Gayatri Mantra Chant Evening for Clarity, Wisdom and Protection

In a beautiful Buddhist centre near London Bridge there is a warm and spacious wooden-floored Tara room. We will gather there, in a candle-light, feeling the scent of sweet woody incense from South India.

You will be given Gayatri mantra words on a paper, and we will sit down on either soft cushions or chairs, whichever you prefer.

We will chant this empowering, obstacle-clearing, knowledge-revealing and protective mantra in a circle, having the mantra’s poster with offerings to Gayatri in the middle surrounded by candles.

We will try to pronounce the mantra in an accurate way, and chant it whole-heartedly for around 45 minutes – the time it will take us to chant the magic 108 number, for the mantra to crystallize and infuse us with its gifts of clarity, wisdom and protection.

The whole atmosphere will shift if we do it correctly.

It might become luminous; we will start feeling sure of ourselves, knowing which action to take in our lives, clear about the issues that now seem foggy. We will feel protected, at peace, and joyful from within.

After the chant, we will sit in meditation for around 10 minutes.

After the meditation, we will take a break. We will drink aromatic organic herbal/black/white tea and have some organic ginger/raisin/digestive and other biscuits.

We will talk about our experiences during the chant, and other spiritual topics – whatever you want to share about your spiritual experiences, you are welcome to. It’s a supportive environment, and everyone will be interested to hear about another person’s spiritual journey.

After discussing our chant experiences and other spiritual experiences, we will all get to know each other. Whether you wish to talk to some particular person, or be involved in a group, you’re welcome to do as you please. It’s an informal and friendly environment, and I’m sure everyone would be pleased to get in contact with like-minded people.

At around 8.15 PM the evening will come to a close, yet it doesn’t have to be the end of your evening! I’m sure some people would agree to go to a cafe to get to know each other more and discuss other deep topics. This will be organized, if the demand is there.

About the Gayatri Chant, the Mother Goddess prayer
Goddess GayatriGayatri Mantra is one of the oldest and most powerful Vedic mantras. Its blessings are available to the people not initiated into it.

Some mantras are spiritually locked to the outsiders, and thus don’t give any energetic benefits, yet this mantra is available to all.

Gayatri mantra is powerful because it’s not evoking any deity, this mantra is the deity itself; the highest God-head, the Mother Goddess, that which gave birth to all that is. Gayatri mantra is not only the means of worship, the but the worship itself.

This mantra is also called a Great Mystical Utterance, for it connects the three worlds - terrestrial, celestial and the world that connects terrestrial with celestial. It also symbolises three depths of meditation: conscious, semi-conscious and unconscious.

The mantra words…

Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ
bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

…can be translated this way:

We meditate upon that which is most worthy,
the creator of the three dimensions,
the self-luminous one,
to enlighten our activities,
qualities and intellect.

Gayatri mantra is believed to remove negative energies and is used by yogis to also acquire super-natural powers.

It’s believed that by chanting it and firmly establishing it in the mind whilst going about your daily duties, happiness will infuse your life from within.

Gayatri root word itself has this meaning: the person who chants the mantra is rescued from all adverse situations that may lead to mortality.

Gayatri mantra is sometimes called Savitri Mantra, or Mother Goddess Mantra. Mother Goddess is called Tara in the Buddhist tradition, so it absolutely fits to chant this mantra in the Tara room, where the energy is already suitable.

No energy clearing needs to be done, and we will just keep raising this beautiful strong energy of creation, infusing us all with intense clarity about our life, wisdom, knowledge and protection.

To increase the power of mantra further, here’s some advice:

For full benefits of reciting the Gayatri Mantra, and to further purify the energy for all, have a bath before coming. That’s the advice of mantra initiates.

If, during the mantra, you need to go to the bathroom, wash your hands and face before re-entering the chant room.

Wear clean clothes, preferably new, or just washed.

Chant the mantra with as much feeling and awareness as possible. That will make a huge difference in the energy you receive.

If your attention wonders, fix your gaze on the Gayatri Goddess (the poster will be provided).

The power of 108 repetitions

Here’s some information from a gayatri mantra website:

There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, Shiva and Shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

On the Shri Yantra (one of the most important yantras), there are there are 108 points that define the yantra as well as the human body.

Each of the 54 marmas (intersections where three lines intersect) comprises both shiva and shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108.

It is believed that there are a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra (anahata) into our body.

According to the vedic astrology, there are 12 constellations – namshas and 9 arc segments – chandrakalas (chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole). 9 times 12 equals 108.

It is believed that Atman, the mirror of Brahman in a human soul goes through 108 stages on its journey.

There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian tradition of Bharatanatyam.

There are 108 Upanishads according to the Muktikopanishad.

There is energy around us that is present everywhere and permeates everything.

By chanting the Gayatri mantra we recognize that we are capable of channeling these energies to unite with them and gain pure intelligence.

These energies will always be around us; we should make the best use of them, to stimulate our spiritual and personal growth and create a meaningful life.

★FAQ★

Do I need to bring anything along?

No, unless you want to make some notes about the Gayatri Mantra description (then you should take a pen and a notebook). I’ll talk about it for a few minutes before starting the chant.

Can I be late?

Yes. Just find an empty chair or pillow and join us. Make sure to close the doors behind you.

What else should I know about the chant evening?

There will be incense burnt so if you’re sensitive to incense, I’m afraid this evening is not for you.

It would be great if you could remove the shoes before entering the Tara room. There’s a floor heating, so it will be warm to stay on the ground, and shoes carry person’s negative energy. We really don’t want negative energy in the room! You can safely leave your shoes behind the doors of Tara room.

What if I get uncomfortable whilst in a meditation posture?

You can always change the position or sit on a chair. You can sit in anyway you like which feels comfortable, but if you want to get mantra benefits, straight spine is essential.

Is there any bathroom?

Yes, there are actually three or four bathrooms in the centre. There’s one right next to the Tara room.

How to find the Tara room?

Ask at the reception – the lady will be happy to help you. Basically it’s on the right, when you enter the centre and has the name “Tara Room” one the door.