Contemplation on the meaning of the Gayatri Mantra during the japa-dhyāna helps excellent emotional conditioning. It could be practised in other times of the day as well. The word meaning of the Gayatri Mantra is as follows: Oam – the Omnipresent, Almighty God, the Brahm; Bhuḥ – embodiment of vital spiritual energy; Bhuvaḥ – destroyer of sufferings; Swaḥ – embodiment of eternal happiness; Tat – that; Savituḥ – bright, luminous like the Sun; Vareṇyam – best, most exalted; Bhargo destroyer of all sins; Devasya divine; Dhimah! – may imbibe; Dhiyo – intellect; Yo – who; Naḥ – our; Pracodayāt – may inspire.
The meaning of Gayatri Mantra is the universal prayer – “We consecrate (in our souls) that divine, blissful, omnipotent destroyer of all sins and sufferings, ultimate life force. That absolute thy radiance may illuminate and edify our intellect towards the righteous path”.
Interpretation of this meaning implies three spiritual faculties – (1) conceptualization and perception of the divine reflection of God; (2) Reception of thy inspirations and the inner spirit of imbibing divine element in the individual self; (3) Universal prayer for enlightened intellect. Each bears extraordinary psychological and spiritual influence on human self.
It is said that the conduct and deeds of a person are shaped by his thoughts. Whatever we think attentively and contemplate with engrossed mind is subliminally inscribed or assimilated in our mental folds with growing force of attraction for similar thoughts. Our mentality and attitude begin to flow in corresponding direction. Continuation of this effect unfolds deeper secrets of the related streams of hidden knowledge and induces associated psychological impact. The first part of the Gayatri Mantra signifies those reflections of the infinite power of thee that are of paramount importance in human life. The more we contemplate on thy vigor, absolute eminence, beatified bliss and thy power of quenching all sins and sorrows, the deeper and intensive would be their impact on the mind…. This would cultivate corresponding virtuous inspirations and power currents in the inner domains of mind. Consequent noble tendencies, enlightened attitude and sagacious approach would begin to gradually ennoble the internal and external progress of our life…
The second part of this mantra implies the oath, the motivation to inculcate the above virtues of thy manifestation in our inner self. This means that our contemplation or meditation should not remain confined to the conceptualization, imagination and thinking of God. Rather, thy afflatus should infuse in every particle, of our body, every domain of our mental and emotional perception should be pervaded by it. Our personality, our self-sensation should be experienced as fully immersed in the spiritual aura of thy virtues. Whenever we are engrossed in this feeling through heart, it works like reality and educes remarkable spiritual illumination and empowerment….
The third part is a divine prayer of sadbuddhi for all. It is indeed the key to accomplishment of the cherubic bequests implied in the first two parts of this mantra. In order to realize and adopt divine tendencies we will have to liberate our intellect, our ‘wisdom’ from the influence of ego, avarice and
cravings of worldly passions and purify and bring it to the righteous path. As our astray, agile, illusioned and maligned intellect will be refined and illuminated into discerning sadbuddhi, our conceptualization and perception of divinity will become more real, natural and vigorous. This would enable inculcation and adoption of angelic virtues and thy grace in all realms of our life and bestow immense peace, joy and glorious and prosperous growth eventually leading to what may be described as the ultimate success…
Source: Gayatri Sadhana – Why and How?
