The Gāyatrī Mantra, also known as the Sāvitri Mantra, is a highly revered mantra from the Rig Veda dedicated to the Vedic deity Savitr. Gāyatrī is the name of the Goddess of the Vedic meter in which the verse is composed. The Gāyatrī mantra is dedicated to Savitṛ, a Sun deity.
The mantra is attributed to the much revered sage Vishwamitra, who is also considered the author of Mandala 3 of Rig Veda.
Many monotheistic sects of Hinduism such as Arya Samaj hold that the Gayatri mantra is in praise of One Supreme Creator known by the name AUM (ओउ्म् ) as mentioned in the Yajur Veda, 40:17.
The Gayatri mantra with swaras is, in Devanagari:
ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व:
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात्
In IAST:
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
- Rigveda 3.62.10
Literal translations of the words are below:
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Om - Para Brahman (entire universe);
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Bhur - Bhuloka (physical plane);
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Bhuvah - Antariksha (space);
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Svah - Svarga Loka (Heaven);
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Tat - Paramatma (Supreme Soul);
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Savitur - Isvara (Surya) (Sun god);
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Varenyam - Fit to be worshipped;
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Bhargo - Remover of sins and ignorance;
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Devasya - Glory (Jnana Svaroopa ie Feminine / Female);
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Dheemahi - We meditate;
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Dhiyo - Buddhi (Intellect);
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Yo - Which;
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Nah - Our;
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Prachodayat: Enlighten / inspire.
There are several translations of the mantra:
by Sir William Jones (1807): “Let us adore the supremacy of that divine sun, the god-head who illuminates all, who recreates all, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, whom we invoke to direct our understandings right in our progress toward his holy seat.”
Sivanath Sastri (Brahmo Samaj) (1911): “We meditate on the worshipable power and glory of Him who has created the earth, the nether world and the heavens (i.e. the universe), and who directs our understanding.”
Swami Sivananda: “Let us meditate on Isvara and His Glory who has created the Universe, who is fit to be worshipped, who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May he enlighten our intellect.”
Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati (founder of Arya Samaj): "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.“
