Gayatri, also known as Gayatri Devi, is the divine mother of all. She is revered as the mother of the sacred Vedas and continues to be the divine energy that animates everything. 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.
Who is Gayatri Devi?
Gayatri, also known as Gayatri Devi, is the divine mother of all. She is revered as the mother of the sacred Vedas and continues to be the divine energy that animates everything. 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.
She is the consort of Lord Brahma and the manifestation of Goddess Saraswati. She 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.
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.
Iconography
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.
Attributes of Gayatri Maa
Adobe | Satya Lok, Manidvip |
Weapon | N/A |
VAHAN (Vehicle) | Swan(Hans) |
Different forms of Gayatri Maa
Mantra on Gayatri Maa
Om Aim Vagdevyai Vidmahe Kamarajaya Dhimahi।
Tanno Devi Prachodayat॥
Om Shukrapriyayai Vidmahe Shrikameshvaryai Dhimahi Tannah Shyama Prachodayat॥
Hleem Bagalamukhi Vidmahe Dushtastambhani Dhimahi Tanno Devi Prachodayat॥
Om Dhumavatyai Vidmahe Samharinyai Dhimahi Tanno Dhuma Prachodayat॥
Om Vairochanye Vidmahe Chhinnamastayai Dhimahi Tanno Devi Prachodayat॥
Om Tripurayai Vidmahe Mahabhairavyai Dhimahi Tanno Devi Prachodayat॥
Shloka on Gayatri Maa
Gayatri Maa Bhajan Collection
Gayatri Maa Strotra
Articles on Gayatri Maa
Gayatri Maa FAQ's
My answer assumes that you have been initiated in Gayatri by your father/Guru, as appropriate. If not, stop doing it. You are wasting your efforts.
Any mantra always precedes and succedes with Anganyasa and Karanyasa, meaning installing the aspects of the God form in different parts of body and hands, followed by a Dhyana (meditation) sloka.
Even Gayatri has this Dhyana Sloka. Mukta Vidruma Hema Neela… Bhaje! Dhyana sloka usually explains the God form that you are going to perform the Japa for. The details given must be meditated upon. For example, the 5 faces of Gayatri followed by the crown with the crescent moon and the hands with the arms are described in Gayatri Dhayana Sloka.
You should always meditate on this form while performing Gayatri. If you are reciting some other mantra that you may be initiated on, that Dhyana sloka is what you shold concentrate on.
One exception to this rule can be that in case you are initiated in several mantras by your Guru and have been getting another God form while chanting one mantra, Sringeri Jagadguru suggested that one may meditate on the feet of one’s Guru. That is equivalent to performing Japa, as per norms.
Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless!