Meaning of the word धीमहि – dhīmahi in Savitṛ mantra (Gayatri mantra)

 

I am not providing here just the generally available meaning of the Savitṛ mantra (popularly known as Gayatri mantra), but a comparative study of the meaning of the crucial word धीमहि – dhīmahi that appears in various Riks in Rig Veda.

Rig Veda 3.62.10

Ṛṣi (seer): gopavana ātreyaḥ saptavadhrirvā;

Devatā (deity): savitā ;

Chandas (meter): nicṛdgāyatrī ;

तत् सवितुर् वरेण्यम् भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि | धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ||

tat savitur vareṇyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||

We meditate upon {Dhīmahi} That {Tat} The divine light {Bhargo}, Worthy of worship {Vareṇyaṃ}, Of the deity {Devasya} Savitṛ {Savitur}, Who {Yo} May inspire or enlighten {Prachodayāt} our {Naḥ}  Our intellects {Dhiyo}.

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Here, the generally accepted meaning of to meditate upon was attributed to the word धीमहि – dhīmahi.

Rig Veda 7.66.9

Ṛṣi (seer): vasiṣṭhaḥ

Devatā (deity): ādityāḥ

Chandas (meter): nicṛdgāyatrī ;

 ते स्याम देव वरुण ते मित्र सूरिभिः सह । इषं स्वश्च धीमहि ॥
te syāma deva varuṇa te mitra sūribhiḥ saha | iṣaṃ svaś ca dhīmahi ||

 

Together with our WISE (seers), might we be these, O Varuṇa, O Mitra: might we receive Wisdom and the BLISS.

Rig Veda 5.82.1

 Ṛṣi (seer): śyāvāśva ātreyaḥ;

Devatā (deity): savitā ;

Chandas (meter): nicṛdanuṣṭup;

तत्सवितुर्वृणीमहे वयं देवस्य भोजनम् । श्रेष्ठं सर्वधातमं तुरं भगस्य धीमहि ॥
tat savitur vṛṇīmahe vayaṃ devasya bhojanam | śreṣṭhaṃ sarvadhātamaṃ turam bhagasya dhīmahi ||

This we choose of Savitar’s: the sustenance of the BRAHMAN—Bhagas’s (the epithet of BRAHMAN) best vanquishing power (of foes), which best confers wholeness—(that) would we acquire. 

Rig Veda 2.11.12

Ṛṣi (seer): gṛtsamadaḥ śaunakaḥ;

Devatā (deity): indra:

Chandas (meter): nicṛtpaṅkti ;

 त्वे इन्द्राप्यभूम विप्रा धियं वनेम ऋतया सपन्तः । अवस्यवो धीमहि प्रशस्तिं सद्यस्ते रायो दावने स्याम ॥

tve indrāpy abhūma viprā dhiyaṃ vanema ṛtayā sapantaḥ | avasyavo dhīmahi praśastiṃ sadyas te rāyo dāvane syāma ||

We inspired poets have abided by you, Indra. Serving according to the ṛta (truth), we would gain insight. Seeking your help, we would create for ourselves a proclamation of your praise. Speedily, we receive wealth (DIVINE BLISS) given by you.

Rig Veda 3.29.4

 Ṛṣi (sage/seer): gopavana ātreyaḥ saptavadhrirvā ;

Devatā (deity): agniḥ ;

Chandas (meter): virāḍanuṣṭup ;

 इळायास्त्वा पदे वयं नाभा पृथिव्या अधि । जातवेदो नि धीमह्यग्ने हव्याय वोळ्हवे ॥

iḻāyās tvā pade vayaṃ nābhā pṛthivyā adhi | jātavedo ni dhīmahy agne havyāya voḻhave ||

“Agni who is Jātavedas, we place you upon the earth in the centre, in the place of Iḷā, for the purpose of receiving the oblation.”

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 If we carefully study the meaning provided on other Riks, we can find that धीमहि – dhīmahi was used in the meaning of receiving/acquiring.

 If we substitute the meaning of to meditate upon with receiving/acquiring, then the meaning of Savitṛ mantra appears like this.

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Savitṛ {Savitur}, Who {Yo} may inspire or enlighten {Prachodayāt} our {Naḥ}  Our intellects {Dhiyo}, (so that) We receive {Dhīmahi} That {Tat} The divine light {Bhargo}, Worthy of worship {Vareṇyaṃ}, Of the deity {Devasya}