Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu .... - A Beautiful All-Faith Prayer Explained and Elaborated in English

Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu ... is a beautiful all-faith prayer, which was a part of Mahatma Gandhi's prayer sessions. It is sung regularly in many schools/institutions all over India, spreading message and vibrations of harmony and peace. Here, the essence of its verses is elaborated in English.

Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu .... - A Beautiful All-Faith Prayer

Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu, Purushottam Guru Tu,

Siddha Buddha Tu, Skanda Vinayak Savita Paavak Tu,

Brahama Mazda Tu, Yahva Shakti Tu, Ishu Pitaa Prabhu Tu,

Rudra Vishnu Tu, Raama Krishna Tu, Rahim Tao Tu,

Vasudev Go Vishwa Roopa Tu, Chidananda Hari Tu,

Advitiya Tu, Akaala Nirbhay, Aatmalinga Shiva Tu !!

Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu, Purushottam Guru Tu,

Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu !!

Translation : The word Tu translates to Thou art.

The rest are different names of the Almighty - the Universe - the Omnipresent - the Absolute Truth, whatever we choose to call ....

Hence, the literal translation would be ....

Thou art THAT, Thou art TRUTH, Thou art Shree Narayan, Thou art Purushottam Guru,

Thou art Siddha Buddha, (Thou art) Skanda Vinayaka, Thou art Savita Paavak,

Thou art Brahma Mazda, Thou art Yahva Shakti, Thou art Ishu Pitaa Prabhu,

Thou art Rudra Vishnu, Thou art Raama Krishna, Thou art Rahim Tao,

Thou art Vasudev Go Vishwaroopa, Thou art Chidanada Hari,

Thou art Advitiya Akaal Nirbhay, Thou art Aatmalinga Shiva !!

Thou art THAT, Thou art TRUTH, Thou art Shree Narayan, Thou art Purushottam Guru,

Thou art THAT, Thou art TRUTH, Thou art Shree Narayan !!

Elaborations of the meanings are given below :

Elaborating the Essence of the Prayer ....

Hindi	English	Word Meanings / Explanations / References
Om Tat Sat Shree Narayan Tu	Thou art THAT, Thou art TRUTH, Thou art Shree Narayan	Shree : represents Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, prefixed as a symbol of honour before the names of respectable / revered men; Narayan : The Omnipresent God
Purushottam Guru Tu	Thou art Purushottam Guru	Purushottam : The best among men
Siddha Buddha Tu	Thou art Siddha Buddha	Siddha : An accomplished / enlightened seeker - in Hindu and Jain philosophies
Skanda Vinayak	(Thou art) Skanda Vinayaka	Skanda : literally means, the Leaper / the Attacker - Lord Kartikeya - the Warrior God, the first son of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, the destroyer of evil; Vinayak : literally means one who bestows Vinaya, i.e. courtesy / discretion / wisdom, refers to Lord Ganesha - the second son of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, the Hindu Deity of Wisdom, Pure Intelligence and Collectivity, the Remover of obstacles
Savita Paavak Tu	Thou art Savita Paavak	Savita : literally means, the best in the universe, refers to the energy of the Sun; Paavak : that which nurtures and nourishes
Brahma Mazda Tu	Thou art Brahma Mazda	Brahma : as per the Hindu philosophy, highest Universal Principle of Existence - the Ultimate Truth; Mazda : comes from Ahura Mazda - the name of the Zoroastrian God and stands for the God of Harmony, Intelligence and Wisdom
Yahva Shakti Tu	Thou art Yahva Shakti	Yahva : youngest, newest, always young or fresh; Shakti : Energy
Ishu Pitaa Prabhu Tu	Thou art Ishu Pitaa Prabhu	Isha : One who Protects - in the Hindu philosophy; Ishu - comes from Yeshu meaning Jesus Christ; Pitaa : Father; Prabhu : Lord / God
Rudra Vishnu Tu	Thou art Rudra Vishnu	Rudra : literally means "the roarer" or the "howler", a name of Lord Shiva in the Hindu philosophy, meaning the mighty God of storm, lightning and thunder, the Purifier; Vishnu : the Omnipresent - the all-pervasive, the Protector and the Preserver of Universe, the Hindu Deity of Sustainability of Universe
Raama Krishna Tu	Thou art Raama Krishna	Raama and Krishna are incarnations of Lord Vishnu - the Hindu Deity of Protection and Sustainability
Rahim Tao Tu	Thou art Rahim Tao	Rahim : one of the names of Allah in Islam, meaning "Merciful"; Tao : literally means "way", in Chinese philosophy, refers to the Absolute Principle underlying the Universe, combining within itself the principles of Yin (the Feminine power) and Yang (the Masculine power) and signifying the way, or code of behaviour, that is in harmony with the natural order.
Vasude Go Vishwaroopa Tu	Thou art Vasudev Go Vishwaroopa	Vasudev : Shree Krishna - the Universal Divinity; Go Vishwaroopa : the Almighty God - Lord Krishna - who has the universe as His body.
Chidananda Hari Tu	Thou art Chidanada Hari	Chidananda : one with a conscious mind immersed in total bliss; Hari : the Savior, a name of Lord Vishnu, the one who removes darkness and illusion.
Advitiya Tu Akaal Nirbhay	Thou art Advitiya Akaal Nirbhay	Advitiya : one without a second, unparalleled, only One; Akaal : beyond Time; Nirbhay : Fearless
Aatmalinga Shiva Tu	Thou art Aatmalinga Shiva	Aatmalinga : pure soul manifesting the formless as a form; Shiva : literally means "the Auspicious one", referring to Lord Shiva

