Goddess Gayatri: Mother of all Gods

Brush up your mythology: In Hindu mythology, the goddess Gayatri is known as the Veda Mata — the mother of all the Vedas. To some, she is also seen as the mother of all Gods, and the culmination of Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati.

She is also known to be the consort of Lord Brahma. In religious terms, Gayatri is said to be the essence of Brahman, combining all the features of Brahman, that is past, present and future. That is why Gayatri is worshiped as the Trimurti combined into one.

Gayatri is normally shown seated on a red lotus, which connotes wealth. She has five forms. For instance, one depiction may show her with five heads, with 10 eyes looking in eight directions and her arms holding all the weapons of Vishnu, while another might show her accompanied by a white swan and holding a book to depict knowledge in one hand, and a cure for illness in another.

Gayatri is also, in Sanskrit, a reference to a song or a hymn. In fact, the famous Gayatri Mantra, taken from the Rig Veda and attributed to Vishvamitra, is with reference to her. The Gayatri Mantra, simply speaking, consists of a formula taken from the Yajur Veda, and a verse from the Rig Veda. However, the Gayatri Mantra can be found in all four Vedas. By many Hindus, Gayatri is associated with Brahman and chanting the Gayatri Mantra is believed to be the easiest route to a divine awakening of the mind and soul. Only through chanting it can one achieve a union with Brahman and thus reach the highest peak of existence. Therefore, understanding the essence of the Mantra is believed to be one of the most powerful ways to reach God.