Gayatri Mantra:

Om bhuh, bhuvah, swaha (Aumm Bhoor Bhoo-va Su-va-ha)

Tat savitur varenyam (Tat Sa-vee-toor Var-ayn-yam)

Bhargo devasya dhimahi (Bar-go Day-vas-ya Dhee-ma-hee)

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat (Dhee-yo Yo Nah Pra-cho-da-yaat)

(Ṛig Vedas 03.062.10)

Translation

O Divine mother, may your pure divine light illuminate all realms (physical, mental and spiritual) of our being. Please expel any darkness from our hearts and bestow upon us the true knowledge.

(Note there are actually many different translations)

A word-for-word translation is:

  • Om: The primeval sound
  • Bhur: The human body, earth, physical realm, existence
  • Bhuvah: The vital energies, heaven, consciousness
  • Suvah: The soul, inner space, spiritual realm, bliss
  • Tat: That
  • Savitur: The Sun, solar powers
  • Varenyam: To choose, the best, adore
  • Bhargo: Effulgence, self-luminous, divine light
  • Devasya: The divine, radiant
  • Dhimahi Dhiyo: the intellect
  • Yo: Which
  • Nah: Our, of us
  • Prachodayat: Illuminate, inspire