Mantra Monday
Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt
One of my personal favorite mantras is the Gayatri Mantra. It is an ancient mantra which was written in Sanskrit in the Rig Veda an estimated 2500 to 3500 years ago.The mantra, some argue, may have been chanted for thousands of years before that. For many years, it was kept shrouded in mystery. Now, it is a large part of the yogic philosophy as millions recognize the power of chanting this mantra.
The Gayatri Mantra is a sacred chant that demonstrates the unity that underlies manifoldness in creation. It is through the recognition of this unity that we can understand the multiplicity. Clay is one and the same thing, though pots of different shapes and sizes can be made from it. Gold is one, though gold ornaments can be multifarious. The Atma is one, though the embodied forms in which it resides may be many.
The Gayatri Mantra can be taken to mean, “We meditate on that most adorable, desirable and enchanting luster and brilliance of our Supreme Being, our Source Energy, our Collective Consciousness….who is our creator, inspirer and source of eternal Joy. May this warm and loving Light inspire and guide our mind and open our hearts.”
For many, the Gayatri Mantra serves as a means to awaken the Self. It is an attunement to the Divine that exists within our selves – in our hearts and minds – and as expressed through our souls. Through that, we are aligned with the planetary consciousness as we connect to it through the Self.
This mantra served as the inspiration for my song “Flow,” which features Jamie Shadowlight on violin and Tiffany Vorndran singing the mantra. To blend two realms, the modern and the ancient, I invoked the words of Carl Sagan. His vision of a singular consciousness and the Earth and all of its inhabitants as a single organism blends seamlessly with the intentions of the mantra.
The mantra is utilized around the world by spiritual seekers to open their hearts and minds to new possibilities and ways of being. I invite you to set an intention for your day and your week and allow yourself to feel empowered by this ancient mantra as expressed in my healing sound vibrations.