1. Omkar & Opening Mantras OM OM OM OM SRI GANESHAAYA NAMAHA OM GAM GANAPATHAYE NAMAHA TAT PURUSHAAYA VIDMAHE VAKRATUNDAAYA DHEEMAHI TANNO DHANTHI PRACHODHAYAAT OM SRI GANESHAAYA NAMAH VAKRATUNDA MAHAKAYA SURYAKOTI SAMAPRABHA NIRVIGHNAM KURU ME DEVA SARVA KARYESU SARVADA GURURBRAHMA GURURVISNU: GURURDEVO MAHESVARA: GURUSSAKSAT PARABRAHMA TASMAI SRI GURAVE NAMA: SARVAMANGALA MANGALYE SIVE SARVARTHA SADHIKE SARANYE TRAYAMBAKE GAURI NARAYANI NAMOSTUTE SARASVATI NAMASTUBHYAM VARADE KAMARUPINI VIDYA RAMBHAM KARISYAMI SIDDIR BHAVATU ME SADA 2. Collective Bhajans 10-12 short bhajans of 4-6 lines (max 8). First 8 bhajans from the following pages in this book and next 4 bhajans short named ones (All Bhajans to be sung twice through 1st round - slow & each line may be repeated twice 2nd round - fast with each line sung once only) Collective Last Bhajan Veera Maruthi (All lead singers please take note to come and give your name and song numbers by 10.45am. Any singers failing to do the above at the very latest by 10.55am will unfortunately be denied and have to sing next week) This is our once a week appointment with God and we have to adhere to this punctuality for the benefit of all present! 3. Silent Sitting / Meditation We will have here one minute at least of pure silence Mantras (Page i)
4. Mantras ASATO MA SAD GAMAYA TAMAS0 MA JY0TIR GAMAYA MRTYOR MA AMRTAM GAMAYA OM SANTI: SANTI: SANTI: GAYATRI MANTRA MAHA MRTYANJAYA MANTRA OM BHUR BHUV SUVAH: TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI DHI YOYONA PRACODAYAT OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI OM TRYAMBAKAM YAJAMAHE SUGANDHIM PUSTI VARDHANAM URVARUKAMIVA BANDHANAT MRTHORMUKSIYA MAMRITAT OM HREEM NAMA SHIVAYA OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI 5. Short Spiritual Discussions Please do share participate fully in this with your own experiences or questions If you have any knowledge to share, please do contact the organisers to arrange for a suitable date and time for this. The best way to learn is to teach! A teacher who imparts his knowledge is more highly esteemed than a silent sage. A generous individual is far superior to a miserly, wealthy person. - Rig Veda 10.117.7 6. Sarva Dharma Prayer Om Tat Sat Sri Narayana Tu, Purushotama Guru Tu Siddha Buddha Tu, Skanda Vinayaka, Savita Pavaka Tu (Savita Pavaka Tu) Brahma Mazda Tu, Yahva Shakti Tu, Esu Pitha Prabhu Tu Rudhra Vishnu Tu, Ramakrishna Tu, Rahim Tao Tu (Rahim Tao Tu) Vasudeva Go Vishwaroopa Tu, Chidananda Hari Tu Advitheeya Tu, Akaala Nirbhaya, Atmalinga Shiva Tu (Atmalinga Shiva Tu) Om Thou art that, Thou art Narayana, God in the form of man; Thou art the embodiment of perfection and the perfect master. Thou art enlightened Buddha; Thou art Subramanyam and Ganesha, the remover of obstacles; Thou art the Sun-fire. Thou art Brahma, the Creator; Mazda, the Great One; Thou art Jehovah and the Divine Mother, the creative energy; Thou art the Father of Jesus. Thou art Rudhra, the Transformer, and Vishnu, the Preserver; Thou art Rama and Krishna; Thou art Rahim, all kindness, always giving and expanding; Thou art the Tao. Thou art Vasudeva, the Sustenance of all, omnipotent and omnipresent; Thou art Hari, destroyer of illusion, the blissful Spirit. Thou art unparalleled, beyond time and fearless of adversities; Thou art Shiva, creator of the lingam, symbol of the Formless Absolute. Mantras (Page ii)
5. Aarthi & Mantras Swāmi jaya Jagadiśa hare Bhakta jano ke sankaṭa Dāsa jano ke sankaṭa Kśaṇa men dūra kare Jo dhyāve phala pāve Dukha bina se mana kā Swami dukha bina se mana kā Sukha sampati ghara āve Sukha sampati ghara āve Kaṣṭa miṭe tana kā Mātā pitā tuma mere Śaraṇa gahūṁ main kiski Swāmi śaraṇa gahūṁ mai kiski Tuma bina aura na dūjā Tuma bina aura na dūjā Āśā karūn main jiski Tuma pūraṇa Paramātmā Tuma Antarayāmi Swāmi tuma Antarayāmi Pāra Brahma Parameshwara Pāra Brahma Parameshwara Tuma saba ke swāmi Tuma karuṇā ke sāgara Tuma pālana kartā Swāmi tuma pālana kartā Mai mūrakh khalakhāmi Mai sevaka tuma swāmi Kripā karo Bhartā Tuma ho eka agochara Saba ke prāṇapati Swāmi saba ke prāṇapati Kisa vidhi milūn dayāmaya Kisa vidhi milūn dayāmaya Tuma ko main kumati Dīna bandhu dukha harata Ṭhākura tuma mere Swāmi ṭhākura tuma mere Apane hāth uṭhao Apani sharaṇi lagāo Dwāra paḍā hūn tere Vishaya vikāra mitāvo Pāpa haro Devā Swāmi pāpa haro Devā Shradhā bhakti baḍhāo Shradhā bhakti baḍhāo Santana ki sevā Oh Lord of the whole Universe Mighty Lord of the whole Universe All Thy devotees' agonies All Thy devotees' sorrows Instantly Thou banisheth Oh Lord of the whole Universe He who's immersed in devotion He reaps the fruits of Thy love Lord, he reaps the fruits of Thy love Joy, prosperity and health Enter the homes of those who pray to thee Oh Lord of the whole Universe Thou art Mother and Father There's none other than Thee, Lord At Thy feet alone do I hope You are the supreme soul, you are the indweller Thou art Perfect, Eternal, Absolute O Lord of all Creation Thou art Godly perfection Omnipotent Master of all Lord, omnipotent Master of all My destiny's in Thy Hand My destiny's in Thy Hand Supreme Soul of all Creation Oh Lord of the whole Universe Thou art an ocean of mercy Gracious protector of all Lord, gracious protector of all I am a simpleton with wrong wishes, I am Thy servant and Thou art the Master Grant me Thy divine grace Oh Lord of the Universe Thou art beyond all perception Formless and yet multiform Lord, formless and yet multiform Grant me a glimpse of Thyself Grant me a glimpse of Thyself Guide me along the path to Thee Oh Lord of the Universe Friend of the helpless and feeble Benevolent saviour of all Lord, benevolent saviour of all Offer me Thy hand of compassion Protect me and bless me, I seek refuge at Thy feet Oh Lord of the Universe Surmounting the earthly desires Free from the sins of this life Lord, free from the sins of this life Undivided faith and devotion Undivided faith and devotion In eternal service unto Thee Oh Lord of the whole Universe Mantras (Page iii)
TVAMEVA MATA CA PITA TVAMEVA TVAMEVA BANDHUSCA SAKHA TVAMEVA TVAMEVA VIDYA DRAVINAM TVAMEVA TVAMEVA SARVAM MAMA DEVADEVA OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI 6. Food Mantra BRAHMARPANAM BRAHMA HAVIR BRAHMAGNAU BRAHMANAHUTAM BRAHMAIVA TENA GANTAVYAM BRAHMAKARMA SAMADHINA Bhagavad Gita 4/24 AHAM VAISVANAR0 BHUTVA PRANINAM DEHAMASRITA: PRANAPANA SAMAYUKTA: PACAMYANNAM CATURVIDHAM Bhagavad Gita 15/14 OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI Mantras (Page iv)
