# गायत्री (gāyatrī)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/gayatri

गायत्री (gāyatrī) is a Sanskrit word meaning a song or hymn, a hymn composed in the Gayatri metre, name of a Saman, consisting in or connected with the Gayatri, brahmacharya, any hymn composed in this meter. Its 24 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them The Goddess Gāyatrī, The Sacred Gāyatrī Mantra, A Hymn, Song, or Sāman.

- **SLP1:** `gAyatrI`  **IAST:** gāyatrī  **Devanagari:** गायत्री
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/gayatri/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** गायत्रि (gāyatri)

## Meanings by context

### The Goddess Gāyatrī (5 definitions)
- 1. A Vedic meter of twenty-four syllables, usually in three lines. 2. A sacred Vedic verse personified as a goddess and wife of Brahma. 3. A kind of mimosa plant.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 288 ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) f. ( - त्री (-trī) ) 1 A measure of verse in the Vedas, a stanza usually of twenty-four syllables, variously arranged, but most commonly in three lines. 2 A sacred verse from the Vedas to be recited only mentally; this is usually personified and considered as a goddess, the wife of BRAHMĀ; the metaphorical mother of the three first classes, in their capacity of twice born, investiture with the sacred and distinguishing string, &c. being regarded as a new birth; there is but one Gāyatrī of the Vedas, but according to the system of the Tāntrikas, a number of mystical verses are called Gāyatrīs; each deity has one in particular. 3 A kind of mimosa, (M. catechu:) see the preceding, &c. E. गायन् (gāyan) who sings, and त्रै (trai) to preserve, affixes क (ka) and ङीष् (ṅīṣ); this applies especially to the mystical verse, the repetition of which is necessary for salvation; the word is also written गायत्त्री (gāyattrī). [ ID=13486 ]
- 1. A Vedic poetic measure usually consisting of twenty-four syllables in three lines. 2. A sacred Vedic verse personified as a goddess and wife of Brahma. 3. A kind of mimosa tree.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 237-a ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) f. ( - त्री (-trī) ) 1. A measure of verse in the Vedas, a stanza usually of twenty-four syllables, variously arranged, but most commonly in three lines. 2. A sacred verse from the Vedas to be recited only mentally; this is usually personified and considered as a goddess, the wife of BRAHMA; the metaphorical mother of the three first classes, in their capacity of twice born, investiture with the sacred and distinguishing string, &c. being regarded as a new birth; there is but one Gayatri of the Vedas, but according to the system of the Tantrikas, a number of mystical verses are called Gayatris; each deity has one in particular. 3. A kind of mimosa, (M. catechu:) see the preceding, &c. E. गायन् (gāyan) who sings, and त्रै (trai) to preserve, affixes क (ka) and ङीष्; (ṅīṣ;) this applies especially to the mystical verse, the repetition of which is necessary for salvation; the word is also written गायत्त्री (gāyattrī). [ ID=13477 ]
- 1. A specific Vedic meter. 2. A particular sacred verse.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 303-2 ] Gāyatrī, name of a metre, and also of a certain veṛse (= Sāvitrī?). § 289 (Arghāharaṇap.): II, 38, 1395 ( chandasāṃ mukhaṃ ).—§ 370 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 85, 8172. —§ 472 (Mārkaṇdeyas.): III, 200, 13432 ( devīṃ G°īṃ Vedamātaraṃ = Sāvitrī?, but cf. the note of PCR.).—§ 574 (Jambūkh.): VI, 4, 172, 173 (the universe consisting of nineteen classes of beings and five elements is spoken of as the G. (of twenty-four akṣaras).—§ 576 (Bhagavadgītāp.)): VI, 34, 1239 ( G°ī chandasām ahaṃ, sc. āsmi, says Kṛṣṇa).— § 603 d (Tripura): VII, 202, 9567 (Śiva made the G. and the Sāvitrī his reins).—§ 606 (Tripurākhyāna): VIII, 34, 1489 (Śiva made the G. his goad-string).—§ 772 b (Pavanār- junasaṃv.): XIII, 153, 7204 ( kanyayā, spoke from heaven to Arjuna Kārtavīrya). [ ID=4119 ]
- 1. A poetic metre. 2. A sister of Aruna and Garuda. 3. Recitation. 4. Wife of Prajapati.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 1-529 ] Gāyatrī (I) — a poetic metre; 1 a sister of Aruṇa and Garuḍa; recitation; 2 wife of Prajāpati. 3 Page1-530+ 29 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. III. 12. 45; XI. 21. 41; M. 125. 47; Br. II. 8. 50; 13. 145; Vā. 23. 65, 69; 31. 47; 50. 165; 51. 64; 55. 42; 69. 67; 106. 58; 109. 21.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. XI. 17. 25; Br. III. 7. 30; M. 239. 9.] [ Footnote: 3) Vā. 21. 42.] [ ID=4168 ]
- Raudrī, contemplated by Brahmā in the 21st kalpa  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 1-530 ] Gāyatrī (IV) — Raudrī, contemplated by Brahmā in the 21st kalpa; gauḥ in Lohita kalpa. 2 [ Footnote: 2) Ib. 23. 69.] [ ID=4171 ]

