The Gayatri opening
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
Meaning
Om bhur bhuvah svah are the Gayatri's vyahritis — the names of the three worlds. On a jaap mala it is this opening that is counted; the full Gayatri is a recitation, not a bead. The tradition calls the Gayatri the mantra of clear thought — that is what is asked of Savitur.
How to do the jaap
In tradition the Gayatri belongs to the sandhya hours — sunrise, midday, sunset. A mala of 108; no mantra carries more insistence on clean pronunciation than this one.
Paths of this naam
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone chant the Gayatri?
In today's common practice, yes — anyone. Opinions differ on the old restrictions; we describe the common practice and leave the choice with you.