Gayatri Mantra
The Gayatri Mantra is considered the “mother of all mantras” the “Mother of the Vedas”. The Gayatri Mantra is the destroyer of all darkness. It is also called “Maha Mantra” or “Guru Mantra”.
The Mantra was first revealed to Brahmarshi Vishwamitra. The original meaning of the Gayatri mantra is to worship the Sun God. According to the Vedas, the Gayatri mantra is chanted to the sun at dawn and dusk. The Gayatri mantra can be recited three times a day: morning, noon and evening. The morning is dedicated to Lord Brahma and is called Gayatri and the afternoon is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is called Savitri. It is offered to Lord Shiva at night and is called Saraswati.
Gayatri – Goddess of Mantra
Veda Mata Gayatri Devi is believed to be the deity of Gayatri Devi. She is an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and giver of the four Vedas. Gayatri Devi sits on a red lotus flower which symbolizes wealth. He is accompanied by a white swan, symbolizing purity. In one hand he holds a book that symbolizes knowledge in one hand and health in the other. He is shown to have five heads, representing the “Panch Prana” or the five senses. The mantra is dedicated to the sun. The sun is considered the creator of Savitar. The Mantra is a prayer to the Sun, the eternal source of light and life, which guides our intellect and awakens our consciousness in all things. Savita or Gayatri is the driving force of Savitar Sun.
Benefits
The Mantra is recited to attain cosmic consciousness and awaken intuition. Regular chanting (japa) of the mantra is believed to energize the prana shakti (life force) and confers health, intelligence, spiritual strength and well-being. It gives wisdom and enlightenment and leads one to the ultimate truth, the ultimate realization of God. The Mantra has the power to remove obstacles, ward off diseases and protect against dangers. There are 24 mantras, each of which is believed to be chanted for a different purpose.
Gayatri proclaims the basic principle of the Vedas that one can attain knowledge of God through one’s own efforts without the intervention of a prophet or avatar in one’s life.
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् |
Vishnu Gayatri Mantra for Insight
ॐ श्री विष्णवे च विद्महे वासुदेवाये धीमहि, तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात् |
Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra for Prosperity
ॐ महादेव्यै च विद्महे विष्णु पत्न्यै च धीमहि, तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् |
Narayan Gayatri Mantra For Accomplishment of Tasks
ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि, तन्नो नारायणः प्रचोदयात् |
Krishna Gayatri Mantra For Attraction
ॐ देवकीनन्दनाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि, तन्नो कृष्णः प्रचोदयात् |
Shiv Gayatri Mantra For Longevity
ॐ महादेवाय विद्महे रुद्र मूर्तये धीमहि, तन्नो शिवः प्रचोदयात् |
Ganesh Gayatri Mantra For Overcoming Obstacles
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि, तन्नो दन्ति प्रचोदयात् |