The Gâyatrî Mantra is first recorded in the Rig Veda (iii, 62, 10) which was written in Sanskrit about 2500 to 3500 years ago, and by some reports, the mantra may have been chanted for many generations before that.
Widely acclaimed in India and by Hindus, the Gāyatrī Mantra's supreme status is further enhanced by Lord Krishna's proclamation in his spiritual discourse, the Bhagavad Gita, that among the mantras he is the Gāyatrī. The Gayatri Mantra is proclaimed in the Gita as a Universal Prayer, irrespective of a person's caste, creed or sex. It is a prayer meant to protect every individual and when uttered with immense devotion and concentration will protect the person.
Just like the Sun annihilates darkness, so does the Gayatri Mantra destroy ignorance. The Gayatri Mantra invokes the power and radiance of the Sun to energize all earthly life, to destroy our sins and to reveal the Supreme Self to us. Krishna in the Bhagvad Geeta says: " Amongst the Mantras, I am the Gayatri"
There was once a time when the Gayatri Mantra was not spoken outwardly, it was repeated only in silence or whispered on the tip of the tongue. This method of chanting is a very subtle and powerful way to repeat the mantra. There was a time when women did not chant the mantra. There was also a time when only the *Brahmin priests and no others chanted the Gayatri Mantra. It seems that the change came when the world events began to turn towards a darker time. Now millions of men and women from every walk of life repeat and chant this beautiful and powerfully precision invocation. Because of its universal appeal and content, this mantra cannot rightfully be associated with a particular religion. The Hindus were the guardians of the Gayatri. It was they who taught it and propagated it throughout the world. You could say that the Gayatri Mantra is their gift to the spirit of humanity and the awakening of the planet. However the scope of Gayatri's invocation is universal and transgresses all borders.
Om: The primeval sound
Bhur: the physical world
Bhuvah: the mental world
Suvah: the celestial, spiritual world
Thath: That; God; transcendental Paramatma
Savithur: the Sun, Creator, Preserver
Varenyam: most adorable, enchanting
Bhargo: luster, effulgence
Devasya: resplendent,supreme Lord
Dheemahi: we meditate upon
Dhiyo: the intellect,understanding
Yo: May this light
Nah: our
Prachodayath: enlighten,guide,inspire
May there be peace on Mortal, Immortal, and Divine Plains
As we meditate upon the brilliance of the Sun
May it stimulate our intellect to bring us
The Right Action at The Right Time
We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three worlds: gross, subtle, and causal.
I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal intelligence.
We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.
Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life,
Remover of pain and sorrow,
The Bestower of happiness,
Oh! Creator of the Universe,
May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,
May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.
We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May He enlighten our Intellect.
