Gayatri Mantra

The Gāyatrī Mantra (Sanskrit: गायत्री मन्त्र), also known as the Sāvitri Mantra (Sanskrit: सावित्री मन्त्र), is a highly revered mantra from the Rig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10), dedicated to the Vedic deity Savitr. is the name of the Goddess of the Vedic meter in which the verse is composed. Its recitation is traditionally preceded by and the formula , known as the , or "great (mystical) utterance". The Gayatri mantra is cited widely in Hindu texts, such as the mantra listings of the Śrauta liturgy, and classical Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Harivamsa, and Manusmṛti. The mantra and its associated metric form was known by the Buddha. The mantra is an important part of the upanayana ceremony. Modern Hindu reform movements spread the practice of the mantra to everyone and its use is now very widespread. The main mantra appears in the hymn RV 3.62.10. During its recitation, the hymn is preceded by (ॐ) and the formula (भूर् भुवः स्वः). This prefixing of the mantra is properly described in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.11.1-8), which states that it should be chanted with the syllable , followed by the three Vyahrtis and the Gayatri verse. Whereas in principle the gāyatrī mantra specifies three pādas of eight syllables each, the text of the verse as preserved in the Samhita is one short, seven instead of eight. Metrical restoration would emend the attested tri-syllabic with a tetra-syllabic . The Gayatri mantra with swaras is, in Devanagari: ॐ भूर्भुव॒ स्सुवः॑ तत्स॑ वि॒तुर्वरे᳚ण्यं॒ भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया᳚त् ॥ In IAST: – Rigveda 3.62.10 Surya The Gāyatrī mantra is dedicated to Savitṛ, a Sun deity. The mantra is attributed to the much revered sage Vishwamitra, who is also considered the author of Mandala 3 of Rig Veda. Many monotheistic sects of Hinduism such as Arya Samaj hold that the Gayatri mantra is in praise of One Supreme Creator known by the name Om as mentioned in the Yajur Veda, 40:17. The Gayatri mantra has been translated in many ways.