Month: November 2014

These prayers are from the Ashram Handbook of Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama.

MORNING PRAYERS

GURU PRAYER

Verses 1 and 2 are from the Guru Gītā in the Skanda-Purāṇa and verse 3 was composed by Swami Veda Bharati for the frontispiece to his Yoga¬sῡtras. (Volume I: Samādhi-pāda)

ॐ ॐ ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः॥१॥

Om Om Om gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ,
guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ. (1)

Om, Om, Om. To that beautiful and benevolent Guru who is Brahmā, the Creator, Viṣṇu, the Maintainer, and Śiva, the Great Lord through whom all things return to their origin. To that Guru who is the direct experience of Brahman, salutations.

अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम्।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः॥२॥

akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalākāraṁ vyāptaṁ yena carācaram,
tat-padaṁ darśitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ. (2)

(Which) pervades the entire unbroken form of the circle (of creation), moving and unmoving. To that beautiful and benevolent Guru through whom that state was revealed (to me), salutations.

हिरण्यगर्भादारब्धां शेषव्यासादिमध्यमाम्।
स्वामिश्रीरामपादान्तां वन्दे गुरुपरम्पराम्॥३॥

hiraṇya-garbhād ārabdhāṁ śeṣa-vyāsādi-madhyamām,
svāmi-śrī-rāma-pādāntāṁ vande guru-paramparām. (3)

Originating from the Golden Womb (of light, the guru-spirit), and (flowing) down through the medium of gurus like Śeṣa (Patañjali), Vyāsa and the rest, ending at the feet of Śrī Swāmī Rāma, that (unbroken stream of) succession, I worship.

PEACE PRAYER

This Śānti Pāṭha is a traditional introduction to several of the Upaniṣads.

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय॥

Om asato mā sad gamaya,
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya,
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Om. Lead me from the unreal and the untrue to the Real and True. Lead me from darkness (of ignorance) unto light (of consciousness). Lead me from mortality to immortality. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

Prayer at dawn by Śankarācārya
(Prātaḥ-smaraṇa-stotram)

प्रातःस्मरामि हृदि संस्फुरदात्मतत्त्वं सच्चित्सुखं परमहंसगतिं तुरीयम्।
यत् स्वप्नजागरसुषुप्तिमवैति नित्यं तद् ब्रह्म निष्कलमहं न च भूतसङ्घः॥१॥

prātaḥ smarāmi hṛdi saṁsphurad-ātma-tattvaṁ
sac-cit-sukhaṁ parama-haṁsa-gatiṁ turīyam,
yat svapna-jāgara-suṣuptim avaiti nityaṁ
tad brahma niṣkalam ahaṁ na ca bhῡta-saṅghaḥ. (1)

At dawn I remember the true Self, shining in the heart, the fourth state, Turéya, existence – consciousness – supreme joy, the goal of the supreme sages, That which eternally pervades the three (other states), waking, dream and deep sleep. I am That eternal Brahman, not this aggregate of elements.

प्रातर्भजामि मनसां वचसामगम्यं वाचो विभान्ति निखिला यदनुग्रहेण।
यन्नेति नेति वचनैर्निगमा अवोचंस्तं देवदेवमजमच्युतमाहुरग्र्यम्॥२॥

prātar bhajāmi manasāṁ vacasām agamyaṁ
vāco vibhānti nikhilā yadanu graheṇa,
yan neti neti vacanair nigamā avocaṁs
taṁ deva-devam ajam acyutam āhur agryam. (2)

At dawn I sing the praise of that which is unreachable for the mind and words, That by whose grace all words shine, That which the scriptures describe with the words, “neither this nor that,” That unborn, eternal foremost Divinity of divinities.

