Gayantam Trayati sa Gayatri.

She who protects those who sing of her is Gayatri. Gayatri in general refers to a meter as well as, a devata, that is a deity. While the Gayatri meter refers to verses with 24 syllables, the Gayatri verses themselves have been composed of all the devatas-deities.

The Gayatri of Savita- the sun is popularly referred to as the Gayatri Mantra.

Scholars believe that the 5 verses of Gayatri are personified as the five faced Gayatri devata.

There seems to be a misconception amongst modern scholars that the chanting of Gayatri in addition to the pranava and the Vedas was forbidden for ladies. However in view of the strict code of conduct and tough discipline advocated in those days for a Vedic scholar , this kind of guideline for women is to be viewed more as an exception rather than as a discriminatory prevention.

There are certain guidelines laid down for the chanting of the Gayatri mantra. For a maximum efficacy. The Gayatri mantra is recommended to be chanted during three time zones every day- during the sandhyas of the early morning , afternoon and evening. Sandhya means the conjunction of two stages of time. Thus the Gayatri has to be recited at each of the transition times that is from, night to day, from the morning to the afternoon and from the evening into the night.

The chanting of Gayatri Mantra has the effect of freeing oneself from the fruits of karma- the natural law of cause and effect,to be freed of one’s karma which controls the cycle of birth and death is significant of Moksha- total liberation. The Gayatri which consists of 24 syllables is also representative of the 24 constituent parts of each of the four quarters of the human body as has been divided in the Vedic scriptures. It thus plays a very useful role in everyday earthly achievements connected with physical and mental aspects of existence. The radiance of brimming and energetic prana that is life force is expressed itself through the pores of the human body on its recitation.

The chanter of Japa Gayatri is also blessed with attributes such as longevity , courage, physical strength, understanding, psychic healing of ailments, sweetness of speech and the ennoblement of celibacy for spiritual practices. Gayatri the deity is the personified unity of the triumvirate divinity – the Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati. Thus the Gayatri is also considered the mother of the Vedas and also as per attested even by the bahagvat Geeta. This should not confuse the reader that it is only feminine in its aspects, while Gayatri definitely represent the feminine aspect of Shakti. The invocation to savitur- the sun represents its strong masculine aspect. Thus the Gayatri is representative of the Ardha nareswar concept of a creator as personified in Hindu Scriptures.

Gayatri is also the five faced divinity. The first face signifies OM  one of whose many meanings is Welcome to the God. The second face is Bhur Bhuvaha swaha which refers to the three regions of earth, ether and the causal. The third face is Tatsa Bitur Barenyam which refers to the divine ultimate reality-the Savitri ,equated with the vivifying and the glorious power of the sun. Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi the fourth face  indicates the radiance, luster and the illuminative power of divinity which enables our transition from the world of darkness to the  Light. Dhyo yo Naha prachodayat the fifth face is an invocation , a prayer. Thus the Gayatri encompasses barnan – description,dhyanam-meditation and prarthana- prayer.

The word by word significance of the Gayatri is, OM Signifies Brahma, BHUR is the embodiment of the vital spiritual energy, BHUVAHA is the destroyer of sufferings, SWAHA signifies the embodiment of happiness, TAT is that, the SABITUR is bright like the sun, BARENYAM is the best choicest, BHARGO is the destroyer of all sins, DEVASYA is divine, DHIMAHI means to imbibe, DHYO is the intellect,YO is Who,NAHA is our and PRACHODAYAT means to inspire.

The summary of the mantra is as follows.Oh the Almighty  God,the art,the giver of life,remover of pain and sorrow ,the bestower of happiness, Oh the creator of the universe may  we receive thy supreme , the sin destroying light, may they illuminate and guide our intellect in the right direction, which may lead us on the righteous path. This is the most important prayer. The teachings of and the powers incorporated in Gayatri mantra fulfill this purpose. Righteous wisdom starts emerging as soon as  Jap of this mantra is taken up as a Sadhana

Gayatri Invocation:

tadam shwam souvaraniyom jyotishkumbhasya dhimahi

hrudhyam bhavyam hi bhavayaha, OM Gayatriyee devayee namaha

OM Gayatriyee devayee namaha

OM Gayatriyee devayee namaha

OM bhu

Om Bhuvaha

Om Swaha

Om maha

OM Jana

Om Tapa

Om Satyam

Om Tatsya bitur barenyam

bhargo devasya dhimahi

dhyo yo naha prachodayat

Om aporjyoti rasomrutam brahma bhur bhuvaha swaha OM

Original Gayatri Mantra: Om Bhur Bhuvaha Swaha Tatsya Bitur Barenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhyo Yo Naha Prachoday

Reference: http://www.awgp.org/Gayatri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri_Mantra