Several recorded versions of this prayer are available online.

A couple of links are given below.

I had learnt this prayer during my childhood, regularly sung in the beginning of my dance class sessions. It has remained in my heart ever since. I can still see Ms. Hazarika, our beautiful, elegant dance teacher standing with her hands folded with us, singing this prayer, in the beginning of our sessions.

Was / is this or any other All-Faith Prayer regularly sung in your School / Institute / Organization ?

• 85% Yes
• 0% No
• 15% I would love to have it

20 people have voted in this poll.

© 2020 Vanita Thakkar

Perfection - a Poem .... What Is It ? an Aspiration, a Quest, an Expectation … a Tool, a Weapon ... Let Us Explore ....

 

Perfection

Perfection – unattainable :

A guiding star

To students, artists,

Continuously inspiring

Them for improvement;

A source of humility

For the Enlightened,

Saving them from

The vices of blindening ego.

Perfection – unattainable :

A tool and a weapon.

Perfection – unattainable :

But, measurable ?!

By man –

Whose perfection lies

In being imperfect ?!

Perfection – the Creator’s Nature :

Dissolve in its infinity

Through surrender.

- Vanita Thakkar (12.09.2008)

Perfection : an aspiration, a quest, an expectation ....

Perfection : tool - to chip and chop, crave and carve ....

Perfection : a weapon - to shake and break - individualities and identities .... ??!!

- Vanita Thakkar

 

© 2008 Vanita Thakkar

 

By The Train Window - Poem

 Dissolving Into The Vastness Within And Around By The Train Window ....

 

By The Train Window

The green, far-stretching fields,

Touching the horizon,

Sweep past the train window.

The gushes of wind

Engulf my being,

Unwrapping, unfolding

The layers of silence within,

That surge out

As a stream of

Humming emotions,

Formless thoughts,

Timeless yearning,

Emerging from

Unchartered mountains of memories

Flowing over and across

The winding and twining

Lanes and passages,

The contours and forms,

And flashes,

Scattered in the vastness within,

And spreads over and over

Over-board the rocking train window,

Into the swiftly moving

Fields and wilderness,

Rivers and streams,

Mountains and hills and rocks,

Over to and beyond

The clouds crawling lazily past

The boundless bent sky.

- Vanita Thakkar (09.06.2015)

 

Sunrise from the train window .... Vanita Thakkar

Camouflaged Trust - Poem

 

Trust overladen with hidden, blind expectations creates unwanted and undue stresses and strains. Such experiences expose parasitic tendencies in relationships, in which the contributor gets exposed to the risk of being consumed by the receiver and has to be careful. A pure, determined mind can help with the confidence required to overcome and overpower such difficulties.

- Vanita Thakkar (22-02-2021)

 

Camouflaged Trust

What is it

That comes along

Camouflaged as trust

And claimed broken ?

Appreciation,

Which keeps turning upside down ?

Or peeping curiosity

Soaked in sore patience,

Seeking answers

That lie within ?

Or cleverness

Often mirror-imposed in fox

For its scavengerly habits ?

Or all these together

And much more

Unknown to my ignorant awareness,

Turning me into a protagonist

In a farce of converting

Disguised, disastrous expectations

Into challenges,

Too overbearing for my frail being,

But for the unfailing grace of

That Omnipresent Nobody.

- Vanita Thakkar (03.04.2011)

Consolations - Poem

Plight Of Womanhood .... Continued Refusal To Learn From Past, To Change For Good ....How Long, How Far .... ??!!

CONSOLATIONS

“Well, well, dear !!

This world didn’t spare

The divine Sita,

Purity embodied

And the dazzling Draupadi,

Blazing Womanhood,

Who are you and I ? ….”

Thus go consolations,

Sometimes soothing,

While at times piercing

The perpetually bleeding

Sores of Time,

Wailing wordlessly

At stagnated sensitivity

And vicious wiliness,

Regressing Manliness.

- Vanita Thakkar (17-03-2015)

We often hear such gratifications / consolations when there are talks about injustice to women ....

Sometimes, they are also used to caution / discourage a successful lady, steadily progressing on her chosen path, urging her to be "satisfied" with her share of achievements .... The reasons behind such discouragements can be very many that may even be too difficult to decipher immediately, but there is a clear, definite oversight to the sense of duty, commitment or necessity that prompts the lady to work towards perfection / excellence and resulting success ....

Plight Of Womanhood ....

Continued Refusal To Learn From Past,

To Change For Good ....

How Long, How Far .... ??!!

The Plight Of Sita .... ".... Prove Yourself ...."

Draupadi's Ordeal .... The Worst Insult Of Womanhood Right In Front Of Elders And Distinguished, Respected Courtiers ....

 

© 2020 Vanita Thakkar

The Waiting Princess : Poem - on being one’s own friend ....

 Being One's Own Friend .... My Poem That I Feel Is Closest To My Heart ....

The Element Of Friendship Is The Essence In Every Relationship That Breathes Life And Health And Happiness Into It ....

- Vanita Thakkar (05-08-2018)

THE WAITING PRINCESS

The messenger of dawn galloped by

On his winged horse across the sky,

Whispering to the sleeping lives –

“The Sun is about to arrive.”

Dew was sprinkled by the trees,

I was stirred up by wet breeze.

Slowly, I spread my wings

And came out of my new dwelling.

The Eastern dark curtain was lifted

And, in, the golden sun rays drifted,

Asking the lotus buds to arise,

Who, with trembling freshness, opened their eyes.

With the passage of night’s shadow,

From my throat, music began to flow

In praise of the glorious way

With which Nature welcomes a new day.

Suddenly, a sweet voice came along !

Oh !! I forgot my song !

In its direction, I flew;

As I went closer, sweeter it grew.

“Who’s singing ?”, I asked curiously

To the huge, old banyan tree.

He said, “You are a new-comer, I guess,

For, you don’t know the Little Princess.”

Through the leafy curtain I glanced

At the graceful way the Beauty danced.

“Ah ! Here comes a beautiful morning !

Come, oh birds ! with me, you sing !

“For, my friend will come today,

With whom I’ll dance and play.

She’ll come from a distance, quite long.

Greet her with a warm refreshing song.

“I’ve waited for her, day after day.

The brightness, today, makes me feel gay.

My heart is filled with happiness, unknown.

I shall no more be alone .......”

Enchanted by her enthralling grace,

The wind decreased her pace.

The trees waved, with the slow cadence

And the flowers spread wonderful incense.

She sang, awaiting her companion,

The dusk came, she knew not when.

Gradually, her voice became faint.

Clouded with despair, she went.

At dawn, lost hope, she found.

Again, I heard her sound.

Everyday, the same thing happened,

But, never came her awaited friend.

Till winter, there, I stayed.

Everyday, for her, I prayed.

Then, her icy hands, cold began to lay

And I had to go away.

Often, I thought of her,

And went to her woods, next summer,

Wishing, now, when I see,

A happier person she will be.

Again, her melodious voice, I heard.

But, the words she sang, totally differed,

“A new day has arrived

And a new light derived.

“The flowers, birds, trees and the sky –

Are all unchanged, but not I.

I welcome the awakening of a new person within

Who makes me perceive the scene,

“In a broader and a wiser manner.

Of loneliness, I no more murmur.

I don’t crave for anyone at my sides

For, I’ve found a friend, within myself who hides.”

- Vanita Thakkar. (17.05.1989)

Being One's Own Friend First Is Essential To Be A True Friend To Someone Else ....

- Vanita Thakkar (17-05-1989)

 

© 1989 Vanita Thakkar