KarmaVaani
Vedic tradition
गायत्रीGayatri
Vedamata · Savitri
The Gayatri mantra as a goddess: the mother of the Vedas, five-faced and seated on a lotus.
- Abode
- Satyaloka
- Consort
- Brahma, in some Puranas
- Vahana
- A white swan
- Colour
- Golden
- Arms
- 10
Gayatri is the most revered verse of the Rigveda, seen by the sage Vishvamitra and addressed to Savitr, the divine light of the sun, made into a goddess. She is called Vedamata, mother of the Vedas, and is recited at the dawn, noon and dusk prayers (sandhya) and taught at the sacred-thread ceremony. In later worship she has five faces and ten arms and is seated on a lotus.
Mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah, Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
We meditate on the glorious light of the divine Savitr; may it awaken our understanding.
How Gayatri is shown
A goddess with five faces and ten arms, seated on a red lotus.
- Five faces
- The five elements and the five breaths of life.
- Lotus
- Purity rising out of the world.
- Book
- The Vedas, of which she is mother.
- Swan
- Discrimination between the real and the unreal.
Stories
Vishvamitra's verse
Vishvamitra was born a king and fought long to become a brahmin sage. After many years of austerity, the tradition says, the mantra appeared to him in meditation, and he became its seer. Every recitation still names him, its metre and Savitr before the verse begins.