Meanings of Mantras VAKRATUNDA MAHAKAYA SURYAKOTI SAMAPRABHA NIRVIGHNAM KURU ME DEVA SARVA KARYESU SARVADA VAKRA - curved TUNDA - trunk MAHA - great, huge KAYA - body SURYA - sun KOTI - 10 million SAMA - equal to PRABHA - lustre NIR - without VIGHNAM - obstacles KURU - to do ME - to me DEVA - Lord SARVA - all KARYESU - in all actions SARVADA - always STOTRA ON LORD GANESHA His curved trunk is the symbol of the power to know the difference between good and bad, and to always choose only the good. (The elephant uses its trunk to extract only pure water from a mixture of mud & water.) His huge body represents that everything in this world, the entire universe is in God. He is all powerful. We pray to him to remove obstacles from the good actions we do. GURURBRAHMA GURURVISNU: GURURDEVO MAHESVARA: GURUSSAKSAT PARABRAHMA TASMAI SRI GURAVE NAMA: GU - darkness RU - drives away GURU - one who drives away the darkness of ignorance. GU - gunatita: one who has transcended the 3 gunas. RU - rupavarjitam: one beyond form, enlightened BRAHMA - God who is the creator. VISNU - God who maintains the harmony & rhythm of righteousness in the world. DEVO - Lord MAHA - great ISVARA - Lord Siva MAHE'SVARA - Lord Siva - God who destroys to protect & maintain balance in the world. SAKSAT - verily, truly. GURUSSAKSAT - the guru truly is PARA - knowledge of things beyond human understanding. BRAHMAN - supreme being TASMAI - therefore SRI - auspicious GURAVE - to that guru NAMA: - prostrations, submit my will; The Guru is Lord Brahma who creates good qualities in me; the Guru is Lord Visnu who nurtures & fosters the good qualities in me and the Guru is God who as Lord Siva removes the negative qualities & tendencies in me. Such a Guru is truly the Supreme Brahman and to that Guru I submit myself in humble surrender. Meaning of Mantras (Page 101)
SARVAMANGALA MANGALYE SIVE SARVARTHA SADHIKE SARANYE TRAYAMBAKE GAURI NARAYANI NAMOSTUTE SARASVATI NAMASTUBHYAM VARADE KAMARUPINI VIDYA RAMBHAM KARISYAMI SIDDIR BHAVATU ME SADA SARVA - All MANGALA - auspicious MANGALYE - abode of auspiciousness SIVE - Shakti of Siva SARVARTHA - all desires SADHAKE - bestow, fulfiller SARANYE - to prostrate, surrender TRAYAMBAKE - shakti of the '3-eyed' Siva GAURI - fair, golden complexion NARAYAN1 - shakti that sustains & nurtures NAMOSTUTE - to bow SARASVATI - goddess of learning NAMASTUBHYAM - I prostrate, bow VARADE - giver, fulfiller KAMARUPINI - form that fulfils desires VIDYA - learning, knowledge ARAMBHA - beginning, commence KARISYAMI - to do, perform SIDDIR - success BHAVATU - happen ME - my SADA - always STOTRA ON 'THE UNIVERSAL MOTHER' As the 'Most Loving Mother' God has everything we children need. As the Shakti of Siva, she is the 'Remover of fear' for the Sadhaka. At the same time she instills The 'Fear of Sin' or fills the wicked with terror. She surveys the universe' with her '3 Eyes' - The Moon, Sun, & Fire - symbolic of Iccha (Will), Kriya (ability to carry out Will); Jnana (Wisdom to only do right) Shaktis STOTRA ON GODDESS SARASWATI To that power of divinity that gives knowledge & wisdom, I humbly prostrate. That force of God thats fulfills all desires. I begin my studies with the request that you will bestow your blessings on me. This prayer calls upon the Grace of God that grants knowledge & wisdom, so that we may be successful in attaining not only worldly knowledge, but also atmic wisdom that leads us back to God. Meaning of Mantras (Page 102)
ASATO MA SAD GAMAYA TAMAS0 MA JY0TIR GAMAYA MRTYOR MA AMRTAM GAMAYA OM SANTI: SANTI: SANTI: OM BHUR BHUV SUVAH: TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI DHI YOYONA PRACODAYAT ASAT - unreal ASATO - from the unreal MA - me SAD - truth, real GAMAYA - lead TAMAS - darkness TAMASO - from darkness JYOT1 - light JYOTIR - to light MRTYU - death MRTYOR - from death AMRTAM - immortality SAN TI - peace OM - Symbol of Supreme God BHU: - the earth BHUVA: - the sky SUVAH: - the heavens TAT - that Supreme Being SAVITUR - the SAKTI of the Solar Energy VARENYAM - the adorable; fit to be worshipped BHARGA: - the radiance, the glorious; DEVASYA - divinity DHIYA: - intellect YA: - which, who NA: - our PRACODAYAT - enlighten, 'unfold,' THE GAYATHRI MANTHRA PRAYER FOR LIGHT (GUIDANCE) From the unreal lead me to the real, from darkness lead me to light (darkness of ignorance to light of knowledge) And from death lead me to immortality (that I live my life in such a way that death is the welcomed gateway to Moksa) That POWER that causes & sustains the earth, the cosmos, the heavens - we meditate upon, as the Goddess of Light. We worship Your Divine Glory, please help us to enlighten our intellect. The Gayatri Mantra asks God to bless us with right knowledge & right understanding so that we may realize & fulfill the purpose of our birth. The Earth, The Sky, The Heavens That Divine Effulgence That We All Adore We Contemplate On Your Divine Glory Please Help Us Enlighten Our Intellect Meaning of Mantras (Page 103)
OM TRYAMBAKAM YAJAMAHE SUGANDHIM PUSTI VARDHANAM URVARUKAMIVA BANDHANAT MRTHORMUKSIYA MAMRITAT OM - Pranava; Primodial Sound TRYAMBAKAM - the 3-eye one (signifying wisdom) 'En lightened One' who sees beyond the senses. YAJAMAHE - we worship SUGANDHIM - who is fragrant PUSTI - good health VARDHANAM - giver of URVARU - cucumber KAMIVA - is tied even BANDHANAT - is servered from its bondage MRTHOR - from death MUKSIYA - one who liberates MA - for me AMRTAM - immortality MAMRITAT - bestows me with immortality. TVAMEVA MATA CA PITA TVAMEVA TVAMEVA BANDHUSCA SAKHA TVAMEVA TVAMEVA VIDYA DRAVINAM TVAMEVA TVAMEVA SARVAM MAMA DEVADEVA TVAMEVA - you are MATA - mother CA - and PITA - father BANDHUSCA - relative, kinsmen SAKHA - friend VIDYA - knowledge (wisdom) DRAVINAM - wealth, strength, power SARVAM - all, every thing MAMA - my DEVADEVA - God of Gods. 0 Lord! You are my mother, You are my father, You are my nearest kin, You are my friend; You are my wisdom; You are my only wealth, You are my everything! You are my God of Gods! OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI Om Peace Peace Peace MAHA MRTYANJAYA MANTRA We worship the 3-eyed one (symbol of GOD who knows all, sees all) Lord Siva, who is fragrant & who nourishes well, all beings. May HE liberate us from death for the sake of immortality, even as the ripe cucumber is servered from its bondage. LOKA SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU LOKA - world SAMASTA - peaceful SUKH - happy BHAVANTU - at all times Meaning of Mantras (Page 104) May all the world be peaceful and happy at all times.
