Meaning of Gayatri Mantra

Om – That ultimate Self

Bhu Bhuva Suva – the three vyhartis, these denote the three worlds. Bhu - this world, Bhuva – the world in-between and Suva – the higher world, Svarga – heaven (In north india they pronounce this suva as sva)

Tat Savitu – That sun, the directly perceived deity, this denotes the Self. Though the Self is self-effulgent, and sun is illumined by the Self, therefore non-self-effulgent. Still, from the worldly view, Sun is seen as self-effulgent.

Varenyam – Greatest.

Bargho – shining / illumining

Devasya  - of that iswara / lord / deity

Dimahi – let us place (pray) in our heart / intellect / mind

Diya Na – our intellect.

Pracodayat – let Him illumine. One, who illumines everything, let Him illumine.

Let us pray the greatest, that self-effulgent deity Sun, the Self, one who is all these three worlds, through whose effulgence let our intellect / heart too become illumined.

If we stay close to fire, the nature of the fire to illumine and give heat, due to it we also become illumined and gain some heat. Similarly, the inherent nature of the Self is “Satyam Gnanam Anantam” (absolute Existence, absolute Knowledge and absolute Bliss), meditating on whom we also will be associated with / be of that nature.