Gayatri mantra
Also called: Savitri mantra · Topic: The Vedic Age · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Gayatri mantra is a short prayer to Savitṛ, the sun god seen as the one who brings things to life. It is found in the third book (maṇḍala) of the Ṛigveda, and tradition gives it to the seer (rishi) Viśhvāmitra. The verse asks Savitṛ to light up and guide the mind. It is one of the most recited Vedic verses. It was taught to a boy at the upanayana, the rite of starting Vedic study.
Example
Ṛigveda 3.62.10, the Gayatri mantra, has been passed down by mouth for thousands of years. It is still chanted every day in many Indian homes. This oral tradition is part of the Vedic chanting that UNESCO recognised in 2008.
Don't confuse with
- Gāyatrī metre: the name of a Vedic metre (a pattern of three lines of eight syllables). This mantra is written in that metre, but many other hymns are too.