‘Gayatri Mantra’ is a very powerful and Sacred Prayer integrating the Inner Soul and the Super Force.Of the several veins in a human body, ten of them are supposed to be important providing life, viz.Ida, Pingala, Sushumna, Gandhari, Hastijihva, Prutha, Yasha, Alambusha, Huhu and Shankhini.Mainly these veins are responsible for creating ‘Prana Vayu’ (The breath of Life). Apart from Prana Vayu, there are nine other forms of life’s breathing, viz. Vyana, Apana, Samana, Udana, Naga, Kurma, Krikara, Devadatta, and Dhananjaya. Actually, five forms of Life’s breathing are stated to be more important, viz. Prana (Principal Energy), Apana ( Internal Energy), Samana (Balancing Energy),  Vyana (Central Energy) and Udana (External Energy).Goddess Gayatri is thus stated to have five faces representing and five portions of the Mantra, viz. Om ( the Central Face), Bhur bhuvassuvaha (the second face), tat savitur varenyam (the third face), Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi (the fourth face) and Dhi-yo-yona prachodayat (the fifth face). The Lords of Universe-Tri Murthis- named Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Sustainer), and Shiva (Liquidator), having three attributes viz. Satvika (Creation or Existence), Rajasica ( Preservation) and Tamasika ( Destruction or Extinction) are all absorbed in prayers to Devi Gayatri  Now the integration of the Super Force and the inner soul of Human Beings are effected via the Three Murthies and the most suited conduit to do so is by chanting the Gayatri Mantra.

    The Literal and word- by-word meaning of Gayatri Manthra is: Om : ( All Mighty God) – Buhr ( Embodiment of Vital Energy)-Bhuvaha ( Destroyer of Suffering)-Swaha (Embodiment of Happiness)- Tat ( That God) -Savithur ( Bright like Sun)-Varenyam         ( The Supreme)- Bhargo ( Destroyer of Sins)- Devasya (Divine Force)-Dhimahi (May Receive)-Dhiyo (Intellect)-Yo ( Who)-Na ( Our)- Prachodayat ( Let inspire in right direction). The meaning in sum is: Oh God, You Are the Creator of Life, Destroyer of Sorrow, Bestower of Happiness and the Creator of Universe.May we receive Your Supreme Light to demolish our sins and guide us in our intellect in the right direction. 

 [NOTE: Scientific explanations have been offered by modern Scientists about the Gayatri Mantra. According to Astro Physics and Astronomy, a sound is produced due to the fast movement of Earth, Planets and Galaxy or the Milky Way, called Akshay Ganga, having some 100,000 million Stars. The Galaxy, the Moon and the Earth – all revolving around the Sun-each moving on their own axis-at a mind boggling velocity speed of 20,000 miles per second, produce the Sound and Sages (Rishies) had named the  Super Sound as OM.The sum of the Gayatri Mantra sums up as follows: The Earth ( Bhur), the Planets ( Bhuhava) and the Galaxy ( Swah) are rotating on their own axis at a great velocity as the Great sound OM is made, which is the Formless Entity. The total kinetic energy generated by the movement totals or balances the total energy consumption of Cosmos and this is named as Pranava or the body energy (mass of galaxies multiplied by velocity and further multiplied by two: Mass x Velocity x 2). That entity (God), who manifests in the form of Supreme Radiance (The Sun or Savitur) is worthy of bowing or respected (Varenyam). We should meditate (dheemahi) upon the light (bhargo) of that Entity (devasya) and also do the chanting of OM. May He (Yo) guide in the right direction (prachodayat) our (nah) intellect (dhiyo)!] Agni Purana assures that the incantation of Gayatri Mantra seven times a day, of course by fully   understanding the full meaning of the Mantra, as it would vanish sins; once the number of the invocation is multiplied, good results would be muliplied too.The simplest and the easiest possibility of reciting Gayatri Mantra at any time or place is a great boon to mankind, as it improves concentration, mental focus, feeling of wellness and a lot of peace. In fact, whenever a human being gets disturbed by difficult situations of mundane life, it is most likely that even strong feelings of anger, envy, fatigue, defeat, helplessness, confusion and many other emotions of mind or physique are diluted and overcome. Quite apart from the spiritual import, the Mantra acts like an instant tonic of purely mundane activities.          

