The Gayatri Mantra — text and meaning
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ · tat savitur vareṇyaṁ · bhargo devasya dhīmahi · dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
We meditate on the adorable radiance of the divine Savitr (the Sun, source of all light). May that light inspire and illuminate our intellect.
Rigveda 3.62.10 · Rishi VishvamitraThe Gayatri Mantra is called the mother of the Vedas (Veda-mata). It was revealed to Maharishi Vishvamitra and is addressed to Savitr, the divine light of the Sun. It is composed in the Gayatri metre of 24 syllables, and the opening words Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah (the three worlds — earth, atmosphere and heaven) are added before it in daily recitation.
Gayatri Mantra word meaning
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ॐ Om | The primordial sound, the Supreme |
| भूर्भुवः स्वः Bhur Bhuvah Svah | Earth, the space between, and heaven — all three worlds |
| तत् Tat | That (the Divine) |
| सवितुः Savituh | Of Savitr, the divine Sun, the source of life |
| वरेण्यं Varenyam | Most excellent, worthy of worship |
| भर्गो Bhargo | Radiance, purifying light |
| देवस्य Devasya | Of the divine |
| धीमहि Dhimahi | We meditate upon |
| धियो यो नः Dhiyo yo nah | Who, our intellect |
| प्रचोदयात् Prachodayat | May inspire, may illuminate |
Gayatri jap — quick facts
| Source | Rigveda 3.62.10 (also in Yajurveda and Samaveda) |
|---|---|
| Seer (Rishi) | Vishvamitra |
| Deity | Savitr — the divine Sun; worshipped as Gayatri Mata |
| Metre | Gayatri — 24 syllables |
| Traditional times | The three sandhyas — sunrise, noon and sunset |
| Common counts | 3, 11, 28 or 108 daily; 24 lakh for a full purashcharana |
| One mala takes | About 15–20 minutes |
How to chant the Gayatri Mantra
Face the east in the morning (or the west in the evening), sit upright, and chant slowly and clearly, pausing briefly after each of the three lines. Traditionally the mantra is chanted softly (upanshu) or mentally (manasik). In this counter one tap = one complete Gayatri Mantra.
- Tap the malaEvery tap counts one complete Gayatri Mantra. The glowing bead moves forward just like a real jap mala. On a computer, press Space or Enter.
- 108 taps = one malaAt 108 the temple bell rings, flower petals fall and your mala count goes up. The next mala begins automatically — no need to reset.
- Made a mistake?Press Undo to remove the last count. Reset only clears the current mala; your daily and lifetime totals stay safe.
- Track your sadhanaOpen My progress to see today, your streak, a 7-day chart, an 18-week calendar and the 70,000 Naam Challenge. Use Focus for a full-screen, tap-anywhere counter.
For a long anushthan, set a daily goal (for example 11 malas) and start a 21-day sadhana in My progress. The counter keeps your total even across months.
Frequently asked questions
How many times should the Gayatri Mantra be chanted?
Traditionally 108 times (one mala) at sandhya, or at least 3, 11 or 28 times. For a special sadhana (anushthan) devotees chant 24,000 times, and a full purashcharana is 24 lakh. Set your daily goal in Settings.
What is the best time to chant the Gayatri Mantra?
The three sandhya times — just before sunrise, at noon and at sunset — are traditional. Brahma Muhurta in the early morning is considered especially powerful.
Can everyone chant the Gayatri Mantra?
Orthodox tradition linked Gayatri japa with the sacred-thread ceremony, but today many teachers and organisations — such as the Arya Samaj and All World Gayatri Pariwar — encourage everyone, including women, to chant it with respect and devotion.
Does one tap count the whole Gayatri Mantra?
Yes. In this counter one tap counts one complete recitation, from “Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah” to “Prachodayat”.
Which mala is used for Gayatri jap?
Rudraksha, Tulsi, Sphatik (crystal) or red sandalwood malas are all used. In this counter you can choose the bead style in Settings.