Is the Gayatri mantra we chant not the real one?

One of the oldest mantras to exist, and to be mentioned in the sacred Hindu texts is the Gayatri mantra. And it is not just a set of words made to be chanted, it is a power inteself, a vibration and energy that is more than any other. The Gayatri mantra has a divine vibration to it that can energise a person, fill them with positivity, or calm, and help them achieve wisdom as they desire. It is believed that reciting the Gayatri mantra regularly can help people be more focused, steady, and clear in life. The powerful energy of this mantra helps people cleanse their mind, connect with their inner, pure self, and gives them guidance (mental and spiritual).

The Gayatri mantra that we chant today is mentioned in the Rigveda. The mantra goes - Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha, Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat. And the meaning of the mantra can roughly be understood to - ‘O Divine mother, we meditate on you, and your positive, radiant light. Please help us be illuminated and guide us on the right path. To put it simply, the Gayatri mantra that a majority of Hindu children and adults have been chanitng all their life is like a request to the all-powerful to give them knowledge, wisdom, and help them see the light.

Now, this might come as a shock to some people and make them believe that everything they have heard or read so far is false, but there is a school of thought that believes that the ‘original Gayatri mantra’, known as the ‘Yoga Gayatri’ has been lost overtime. According to their theory, the Gayatri mantra humans have been chanting for ages now is not the all-powerful Yoga Gayatri mantra, but rather a version of the original one. And the one humans know of is the ‘Savitur Gayatri mantra’. Now, why did this happen? Some people believe that the Yoga Gayatri mantra was so powerful that it could help people awaken their spiritual energy and make them reach a deep state of enlightenment. And as Kaliyug came by, this power was feared to be misused. And so, the Savitur Gayatri mantra was given to humans as an alternative.

Now, very few people have been clear about what the real difference between the two mantras are because only the select few are aware about the Yoga Gayatri mantra, its power, its energy, and where it is. But, it is believed that the ‘Savitur Gayatri mantra is meant to focus on the energy of the Sun, whereas the ‘Yoga Gayatri mantra’, the one said to be the ‘original, and all powerful’ focused on the self, on the Yog, and on the Atman.It is also said that while Gayatri mantra (Savitur) is and can be chanted by anyone, the Yoga Gayatri mantra is only given by a Guru to his shishya (accomplished student). It is believed that without initiation into the mantra, no one can chant or reap its benefits.

After knowing all these theories, it might be a bit difficult to understand what exactly is happening. But, one should remember that the mantra we chant, the one that is taught to children religiously, is a mantra mentioned in the Vedas, in the books that every Hindu looks up to and adheres to. Plus, the Savitur Gayatri mantra, with its simple pronunciation, meaning, and the positivity it spreads over people, cannot be denied to be a powerful one. People have experienced joy, relief, calm, insight, and whatnot after chanting the Gayatri mantra as they have learnt from an early age.

According to Hindu thoughts and beliefs, the Kaliyug is the darkest of ages and is the one where materialism, ego, and ignorance have consumed human life. Only the select few have been able to maintain their purity, but unfortunately, it is not enough to stop the impending doom. Many believe that nobody knows the ‘Yoga Gayatri mantra’ because it could only be initiated by a learned Guru, and in the Kaliyug, the first Gurus found no one to pass on the knowledge to. And so, the ‘Yoga Gayatri mantra’ is lost! So, one can not know if there is a mantra like that, or it is just a thought of some people. What humans know yet is that chanting the ‘Om bhur bhuvah swaha’ mantra has given them strength, power, love, and knowledge.