Vishwamitra-tapah phalaam priyataraam

vipraalisamsevitam,

Nityaanitya-vivekadaam smitamukheem

khandendu-bhooshojiivalaam.

Taambool-aaruna-bhaasamaana-vadanaam

maartaanda-madhya-sthiaam,

Gaayatrem harivallabhaam trinayanaam

dhyaayaami panchaananaam.

Produced due to the penance of Rishi Vishwamitra, the most dear one served by the Brahmanas; giver of eternal and temporary liberation, possessed of smiling counternance, whose crown is adorned with the crescent moon. Her face is as red as the ‘paan’, and she is seated in the middle of a lotus flower. I meditate upon that Holy Mother, the three-eyed, five-faced Mata Gayatri, the beloved of Lord Narayan.

Mother Gayatri is recognized as the personification of the most holy Gayatri Mantra. The Gayatri Mantra is famous throughout the Hindu world as the essence of the Vedas. It is found in all four Vedas and represents knowledge and reverence.

Guitar Mata is invoked daily by all those who have taken the initiation ceremony of Upanayan Sanskar – otherwise known as the Janeo Ceremony. This is where a boy usually between 7-16 years old is invested with the sacred thread as a rite of passage, enabling him to be called a ‘Twice Born’ and entitling him to study the Vedas. During the ceremony of the sacred thread, the Acharya gives the boy the Gayatri Mantra and he is admonished to chant the Gayatri Mantra three times a day during the Sandy Vandana – worship at sunrise, midday and sunset. Every Brahmana reveres Gayatri Mata as the symbol of their path. She is invoked before any Vedic ritual and mentally worshipped before the Gayatri Mantra is used:-

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah, Tat Savitur Varenyam,

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah

Prachodayaat.

(RIG VEDA 3-62-10)

The Gayatri Mantra is in Vedic Sanskrit and represents the deepest sentiments of the Vedas. The literal translation does not give an ounce of indication as to its transcendental meaning, however for the sake of clarity, a short translation will be given.

The meaning will be found through meditation alone.

O Supreme Lord, Protector of the earth, the space and the heavens, You are the all-pervading luminous being, worthy of our worship. O God, we meditate upon You; may Your effulgence inspire our intelligence.

Mother Gayatri’s five faces represent, in order; 1-Om,2-Bhuh, Bhuvah,Svah, 3-Tat Savitur Varenyam, 4-Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi, 5-Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat. She has ten arms carrying the weapons that Mother Durga has, which symbolize her being a part of the eternal feminine Shakti – spiritual energy.

She sits upon the lotus we should arise out of our dirty material surroundings and blossom into devotional beings in order to attain the supreme.

We ask mother Gayatri to bless us with a pure mind and intellect in order that we progress on the spiritual path towards God.