Gayatri is the name of a Vedic hymn known as the Gayatri Mantra, which is considered the most sacred. Gayatri Devi is the personification of this extremely powerful and sacred mantra.

Goddess Gayatri is the consort of Lord Brahma and the manifestation of Goddess Saraswati. Gayatri is regarded as Veda Mata, or the mother of all Vedas. Goddess Gayatri is revered as part of the Hindu Trimurti, which includes Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahesh. She is the embodiment of the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati. One of the most well-known Vedic hymns dedicated to the Goddess of Veda is the Gayatri Mantra.

The Gayatri Family

Goddess Gayatri, is Lord Brahma's consort. According to various legends found in Vedic texts, Lord Brahma desired to perform Yajna with his consort, Goddess Saraswati. The Yajna could not be completed without the presence of the wife, and the Goddess Saraswati was not present. To compensate for her absence, Lord Brahma asked the priest to find a woman for him to marry in order to complete the yajna. The priest found a suitable woman named Gayatri and married her to Lord Brahma at Lord Brahma's request. The woman is thought to be the incarnation of Goddess Saraswati herself.

The Iconography of Gayatri

Gayatri is commonly depicted as having five faces. She is perched atop a lotus flower. Goddess Gayatri's five faces represent the five Pranas, which are Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana. They also represent the five elements of the universe, namely the earth, water, fire, air, and sky. Gayatri, the Hindu goddess, has ten hands. She wields the weapons of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. Typically, Goddess Gayatri is depicted holding a conch, a discus, lotus flowers, a goad, and a noose. Goddess Gayatri's hands are shown in Abhaya Mudra and Varada Mudra. Gayatri is the only goddess with Tri-Netra, or three eyes, like Lord Shiva.

Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri Mantra is a powerful Mantra found in Hindu scriptures. It means "May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect and lead us down the path of righteousness."

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥

Gayatri Mantra is one of the most powerful Vedic Mantras. Based on the Gayatri Mantra, there are 24 other significant Mantras, each dedicated to a significant Vedic deity.