Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri ( Sanskrit. f, गायत्री, Gayatri, the feminine form of gāyatra ( hymn ) ), referred to in Hinduism the most important Vedic hymn, the Gayatri Mantra. Similarly, Gayatri is the meter in which the mantra is written. It is addressed to Savitri ( m., Savitr ), the aspect of the sun at its rising and setting gear, which is why this mantra even Savitri ( f, Savitri ) is called.

Origin and Meaning

This very popular mantra, according to tradition, the " mother of the Vedas ", is for many Hindus daily prayer, which, however, is not addressed to a personal deity, but to the sun as a visual representation of the Most High. In addition to the praise it contains the prayer for spiritual enlightenment. Savitri is the origin of the entire universe and the beginning of all being and the Upanishads identify it in several places with Atman, the inner self of man.

Was it previously allowed only believers from higher castes, to recite the mantra, pray it today largely all Hindus, mostly in the form of sung. Specific obligations but it is for members of the Brahmin caste, where the boys in Upanayana, the rite of passage between the sixth and twelfth year, will be officially introduced to the special mantra. From now on, heard the devout recitation at dawn, at noon and at dusk to everyday tasks. You should not only promote special spiritual powers, but also eliminate spiritual impurities.

The Gayatri mantra is composed of a row of the Yajur Veda and the verse 3,62,10 desa of the Rig Veda. Find Except in the Vedas also in many other Hindu scriptures, the Upanishads as well as in the Bhagavad Gita and in the later literature countless references to holiness and mystical significance.

In the Bhagavad Gita ( 10:35 ) Krishna identified with the highest mantra:

Author of twenty-four syllables of the Gayatri mantra is the seer Vishwamitra be, of which it is said in the Puranas, he was the first of a total of twenty-four Rishis were who had captured the meaning of the mantra perfectly.

Over time, the mantra was personified. As a personal embodiment applies the goddess Gayatri, wife of the creator god Brahma.

Translation

Due to the complexity of the lines contain several levels of meaning, which leads to very different translations.

• The original Devanagari:

• In transcription

• In German:

• Or:

Let us meditate on the Om, that God's primordial sound from which the three areas,

The rough - Terrestrial ( Bhur ), the finer - Essential ( Bhuvah ) and the finest - Celestial ( Svah ) have emerged.

Let the highest, indescribable, Divine Being (Tat ) worship ( Varenyam ), the creative, life-giving force in the sun ( Savitur ) manifests.

Let us through the radiant light ( Bhargo ) God ( Devasya ) meditate ( Dhimahi ), which destroys all darkness, all ignorance, all the vices.

May this light our spirit ( dhiyo ) enlighten ( Pracodayat ).

• In English (from S. Krishnamurthy ):

Gayatri as part

In Indonesian Hinduism (Bali, Tengger ) the Gayatri Mantra is the first stanza of the mantra Trisandya, the daily prayer of the local Hindus.