gayatriavahanaminvocationsandhyavandana

Gayatri Avahanam (Ayatu Varada Devi)

गायत्री आवाहनम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Before Gayatri Japa at the three Sandhyas — dawn, midday and dusk·📜 Sandhyavandana / Gayatri Japa ritual (Vedic Avahana verses; the second passage from the Yajurveda tradition)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Gayatri Avahanam is the invocation recited before Gayatri Japa in the Sandhyavandana ritual, calling the boon-granting Goddess Gayatri — 'mother of the Vedic metres' and equal to Brahman — to be present. It then glorifies her as ojas, strength, radiance, the abode of the gods and the whole universe, and finally invokes her three forms: Gayatri (of the morning), Savitri (of midday) and Sarasvati (of evening). With this, the worshipper welcomes the Goddess before beginning the repetition of the Gayatri Mantra.

Origin & Story

Sandhyavandana / Gayatri Japa ritual (Vedic Avahana verses; the second passage from the Yajurveda tradition) · Unknown (Vedic ritual tradition) · Vedic

In the daily Sandhyavandana, the Gayatri Japa is not begun abruptly: the Goddess is first invoked and welcomed. The opening verse, 'Ayatu Varada Devi', calls Gayatri — the boon-granting Devi, imperishable and equal to Brahman, mother of all metres — to come and accept the worshipper's prayer. The following passage, drawn from the Yajurveda, exalts her as ojas, strength, radiance and the very universe, and closes by invoking her threefold form as Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati. Only then does the seeker take up the great Gayatri Mantra.

✦ As told in scripture

The tradition holds that the Gayatri, called Vedamata, is the mother who gives the twice-born his spiritual birth; the Manusmriti praises her as the most purifying of all, and sages declare that one who invokes and meditates upon her daily is freed from sin and illumined by the light of Savitr. Whoever sincerely welcomes the Goddess before Japa is said to feel her living presence in the heart.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om Ayatu Varada Devi Aksharam Brahma-Sammitam. Gayatrim Chandasam Mata Idam Brahma Jushasva Nah.

Meaning:Om — may the boon-granting Goddess come, the imperishable one, equal to Brahman; O Gayatri, mother of all the Vedic metres, be pleased to accept this our sacred prayer. You are vital lustre, you are might, you are strength, you are radiance; you are the abode and the name of the gods, you are the entire universe, the life of all, you are everything, the life of all and the all-surpassing One — Om. I invoke Gayatri; I invoke Savitri; I invoke Sarasvati. (These verses call the Gayatri-goddess to be present before the Japa begins.)

Verse 2

Ojo-si Saho-si Balam-asi Bhrajo-si Devanam Dhama Nama-asi Vishvam-asi Vishvayuh Sarvam-asi Sarvayur-Abhibhur-Om. Gayatrim-Avahayami Savitrim-Avahayami Sarasvatim-Avahayami.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Ayatu🔊May (she) come, please arrive (the invocation, avahana)

Varada Devi🔊The boon-granting Goddess (Gayatri)

Aksharam Brahma-Sammitam🔊The imperishable, equal to (identical with) Brahman

Gayatrim🔊Gayatri (the sacred verse-goddess)

Chandasam Mata🔊The mother of all the Vedic metres (chandas)

Idam Brahma Jushasva Nah🔊Be pleased to accept this our prayer (this Brahman / sacred utterance)

Ojo-si🔊You are vital lustre (ojas)

Saho-si🔊You are forbearing might (sahas)

Balam-asi🔊You are strength (bala)

Bhrajo-si🔊You are radiance (bhrajas)

Devanam Dhama Nama-asi🔊You are the abode and the very name of the gods

Vishvam-asi🔊You are the whole universe

Vishvayuh🔊You are the life of all (universal life-span)

Sarvam-asi Sarvayuh🔊You are all, the life of everything

Abhibhuh🔊The all-surpassing, supreme one

Gayatrim-Avahayami🔊I invoke Gayatri (and likewise Savitri and Sarasvati) into this worship

Benefits of Chanting गायत्री आवाहनम्

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The prescribed invocation (avahana) before Gayatri Japa in Sandhyavandana

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Welcomes the Goddess Gayatri, mother of the Vedas, into the worship and the heart

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Glorifies Gayatri as ojas, strength, radiance and the whole universe

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Invokes her three forms — Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati — for the three Sandhyas

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Prepares and consecrates the mind before the powerful Gayatri Mantra repetition

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Believed to bestow wisdom, vitality and the grace of the Vedamata

How to Chant गायत्री आवाहनम्

Repetitions1times

Best TimeBefore Gayatri Japa at the three Sandhyas — dawn, midday and dusk

After Achamana, Pranayama and the Sankalpa for Japa, sit facing east (dawn) or as prescribed for the Sandhya. With folded hands and a calm mind, recite the Avahana, meditating on the radiant Goddess Gayatri seated before you. At 'Gayatrim-Avahayami…' make the gesture of invocation (avahana mudra) inviting her presence. Then proceed to the Gayatri Mantra Japa (108 or a chosen count) on a rudraksha or tulsi mala.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete गायत्री आवाहनम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Avahanam means 'invocation'. The Gayatri Avahanam is the set of verses by which the worshipper invites the Goddess Gayatri to be present before beginning the Gayatri Japa in the daily Sandhyavandana. It addresses her as the boon-giver, the imperishable Brahman, and the mother of the Vedic metres.

These are the three aspects of the one Vedamata worshipped at the three junctions of the day: Gayatri at dawn (associated with Brahma and Rigveda), Savitri at noon (Rudra/Yajurveda) and Sarasvati at dusk (Vishnu/Samaveda). Invoking all three honours her complete, threefold form.

It is recited at each of the three Sandhyas — sunrise, midday and sunset — immediately before the repetition (Japa) of the Gayatri Mantra, after the preliminary Achamana, Pranayama and Sankalpa.

'Chandasam Mata' means 'mother of the metres'. The Gayatri verse is regarded as the source and mother of all Vedic metres (chandas), and thus of the Vedas themselves — hence Gayatri is revered as Vedamata, the mother of the Vedas.