Gayatri

About Gayatri

Gayatri is the goddess form of a single verse — Rigveda 3.62.10 — composed by the sage Vishvamitra and addressed to Savitṛ, the sun before sunrise. She takes her name from its 24-syllable meter. Temple icons show her with five heads in five colors and ten arms holding a conch, discus, lotus, goad, noose, and the four Vedas — which is why she is called Veda Mata, mother of the Vedas. She rides a hamsa (swan). Initiates first receive her mantra whispered in the ear at the sacred-thread ceremony, then chant it at dawn, noon, and dusk for life.