✦ Gayatri Mata ✦
✦ Veda-Mata, mother of all mantras, Savitri ✦
✦ About Gayatri Mata ✦
Epithets: Veda-Mata, Savitri, Mantra-Janani, Surya-Shakti, Brahma-Vidya, Pancha-Mukhi
Gayatri Mata is the goddess embodying the supreme mantra-shakti of Hinduism. In the Rigveda (3.62.10), the Gayatri mantra revealed to Vishvamitra is called the "Mantra-raja" (king of mantras). This mantra is the very form of the goddess — Gayatri Devi and Gayatri Mantra are inseparable.
Gayatri is called "Veda-Mata" because the four Vedas are said to issue from her. She represents the divine light-power of the Sun — Savitri. Her five faces represent the five great elements (earth, water, fire, air, space); her ten arms represent the ten directions.
For the dvija (Brahman-Kshatriya-Vaishya), the Gayatri mantra is the first mantra given at the Yajnopavita samskara. The Sandhya-vandana at sunrise, noon, and sunset prescribes Gayatri-japa. The modern Gayatri Pariwar (Acharya Shriram Sharma) has made it accessible beyond caste and class.
✦ Iconography ✦
Five-faced, ten-armed form — five faces of moonstone, gold, glittering, smoky, and white complexions. Each face has three eyes. Ten hands hold conch, discus, lotus, mace, goad, noose, akshamala, kamandalu, vara-mudra, abhaya-mudra. Hamsa-vahana, padmasana. Complexion like the radiance of the rising sun.
✦ Family & Relations ✦
✦ Principal Mantras ✦
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah · Tat Savitur Varenyam · Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi · Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
Meaning: We meditate on the supreme excellence of the divine Sun across the three worlds — Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah — that he may inspire our intellect toward truth. The 24-syllabled Gayatri Mahamantra.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं सर्वसम्मोहिनि स्वाहा
Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Sarva-Sammohini Svaha
Meaning: Salutations to the all-attracting Gayatri shakti — tantric application.
✦ Symbolism & Meaning ✦
Gayatri = "Gayantam Trayate" — she who protects those who chant her. The 24 syllables = 24 cosmic powers. The three vyahritis (Bhur Bhuvah Svah) = three times (past, present, future) and three worlds. Meditating on the Sun-shakti = awakening of inner light, the lamp of knowledge. Regular japa removes the veil of tamas from the intellect — divine prajna manifests.