CHANT LYRICS

 

Invocations

 

OM OM OM

 

Dhyaana Mulam Gurur Murti 

Pujaa Moolam Guro Padam

Mantra Moolam Gurur Vaakyam 

Moksha Mulam Guro Kripaa

 

The root of meditation is the Guru’s form

True worship is of the Guru’s feet."

"The essence of all mantra is the Guru’s word

The source of Liberation, the Guru's grace.

 

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, 

Guru devo Maheshwara,

Guru sakshat, param Brahma, 

tasmai shri guravay namah

 

The Guru is the creator, the sustainer, 

and the power of transformation. 

Nearer than near, and beyond the beyond.

Remover of darkness, I bow to You

and lay down my life

 

Om Namah Shivaya Gurave

Saccidananda Murtaye

Nisprapancaya Shantaya

Niralambaya Tejase

 

I bow to the presence of the Divine within

Our true and highest teacher

That lives in and around us as

Truth, Consciousness and Bliss.
It is ever-present 

and radiates peace

Illuminating the way 

to awakening.

 

Shree Guru Charanam 

Shree Hari Sharanam

 

I surrender to the feet of the Guru, 

and find my refuge in God.

 

Guru OM

 

Derived from the Sanskrit word, gu, which means “darkness,” and ru, which translates as “remover,” the guru is more than just a teacher, but someone who removes spiritual darkness and paves the way to enlightenment and unity with Brahman. OM (or AUM) is the sound that represents Brahman, the universe and essence of creation. 

 

The great Indian Saint Ramana Maharshi said “Guru, God, and Self are one.”

~~~~~

Ong Namo Gurudev

Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo

Guru Dev, Guru Dev Namo

*I bow to the subtle divine wisdom

  I bow to the divine teacher within.

 

This is the Adi  Mantra, or Primal Mantra as taught by the Sikh Master Yogi Bhajan. It is used as an invocation at the beginning of Yoga practice. Chant this mantra to tune into the divine teacher within. Ong is "Infinite Creative energy in manifestation and activity". ("Om" or Aum is God absolute and unmanifested), Namo is "reverent greetings' implying humility, Guru means "teacher or wisdom", Dev means "Divine or of God" and Namo reaffirms humility and reverence. In all it means, "I call upon Divine Wisdom".

~~~~~~~

 

Sita Ram

 

Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Jay Sita Ram

Sita Ram, Sita Ram

Shri Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram

Ram Ram, Sita Ram

 

The above are all ways of celebrating God/Goddess as Ram and Sita. Ram is the Absolute, infinite, unmanifest, all-pervading pure consciousness. Sita is the earth mother, the individual expression of creation as it manifests as form and energy. She is also the individual soul, longing to be united with the Infinite, Eternal One. This chant invokes that Divine Union.

 

~~~~~~~~

Hare Ram, Sita Ram

Hare Rama, Rama Ram

Sita Rama, Rama Ram 

Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram

Glory to Sita and Ram! Praise & Victory to the Divine

~~~~~

Maha Mantra

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

~~~~~~

Aad Guray

Aad guray nameh


Jugaad guray nameh


Sat guray nameh


Siri guru devay nameh


I bow to the Primal Guru,


I bow to the Guru woven through time 


I bow to the True Guru, the true
 identity of the self.


I bow to the Great Guru whose great
 glory will always be.

~~~~~~~~

Ganesha Mantras

Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

 

Jaya Ganesha, Jaya Ganesha, Jaya Ganesha Pāhimām
Sri Ganesha, Sri Ganesha, Sri Ganesha Rakshamām

Hail Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles, protect me.
Dear Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles, rescue me.

A chant for clearing away obstacles and removing negativity.

Ganesha Sharanam, Sharanam Ganesha

Gam Gam Ganapati Sharanam Ganesha

I take refuge in Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the Lord of New Beginnings. 

"Gam" is the seed mantra of Ganesha, containing within its energetic vibration the power of Ganesha.

