Agni Gayatri Mantra — Word-by-Word Meaning
अग्नि गायत्री मंत्र
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
ॐ
Om
the primordial sound, the Supreme Brahman
वैश्वानराय
Vaishvanaraya
to Vaishvanara, the universal fire that dwells in all beings
विद्महे
Vidmahe
may we know / we seek to know
लालीलाय
Lalilaya
to the one with darting, flickering flame-tongues
धीमहि
Dhimahi
we meditate upon
तन्नः
Tannah
therefore, for us / may that
अग्निः
Agnih
Agni, the god of fire and bearer of offerings to the gods
प्रचोदयात्
Prachodayat
may he inspire and illumine (our intellect)
Complete Translation
Om. May we know Vaishvanara, the universal fire; may we meditate upon the one of darting flame-tongues; may that Agni inspire and illumine our minds.
Origin & History
Source: The Gayatri mantra of Agni
Author: Traditional (Vedic)
Beyond the universal Gayatri Mantra, the Vedic tradition gives each great deity its own Gayatri — a prayer in the sacred Gayatri meter calling upon that deity to illumine the intellect. The Agni Gayatri invokes Agni, the fire-god with whom the Rigveda itself opens and who carries every offering of the yajna to the gods. Addressed as Vaishvanara, the universal fire dwelling within all beings, Agni is honoured in the timeless pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat," and the mantra is chanted for purification and the success of worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Agni Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is the Gayatri mantra of the fire-god Agni: "Om Vaishvanaraya Vidmahe Lalilaya Dhimahi. Tanno Agnih Prachodayat". Set in the sacred Gayatri meter, it invokes Agni — the universal fire (Vaishvanara) of darting flames — to purify and illumine the intellect, in the pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat".
What are the benefits of the Agni Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is chanted for purification, the success of fire rituals (homa/yajna), and inner radiance and vigour. Since Agni carries every offering to the gods and dwells as the fire within all beings (Vaishvanara), the mantra is valued for cleansing negativity and kindling the light of knowledge.
Who is Vaishvanara, named in the mantra?▼
Vaishvanara means 'belonging to all people' — the universal fire that pervades the cosmos and dwells within every being, including the fire of digestion and vitality. By meditating on Vaishvanara, the mantra invokes the all-pervading Agni who is honoured first in Vedic worship.
When and how many times should it be chanted?▼
Chant it 108 times on a mala, ideally at dawn and the other sandhya times, facing east, and especially before or during a homa or havan. It can be made part of a daily Gayatri sadhana.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →