I recommend that you sing the following Sanskrit devotional phrases for your Bhava Yoga ritual, or simply as a devotional meditation. Each of these twenty-one mantras represents a quality of the Divine that we seek in our own soul. They can be recited one after the other, as in a litany, or you may take a single mantra and chant it twenty-one times, 108 times, or for a duration of twenty-one minutes. Chanting them all together in a sequence is extremely powerful.
Choose at least two tones: one high and the other low. Using three tones is ideal. I have provided a couple of traditional variations for your reference. Notice the emotional difference between saying these mantras and singing them. If you have any initial resistance, you can get past it by telling yourself that you will be singing for God. A whole world of spiritual emotion will open up for you.
PRONUNCIATION REVIEW:
• Follow all the rules mentioned in previous appendixes, particularly remembering to place the tip of your tongue between your teeth to pronounce the underlined letters t, d, and n.
• Remember, n is to be pronounced like the “n” in “singe” or “ginger.”
• ń is pronounced by curling the tongue upward, into the middle of the upper palate, as in the word earn.
• n is to be pronounced with tip of tongue lightly against tip of teeth.
• n is to be pronounced like the “n” in “king” or “lung” — in the back of the throat. (This will be introduced soon.)
• n is a normal English “n.”
• Unless the vowel is doubled, such as “aa,” don’t prolong its sound; when doubled, don’t extend it for too long — just twice the normal time.
• Finally, emphasize and aspirate all consonants followed by an h.
Use the tones as follows:
Or, as a variation:
1. Om Shri Maa-tre Na-ma-ha (Holy Mother, we adore you)
2. Om Shri Ma-haa-raaj- ni-ye Na-ma-ha (Holy Queen, we adore you)
3. Om Bhad-ra-muur-ti-ye Na-ma-ha (Lover of benevolence, we adore you)
4. Om Bhak-ta-pri-yaaa-ye Na-ma-ha (Lover of devotees, we adore you)
5. Om Bhak-ti-gam-yaa-ye Na-ma-ha (Won by devotion, we adore you)
6. Om Bha-yaa-pa-haa-ye Na-ma-ha (Dispeller of fear, we adore you)
7. Om Shar-ma-daa-yin-ye Na-ma-ha (Giver of happiness, we adore you)
8. Om Saad-vi-ye Na-ma-ha (Of unequalled virtue, we adore you)
9. Om Ni-ran -ja-naa-ye Na-ma-ha (Unstained, we adore you)
10. Om Nir-le-paa-ye Na-ma-ha (Free from impurity, we adore you)
11. Om Nir-ma-laa-ye Na-ma-ha (Free from blemish, we adore you)
12. Om Nish-kaa-maa-ye Na-ma-ha (Free from desire, we adore you)
13. Om Nit-ya-shud-daa-ye Na-ma-ha (Ever pure, we adore you)
14. Om Nit-ya-bud-dhaa-ye Na-ma-ha (Ever wakeful, we adore you)
15. Om Nir-ma-daa-ye Na-ma-ha (Free from pride, we adore you)
16. Om Ma-da-naa-shin-ye Na-ma-ha (Destroyer of pride, we adore you)
17. Om Nir-ma-maa-ye Na-ma-ha (Free from thought of self, we adore you)
18. Om Paa-pa-naa-shin-ye Na-ma-ha (Destroyer of sin, we adore you)
19. Om Duk-kha-han-tri-ye Na-ma-ha (Taking away sorrow, we adore you)
20. Om Su-khap-pra-daa-ye Na-ma-ha (Conferring happiness, we adore you)
21. Om Sar-va-shak-ti-maa-ye Na-ma-ha (All powerful, we adore you)
KIRTANS ARE the call-and-response chants that make the musical experience of Bhava Yoga accessible to everyone. Through their simple, evocative melodies, these repetitive chants quickly open our heart and flood our nervous system with loving energy. Each line is sung once by the caller, and the group responds identically. The same line can also be sung in other musical variations, requiring the responding group to listen intently in order to replicate the musical sequence. This causes the mind to become still and free from discursive thinking; it is hard to think while you listen in view of repeating both words and tune, then sing from the memory of that absorption.
The next line is played with in the same way, then both lines are put together and sung in a single melodic sequence that is repeated by the group.
Na-mah Dur-gaa-ye, Shree Kaa-li Maa
Na-mah Dur-gaa-ye, Na-mah Dur-ga
Translation: We worship you, fierce and blinding light of the goddess Durga — you who are also Kali, the mother of all beings.
Shree Ma, Kaa-li Ma, Aa-di Maa, Paa-hi Ma
Translation: We honor you, Mother Kali; your power is primal and you are indeed holy.
Ha-ra Ha-ra Ma-haa De-va Sham-bo
Kaa-shi Vish-wa-naa-tha Gang-gay
Translation: All praise to you, great Lord of the universe. You, who make your home in Kashi by the river Ganges, are the living source of our joy.
Note on pronunciation: The letter n (in Gang-gay) is to be pronounced like the “n” in “king” or “lung” — in the back of the throat.
Aru-naa-cha-la Shi-va, Aru-naa-cha-la Shi-va
Aru-naa-cha-la Shi-va, Aru-naa-cha-la
Translation: We praise you, Shiva — you who dwell in the holy mountain of Arunachala, which represents the incarnation of your formless essence upon this earth.
Om Na-mo Bha-ga-va-te Vaa-su-de-vaa-ya
Translation: We worship you, beloved, as the one who is goodness personified in divinity.
Shree Krish- ńa Sha-ra-nam Ma-ma
Translation: My refuge is the Lord Krishna.
Ha-ri Om
Translation: We offer our praise to you, Lord Hari (Vishnu). ( Hari represents the energy essence of Brahman.)
Kleem Krish- ńaa-ya Go-vin-daa-ya
Go-pi-ja-na Val-la-bhaa-ya Svaa-ha
Translation: Gopala is a name for Krishna as cowherd, Go meaning “cow.” Gopijana refers to him as the beloved of the cowherd girls, known as gopis. Mystically, all human souls are gopis who are drawn to the Divine like moths to a flame. In this Divine love, we are consumed and transformed. Notice that Kleem, the Tantric bija associated with Kama the God of love and passion, is a sort of Hindu cupid and a form of Krishna, who is the ultimate lover. Govinda is the protector of cows; Vishnu is the protector and provider of all human subsistence, which includes food.
Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Shree Krish- ńaa-ya Shree Go-vin-daa-ya
Shree Go-pi-ja-na Val-la-bhaa-ya Shreem Shreem
Translation: The above is a variation on the previous eighteen-syllable mantra, and is known as the Siddha Gopala mantra. A siddha is a yogi with tantric powers. Obviously, the Tantric influence is even stronger here than in the previous variation, with the additions of Shreem — the bija of Lakshmi — and Hreem, to dispel illusion, together with honorific addresses to each mantra.Shree is a title of respect which means “Your Holiness.”
Om Na-mo Naa-raa-ya-naa-ya
Translation: “Naaraayana” is a name for Vishnu. Naara represents the primeval waters of creation;Ayana means “resting place” or “support.” Vishnu is the preserver of the universe, and is thus known as Naaraayana, the resting place and support of all creation. There are two forms for using this mantra. The above eight-syllable (astaakshari) form, which includes the syllable Om, is necessary to obtain moksha (liberation). For material gain and worldly problems, the Om is omitted:
Na-mah Naa-raa-ya-naa-ya