Usage[edit]

Main usage[edit]
Main usage of the Gayatri Mantra is for Gayatri Japa which is, among others, the core part
of Sandhyavandanam-ritual stipulated by the Hindu Scriptures as an inescapable duty of a Dvija.
Sandhyavandanam literally means salutation to Sandhya. Sandhya literally means transition
moments of the day namely the two twilights : dawn and dusk and the solar noon. Thus
Sandhyavandanam means salutation to twilight or solar noon. All the components of
Sandhyavandanam ritual are centered around Sun God worship. Gayatri japa fits in the whole
structure and is considered to be the core part of the ritual mainly because of the Sun God oriented
meaning of the Gayatri Mantra.
Imparting the Svitr mantra to young Hindu males is an important part of the
traditional upanayanam ceremony, which marks the beginning of study of the Vedas.S.
Radhakrishnan has described this as the essence of the ceremony,[18] which is sometimes
called "Gayatri diksha", i.e. initiation into the Gayatri Mantra.[33] However, traditionally, the stanza
RV.3.62.10 is the Svitr imparted only to Brahmin boys. Other Svitr verses are used in the
upanayanam ceremony for non-Brahmins: RV.1.35.2, in theTrishtubh meter, for a Kshatriya; and,
either RV.1.35.9 or RV.4.40.5, in the Jagati meter, for a Vaishya.[34]

Other usages[edit]
In addition to the Sandhyavandanam-use, Gayatri japa is used as a method of pryacitta,
instrument of Tantric practice, etc.
It is believed by practitioners that reciting the mantra bestows wisdom and enlightenment, through
the vehicle of the Sun (Savitr), who represents the source and inspiration of the universe. [18]