Gayatri Mantra........ Glory, Meaning, Benefits...

an extract from Japa Yoga by Swami Sivananda - a Divine Life Society Publication copies of their publications may also be obtained from Giri Trading Agency Sales@giri.in

Meaning of Gayatri Mantra
as described by Gurudev
Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj of Rishikesh

ॐ । भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यम् । 

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् || 

ॐ symbol of Para Brahman  

......... 1

भूः bhoo loka physical plane
भुवः antariksha loka astral plane
स्वः swarga loka celestial abode

......... 2

तत् that, transcendental, Paramatman 
सवितु: creator - supreme being
वरेण्यम् worthy of worship

......... 3

भर्गः remover of sins & ignorance
देवस्य  shining - resplendent
धीमहि  we meditate

......... 4

धियः  buddhi/intellect/understanding
यः  which - who
नः  our
प्रचोदयात् enlighten - guide - impel

......... 5

We meditate on that Ishwara's Glory
one who has created this Universe
one who is worthy of worship
one who is the embodiment of Knowledge & Light
one who is the remover of all sins and ignorance
May HE enlighten our intellect

while chanting Gayatri
one should pause a little at every step
marked 1 to 5 above

Meaning of Gayatri Mantra has a very special meaning for me .... for Swamiji explained it to me on numerous occasions following my Sacred Thread ceremony (1958) at Vishwanatha Mandir-Sivananda Ashram. Starting from 1954, every alternate year, we used to spend a large part of our summer vacation at the Ashram Every time Swamiji spotted me - he used to ask me the Meaning - and yours truly could never get it right - being an embodiment of patience, Swamiji used to explain it all over again. Whenever I tried to hide, he played along ... it was such a pleasure to be in the presence of this Liberated Soul.

 


Benefits of Gayatri Japa
as explained by Swami Sivananda

Gayatri is Mother of the Vedas and is the destroyer of sins.
There is nothing more purifying on Earth as well the Heavens than Gayatri.
Japa of Gayatri brings the same fruit 
as the recitation of all Vedas together with Angas.
This single Mantra, repeated three times a day
brings great good ... Kalyaana कल्याण  or Moksha मोक्ष
It is Supreme Mantra of the Vedas.
It destroys all sins.
bestows splendid health,
beauty, strength, vigour, vitality and
magnetic aura in the face ..... Brahmic effulgence
.........
Gayatri eventually gives
Liberation or emancipation from
the cycle of birth and death.
............

The secret lore of the Upanishads is the essence of the four Vedas
while Gayatri with the three Vyahritis is
the essence of the Upanishads
One who knows and undertands Gayatri thus
is the real brahmana