KARACARANAKRTAM VAK KAYAJAM KARMAJAM VA SRAVANA NAYANAJAM VA MANASAM VAPARADHAM VIDITAMAVIDITAM VA SARVANMETAD KSAMASVA JAYA JAYA KARUNABDHE SRI MAHADEVA SAMBH0 JAYA - victory KARUNA - mercy, compassion ABDHI - ocean KARUNABDHE - addressing 'ocean of compassion' SRI - auspicious MAHA - great DEVA - Lord SAM - one who arises BHU - auspiciousness SAMBHU - one who has arisen from auspiciousness SAMBHO - addressing the one who has arisen from auspiciousness KARA - hand CARANAM - feet KRTAM - that which is done VAK - words (spoken) KAYA - body JAM - arising from KAYAJAM - arising from the body KARMA - actions, deeds KARMAJAM - arising from the deeds VA - or SRAVANAM - hearing (ears) NAYANAM - eyes MANAS - mind APARADHAM - wrongs, mistakes VIDITAM - knowingly AVIDITAM - unknowingly SARVA - all ETAD - these KSAMASVA - please forgive NIGHT PRAYER Night prayer for forgiveness of sins done knowingly and unknowingly by the senses of perception & of action. Addressed to Siva-power of God which destroys darkness. KARAM: HAND - May my ands perform only good & helpful CHARANAM: FEET - May my feet carry me to only places of virtue. May they swiftly lead me to help the needy VAK: SPOKEN WORDS - May I never utter falsehood or slander. May I always use the power of speech for truth & love SRAVANAM: HEARING - May my ears entertain only auspicious things NAYANAM: EYES - May my eyes see only good in others. Only then will I be able to see God who resides in all beings MANAS: MIND - May my mind entertain only pure & loving thoughts Meaning of Mantras (Page 105)
BRAHMARPANAM BRAHMA HAVIR BRAHMAGNAU BRAHMANAHUTAM BRAHMAIVA TENA GANTAVYAM BRAHMAKARMA SAMADHINA Bhagavad Gita 4/24 BRAHMAM - the Absolute Reality ARPANAM - the oblation or the offering HAVIR - the clarified butter i.e. ghee, BRAHMAGNAU - in the fire of Brahmam BRAHMANA - by Brahman HUTAM - is offered; EVA - only TENA - by Him GANTAVYAM - shall be reached BRAHMA KARMA - by the man who is absorbed in action SAMADHINA which is also Brahman. AHAM VAISVANAR0 BHUTVA PRANINAM DEHAMASRITA: PRANAPANA SAMAYUKTA: PACAMYANNAM CATURVIDHAM Bhagavad Gita 15/14 AHAM - I VAISVANARA - the fire BHUTWA - having be come; PRANINAM - of living beings; DEHAM - the body; ASRITHA - abiding; PRANA APANA - Associated with Prana & Apana; SAMAYUKTA PACAMI - I digest; ANNAM - food; CATURVIDHAM - 4 kinds FOOD MANTRA - 1ST PART Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir: The instrument with which the offering is given is Brahman, the oblation itself is Brahman. Brahmagnau Brahmanahutam: The fire itself is Brahman; the very act of giving is Brahman. Brahmakarmasamadhina: All the work done, the ultimate goal or aim is Brahman. The oblation is Brahman. The ghee which is offered is Brahman. It is offered by Brahman in the fire of Brahman; unto Brahman verily he goes who cognizes Brahman alone in his action. FOOD MANTRA - CONTINUED The four kinds of food are:- (1) that which we bite with our teeth and chew (2) that which we masticate (3) that which we gulp (liquids) (4) that which we swallow "Prana" and "Apana" are the two physiological functions of "perception" and of "excretion". Here the Eternal Reality is indicated as that mighty life which when pulsating through the body manifest Itself as the digestive fire (Vaisvanara) which assimilating and absorbing the nutrition, it is again the same divine spark of Life that gives the intestines its capacities to throw out (Apana) the undigested and unnecessary by-products. Three types of purities are necessary in regard to food:- (1) The material/food itself (2) The utensils in which the food is cooked (3) The person who prepares the meal. Meaning of Mantras (Page 106)
In every Yajna there are four essential factors: 1. the diety invoked to whom the oblations are offered. 2. the fire in which the offerings are poured; 3. the material things that constitute the offerings 4. the individual who is performing the Yajna. The stanza explains the mental attitude and the experience of the Perfect Sage when he performs the Yajna. To live we must eat. This stanza is "a prayer to be said before food". Whatever be the type of food, when one is hungry one will enjoy one's meals. The suggestion is that even at this moment of natural enjoyment, we are not to forget the great Truth that it is Brahman eating Brahman, and that during our meals we are offering to Brahman the food that is Brahman invoking nothing but the grace of Brahman. To keep this idea constantly in the mind is to get perfectly detached from the enjoyment and raise ourselves to a greater and endless beatitude which is the reward of Supermanhood. TAITTIRIYOPANISAD: He, verily, is this man, formed of good-essence. Food deserves from him respect as a Guru. Manu 11.54, says, let him worship food daily and partake of it without reviling it." GARBHA-UPANISHAD: The food-essence is of six kinds. From this essence blood is formed. from blood, flesh; from flesh, fat; from fat, bone; from bone, marrow; from marrow, semen. From a combination of semen and blood the foetus is formed. CHHANDOGYA: Formed of food, verily, is manas; formed of water is prana; formed of hire is speech. Meaning of Mantras (Page 107)