Gayatri Mata Aarti

Gayatri Mata is revered as the mother of the Vedas, the presiding deity of the sacred Gayatri Mantra, and the source of wisdom, purity and spiritual light in Sanatan Dharma. She is depicted with five faces representing the five pranas and the five elements, seated on a swan, holding symbols of knowledge and grace. Singing her aarti at the close of worship is a heartfelt way of offering light, gratitude and surrender to the Mother of the Vedas.

जय गायत्री माता, मैया जय गायत्री माता जो कोई तुमको ध्याता, पूर्ण आस मन की पाता ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

पंचमुखी सुखदायक, नाना रत्न सुहावें अद्भुत छवि छटा तेरी, दर्शन से पाप पलावें ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

नाना वाहन सुंदर, वाहन है हंस प्यारा कमल पुष्प पर विराजो, ज्ञान का दो उजियारा ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

वेद शास्त्र तव गावें, महिमा नित्य तुम्हारी अपनी शरण में लेकर, ज्ञान करो उजियारी ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

माँ शरणागत रक्षक, विपत्ति सबकी हरणी सद्गुण सद्बुद्धि दात्री, पावन कीर्ति करणी ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

मातेश्वरी दयामय, कृपा करो हम पर भी सद्बुद्धि हो हमारी, माता आपकी कृपा से भी ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

जय गायत्री माता, मैया जय गायत्री माता जो कोई तुमको ध्याता, पूर्ण आस मन की पाता ॥ जय गायत्री माता...

The opening refrain hails Mother Gayatri and says that whoever meditates upon her with devotion has every heartfelt wish fulfilled. The second verse describes her as the giver of happiness in her five-faced form, adorned with countless gems, whose very darshan removes sin. The third verse describes her graceful vahana, the swan, and prays that seated upon the lotus she illuminate the devotee with the light of knowledge.

The fourth verse says the Vedas and shastras themselves sing her glory eternally, and prays she take the devotee into her refuge and remove the darkness of ignorance. The fifth verse calls her the protector of all who take shelter in her, the remover of every calamity, the giver of good qualities and right understanding, and the one who bestows sacred fame. The closing verse is a simple, tender plea: O compassionate Mother, show your grace on us too, that our intellect may become pure through your blessing.

Gayatri Mata is called Vedmata because the Gayatri Mantra, from which she takes her form, is considered the essence of all four Vedas. She represents the awakening of buddhi, the higher intellect, and is worshipped by seekers of knowledge, students, teachers and anyone wishing to purify their mind and speech. Her worship is not tied to any single sect; sadhaks across traditions chant her mantra and sing her aarti as part of the sandhya vandan, the daily triple worship performed at dawn, midday and dusk.

The Gayatri Aarti is traditionally sung after chanting the Gayatri Mantra, ideally at sunrise or sunset, facing east or the rising sun. Light a ghee lamp and incense before an image or yantra of Gayatri Mata, offer a few drops of water, flowers and a little rice, then chant the mantra 108 times on a tulsi or rudraksha mala before singing this aarti. After the aarti, take the aarti flame around the deity in a clockwise direction and offer your palms briefly to the flame before touching them to your eyes in reverence.

Maintain physical and mental cleanliness before this worship; bathe if possible and sit in a quiet, clean space. Sing with a calm, steady voice rather than rushing through the words. Avoid singing it in a place of impurity or immediately after eating heavy food. There is no strict restriction on who may chant the Gayatri Mantra or sing this aarti with sincere devotion and respect.

Best time to sing the Gayatri Aarti: at sunrise, midday or sunset, especially after chanting the Gayatri Mantra.

Can this aarti be sung by anyone: yes, with sincere devotion and a clean, respectful approach, anyone may sing it.

What should accompany the aarti: a lit ghee lamp, incense, and ideally the Gayatri Mantra chanted before it.