 

Aarti Hymns

 

Twameva Mata cha Pita Twameva, 

Twameva Bandhu cha Sakha Twameva 

Twameva Vidya Dravinam Twameva 

Twameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva

 

Thou art my mother and my father,
Thou art my friend and 

my beloved companion,
Thou art my wisdom and my wealth,


O Supreme God, Thou art everything to me.

 

 

Arati (Jyoti Jyoti)

Jyoti Jyoti Jyoti Swayam 

Jyoti Jyoti Jyoti Param 

Jyoti Jyoti Jyoti Arul 

Jyoti Jyoti Jyoti Sivam 

Vaama Jyoti Soma Jyoti 

Vaana Jyoti Jnaana Jyoti 

Maaha Jyoti Yoga Jyoti 

Vaata Jyoti Naada Jyoti 

Ema Jyoti Vyoma Jyoti 

Eru Jyoti Veeru Jyoti 

Eka Jyoti Eka Jyoti 

Eka Jyoti Jyotiye 

Light O Light of Self-Effulgence 

Light O Light of Absoluteness 

Light O Light of Gracefulness 

Light O Light of Auspiciousness 

Light of Siva, Light of Moon 

Light Divine, Light of Wisdom 

Light of Heaven, Light of Yoga 

Light of Wind, Light of Sound 

Light Delight, Light of Water 

Rising Light, Vital Light 

The Only Light, The Only Light 

Give us Light, O Light of Lights.

Closing Chants

OM 

Asotoma Sat gamaya

Tamasoma Jyotir gamaya

Mrityorma Amritam gamaya

OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Lead me from the unreal to the real

