Gayatri Mantra Only for Men? - Updated

This is one of those posts that google "lost" last week. They recovered  2 out of 3 so far, and I am grateful.  However, the third one -still missing- was my review of David Keil's Yoga Anatomy into which I had put hours of work.  I hope they recover it and I can get it back up soon.

In the meantime, perhaps is good to bring this post updated, as some people got involved in the comments and it made it more interesting.

This was my original question:

Someone identified as anonymous commented yesterday in the 32 Unusual Ways to Attract Abundance into Our Lives and said that the Gayatri Mantra is traditionally not to be recited by women.

He posted the comment in all fairness and in a sweet manner and said:

Traditionally Gayatri mantra is not for women. And if done, this is the only one that requires the person to take shower before and wear clean, washed clothes and also at sun rise, noon, sun set. Any other chant can be performed any time because one can think of god any given time. Just something I know coming from a very traditional background and wanted to share.

My knowledge of this mantra, I admit, is limited as I only know what I read in books I bought in India, and what I can piece together. So I replied to him and asked whether this was written in scriptures or where did he hear that. But I wonder...

Then came some answers:

EcoYogini pointed us out to the wikki definition which states that in Induism the mantra is traditionally sang by males brahmins - but modern hindu reform movements have spread the practice to include women and all casts.

Then Anja, a woman who has lived in India all her life gave a more personal accoun which you can read in full in the comments of this post, of note to me was where she said:

".... A hindu brahmin male, at a young age is initiated into the study of vedas... An important part of this ceremony is where the father of the boy recites the gayatri mantra in the boy's ear several times...


... As a young girl, when I went to the upanyam of a cousin and asked my mom to tell me the secret mantra that was being recited in my cousin's ear, I was told that women should not chant the mantra even if they know it. Yoga asanas and especially the Surya Namaskara was also traditionally practised only by brahmin males. Though this privilege is not explicitly mentioned in any of the scriptures as far as I know."


She concludes that the upper casts of India wanted to hold on to the power brought about by the mantra and perhaps this is the reason why it was not shared.  I guess that makes sense... God bless them for trying.

Now the secret is out, and the Gayatri Mantra is widely available, here is a YouTube version I love.

Perhaps the only thing we lack now is personal experience of its power.  May we all benefit!




Check these out:

• 33 Benefits of the Gayatri Mantra
• How to Cure the Only Cause of Untimely Death
• 32 Unusual Benefits of Yoga