 Sandhya Vidhi : After invoking Gayatri by pronouncing OM, a devotee is to touch the ‘sikha’ or     tuft on the back portion of head is expected to be; perform ‘Achamana’ (sip spoonful water thrice) and touch hridaya (heart), naabhi (navel), and both the shoulders. Then perform Viniyoga by uttering the following: Omkaarasya Brahma Rishih Gayatri Chhandoragni Devataa Shuklo varnah Sarva karmaa –rambhey viniyogah/ (Commencing with Omkaara, the Viniyoga/ introduction states: Brahma is Rishi, Gayatri is the Chhandas or the form of Prosody, Agni / Paramatma is the targetted Deity). Devi Gayatri’s dhyaana or meditation is done by the Mantra: Shuklaa chaagni mukhi Divya Katyaana sa gotrajaa, Thailokyavaranaa Divya Prithirvyaadhaara samyutaa/ Aksha sutra dhara Devi Pammaasana gataa Shubha / Devi’s Aavaahana or welcome / invocation is followed  with this Mantra: Om Tejosi Mahosi Balamasi Bhraajosi Devaanaam dhaamanaamaasi, Vishwamasi Vishvaayuh Sarvamasi Sarvaayuh Om Abhi Bhuh/ This Mantra would be followed by: Aagaccha Varadey Devi japey mey sannidhow bhava, Gaayantam traayasey yasmaad Gayathrii twam tatah smrutaa/ (The Rishis of all ‘Vyahritis’ is Prajapati himself; He is always existent in the Ekaakshara Swarupa of OM in Vyashti or singular and Samishti (Plural) Forms. Saptavyaahriteenam Vishwamitra Jamadagni Bharadwaja Gautamaatri vasishtha Kashyapa Rishayey Gayarushnikanushthubbruhati Pinga Trishthub jajadyaschhandaadaagi vaayavaadityaBrihaspati varunendri Vishva devataa anaadishta praayaschattey praanaamaayamey vinogoyah/ (The Sapta Vyahritis  are: the Sapta Rishis viz. Viswamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha,and Kashyapa; the Sapta Devatas are: Agni, Vayu, Surya, Brihaspati, Varuna, Indra and Vishwa Deva; Sapta Chhandah viz. Gayarti, Ushnik, Aushthup, Brihati, Pinga, Trishthup, and Jagati). Following this, Three Ruchas are rendered as follows:

  Om aapo hi shtha mayo bhuvah, Om taana urjey dathaatana, Om Maheranaaya Chakshasey, Om yo vah Shivatamo rasah, Om Tasya bhajayateha nah, Om ushiteeriva Maatarah, Om Tasmaa aram  gamaava vah, Yasya Khayayah jinvitha, Om Aapo janaayatha cha nah/  After the above  Richas, further Richas be rendered as follows: Om Drupadaadiva mumuchaanah Savitrah snaato malaadva, Putam Pavitrenovaajya maapah shuddhantu mainasah/ Thus rendering the aforesaid Ruchas, the Mantra : Hiranya Varnaah Shuchaya etc. be uttered and simultaneously water drops be sprinkled on the devotee’s head eight times, so that he would be freed from all the sins committed till date. Now the Aghamarshana Mantra is rendered thrice: Om Rutascha Satyanchaabheedbhaatthapaso dhyayajaayat, tato raatra jaayata, tatah Samudro arnavah, Samudraadarnavaadadhi Samvatsaro ajaayata, ahoraatrani vidadhadravischasya mishato vashee, Suryaachandramasou Dhaataa yathaa purvamakalpayat, Divascha Prithivischaantariksamayo swah / Thereafter,  three Marjana Mantras  be rendered for which Sindhudwipa isRishi, Gayatri is Chhanda and Varuna is Devata and the Mantraas are: Apohishta mayo bhuvah ta na oorje dadhatana, maheranaaya chakshase yo vah sivatamorasah/ Tasya bhajayateha nah Usateeriva Matarah, Tasma aranga mamavah/ yasyakshayaya jinvatha, Apo janayata cha nah Om Bhurbhuvassusah/ Now, the Gayatri Siro Mantra is to be recited for which Prajapati is Rishi, Chhanda rahita Yajur mantrah, viz. Aapo jyoti rasomritam Brahma Bhurbhuvahsswarom/ Pranayama leads to ‘Vayu’, Vayu creates Agni, Agni creates Jala (Varuna) and that is why the ‘Shuddha Jala’ is taken now as ‘Achamana’with the Mantra: Antascharasi bhuteshu Guhaayaam Viswa murthishu,Tapo yagno vashatkaara aapo jyotee rasomrutam. [While these are the basic Mantras, appropriate variations be observed, for Pratahkaaleena, Maadhyahnnika and Suryastamaya timings].