Lead me from the darkness to the light

From the fear of dying lead me

To the knowing of my immortality

OM Peace, Peace,  Peace

~~~~~~

Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy and free. 

May my thoughts, words and deeds contribute to the happiness of all beings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONE LOVE Video!

Hello Dear Friends,

I am so excited to announce that the promo video for my band, ONE LOVE, is finally finished and up on YouTube for your viewing pleasure! It's been six months of gathering footage and editing, distilling it down to four and a half minutes, and we are delighted with the result. One of the reasons we like it so much is that so many of our friends (that would be YOU!) are featured in this sampler of our music and testimonials from participants. We think it beautifully encapsulates the ONE LOVE experience, and gives the viewer a sense of the power of ecstatic chant. Please check it out and let us know what you think!

Many thanks to all of you who shared your enthusastic voices and hearts with us on this project, and to Moving Box Studios for their expert production. Please help us make it go viral by sharing it with your friends, neighbors, your bank teller, your grandmother--and especially those you know who appreciate kirtan and might like to host us for an event. Enjoy!

Stay tuned for another video, still in the final editing stage, which will showcase our Body Bliss yoga classes with live improvisational music. I'll post that one as soon as it's ready.

Chanting, Then and Now

It’s 1973, and I’m walking in Manhattan’s Central Park. From a distance I hear drums and voices singing. As I approach, I see a cluster of very exuberant people wearing colorful, exotic clothing, with funny hairdos (or hair-don’ts!), garlands of flowers, and ankle bells.  They are full of energy and joy, chanting endless repetitions of the Maha Mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare…

I see them only as another of the City’s many fringe cults. In my mind, I lump them into the same category as the “Moonies,” those dazed and confused young followers of Rev. Moon, or the “Purple People” who used to ride their bikes through the park, wearing only purple clothing. I watch with amusement as the Hare Krishnas dance and sing. I recognize the mantra as being “from” the Broadway musical Hair.

Fast forward 30 years. It’s Labor Day weekend 2004, and I am at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, at the very first annual Ecstatic Chant Festival. I signed up because chanting sounded fun. I find myself in a huge hall with 300 other people. An American Jewish guy from Long Island named Krishna Das gets on the stage and sits down at the harmonium (a small hand-pumped organ used in Indian music). He is not wearing orange robes, flowers, or bells. Instead, he has an unassuming outfit of jeans and a flannel shirt. He and his band begin to lead us in kirtan, Hindu call-and-response devotional chanting.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare…

I feel waves of love welling up in me. Love for myself, for my partner, for everyone in that huge room, and for the Divine. My heart cracks open. Tears flow, and I finally understand, without being able to explain it rationally, what those Hare Krishna folks were up to.

My life has not been the same since that moment. Since then, I have made it a yearly pilgrimage to spend a weekend singing kirtan. Most years it has been at the Omega Institute for their Labor Day Extravaganza, although last year I flew out to the Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree, California. And, in the summer of 2008, I had the pleasure of attending Jai Uttal’s week-long kirtan camp immersion in Marin County, California.

The rise in popularity of kirtan festivals, camps, and workshops are indicative of a wave that is sweeping the United States and other Western countries as well. Although it is an ancient practice from India, it is beginning to find its way into the mainstream, as yoga is becoming increasingly popular in the West.

Kirtan has been practiced in groups for millennia. When the group all feels like one voice, you feel the divine presence. It’s shining in all the molecules. It is super- high and beautiful. But that feeling of high is different from the high of drugs and alcohol. It’s so much a feeling of the divine presence. I always feel like we’re giving so much of our hearts to each other, our spriits and our passion. Most of us live life on a pretty low burner. When we can share that heart energy, the flame rises and it’s just so great. If you’re singing with an open heart, the presence of God, the divine spirit, the universal spirit—whatever you want to call it—is in the chants. The more we invest our hearts in the chants, the more that spirit is there. When you do it in a group, each person increases the others’ experience.

~ Kirtan leader Jai Uttal, interviewed by Maggie Jacobus in Kirtan! Chanting as a Spiritual Path

What does all this have to do with yoga? Chanting is one of the main practices of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of Love and devotion. Whereas hatha yoga tones and energize the body through postures and breath, bhakti yoga opens the heart . It is also a meditative practice, as the repetition of the Names and mantras focus and settle the mind. Ultimately, yoga is about becoming more fully alive and connected to Source. Chanting is one of the portals into that place where we touch into Spirit’s grace.

This year I attended the Omega Ecstatic Chant Festival for Labor Day only (an option for those who cannot attend the entire weekend).  The highlights for me were:  

Deva Premal and Miten, with Bansuri flute master Manose Singh

 

Krishna Das

Jai Uttal

I recommend Jai's new CD, Queen of Hearts. 

And, last but not least, The Mayapuris, who were fabulous muscians and dancers, as well as nice to look at!

I invite you to check out the above links and explore this world of kirtan. Enjoy!

OM Shanti,

Jody

Where Everything Is Music

Don't worry about saving these songs!
And if one of our instruments breaks,
it doesn't matter.

We have fallen into the place
where everything is music.

The strumming and the flute notes
rise into the atmosphere,
and even if the whole world's harp
should burn up, there will still be
hidden instruments playing.

So the candle flickers and goes out.
We have a piece of flint, and a spark.

This singing art is sea foam.
The graceful movements come from a pearl
somewhere on the ocean floor.

Poems reach up like spindrift and the edge
of driftwood along the beach, wanting!

They derive
from a slow and powerful root
that we can't see.

Stop the words now.
Open the window in the center of your chest,
and let the spirits fly in and out.


-- Jalaluddin Rumi

translated by Coleman Barks

Jai Ganesha!

Hello Dear Yogis,

Labor Day weekend marks the beginning of the fall season. Although the actual autumn equinox is still a few weeks away, culturally this is the end of summer. New schedules and routines begin as students and teachers go back to school, and we gear up for new projects and activities.

It is customary in the Hindu/yogic tradition to invoke Ganesha, the Lord of beginnings, of success, and the remover of obstacles, at the start of any new endeavor. He is also honored at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies, and kirtan (Hindu call and response devotional chanting) typically begins with a chant to Ganesha.

Ganesha is one of the most beloved Hindu gods. He is also known by the name Ganapati, as well as many other epithets. He is the child of Shiva and Parvati (who were the very first yogis). He has an elephant head with huge ears, and a pot-bellied body of a human. He is often depicted riding on a mouse. Volumes have been written about the rich symbolism of the images, and there are many colorful stories about how he came to have an elephant’s head. If you have an interest in delving into the mythology, here are a few sites you can visit:

About.com

Ganesha Home Page

Encyclopedia Mythica

Ganesha is also associated with the Muladhara Chakra, the energy center at the base of the spine. It is said that he guards the gate of the Kundalini (spiritual energy) that lies coiled there.

Here is a mantra that is typically chanted to call upon the power of Ganesha (Ganapati) at the beginning of a new undertaking:

OM GAM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA

OM: The primordial sound of the universe.
GAM: the bija, or “seed” mantra of Ganesha (pronounced somewhat like the English word “gum”). Bijas hold the vibrational/energetic power of particular deities.
GANAPATAYE: “unto Ganapati”
NAMAHA: “I bow to; I honor; I offer myself to”

So, this mantra can be translated as:

I offer myself to Ganesha, the Lord of beginnings and the remover of obstacles.


Mantras can be sung, spoken aloud, or repeated silently to oneself. It is helpful to use a mala (string of prayer beads) to count repetitions and help keep awareness on the mantra.

I want to emphasize that one does not need to believe in a literal deity in order to sing and benefit from mantra practice. There are many ways we can relate to the sacred Names. Some people find that the mythology, stories, and images associated with the various gods and goddesses help them connect with the Divine Energy by providing concrete forms. Others can better relate to the deities as representations of qualities or energies that are within us. So, as we chant to Ganesha, we are invoking the ability to embrace the new, and to clear away any stale energy, negative thinking, or unhealthy habits that have become hindrances to becoming our best self.

There are many recordings of chants to Ganesha. Some of my favorites are by MC Yogi, who creatively blends hip-hop rhythms with traditional Sanskrit chants, and cleverly weaves in the symbolism and mythology into a rap song with a danceable beat. Check out his songs “Elephant Power “ and “Ganesh is Fresh” (available on iTunes) if you want to learn more about and celebrate Ganesha in a fun way.

May your new beginnings be auspicious and your path be clear as you move in the direction of your dreams. Jai Ganesha!

Every Possibility

Amid the thousand fears that flesh is heir to, there is also peace. 

When I look beneath the boulder of anxiety, 

the mountain of my doubt, 

I find the shining silence, 

and rest until my being vibrates with only one note.

This is what I bring into my day, 

he wordless sound of all creation, 

the empty space of every possibility 

poised and ready to take shape.

by Danna Faulds, from From Root to Bloom, Peaceable Kingdom Books © 2006

Celebrating Summer Solstice with the Gayatri Mantra

Hello Dear Yogis,

Happy Summer Solstice! This is pinnacle of the year, a time to celebrate the fullness of life. Enjoy this longest day of the year, and partake of the sweetness of strawberries and flowers and the verdant earth. In this week's classes, we will be practicing embodying that radiance and abundant prana through our posture flow and chanting.

Summer Solstice is a perfect time to chant the Gayatri Mantra, one of the oldest and most sacred mantras from the Vedas.It's a prayer to the Sun, asking that the radiance of the sun illuminate our minds and guide us on the path toward awakening. Below is the Sanskrit transliteration, followed by a few possible interpretations of the mantra. Interestingly, the translations I've found vary vastly. That's because Sanskrit is a language with many layers of meaning, more poetic than linear, and touches us on a vibrational level. If you google around on the web, I'm sure you'll find many more versions. But more important, I invite you to try chanting it and see what happens energetically in yourself.

Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dheemahi
Dhiyo yo na prachodayat 

Oh Divine Presence, Creator of the Universe,
May your supreme light
illuminate our intellect and guide us on the path toward enlightenment.
~~~

We meditate on that wondrous spirit of the Divine Solar Light, which shines in every dimension of life. May that Light inspire and guide our inner vision.            

~~~~~

Let us honor the unity of Divine Spirit
that pervades all realms of existance:
the earth, the atmosphere and the heavens.

May That most brilliant Divine Light
protect us, sustain us
and illuminate our consciousness

that we might realize
our inherent goodness,
our inborn divinity
and our unity with All That Is.

By this knowledge may our actions be inspired.

~~~~

If you want to hear some beautiful versions the Gayatri Mantra sung, I recommend renditions by Tina Malia and Shimshai, Deva Premal, and HARC. These are all available on iTunes.

Our asana practice is also an opportunity to discover our own radiance, as breath and movement allow the chattering mind to drop into stillness. We begin to touch into That which is moving us, breathing us, illuminating us, and shimmering in each particle of our being.  May you enjoy that exploration and feel the glow!

OM

Why do we chant OM at the beginning and end of class? What does it mean? Is it a religious prayer?

Many students who are new to yoga ask these questions, and due to the unfamiliarity they may feel tentative about participating in chanting OM. A reader of this blog asked me to speak to this topic, so I thought I would share a bit about the practice of chanting OM.

OM is a bija, or “seed” mantra, which has no concrete linguistic meaning but has a powerful effect on the body and psyche through vibration. It is a very simple and direct way to call yourself home to your Center. Chanting OM helps the mind to focus when attention is scattered. It also balances the chakras (energy centers of the subtle body) as the vibration moves up the spine. It is an ancient, primal resonance that simulates the effect of a sonic womb. When chanting OM in a group, many yogis experience a sense of being enveloped by an all-encompassing, loving force that connects everyone.

OM is considered the cosmic YES, affirming the the Divine Presence (however one may conceive of That).

However, the audible OM is just a symbol of the vast cosmic resonance that embraces the universe. The true OM is an unstruck sounding, the primordial field out of which all vibration emerges. It is what the Taoists speak of as Tao, what the Kabbalah refers to as Ein Sof, the root of roots, or the primal emptiness from which all creation emerges.

Since before time and space were,
the Tao is.
It is beyond is and is not.
How do I know this is true?
I look inside myself and see. ~Lao Tzu, translated by Stephen Mitchell

When chanted, OM is often broken up into 3 syllables: A-U-M. We begin by taking a deep yogic breath, inviting the lower abdomen to expand, then widening the ribs as the air moves into the middle of the lungs, and finally lifting the heart by drawing the fullness of breath all the way into the upper chest. We may pause for a moment to feel the delicious fullness, and then we begin to empty the chest with the syllable “AH.” As we release and soften through the ribs, we round the mouth to flow into the syllable “OH.” Finally, the lips come together as the belly empties and we draw the navel inward, allowing the “MMM” sound to reverberate up the spine, all the way into the cranium.

Through the skillfull contraction of the abdominal muscles, you should control this humming so that it smoothly tapers off into a silence of the body, mind and heart. As you can see, the practice of the great yogic breath is necessary to derive the full benefit of this mantra. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the great yogic breath must accompany the great yogic sound.  ~ Russill Paul, The Yoga of Sound

Each part of the AUM corresponds to a particular state of consciousness: A is the waking state, U is the dream state, and M is deep sleep. The silence that the AUM resolves into is the fourth part of the mantra. It corresponds to Turiya, the field of spacious consciousness, a state of yogic power that encompasses all the other states. This silence is the sound of Brahman, the Absolute.

At a certain point you say to the woods, to the sea, to the mountains, the world, Now I am ready. Now I will stop and be wholly attentive. You empty yourself and wait, listening.  After a time you hear it:  there is nothing there. There is nothing but those things only, those created objects, discrete, growing or holding, or swaying, being rained on or raining, held, flooding or ebbing, standing, or spread. You feel the world’s word as a tension, a hum, a single chorused note everywhere the same. This is it: this hum is the silence.

The silence is all there is. It is the alpha and the omega. It is God’s brooding over the face of the waters, it is the blended note of the ten thousand things, the whine of wings. You take a step in the right direction to pray to this silence, and even to address the prayer to “World.” Distinctions blur. Quit your tents. Pray without ceasing.   ~Annie Dillard

OM is often used as a prefix to other mantras, as an acknowledgement of the sacred. For example, in the Sanskrit mantra OM Namah Shivaya, the words Namah and Shivaya mean “I bow to Shiva, transformative power of the universe.” OM has no translatable meaning, but adds power and sacredness to the mantra.  

