शिव गायत्री मंत्र — Word-by-Word Meaning
शिव गायत्री मंत्र
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
ॐ
Om
the primordial sound
विद्महे
Vidmahe
may we know / we seek to know — the Supreme Person (Tatpurusha)
धीमहि
Dhimahi
we meditate upon — the great God (Mahadeva)
तन्नः … प्रचोदयात्
Tannah … Prachodayat
may Rudra (Shiva) inspire and illumine our intellect
Complete Translation
ॐ। हम Lord Shiva को जानें, उनका ध्यान करें; वे Lord Shiva हमारी बुद्धि को प्रेरित व प्रकाशित करें।
Origin & History
Source: The Gayatri mantra of Lord Shiva
Author: Traditional (Vedic)
Beyond the universal Gayatri Mantra, the Vedic tradition gives each great deity its own Gayatri — a prayer in the sacred Gayatri meter calling upon that deity to illumine the intellect. The Shiva Gayatri Mantra invokes Lord Shiva, the giver of peace, health, fearlessness and spiritual growth, in the timeless pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat" — "may we know, may we meditate, may the Lord inspire our minds." Chanted at the sandhya hours, it is a complete and gentle daily sadhana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shiva Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is the Gayatri mantra of Lord Shiva: "Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Mahadevaya Dhimahi. Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat". Set in the sacred Gayatri meter, it invokes Lord Shiva to inspire and illumine the intellect, in the pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat".
What are the benefits of the Shiva Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is chanted for peace, health, fearlessness and spiritual growth, and to awaken clarity and wisdom of mind. As a Gayatri mantra it is held to be especially purifying and steadying, bringing the blessings of Lord Shiva into daily life.
When and how many times should it be chanted?▼
Chant it 108 times on a mala, ideally at dawn and the other sandhya times, facing east. Monday is its special day. It can be made part of a daily Gayatri sadhana.
What does "Vidmahe Dhimahi Prachodayat" mean?▼
Every Gayatri follows this pattern: "Vidmahe" — may we know; "Dhimahi" — may we meditate upon; "Prachodayat" — may that deity inspire and illumine our intellect. So the mantra is a prayer for the deity to awaken wisdom within us.
Can anyone chant the Shiva Gayatri Mantra?▼
Yes — deity Gayatri mantras may be chanted by anyone with devotion. They are recited at dawn after a bath, with a clean mind, ideally on Monday, and are a gentle, complete daily practice.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →