Interpreting the holy Gayatri mantra

Gayatri mantra is a chant often used as a prayer for universal peace and enlightenment. In my experience, whenever I used to sit at a quiet place, and chant this mantram mentally for 20-30 minutes, at the end of it I felt happier, mentally uplifted and occasionally I have found answers to the questions/problems I was facing at that I point of time. Oftentimes, various interpretations for the mantra come to my mind. Only recently did I think about writing these thoughts in a blog, as it would be interesting to read them later, say many years from now.

Here is one such interpretation.
The exalted Gayatri mantra is a prayer for the Supreme wisdom, for elevating us in all ways from this mundane life, for giving us a peep into the reality that is pervading the entire universe. When we begin a mantra chant, say for 108 times, it will be helpful to focus on praying for mental strength, energy and fortitude, the first few times you chant the exalted Gayatri mantra. This mental strength is most needed for us to sustain our sincerity in religious practice. When we meditate on the glory of the Supreme Savita, we seek to burn our sins, and of sins we all, human beings, plants, animals, all the Jeevajalas of the universe, have our own quota to burn. We need a sustained campaign to destroy these sins, individually and collectively. Only when these sins are burnt up, do we become pure enough to be able to see the ultimate reality, the Supreme Self shining everywhere, including our own selves, which is the ultimate goal of chanting the exalted Gayatri mantra. So, with mental strength and fortitude we are able to overcome the weakness caused by the bonds tying us to this world, and we are able to devote our time to sincere prayer to the divine for enlightenment. And as we progress in our prayer, we move closer and closer to our better selves, better in all ways.