In yoga class, OM is offered as a salutation and an invitation to come home to the place of peace within us. It is the simplest of invocations and benedictions, creating a sense of sacredness around our practice. One does not need to believe in any deity or ascribe to any particular religious doctrine—it is simply a calling upon the Essence toward which all spiritual paths lead.

Having said all of the above, I must emphasize that, in my classes, it is always optional to chant OM (or any other mantra, for that matter). One can simply bathe in the vibration rising and circling through the space without choosing to actively participate. Either way, one receives the benefit of the vibration.

OM is a mantra with tremendous power to uplift and transform one’s spirit. May you find great joy and peace in this practice, both on and off the mat.

The Power of Chant

Hello Dear Ones,

I just got back from an amazing weekend tour with my band, ONE LOVE. We did a big loop through Pennsylvania, from Doylestown (just north of Philly) to Harrisburg, and then up to State College. We led kirtan and interfaith chanting at two churches, were the featured guest musicians for a Sunday worship service, and then went on to play for a live music yoga class followed by a kirtan. 

I'm still vibrating from the experience. In each venue we witnessed people melt as they dropped into their hearts, as they chanted along with us. Teary-eyed folks came up to us afterwards to share how powerful an experience it was for them--some of them participating in chanting for the very first time. One woman described the experience as "a massage for the soul."

The reason I'm sharing all this with you is not to brag, but to emphasize the incredible power inherent in the practice of devotional chanting. This is an integral part of yoga, and it's a huge part of my practice and service to others. I invite you to visit my band's site, www.onelovechant.com to get a taste of this yoga that I practice off the mat.

Basically, the word yoga means "union." It is the Sanskrit ancestor of the English word "yoke, " and it has come to mean a method of spiritual union. A yoga is a method (and there are many kinds) by which a person may become united with the Godhead/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality. 

When we do postures and breathing, we are practicing Hatha yoga, which conditions the body and calms the mind. . Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotion, and uses the power of the heart to express our love and longing for the Divine, through chanting, prayers, and ritual offerings.  One does not need to be deity-oriented-- we can use these practices to call upon our highest Self, that wellspring of love, joy, and radiance that is our essential nature.

I look forward to sharing the power of chant with you, in yoga class or at the next kirtan in your town! 

"The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience."  Emily Dickinson      

A Song in My Heart

Hello Dear Ones, and welcome to my new blog! As I begin this first entry, I am celebrating the new name I've chosen for my yoga teaching work, Singing Heart Yoga. As a musician, songwriter and leader of devotional chanting, I feel that the name expresses the joining together of two deep passions in my life--singing and yoga. 

In sifting through the many possible ideas for names, I was reminded that, back in October of 1995, I attended a 5-day meditation retreat with the great Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh. At that time, I was given a dharma name: "Wholehearted Voice of the Heart." Although I liked the sentiment it conveyed, it seemed rather long and awkward to use in any practical sense. So it sat on my altar, written in beautiful calligraphy on a certificate, reminding me to sing and live from the heart.  

Over the years, I have poured my heart into my music, my interfaith ministry work, and most recently the teaching of yoga, which for me includes chanting, singing, and prayer. It seemed a natural choice, and one that honored the spirit of my dharma name, to call my work Singing Heart Yoga.

Atha Yoga Nusasanam

"Now, with great respect and love (and a song in my heart!), the blessings of yoga instruction are offered." 

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, I,1


 

God picks up the reed-flute world and blows.

Each note is a need coming through one of us,

a passion, a longing-pain.

Remember the lips

where the wind-breath originated,

and let your note be clear.

Don't try to end it.

Be your note.

I'll show you how it's enough.

Go up on the roof at night

in this city of the soul.

Let everyone climb on their roofs

and sing their notes!

Sing loud!

~Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks)