Mantras are a very important part of my personal practice. They can bring joy and can help concentration, as well as relaxation. Some are prayers or invocations to the gods, but I think all of them have a deeper meaning that can be found in the words. Most of them refer to the real self within us, which is one with the cosmic consciousness. The words with their meanings but most importantly the way they sound when repeated out loud or in your mind, create vibrations that calm the mind, allowing a deeper state of meditation.
It is good practice to start and finish the yoga practice chanting the
Om Kar (repetition of the sound om, also spelled as aum), one mantra (a feminine one at the beginning and a
masculine one at the end) and Om Shanti, to send peace to myself, everyone and everything. In this way you kind of create a space in that time between the beginning and the end of the lesson, that is only dedicated to yoga.
Translation, meaning and possible associations are given also.
Translation, meaning and possible associations are given also.
Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhur Bhuvah
Swaha, Tat Savitr Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi,
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat.
It is one of the most important mantra from the Vedas and is a
verse from a sukta of the Rigveda (Mandala 3.62.10). This is a feminine mantra.
The mantra is dedicated to Savitr, the sun before sunrise - a metaphor to indicate the vivifing power of the light within. The word Savitr in Vedic language can be reported as impeller, rouser, vivifier.
Gayatri indicates an ancient meter in which the verse is composed and is also the name of a feminine deity strictly related to Savitr.
Word by word:
Om: the divine sillabe, the "logos" of the beginning from where (or when...) everything started.
Bhur: existance; material realm; female energy (Shakti)
Bhuva: the form of light that sees itself; consciousness; male energy (Shiva)
Swaha: hail to
Tat: that
Savitr: morning sun before sunrise; enlightened self
Varenyam: to be worthy; to be wished for the best; excellent
Bhargo: splendour
Devasya: attribute or quality
Dhimahi: single point of focus; concentration on one thing
Dhiyo: intellect
Yo: who or that
Nah: we; ours
Prachodayat: propel; inspire.
Bhur, Bhuva and Swaha are often referred to as Past, Present and Future.
The mantra seems not to be dedicated to a deity of the sun (the star, the one that shines in the sky) but to the effulgent self within. It is an invocation to your own self to awaken as it is, complete.
The meaning you can refer to when meditating using this mantra can be given as: we meditate on the effulgent glory of the radiant light that is the self, made of both shiva and shakti. May it enlighten our minds.
The mantra is dedicated to Savitr, the sun before sunrise - a metaphor to indicate the vivifing power of the light within. The word Savitr in Vedic language can be reported as impeller, rouser, vivifier.
Gayatri indicates an ancient meter in which the verse is composed and is also the name of a feminine deity strictly related to Savitr.
Word by word:
Om: the divine sillabe, the "logos" of the beginning from where (or when...) everything started.
Bhur: existance; material realm; female energy (Shakti)
Bhuva: the form of light that sees itself; consciousness; male energy (Shiva)
Swaha: hail to
Tat: that
Savitr: morning sun before sunrise; enlightened self
Varenyam: to be worthy; to be wished for the best; excellent
Bhargo: splendour
Devasya: attribute or quality
Dhimahi: single point of focus; concentration on one thing
Dhiyo: intellect
Yo: who or that
Nah: we; ours
Prachodayat: propel; inspire.
Bhur, Bhuva and Swaha are often referred to as Past, Present and Future.
The mantra seems not to be dedicated to a deity of the sun (the star, the one that shines in the sky) but to the effulgent self within. It is an invocation to your own self to awaken as it is, complete.
The meaning you can refer to when meditating using this mantra can be given as: we meditate on the effulgent glory of the radiant light that is the self, made of both shiva and shakti. May it enlighten our minds.
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