GAYATRI MANTRA
 

Om Bhur | Om Bhuvah | Om Svaha | Om Mahah | Om Janah | Om Tapah | Om Satyam | Avahayami Avahayami Avahayami || 
Om bhur bhuvah svah | Om tat savitur varenyam | Bhargo devasya dhimahi | Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat || 
 

OM, the primordial sound, resides in all elements of the universe. It permeates the earth (bhuh), water (bhuvah), fire (svaha), air (mahah), ether (janah), intelligence (tapah) and consciousness (satyam). We invoke and meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe, may He enlighten our minds.

We meditate on the effulgent glory of the divine light; may He inspire our understanding. O Great Spirit...giver of life, remover of all pain and sorrows, bestower of happiness, the Creator of the universe...You are most luminous and adorable. You destroy all sins. We meditate upon you. May you inspire, enlighten and guide our intellect in the right direction.

Another simple, yet wonderful way of  looking at the Gayatri, the most universal of mantras, is as an appeal to the Self to reveal itself.

 

Rudra Gaayatri—"Purushasya vidma sahasraakshasya mahadevasya dheemahi | tannoe rudrah prachoedayaat || — we meditate upon the Purusha. We meditate upon Mahadeva the omniscient for that purpose. May that God Rudra, prompt us that meditation upon the Purusha!

 

"Tatpurushasya vidmahe mahaadevaaya dheemahi | Tannoe rudrah prachoedayaat"—we meditate upon that Purusha (Paramaatman). We meditate on Mahadeva for that purpose. May that Rudra invigorate us in our action of meditating on Purusha!

Ganesha Gaayatri—"Tatpurushaaya vidmahe vakratundaaya dheemahi | Tannoe dantih prachoedayaat ||"— we meditate upon that Purusha. We meditate on the Lord with curved trunk for that purpose. May the Lord with the elephant face (Lord Ganesha) invigorate us!

Garuda Gayatri—"Tatpurushaaya vidmahe suvarnapakshaaya dheemahi | Tannoe garudah prachoedayaat ||"– we meditate upon that Purusha.

We meditate upon the one who has beautiful colored wings for that purpose. May the Garuda invigorate us in our meditation to Purusha.

Durga Gaayatri—"Kaatyaayanaaya vidmahe kanyakumaari dheemahi | Tannoe durgeeh pra-choedayaat ||" – We meditate upon Durga who belongs to Kaatyaayana gotra (lineage), who is the resplendent maiden. May Durga invigorate us in our act of meditation! [Here Durga is the primordial Energy. Kanya signifies she is virgin. Katyaayana relates to lineage].

Vishnu Gaayatri—"Narayanaya Vidmahe vaasudevaaya dheemahi | Tannoe vishnuh prachoedayaat"–we meditate upon Naaraayana. For that we meditate upon Vaasudeva. May that Lord Vishnu invigorate us! [In Srivaishnava concept Narayana is Parabrahman].

 

Nandi Gaayatri—Tatpurushaaya vidmahe chakratundaaya dheemahi | Tannoe nandih prachoedayaat ||

Subhramanya Gaayatri—Tatpurushaaya vidmahe mahaasenaaya dheemahi | Tannas shanmukhah prachoedayaat ||

Brahma Gaayatri—Vedaatmanaaya vidmahe hiranyagabhaaya dheemahi | Tannoe brahma prachoedayaat ||

Narasimha Gaayatri—Vajranakhaaya vidmahe teekshnadamshtraaya dheemah \ Tannoe narasingh prachoedayaat ||

Sooryadeva Gaayaatri—Bhaaskaraaya vidmahe mahaadyutikaaraaya dheemahi | Tannoe aadityah prachoedayaat ||

Agnideva Gayatri—Vaisvaanaraaya vidmahe laaleelaaya dheemahi | Tannoe agnih prachoedayaat ||

    

Bhudevi Gaayatri – Dhanurdharaayai vidmahe sarvasiddhyai cha dheemahi | Tannoe dharaa prachoedayaat ||[Bhoosooktam]

 

Lakshmi Gaayatri—Mahaadevyai cha vidmahe vishnupatnyai cha dheemahi | Tannoe lakshmeeh prachoedayaat || (Sree sooktam)

 

Hamsa Gaayatri—Hamsa hamsaaya vidmahe paramahamsaaya dheemahi | Tannoe hamsah prachoedayaat || [Medhaasooktam; Hamsa is an avatar of Vishnu. Here Hamsa means Brahman]

Soorya Gaayatri—Aadityaaya vidmahe sahasra-kiranaaya dheemahi | Tannoe sooryah prachoedayaat ||

Sudarsana Gaayatri—Sudarsanaaya vidmahe jwaalaa-chakraaya dheemahi | Tannoe chakrah prachoedayaat ||