CDs/MP3s - Words and Meanings
As you listen to the album, you can follow along with the words to each chant and read about their meanings. The lyrics in parentheses () indicate responses in the chants or sections that are in call-and-response format.
Please don't get hooked on this page! When chanting, it's best to close your eyes and internalize the experience.
1. Namasté Every Day
(Jeffji; published by Jeffji LLC, ASCAP)
Namasté Every Day
Every Day Namasté
Namasté Every Day
Every Day Namasté
In your heart I see Divinity,
And you can see it in me.
Namasté Every Day
Every Day Namasté
Namasté Every Day
Every Day Namasté
Every Day Namasté
(Every Day Namasté)
Every Day Namasté
(Every Day Namasté)
"Namasté" means "the divinity within me greets and honors the divinity within you. It can be used to say "hello" or "goodbye." This chant was inspired by a talk given by Rev. Jean De Barbieris Owen during a Sunday service at Unity Eastside Church in Tallahassee, FL. The message is that everyone should remember the divinity in ourselves and others as we go about our day-to-day lives.
2. Govinda Jaya Jaya
(Traditional mantra)
Govinda Jaya Jaya Gopala Jaya Jaya
(Govinda Jaya Jaya Gopala Jaya Jaya)
Govinda Jaya Jaya Gopala Jaya Jaya
(Govinda Jaya Jaya Gopala Jaya Jaya)
Radha Ramana Hari Govinda Jaya Jaya
(Radha Ramana Hari Govinda Jaya Jaya)
Radha Ramana Hari Govinda Jaya Jaya
(Radha Ramana Hari Govinda Jaya Jaya)
"Govinda" and "Gopala" are names of Krishna. "Jaya" means "victory," "praise," and "success." "Radha" is the name of Krishna's holy consort. "Radha Ramana" refers to Krishna as Radha's lover. And "Hari" is a name for Vishnu, of whom Krishna is a reincarnation.
Translation:
In praise of the Supreme Lord Hari, who is known as Govinda, the lord of the cows and cowherds, Gopala, the boy cowherd, and Radharamana, the lover of Radharani.
With this chant, we express our love to the Divine as Krishna and Radha would express their love to each other. That's the essence of Bhatki Yoga. Such a love is so sublime that "Radha" and "Krishna" are names for each other. So should be our identification with our divinity.
Note:
If we refer to God as "Radha-Krishna," we acknowledge God as having masculine and feminine aspects.
3. Buddham Saranam Gacchami
(Traditional mantra)
Buddham saranam gacchami
(Buddham saranam gacchami)
Dhammam saranam gacchami
(Dhammam saranam gacchami)
Sangham saranam gacchami
(Sangham saranam gacchami)
Translation:
I go to the Buddha for refuge.
I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
I go to the Sangha for refuge.
The lyrics above, included in Jeffji's recording, comprise the first verse of a three-verse mantra that is recited by those about to receive an initiation in Buddhism. The Dhamma or Dharma refers to the eternal truth, the righteous way of living. And the Sangha is the group of people who are striving to live these principles. The remaining verses (not included in the recording) are:
Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami
Translation:
For a second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
For a second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
For a second time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.
Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami
Translation:
For a third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
For a third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
For a third time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.
4. Polestar Of My Life
(From Cosmic Chants by Paramahansa Yogananda; published by Self-Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles, CA)
I have made Thee polestar of my life.
(I have made Thee polestar of my life.)
Though my sea is dark, and my stars are gone
(Though my sea is dark, and my stars are gone)
Still I see the path through Thy mercy.
(Still I see the path through Thy mercy.)
This beautiful chant by Paramahansa Yogananda shows how we should hold the Divinity within us, or the guru or teacher who is leading us there, as the central guiding principle of our lives. As the chant is in English, further translation shouldn't be necessary.
5. Om Mani Padme Hum
(Traditional mantra)
Om Mani Padme Hum
"Om" is the primordial sound of the universe in manefestation. "Mani" means "jewel." "Padme" means "lotus." And "hum" is a restatement of "Om."
Translation:
There are many translations of this mantra, as interpreted by the various sects of Buddhism. Jeffji prefers this translation, which evokes the Buddha mind: The universe is a jewel in the lotus of my heart.
6. Haré Krishna, Haré Ram
(Traditional mantra)
Haré Krishna Haré Ram, Ram Ram Haré Haré
(Haré Krishna Haré Ram, Ram Ram Haré Haré)
"Haré" refers to Vishnu (by his name Hari) in the vocative sense, meaning we are calling out to Vishnu. So it means "Oh Lord." Krishna and Ram (or Rama) are considered reincarnations of Vishnu, thus are other names of him.
Translation:
Considering the fact that these are all names of God, the translation can be as simple as "Oh Lord" in the devotional sense.
Note:
This chant, which was recorded by monastics in Paramahansa Yogananda's organization Self-Realization Fellowship, is actually a shortened form of the famous mahamantra (great mantra) in the Krishna tradition:
Haré Krishna, Haré Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Haré Haré
Haré Rama, Haré Rama
Rama Rama, Haré Haré
7. He Bhagavan
(Traditional mantra)
He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan
(He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan)
He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan
(He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan, He Bhagavan)
Bhagavan, Bhagavan, Bhagavan, Bhagavan
(Bhagavan, Bhagavan, Bhagavan, Bhagavan)
"He" means "Oh," as in calling out. "Bhagavan means "Lord," usually referring to Krishna. This is another chant that was recorded by Self-Realization Fellowship.
Translation:
Oh Lord!
8. Hari Om
(Traditional mantra)
Hari Om, Hari Om
(Hari Om, Hari Om)
As discussed above, "Hari" means "Vishnu" or "God. "Om" is the primordial sound of the universe in manifestation.
Translation:
An interesting interpretation is that God is invisible, so we add "Om" so that we can see God manifesting as the universe. Jeffji's translation is that this mantra expresses our love for God in the form of all that is.