Essence of Gayathri Manthra

What is the essence of the 'Gayathri Manthra' ?

In our tradition (brahmins) 'Gayathri Manthra' is sacred, it is very important. There is a saying before 'kama' enters a person 'Gayathri' should enter him. The Gayathri is taught to a student by a teacher, it is called 'Brahmopadesam' where upadesam means advice, and Brahma means the Supreme God head. The teacher and the student cover themselves with a silk cloth and the manthra is whispered in his ears, that nobody should listen. After this brahmopadesam the student gets the authority to perform vedic rituals.

Gayathri = gayantham + thrayatha ithi gayathri

That means 'to save him who meditates or prays / worships' in other words, the Lord will save him if he meditates or prays / worships.

The Gayathri Manthra:

"boorbuvas suvaha tat savithur varenyam bargo
devasya deemahi diyoyonaha prachodayath"

Word by Word:

waha- who, naha - our, deeyaha - mind, prachodayath - enlights our minds (or) to bring realisation in our minds, tat - that, devasya - Lord in the the form of light (not sun light), savithuhu - the one who created the universe, varenyam - the most high, bargaha - figure or form, deemahi - we meditate (or) pray.

Meaning:

The Supreme God head, who created the universe and all in it is in the form of light, he is the most high, the one who enlightens our mind that we would get spiritual realisation, that Lord in whom I meditate and worship.

Quotes from the Holy Bible:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.- Jam 1:17

In him (Lord Jesus Christ) was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.-John 1:4,5

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.-1Timothy 1:17

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. - 1John 1:5

There are even moore verses in the Holy Bible that declares Lord Jesus Christ is - Light, Holy, Self-Existent, Truth, Immortal, Judge, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, deliverer, Comforter, Adviser and so on, where this page would not be sufficient. amen.