प्रातर्नमामि तमसः परमर्कवर्णं पूर्णं सनातनपदं पुरुषोत्तमाख्यम्।
यस्मिन्निदं जगदशेषमशेषमूर्तौ रज्ज्वां भुजङ्गम इव प्रतिभासितं वै॥३॥

prātar namāmi tamasaḥ param arka-varṇaṁ
pῡrṇaṁ sanātana-padaṁ puruṣottamākhyam,
yasminn idaṁ jagad aśeṣam aśeṣa-mῡrtau
rajjvāṁ bhujaṅgama iva prati-bhāsitaṁ vai. (3)

At dawn, I bow to That whose color is a flash beyond darkness (of the void, śῡnya, or of ignorance), the Plenum, the ancient goal (or eternal state), which is called the ultimate person(hood), That in which the remainderless (whole of the) Universe is revealed as the rope instead of the serpent.

श्लोकत्रयमिदं पुण्यं लोकत्रयविभूषणम्।
प्रातःकाले पठेद्यस्तु स गच्छेत् परमं पदम्॥४॥

śloka-trayam idaṁ puṇyaṁ loka-traya-vibhῡṣaṇam,
prātaḥ-kāle paṭhed yas tu sa gacchet paramaṁ padam. (4)

Who so ever at the dawning hour recites this auspicious triad of verses, an ornament to the three worlds, goes to the supreme station, mokṣa, liberation.

PRAYER FOR HARMONY BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT

This Śanti-Pāṭha is a traditional introduction to several of the Upaniṣads.

ॐ सह नाववतु। सह नौ भुनक्तु। सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु। मा विद्विषावहै॥

Om saha nāv avatu, saha nau bhunaktu, saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai,
tejasvi nāv adhītam astu, mā vidviṣāvahai.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Om. May It (Brahman) protect us both together. May It (Brahman) enjoy/ feed us both together. May we create spiritual power together. May what we have studied together be possessed of brilliance. May we not hate one another. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

PRAYER OF COMPLETION

This Śanti-Pāṭha is a traditional introduction to the Iśā Upaniṣad.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥

Om pῡrṇam adaḥ pῡrṇam idaṁ pῡrṇāt pῡrṇam udacyate,
pῡrṇasya pῡrṇam ādāya pῡrṇam evāva-śiṣyate.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Om. That is full/ complete/ perfect. This is full/ complete/ perfect. Perfection arises from the Perfect. Taking the Perfect of the perfect, It remains as the Perfect alone. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

EVENING PRAYERS

Download two versions of the evening prayers: (1) by Sanjay Shastri, (2) by Stoma Parker

Śiva-Saṅkalpa-Sῡktam
(Yajur Veda)

ॐ यज्जाग्रतो दूरमुदैति दैवं तदु सुप्तस्य तथैवैति।
दूरङ्गमं ज्योतिषां ज्योतिरेकं तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु॥१॥

Om yaj jāgrato dῡram udaiti daivaṁ tadu suptasya tathaivaiti,
dῡraṅgamaṁ jyotiṣāṁ jyotir ekaṁ tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu. (1)

Om. That divine shining force which travels far as one is awake and also travels far and wide, the same way, when one is asleep, this far going, far travelling, one light of many lights, may that my mind be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.

येन कर्माण्यपसो मनीषिणो यज्ञे कृण्वन्ति विदथेषु धीराः।
यदपूर्वं यक्षमन्तः प्रजानां तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु॥२॥

yena karmāṇyapaso manīṣiṇo
yajñe kṛṇvanti vidatheṣu dhīrāḥ,
yad apūrvaṁ yakṣaṁ antaḥ prajānāṁ
tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu. (2)

That wherewith all the wise ones, intuitive ones, perform their acts, all the patient spiritually practicing ones perform all duties in the battles of life, that which is the mysterious personality inside all beings, may that my mind be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.

यत्प्रज्ञानमुत चेतो धृतिश्च यज्ज्योतिरन्तरमृतं प्रजासु।
यस्मान्न ऋते किञ्चन कर्म क्रियते तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु॥३॥

yat prajñānam uta ceto dhṛtiś ca
yaj jyotir antar amṛtaṁ prajāsu,
yasmān na ṛte kiñcana karma kriyate
tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu. (3)

That which is awareness, that which is the mind field, that which is the holding, sustaining power, that which is the immortal light hidden in the interior of all beings, that without which no action is ever performed, may that my mind be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.

येनेदं भूतं भुवनं भविष्यत् परिगृहीतममृतेन सर्वम्।
येन यज्ञस्तायते सप्त होता तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु॥४॥

yenedaṁ bhūtaṁ bhuvanaṁ bhaviṣyat
pari-gṛhītam amṛtena sarvam,
yena yajñas tāyate sapta hotā
tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu. (4)

That by which all that is the past, that immortal force by which is held in his grip all that is past, all that is present, all that is future, that by which the sacrament of seven priests is performed, may that my mind be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.

यस्मिन्नृचः साम यजूंषि यस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठिता रथनाभाविवाराः।
यस्मिंश्चित्तँ सर्वमोतं प्रजानां तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु॥५॥

yasminn ṛcaḥ sāma yajūṁṣi yasmin
pratiṣṭhitā ratha-nābhāvivārāḥ,
yasmiṁś cittaṁ sarvam otaṁ prajānāṁ
tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu. (5)

That in which the hymns of praise, as in the Rig Veda, the hymns that can be sung, as in the Sama Veda, they hymns that are recited in all sacraments, as in the Yajur Veda, all this knowledge is established as the arrays of spokes in the central navel of the chariot’s wheel. That in which the mind field of all living beings is woven and interwoven, may that my mind be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.

सुषारथिरश्वानिव यन्मनुष्यान् नेनीयतेऽभीशुभिर्वाजिन इव।
हृत्प्रतिष्ठं यदजिरं जविष्ठं तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु॥६॥

suṣārathir aśvān iva yan manuṣyān
nenīyate ‘bhīśubhir vājina iva,
hṛt-pratiṣṭhaṁ yad ajiraṁ javiṣṭhaṁ
tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu. (6)

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

As a good charioteer controls and leads the horses with the reins held fast, in the same way, that which leads all the human beings with the reins of senses in its grip, that heart dwelling, most agile, speediest force in the universe, may that my mind be filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

GURU PRAYER

This verse is from the Guru Gītā in the Skanda-Purāṇa.

ॐ ॐ ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः॥

Om Om Om gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ,
Guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ.

Om, Om, Om. To that beautiful and benevolent Guru who is Brahmā, the Creator, Viṣṇu, the Maintainer, and Śiva, the Great Lord through whom all things return to their origin. To that Guru who is the direct experience of Brahman, Salutations.

PEACE PRAYER

This Śānti Pāṭha is a traditional introduction to several of the Upaniṣads.

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय॥

Om asato mā sad gamaya,
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya,
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Om. Lead me from the unreal and the untrue to the Real and True. Lead me from darkness (of ignorance) unto light (of consciousness). Lead me from mortality to immortality. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

PRAYER FOR HARMONY BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT

This Śanti-Pāṭha is a traditional introduction to several of the Upaniṣads.

ॐ सह नाववतु। सह नौ भुनक्तु। सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु। मा विद्विषावहै॥

Om saha nāv avatu, saha nau bhunaktu, saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai,
tejasvi nāv adhītam astu, mā vidviṣāvahai.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Om. May It (Brahman) protect us both together. May It (Brahman) enjoy/ feed us both together. May we create spiritual power together. May what we have studied together be possessed of brilliance. May we not hate one another. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

VERSES FROM ŚANKARĀCĀRYA’S SAUNDARYA LAHARĪ (1,3,8)

Download the Shiva Shakti verses.

शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं
न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि ।
अतस्त्वामाराध्यां हरिहरविरिञ्च्यादिभिरपि
प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति ॥१॥

śivaḥ śaktyā yukto yadi bhavati śaktaḥ pra-bhavituṁ
na ced evaṁ devo na khalu kuśalaḥ spanditum api,
atas tvām ārādhyāṁ hari-hara-viriñcy-ādibhir api
praṇantuṁ stotuṁ vā katham akṛta-punyaḥ prabhavati. (1)

If Śiva is united with Śakti, he is able to exert his powers as Lord. If not, the god is not able to stir. How can one who has not acquired merit be fit to offer reverence and praise to You, who must be propitiated by Hari, Hara, Viriñci and the other (gods, the divine powers of creation, maintenance and dissolution)?

अविद्यानामन्तस्तिमिरिमिहिरोद्दीपनकरी
जडानां चैतन्यस्तबकमकरन्दश्रुतिसृतिः ।
दरिद्राणां चिन्तामणिगुणनिका जन्मजलधौ
निमग्नानां दंष्ट्रा मुररिपुवराहस्य भवती ॥३॥

avidyānām antas timiri-mihirod dīpana-karī
jaḍānāṁ caitanya-stabaka-makaranda-śruti-sṛtiḥ,
daridrāṇāṁ cintā-maṇi-guṇanikā janma-jaladhau
nimagnānāṁ daṁṣṭrā mura-ripu-varāhasya bhavatī. (3)

You are the island city of the sun, (dispelling) the darkness of the ignorant. For the mentally stagnant, You are a waterfall of streams of nectar (flowing) from streams of Consciousness. For the poor, You are the (duplicate of Indra’s) wishing jewel, for those submerged in the ocean of birth (and death) You are the tusk of that boar (Viṣṇu as the Boar incarnation) who was the enemy of Murā.

सुधासिन्धोर्मध्ये सुरविटपिवाटीपरिवृते
मणिद्वीपे नीपोपवनवति चिन्तामणिगृहे
शिवाकारे मञ्चे परमशिवपर्यङ्कनिलयां
भजन्ति त्वां धन्याः कतिचन चिदानन्दलहरीम् ॥८॥

sudhā-sindhor madhye sura-viṭapi-vāṭī-parivṛte
maṇi-dvīpe nīpopavanavati cintā-maṇi-gṛhe
śivākāre mañce parama-śiva-paryaṅka-nilayāṁ
bhajanti tvāṁ dhanyāḥ katicana cid-ānanda-laharīm. (8)

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Some few lucky ones worship You, a flood of consciousness and supreme bliss, Your seat a mattress which is Parama Śiva, on a couch composed of the four gods, Śiva (and the others), in the mansion of wishing jewels with its grove of Nīpa trees, in the Isle of Gems, covered with groves of heavenly wish-fulfilling trees, in the midst of the Ocean of Nectar. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

MEAL PRAYERS

The 3nd verse of this prayer is verse 24 of the fourth chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā. The last line of the prayer (starting with “Om viśvātmā prīyatām, Om tat sad brahmārpaṇam astu”) may also be used at the end of a practice to dedicate the fruits of one’s meditation to the welfare of All.

ॐ अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वती॥

Om anna-pūrṇe sadā-pūrṇe śaṅkara-prāṇa-vallabhe,
jñāna-vairāgya-siddhyarthaṁ bhikṣāṁ dehi ca pārvatī.

O Pārvatī, source of all that is nourishing, source of never-ending abundance, and Śankara’s beloved Consort, bestow upon us your blessing that will lead us into perfect knowledge and wisdom.

माता तु पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः।
बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम्॥

mātā tu pārvatī devī pitā devo maheśvaraḥ,
bāndhavāḥ śiva-bhaktāś ca sva-deśo bhuvana-trayam.

O Pārvatī, you are our Divine Mother, as Śiva is our Divine Father, and as fellow worshippers of Śiva, inhabiting the three worlds, are our brothers.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥

brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam,
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ brahma-karma-samādhinā.

Brahman [is] the offering. Brahman [is] the oblation. By Brahman poured into the fire of Brahman, Brahman is attained by one alone whose meditation is focused on action in Brahman.

ॐ विश्वात्मा प्रीयताम् ॥

Om viśvātmā prīyatām.

ॐ तत्सद् ब्रह्मार्पणम् अस्तु ॥
Om tat sad brahmārpaṇam astu.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Om. May the Universal Self be satisfied. Om, That (Brahman) is Truth, Existence. May this be an offering to (That) Brahman. Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.