Mantra · Rigveda 3.62.10
Gayatri Mantra: meaning, Sanskrit lyrics and how to chant
The most revered mantra of the Vedas is a prayer not for wealth or protection, but for a clear and awakened mind.
Verses checked against the source texts · Drafted with AI help and reviewed before publishing · Last reviewed 2026-11-12 · How we write
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṁ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
Rigveda 3.62.10
Meaning
We meditate on the most excellent radiance of the divine Sun, Savitṛ, the source of all life. May that radiance awaken and guide our understanding.
Notice what the prayer asks for. Not success, not protection — dhī, the intellect, the power to see clearly. It is a prayer to think and choose well.
हिंदी में अर्थ
हम उस दिव्य सविता देव के श्रेष्ठ तेज का ध्यान करते हैं। वह तेज हमारी बुद्धि को सही मार्ग की ओर प्रेरित करे।
Word by word
Where it comes from
The mantra is verse 10 of hymn 62 in the third book of the Rigveda — a book whose hymns are associated with the sage Vishvamitra. It is set in the gāyatrī metre of 24 syllables, which gives the mantra its popular name; it is also called the Sāvitrī, after the deity it addresses.
The opening words, oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, are the three vyāhṛtis — sacred utterances naming the three worlds — which are traditionally added before the verse when it is recited.
What it asks of you today
How to chant
- Choose a time.Traditionally at sunrise, noon and sunset (sandhyā). Morning, facing east, is the most common.
- Sit steady.Sit comfortably with a straight back. Take three slow breaths before you begin.
- Chant slowly.Pronounce each syllable clearly, aloud or silently. Speed adds nothing.
- Keep a count.Many people chant 3, 11 or 108 times, often with a mala. Regularity matters more than number.
- Rest in the meaning.After the last repetition, sit for a minute with the thought: may my mind be clear.
Families and traditions differ on who chants the Gayatri Mantra and when. Follow the guidance of your family or teacher.
Questions people ask
What is the meaning of the Gayatri Mantra?
“We meditate on the glorious light of the divine Savitṛ. May that light inspire our minds.” It is a prayer for a clear, awakened intellect.
Who wrote the Gayatri Mantra?
It is Rigveda 3.62.10, in the third book of the Rigveda, which tradition associates with the sage Vishvamitra.
How many times should the Gayatri Mantra be chanted?
Many people chant it 3, 11 or 108 times, traditionally at sunrise, noon and sunset. Chanting regularly matters more than the number.