### The Sacred Gāyatrī Mantra (5 definitions)
- 1. A very sacred Vedic verse repeated by Brahmans at morning and evening devotions. 2. A goddess personified as the wife of Brahma and mother of the Vedas.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the Gāyatrī ( i.e. Ṛg-veda (Title) iii, 62, 10; तत् (t) सवितुर् वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदया (tat savitur vareṇyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayā) त् (t), Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) xiv; Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra (Title); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. this is a very sacred verse repeated by every Brāhman at his morning and evening devotions; from being addressed to Savitṛ or the Sun as generator, it is also called Sāvitrī; cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) pp. 19; 342; 361; 403; the Gāyatrī verse is personified as a goddess, the wife of Brahmā and mother of the four Vedas, Harivaṃśa (Title) 11666 ff.; it is often mentioned in connection with the Amṛta, both together constituting as it were the essence and type of sacred hymns in general, Atharva-veda (Title); the Gāyatrī personified is also considered as the mother of the first three classes in their capacity of twice-born, Horace H. Wilson, author of first Sanskrit-English dictionary in 1819 (Author); cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) pp. 200 f.; some other verse [perhaps, Ṛg-veda (Title) x, 9, 1 ] is denoted by Gāyatrī, Suśruta (Title) vi, 28, 7; with Tāntrikas a number of mystical verses are called Gāyatrīs, and each deity has one in particular) [ ID=64621 ]
- A sacred verse repeated during morning and evening devotions.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 0457-c ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) 2 N. of a very sacred verse repeated by every Brāhmaṇa at his Saṃdhyā (morning and evening devotions) and on other occasions also. Great sins even are said to be expiated by a pious repetition of this verse, which is as follows: - तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो न (tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo na) प्रचोदयात् (pracodayāt) Ṛgveda (Max Müller’s Edition) 3. 62. 10
- A poetic metre, specifically the Gayatri verse.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 084-1 ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) gāya-trī́, f. a. metre; the gāyatrī verse ( RV. III, lxii, 10 ). [ ID=6943 ]
- A sacred verse  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 251-a ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) ( त्री ) ((trī)) 3. f. A sacred verse. [ ID=12941 ]
- 1. A Vedic meter of twenty-four syllables. 2. A hymn in that meter. 3. A sacred verse repeated by Brahmins during morning and evening prayers.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 241-19 ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) f. 1. A vedic metre of twenty-four syllables, गायत्री (gāyatrī) छंदसामहम् (gāyatrī chaṃdasāmaham) Bg. x.35; 2. hymn composed in that metre; 3. a particular verse written in that metre, held specially sacred and repeated by every Brāhmaṇa at his morning and evening devotion. (It is this- तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् (tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi. dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt) Rv. iii.62, 10). [ ID=12048 ]

### A Hymn, Song, or Sāman (4 definitions)
- A song or hymn.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 352,3] गायत्र (gāyatra) a m. n. a song, hymn, Ṛg-veda (Title); Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title) xi, 8; Chāndogya-upaniṣad (Title) ii, 11, 1 [ ID=64614 ]
- a hymn composed in the Gayatri metre  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > गायत्र (gāyatra) n. a hymn composed in the Gāyatrī metre, Ṛg-veda (Title) [ ID=64615 ]
- name of a Saman  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Sāman, Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) ix; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title) [ ID=64617 ]
- A hymn composed and recited in the Gayatri metre.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — त्रं (traṃ) A hymn composed and recited in the Gāyatrī metre

### A Vedic Poetic Meter (3 definitions)
- the Gayatri metre  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the Gāyatrī metre, Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) i, 5, 52 [ ID=64616 ]
- 1. An ancient Vedic meter of twenty-four syllables, usually arranged as a triplet of eight syllables each. 2. Any hymn composed in this meter.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 352,3] गायत्री (gāyatrī) a ( ई (ī) ), f. an ancient metre of twenty-four syllables (variously arranged, but generally as a triplet of eight syllables each), any hymn composed in the Gāyatrī metre, Ṛg-veda (Title) x, 14, 16 & 130, 4; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title); Atharva-veda (Title) &c. [ ID=64620 ]
- A Vedic metre of 24 syllables  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गायत्री (gāyatrī) [Printed book page 0457-c ] गायत्री (gāyatrī) 1 A Vedic metre of 24 syllables; गायत्री (gāyatrī) छंदसामहं (gāyatrī chaṃdasāmahaṃ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 10. 35

### A Name for Other Deities/Figures (2 definitions)
- an epithet of Durga  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of Durgā, Matsya-purāṇa (Title); Kathāsaritsāgara (Title) liii, 172 [ ID=64622 ]
- Shiva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Gāyatrī 2 = Śiva (1000 names 1 ). [ ID=4120 ]

### Lexical/Referential Entries (2 definitions)
- see trayantra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 352,3] गायत्री (gāyatrī) b f. of ° त्र (°tra), q.v. [ ID=64635 ]
- See in the same place  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 354,1] गाय (gāya) ° त्री (°trī) c &c. See in the same place [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=64865 ]

### Other Meanings and Related Concepts (2 definitions)
- consisting in or connected with the Gayatri  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > गायत्र (gāyatra) mf( ई (ī) )n. consisting in or connected with the Gāyatrī ( e.g. in accordance with the number of syllables of a Gāyatrī verse), Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title); Taittirīya-saṃhitā (Title) &c. [ ID=64618 ]
- brahmacharya  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > with व्रत (vrata) = ब्रह्म - चर्य (brahma-carya), Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) x, 45, 29 [ ID=64619 ]

### A Plant (Acacia Catechu) (1 definition)
- Acacia Catechu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Acacia Catechu, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=64623 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546