Śrīgāyatrī navaviṃśatyakṣari mahāmantram

(श्रीगायत्री नवविंशत्यक्षरि महामन्त्रम्)

Source – Sourced from a manuscript.

Initiation Required.

Purpose – Karmic cleansing leading towards self-realization.

1. Viniyogaḥ (विनियोगः) -

asyaśrī gāyatrī mahāmantrasya

viśvāmitra ṛṣiḥ ।

gāyatrī chandaḥ ।

śrī savitā devatā ।

yam̐ bījaṃ ।

īm̐ śaktiḥ ।

ṇam̐ kīlakaṃ

mama upātta samasta duritakṣayārthe bhagavatanugraha siddhyarthe śrī-guror-anujñāyā mahāmantra jape viniyogaḥ ॥

अस्यश्री गायत्री महामन्त्रस्य ।

विश्वामित्र ऋषिः ।

गायत्री छन्दः ।

श्री सविता देवता ।

यँ बीजं ।

ईँ शक्तिः ।

णँ कीलकं ।

मम उपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयार्थे भगवतनुग्रह सिद्ध्यर्थे श्रीगुरोरनुज्ञाया महामन्त्र जपे विनियोगः ॥

Meaning - This prayer/mantra japa is to invoke Śrī Gāyatrī in our heart, perform mantra japa to obtain Her complete grace in all aspects, including the four puruṣārthasdharma (following own nature), artha (wealth), kāma (desires) and mokṣa (liberation) and all desires that one may seek from the Divine. The sage who visually saw this mantra (ṛṣiḥ) is Viśvāmitra. The meter (chandas) for the mantra is Gāyatrī of twenty-four syllables and its variations. The deity is Śrī Savitā devatā, the seed (bījaṃ) is yam̐, the power (śakti) is īm̐. The key (kīlaka) that binds the mantra is ṇam̐. By the grace and command of our guru and the guru lineage, we pledge to undertake the mantra japa in full earnest.

2. Ṛṣyādi nyāsa (ऋष्यादि न्यास) -

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

Viśvāmitra ṛṣaye namaḥ śirasi ।

विश्वामित्र ऋषये नमः शिरसि ।

Open the right palm and touch the top of the forehead with the ring and middle fingers joined at the top of the head.

2

gāyatryai chandase namaḥ mukhe।

गायत्र्यै छन्दसे नमः मुखे ।

Now touch the lips of the mouth with the four fingers in the right palm, excluding thumb.

3

Śrī Savitā devatāyai namaḥ hṛdi ।

श्री सविता देवतायै नमः हृदि ।

Touch the heart with the right index, middle and ring fingers

4

yam̐ bījāya namaḥ guhye ।

यँ बीजाय नमः गुह्ये ।

Touch the area of genitals with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.

5

īm̐ śaktaye namaḥ pādayoḥ ।

ईँ शक्तये नमः पादयोः  ।

Touch both the feet with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.

6

mam̐ kīlakāya namaḥ nābhau।

णँ कीलकाय नमः नाभौ।

Touch the navel with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.

7

mama upātta samasta duritakṣayārthe bhagavatanugraha siddhyarthe śrī-guror-anujñāyā mahāmantra jape viniyogāya namaḥ sarvāṅge ।

मम उपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयार्थे भगवतनुग्रह सिद्ध्यर्थे श्रीगुरोरनुज्ञाया महामन्त्र जपे विनियोगाय नमः सर्वाङ्गे ।

Run both the palms all over the body.

8

iti ṛṣyādi nyāsaḥ ॥

इति ऋष्यादि न्यासः ॥

Thus ends the Ṛṣyādi nyāsa.

3.Kara nyāsaḥ (करन्यासः) -

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

om̐ tatsavituḥ - aṅguṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ।

ॐ तत्सवितुः - अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः ।

Use both the index fingers and run them on both the thumbs.

2

vareṇyaṃ - tarjanībhyāṃ svāhā ।

वरेण्यं - तर्जनीभ्यां स्वाहा स्वाहा ।

Use both the thumbs and run them on both the index fingers.

3

bhargo devasya -madhyamābhyāṃ vaṣaṭ ।

भर्गो देवस्य - मध्यमाभ्यां वषट् ।

Use both the thumbs and run them on both the middle fingers.

4

dhīmahi - anāmikābhyāṃ hum̐

धीमहि - अनामिकाभ्यां हुँ ।

Use both the thumbs and run them on both the ring fingers.

