Gayatri Mantra

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

Om Bhur Bhuvah svah
Tat savitur varenyam,
Bhargo devasya dhimahi;
Dhiyo yonah prachodayat

We meditate upon the radiant Divine Light
of that adorable Sun of Spiritual Consciousness;
May it awaken our intuitional consciousness.

S. Krishnamurthy translation

The Gayatri Mantra is one of the oldest prayers known to humanity and is most effective chanted in Sanskrit.

This prayer appeals to the highest wisdom; to illumine an understanding of our true nature. The appeal requests that we become subtle and receptive to the divine wisdom that pervades life and is the essence of our Self.

To chant the Gayatri Mantra purifies the chanter. To listen to the Gayatri Mantra purifies the listener It is said that this sacred prayer spirals through the entire universe from the heart of the chanter, appealing for peace and divine wisdom for all

Recitation of Gâyatrî Mantra begins with invocation Om to acknowledge and pay homage to the One who is beyond name and form.

This invocation acknowledges and joyously celebrates Om is bhûr, Om  is bhuvas, Om is suvaha… Om is everything.

Bhûr, Bhuvas, Suvaha (Mahâ Vyâhritis) are invocations to honor planes of existence and call to aid the presiding deities of three planes in which we live ordinary life: physical, astral and mental planes.

The three Lokas (Bhûr, Bhuvas, Suvaha) are Bîja (seed) mantrams of the Devatâs called Agni, Vâyu and âditya who are invoked to assist in transformation. (Chandogya Upanishad (IV, xvii, 1-3) and (II, xxiii, 3)).

Then Prajâpati reflected on the three lokas
and from this reflection was born OM.

As veins pervade all leaves, so Om pervades all sound.
Verily all this is Om! Verily all this is Om!

Chandogya Upanishad (II, xxiii, 3)

The preamble is simply four words:

om bhûr bhuvas suvaha

Om – Om (Brahman, the One, the Godhead, Supreme Deity)

tat – that (referring to Savitri, Paramatma, God)

savitur – (mw1190) –  Savitri, the Spiritual Sun (that from which all is born), the One Light, the all-pervading Consciousness

vareNyaM – most excellent, adorable, fit to be worshipped, venerable, worthy of being sought

bhargo – (mw748) – radiance, effulgence, splendor (the light that bestows understanding)

devasya – divine, of the deity

dhîmahi –  we meditate upon… or may we meditate upon, reflect upon, be devoted to

dhiyo – prayer, noble thoughts, intuition, understanding of Reality (buddhis)

yo – he who, the one who

nah – our, of us

prachodayât – who energizes, directs, inspires, guides, unfolds

~ translation

O nourishing Sun, solitary traveler, controller, source of life for all creatures,
spread your light and subdue your dazzling splendor so that I may see your blessed Self.
Even that very Self am I!

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~ Isa Upanishad (16)