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गायत्री आवाहनम् — Word-by-Word Meaning

गायत्री आवाहनम्

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

आयातु
Ayatu
May (she) come, please arrive (the invocation, avahana)
वरदा देवी
Varada Devi
The boon-granting Goddess (Gayatri)
अक्षरं ब्रह्मसम्मितम्
Aksharam Brahma-Sammitam
The imperishable, equal to (identical with) Brahman
गायत्रीम्
Gayatrim
Gayatri (the sacred verse-goddess)
छन्दसां माता
Chandasam Mata
The mother of all the Vedic metres (chandas)
इदं ब्रह्म जुषस्व नः
Idam Brahma Jushasva Nah
Be pleased to accept this our prayer (this Brahman / sacred utterance)
ओजोऽसि
Ojo-si
You are vital lustre (ojas)
सहोऽसि
Saho-si
You are forbearing might (sahas)
बलमसि
Balam-asi
You are strength (bala)
भ्राजोऽसि
Bhrajo-si
You are radiance (bhrajas)
देवानां धाम नामासि
Devanam Dhama Nama-asi
You are the abode and the very name of the gods
विश्वमसि
Vishvam-asi
You are the whole universe
विश्वायुः
Vishvayuh
You are the life of all (universal life-span)
सर्वमसि सर्वायुः
Sarvam-asi Sarvayuh
You are all, the life of everything
अभिभूः
Abhibhuh
The all-surpassing, supreme one
गायत्रीमावाहयामि
Gayatrim-Avahayami
I invoke Gayatri (and likewise Savitri and Sarasvati) into this worship

Complete Translation

ॐ — वरदायिनी देवी पधारें, जो अक्षर और ब्रह्म के समान हैं; हे गायत्री, छन्दों की माता, हमारी इस पवित्र प्रार्थना को स्वीकार कीजिए। आप ओज हैं, सहन-शक्ति हैं, बल हैं, तेज हैं; आप देवों का धाम और उनका नाम हैं, आप समस्त विश्व हैं, सबका जीवन हैं, आप सर्व हैं, सबकी आयु और सबसे परे अभिभू हैं — ॐ। मैं गायत्री का आवाहन करता हूँ; सावित्री का आवाहन करता हूँ; सरस्वती का आवाहन करता हूँ। (ये ऋचाएँ जप आरम्भ करने से पूर्व गायत्री-देवी को उपस्थित होने के लिए आवाहित करती हैं।)

Origin & History

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

Author: Unknown (Vedic ritual tradition)

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gayatri Avahanam?▼
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.
Why are Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati invoked together?▼
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.
When is this recited?▼
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.
What does 'Chandasam Mata' mean?▼
'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.

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