5

dhiyoyonaḥ - kaniṣṭhikābhyāṃ vauṣaṭ ।

धियोयोनः - कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां वौषट् ।

Use both the thumbs and run them on both the little fingers.

6

pracodayāt - karatalakara pṛṣṭhābhyāṃ phaṭ

प्रचोदयात् - करतलकर पृष्ठाभ्यां फट् ।

Open both the palms; run the opened palms of the right hand on the front and back sides of the left palm and repeat the same for the other palm.

7

iti kara nyāsa

इति कर न्यासः ॥

Thus ends the six-part Kara nyāsa.

4. Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsaḥ (षडाङ्गन्यासः) -

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

om̐ tatsavituḥ – hṛdayāya namaḥ ।

ॐ तत्सवितुः – हृदयाय नम: ।

Open index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand and place them on the heart chakra.

2

vareṇyaṃ - śirase svāhā

वरेण्यं - शिरसे स्वाहा

Open middle and ring fingers of the right hand and touch the top of the head.

3

bhargo devasya - śikhāyai vaṣaṭ

भर्गो देवस्य - शिखायै वषट्

Open the right thumb and touch the back of the head. This is the point where there is a tuft of hair.

4

dhīmahi - kavacāya huṃ

धीमहि - कवचाय हुं

Cross both the hands and touch both shoulders with the palms.

5

dhiyoyonaḥ - netratrayāya vauṣaṭ

धियोयोनः - नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट्

Touch the eyes with the right index and ring fingers, with the middle finger touching the ājña cakra.

6

pracodayāt - astrāya phaṭ ।

प्रचोदयात् - अस्त्राय फट्

Open up the left palm and strike it three times with index and middle fingers of the right hand.

7

iti ṣaḍaṅga nyāsaḥ

इति षडङ्ग न्यासः ॥

Thus ends the six-part Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsa.

bhūr-bhuva-ssuvarom-iti digbandhaḥ

भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् इति दिग्बन्धः

Meaning: May the directions be charmed and bound, to prevent any external obstacles from the powers residing in the triads – the Earth, atmosphere and the heavens.

5. Dhyānam (ध्यानम् ) -

muktā vidruma hemanīla dhavalacchāyai mukhaistrīkṣaṇai

yuktā mindu nibaddharatna makuṭāṃ tatvārdha varṇātmikāṃ

gāyatrīṃ varadā bhayāṅkuśakaśām śubhraṃ kapālaṃ gadāṃ

śaṅkhaṃ cakra madhāravindayugalaṃ hastairvahantīṃ bhaje

मुक्ता विद्रुम हेमनील धवलच्छायै मुखैस्त्रीक्षणै

युक्ता मिन्दु निबद्धरत्न मकुटां तत्वार्ध वर्णात्मिकां ॥

गायत्रीं वरदा भयाङ्कुशकशाम् शुभ्रं कपालं गदां ।

शङ्खं चक्र मधारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्तीं भजे ॥

Meaning: Salutations to the Divine Mother Śrī Savitā/Gāyatrī Devī, who adorns five faces in varying complexions of pearl (muktā), coral (vidruma), gold (hema), dark blue sapphire (nīla) and white (dhavala). She is three-eyed and is adorned with a crescent moon hooked on to Her jewel studded crown. She represents the totality of all the revealed forms of Truth (tattvas). She holds in Her arms, the wish granting Varada mudra, the fear allaying Abhaya mudra, the elephant goad - aṅkuśa, a whip (kaśa), an empty skull (śubhraṃ kapālaṃ), a mace (gada), a conch (śaṅkha), a discus (cakra) and in Her lower most (adha) arms, She holds two lotuses (aravinda yugalam).

Her five faces represent all the pentads in the entire Creation, such as Creation, Preservation, Destruction, Annihilation and Regeneration. Her varying complexion in the faces denotes that She exists in all forms and is omniscient. She has no race, gender, type etc. and is nothing but the Truth in all its forms! Her three eyes denotes the śaktis of the Arka(Sun), Soma(Moon) and Agni(Fire) maṇḍalas. The crescent moon represents the descent of consciousness onto the material plane and is also the nectar (amṛta) that comes with the awakening of the ājñā cakra and the ascent of the Kuṇḍalinī towards the Sahasrāra.

The Varada mudra shows Her gesture of granting all our cherished wishes. The Abhaya mudra removes all types of fears that we may have in our life. The aṅkuśa removes all stubborn karma, the kaśa enforces discipline and control over our senses. The śubhraṃ kapālaṃ represents an empty mind that is receptive to Her revelations. The gada grinds all the existing karmas to ensure that they don’t sprout back. The cakra blinds us and turns the focus of the mind, upon the vibrations of the śaṅkha. The two lotuses represent fulfillment of both material and spiritual desires and ascension.

6. Pañcapūjā (पञ्चपूजा) -

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

lam̐ pṛthvyātmikāyai gandham kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

लँ पृथ्व्यात्मिकायै गन्धम् कल्पयामि नमः

 

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the little fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

2

ham̐ ākāśātmikāyai puṣpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

हँ आकाशात्मिकायै पुष्पम् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the thumbs of both hands with the upper tip of the index fingers.

3

ya vāyvyātmikāyai dhūpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

यँ वाय्व्यात्मिकायै धूपम् कल्पयामि नमः

 

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the index fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

4

ram̐ vahnyātmikāyai dīpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

रँ वह्न्यात्मिकायै दीपम् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the middle fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

5

vam̐ amṛtātmikāyai naivedyam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

वँ अमृतात्मिकायै नैवेद्यम् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the ring fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

6

sa sarvātmikāyai karpūramiśrita tāmbūlādi sarvopacārān kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

सँ सर्वात्मिकायै कर्पूरमिश्रित ताम्बूलादि सर्वोपचारान् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the fingers of each palm in a folded manner with the tips of the fingers of both hands touching each other and the thumbs facing the heart, in a Namaste position.

7

Iti Pañcapūjā

इति पञ्चपूजा

Thus ends the Pañcapūjā.

7. Mantraḥ (मन्त्रः) -

o bhūr-bhuvas-suva

tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ

bhargo devasya dhīmahi

dhiyoyonaḥ pracodayāt

भूर्भुवस्सुवः

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि

धियोयोनः प्रचोदयात्

The 29 lettered Śrī Gāyatrī mantra should be recited at least 108 times. Initiation is required.

Meaning -

This is a twenty-nine syllabled mantra with some syllables representing bīja (seed) mantras. The parts of the main mantra including the bījas are described below. –

  1. The bīja (seed) mantra “om̐ ()” consists of – ‘au’ => healing and deep cleansing, m̐’ => removes misery. Ushers in auspiciousness. The singular reality or Brahman as Śabda (sound vibrations) is indicated by this bīja.
  2. The word “bhūr (भूर्)” refers to the material plane of existence. In one of its myriad representations in the form of the triads, it can mean the body. At a physical level, it also refers to the Earth.
  3. The word “bhuvaḥ (भुवः)” refers to the ethereal plane of existence. As a triad, it can mean the mind. At the physical level, it refers to the atmosphere and the entire cosmos.
  4. The word “suva (सुवः)” refers to the spiritual and a surreal plane of existence. As a triad, it can mean the soul/Ātma.
  5. The word “tat (तत्)” means “that” referring to the Singular Reality represented by the Divine Mother Śrī Savitā/Gāyatrī Devī.
  6. The word “savitur (सवितुर्)” refers to the Sun or Lord Sūrya, the source of all light and energy from which the solar system was created and by extension, life on Earth. The cause of all existence is the Divine Mother and She acts through Lord Sūrya.
  7. The word “vareṇyam (वरेण्यम्)” refers to the “most excellent One”! The One who is above all, the Brahman Itself in the form of the Divine Mother!
  8. The word “bhargo (भर्गो)” refers to the splendor and effulgence of the Divine Mother in this context.
  9. The word “devasya (देवस्य)” is a reference to the Lord as the Divine Mother.
  10. The word “dhīmahi (धीमहि)” means “to meditate or ponder upon”.
  11. The word “dhiyo (धियो)” refers to the kindling of our intellect.
  12. The word “yonaḥ (योनः)” is a combined word with “yo” meaning “that” and “naḥ” meaning “us”. Together, it means “that which stimulates us”.
  13. The word pracodayāt (प्रचोदयात्)” means “to inspire, stimulate, excite and pronounce”.

Salutations to the highly revered Divine in the form of Śrī Savitā/Gāyatrī Devī to kindle our intellect and enlighten us to the Divine presence leading towards self-realization.

Recitation of this mantra can lead to the removal of all our impurities and also bestows happiness and contentment.

8. Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsaḥ (षडाङ्गन्यासः) -

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

om̐ tatsavituḥ – hṛdayāya namaḥ ।

ॐ तत्सवितुः – हृदयाय नम: ।

Open index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand and place them on the heart chakra.

2

vareṇyaṃ - śirase svāhā ।

वरेण्यं - शिरसे स्वाहा ।

Open middle and ring fingers of the right hand and touch the top of the head.

3

bhargo devasya - śikhāyai vaṣaṭ ।

भर्गो देवस्य - शिखायै वषट् ।

Open the right thumb and touch the back of the head. This is the point where there is a tuft of hair.

4

dhīmahi - kavacāya huṃ ।

धीमहि - कवचाय हुं ।

Cross both the hands and touch both shoulders with the palms.

5

dhiyoyonaḥ - netratrayāya vauṣaṭ ।

धियोयोनः - नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् ।

Touch the eyes with the right index and ring fingers, with the middle finger touching the ājña cakra.

6

pracodayāt - astrāya phaṭ ।

प्रचोदयात् - अस्त्राय फट् ।

Open up the left palm and strike it three times with index and middle fingers of the right hand.

7

iti ṣaḍaṅga nyāsaḥ

इति षडङ्ग न्यासः ॥

Thus ends the six-part Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsa.

bhūr-bhuva-ssuvarom-iti digvimokaḥ

भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् इति दिग्विमोकः

Meaning: May the directions get unlocked to allow ourselves to experience the grace from all the triads of the three realms.

9. Dhyānam (ध्यानम् ) -

muktā vidruma hemanīla dhavalacchāyai mukhaistrīkṣaṇai ।

yuktā mindu nibaddharatna makuṭāṃ tatvārdha varṇātmikāṃ ॥

gāyatrīṃ varadā bhayāṅkuśakaśām śubhraṃ kapālaṃ gadāṃ ।

śaṅkhaṃ cakra madhāravindayugalaṃ hastairvahantīṃ bhaje ॥

मुक्ता विद्रुम हेमनील धवलच्छायै मुखैस्त्रीक्षणै ।

युक्ता मिन्दु निबद्धरत्न मकुटां तत्वार्ध वर्णात्मिकां ॥

गायत्रीं वरदा भयाङ्कुशकशाम् शुभ्रं कपालं गदां ।

शङ्खं चक्र मधारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्तीं भजे ॥

10. Pañcapūjā (पञ्चपूजा) -

S.no.

IAST

Devanāgari

Procedure

1

lam̐ pṛthvyātmikāyai gandham kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

लँ पृथ्व्यात्मिकायै गन्धम् कल्पयामि नमः

 

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the little fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

2

ham̐ ākāśātmikāyai puṣpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

हँ आकाशात्मिकायै पुष्पम् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the thumbs of both hands with the upper tip of the index fingers.

3

yam̐ vāyvyātmikāyai dhūpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

यँ वाय्व्यात्मिकायै धूपम् कल्पयामि नमः

 

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the index fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

4

ram̐ vahnyātmikāyai dīpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

रँ वह्न्यात्मिकायै दीपम् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the middle fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

5

vam̐ amṛtātmikāyai naivedyam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

वँ अमृतात्मिकायै नैवेद्यम् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the ring fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.

6

sam̐ sarvātmikāyai karpūramiśrita tāmbūlādi sarvopacārān kalpayāmi namaḥ ।

सँ सर्वात्मिकायै कर्पूरमिश्रित ताम्बूलादि सर्वोपचारान् कल्पयामि नमः ।

Hold the fingers of each palm in a folded manner with the tips of the fingers of both hands touching each other and the thumbs facing the heart, in a Namaste position.

7

Iti Pañcapūjā

इति पञ्चपूजा

Thus ends the Pañcapūjā.

11. Samarpaṇam (समर्पणम्) –

guhyādi guhya goptrītvam gṛhaṇāsmat kṛtaṃ japaṃ
siddhirbhavatu me devi tvat prasadān mayī sthirā

गुह्यादि गुह्य गोप्त्रीत्वम् गृहणास्मत् कृतं जपं ।

सिद्धिर्भवतु मे देवि त्वत् प्रसदान् मयी स्थिरा

Meaning: O Lord, you are the most hidden secret of all secrets. May these mantra japa counts performed by me, be offered to you in totality. Our prayers and hope, are that your grace shall remain with us always.

12. Puraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण) :-

Japa

2,900,000

Homa

290,000

Tarpaṇa

29,000

Mārjana

2,900

Bhojana

290

This article is written by Krishna Vallapareddy and can be contacted at Krishna@manblunder.com