The Gayatri-Mantra is the greatest prayer-mantra which incorporates all the ideas of Om-symbolism. It is a prayer to the supreme infinite Divine Reality for the enlightenment of the Intelligence of all human beings to enable them to realize the Supreme Truth. It is also known as the Savitri-Mantra, since it is addressed to the Divine Person in the Sun, (Savita) who is considered as the visible symbolic representation of the Supreme Divinity. For, He destroys darkness and promotes life, and He is also identified with the Inner Self of man. (Isa Upanishad, 15-16).
Sâvitri signifies that which is related to Savitri (Savita) which means the source or originator of the universe, as well as the Sun. The Savitri Mantra is composed in the Gayatri meter, and it being the best and most significant of Mantras in that meter it has become famous as the Gayatri. This Mantra occurs in the Vedas (Rg-Veda, III.62.10) and is considered to be their very essence, or even their Mother (Gayatri Veda mata). Later on Gayatri was associated with Om, which is also considered as the source of the Vedas. Through this interconnection Gayatri was treated as the elaboration of Om. Om was prefixed to it along with the three Vyahrtis, which are utterances of the Divine Creator representing the three Cosmic Planes.
The Gayatri-Mantra is the most universal, non-personal, holy prayer which can be used by any person belonging to any country, irrespective of race, religion, or sex. If one is a human being with intelligence that – is qualification enough for repeating this Prayer – mantra.
The following verse is repeated in adoration as a Dhyana-sloka (invocatory meditational verse).
Mukta-vidruma-hema-nila-dhavala-chair
Mukhair-tryak-sanaih
Yuktam indu-nibaddha-ratna-mukutam
tattvartha varnatmikam
Gayatrim varadabhayankusa-kasam
Subhram-kapalam-gadam
Sankham-cakram at aravinda-yugalam
hastair-vahantim bhaje.
(I adore the Goddess Gayatri, the embodiment of the Varnas (letters of the alphabet) signifying the Supreme Truth, with Her five benign faces reflecting the hues of pearls, corals, gold, sapphire, and snow-each face studded with three eyes (denoting- omniscience) – whose head is adorned with a jewelled crown crested with the crescent-moon, whose two hands (out of ten, representing omnipotence) are in the pose of bestowing boons and fearlessness, and who in her other hands holds the goad, the whip, the white-skull, the mace, the conch, and the discus (as symbols of terror to the evil forces), and a pair of lotuses (as symbols of purity, love, devotion, and detachment). Cf. also Devi-Mahatyam or Chandi 1.73-74; IV.10.
The Gayatri-Mantra has been incorporated as the very core of a daily prayer-ritual known as Sandhya. Being in the nature of contemplation, the ritual is classed as Upasana or spiritual contemplation. This Upasana is to be performed thrice a day at the conjunction (Sandhi) times of the night and dawn (Purvahna), forenoon and afternoon. (Madhyahna) and evening (Sunset) and night (Sayahna), lasting 48 minutes at each conjunction. If this is not possible under modern conditions it should be done in the morning and evening at least. As the Upasana is done at the conjunction-time (Sandhya), it is designated as the Sandhya-Upasana. It is also called Sandhya-Vandana (adoration or worship), and often merely Sandhya. It can be practised by all without distinction of caste, colour, creed or sex (of, Sukla Yajur Veda XXVI 2).
Gayatri-Upasana : First the Divine Gayatri is invoked as the source of the Vedas and then the different Worlds and the Supreme Divinity are located in the various limbs of one’s body by touching them while uttering the Gayatri-Mantra, along with the Vyahrti (Bhuh, Bhurvah, Svah). This process of locating is known as Anga-Nyasa. This is followed by the Japa and meditation of the Gayatri-Mantra for as long as one can do conveniently, fixing, however, a decent minimum number of times for the Japa. For meditation Gayatri is conceived in the form of a luminous Goddess illuminating the Heart and removing all darkness of Ignorance.
Visarjan Valediction. Praying to the Goddess to retire, to return again when invoked. Salutations are offered with devotion. O Radiant Gayatri blesses us on earth who are worshiping Brahman. Please return joyously to your divine abode on the highest pinnacle of Mount Meru.
There are twenty four letters in Gayatri-Mantra. For each letter one important name is said. Out of 24 names 12 on the right side and the other 12 on the left side. The other name for the right side is the vedic side and the 12 names of the left side are said to be tantrika side.
Divine Powers 24: These are the forms of the Gayatri 1. Adhya, 2. Brahmi, 3. Vaishnavi, 4. Sambhavi, 5. Veda Matha, 6. Deva Matha, 7. Viswa Matha, 8. Rithambara, 9. Mandakini, 10. Ajapa, 11. Budhi, 12. Sidhi, 13. Savitri, 14. Saraswathi, 15. Lakshmi, 16. Durga, 17. Kundalini, 18. Pranaghni, 19. Bhavani, 20. Bhuvaneswari 21. Annapurna, 22. Mahamaya, 23. Payaswini, 24. Tripura.
Heart is one but nerves are many. So also Gayatri is the heart, and its 24 powers are said to be nerves. Gayatri is like the river coming out from the Himalayas. The flow is one, but the names and forms are different.
Gayatri Vidhyas 24: 1. Shodashi, 2. Srividhya, 3. Pancha Dasakshari, 4. Sri Maha Tripura Sundari, 5. Bala, 6. Ambika, 7. Bagala, 8. Mathangi, 9. Swayamvara Kalyani, 10. Bhuvaneswari, 11. Chamundi, 12. Chandi, 13. Varahi, 14. Thiraskharini, 15. Rajamathangi, 16. Shyamala, 17. Laghu Shyamala, 18. Aswarooda, 19. Prathyangira, 20. Dhumavathi, 21. Savithri, 22. Gayathri, 23. Saraswathi, 24. Brahmananda Kala.
- Gayathri Spiritual Side (view) – 1. Viswarupini, 2. Brahmaswarupini, 3. Manthrathakamu, 4. Gayathri
- Adi Divya Dhrishti 1. Sagunarupamu (Sakara), 2. Chandhorupini, Gayathri Chandasamaham, 3. Shridevatha, 4. Mantra Swarupam
- Ga-karamulu 1. Geetha, 2. Ganga, 3. Gayathri, 4. Govinda. These four give way to JANMA RAHITYAM.
Having known the efficacy and the significance of a Maha Mantra – Sri Gayathri, one should perform Japa, and meditate on Gayatri at least 10 times a day to attain Moksha.