The Gayatri mantra is among the oldest and most widely recited verses in the Sanskrit tradition. Its core is a single verse of the Rigveda (hymn 3.62, verse 10), traditionally credited to the sage Vishvamitra and addressed to Savitr, the aspect of the sun that rouses and inspires. The verse is composed in the gayatri metre, three lines of eight syllables each, and the mantra takes its name from that metre.
In daily practice the verse is usually preceded by Om and the three vyahritis (Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah), which name the three realms of earth, the space between, and heaven. That is the form given on this page. If you only want to know what the mantra says, the short answer is a prayer for clear and awakened thinking, not a request for any particular outcome.
The text, transliteration and meaning
Here is the mantra as it appears on Sanskrit Wikisource, followed by a word-by-word table and then the same verse as it stands in the Rigveda.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Om | the primal sacred sound, used to begin and close recitation |
| bhur bhuvah svah | earth, the atmosphere between, and heaven: the three realms (tradition also reads them as body, breath and mind) |
| tat | that |
| savituh | of Savitr, the sun as the inspiring source of life and thought |
| varenyam | most excellent, worthy of choosing |
| bhargah | radiance, shining glory |
| devasya | of the divine one |
| dhimahi | we meditate on, we hold in mind |
| dhiyah | thoughts, understanding, the faculty of insight |
| yah | who |
| nah | our |
| prachodayat | may he urge on, may he awaken and inspire |
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम्
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om bhurbhuvah svah
Tatsaviturvarenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
MeaningWe meditate on that most excellent radiance of the divine Savitr, the sun that inspires all life. May he awaken and guide our thinking.
The same verse in the Rigveda
The hymn that holds the verse is Rigveda 3.62, and the mantra is its tenth verse. It is shown here so that you can see the mantra at its source. The only difference from the form above is the opening Om and the three vyahritis, which tradition added for recitation.
Rigveda 3.62.10
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्
Tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
MeaningThe verse in the Rigveda carries the same words without Om and the three vyahritis: we meditate on the excellent radiance of the god Savitr, and may he stir our thoughts.
Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, pages “गायत्रीमन्त्रः” and “ऋग्वेदः सूक्तं ३.६२”. Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse.
When and how it is traditionally recited
Traditional practice places the Gayatri mantra at the three sandhyas, the junctions of the day at sunrise, midday and sunset. Many families and teachers keep the morning recitation as the most important, facing the rising sun or sitting quietly facing east.
A common method is to sit upright, take a few slow breaths, offer the mantra with attention to the meaning, and count repetitions on a japa mala of 108 beads. Some people recite it three times, some twenty-eight, some one hundred and eight. There is no single rule, and customs differ by region, family and school.
Who may recite it has been a matter of custom. In some traditional households it is linked with the upanayana thread ceremony, while many modern teachers and organisations teach it openly to anyone sincere. If you are unsure, follow the guidance of your family or teacher.
What the tradition says it is for
Tradition describes the Gayatri mantra as a prayer for buddhi, clear and steady understanding. It is called the mother of the Vedas in many popular accounts, a phrase that expresses reverence rather than a literal claim about the texts.
Teachers in the tradition speak of it as a practice for focus, calm and gratitude toward the sun as the source of light and life. These are the traditional aims. The mantra is not a medical treatment or a guarantee of any worldly result, and it is best taken up as a quiet, regular discipline.
If you would like to see how the sun is read in a birth chart, our guide to the Sun Mahadasha explains the planet in Vedic astrology.
Pronunciation notes
Say each syllable evenly and let long vowels last about twice as long as short ones. Bhur sounds like a breathy “boor”, bhuvah like “bhoo-vah”, and varenyam like “va-ren-yam”, with the final m as a soft hum. Dhimahi is “dhee-ma-hee” and prachodayat is “pra-cho-da-yat”.
The bh and dh are breathy versions of b and d, a puff of air after the consonant, not the English sound in abhor. The ch is as in church, and the h at the end of bhuvah and svah is a light echo of the vowel before it. Pronunciation is best learned by ear, so many people practise with a teacher or a trusted recitation before settling into a pace of their own.
Related mantras and pages
- Surya Mantra: another Rigveda verse to the sun
- Aditya Hridayam: the long hymn to the sun from the Ramayana
- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: a second widely chanted Rigveda verse
- Sahana Vavatu: a peace prayer for teacher and student
- Sun Mahadasha: how the Sun is read in a Vedic chart
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is the meaning of the Gayatri mantra?
It means roughly: we meditate on the excellent radiance of the divine Savitr, and may he inspire our thinking. It is a prayer for clear understanding rather than a request for money or other results.
↳ Where does the Gayatri mantra come from?
The verse is Rigveda 3.62.10, traditionally credited to the sage Vishvamitra. The opening Om and the three vyahritis were added in recitation.
↳ How many times should the Gayatri mantra be chanted?
Customs differ. Many people use a mala of 108 beads, while others recite it three times at each sandhya or follow a number set by their teacher. Consistency and attention matter more than a large count.
↳ Can anyone chant the Gayatri mantra?
Practice varies. Some traditional families link it to the upanayana ceremony, while many modern teachers share it with anyone sincere. Follow the custom of your family or the guidance of a teacher you trust.
↳ What is the best time to chant it?
Tradition favours the three sandhyas of sunrise, midday and sunset, with the early morning most valued. If those times do not suit you, a quiet moment at any time of day is also acceptable.