or peace to the body, spirit and mind.
As a meditation sit in your usual meditation position and chant the Gayatri 108 times either using one cycle of your mala beads or joining in with the mp3 on this page.
