By Joan (Jayadevi) Bragar

A famous Indian singer composed “Jyota se Jyota” in Hindi as a tribute to Baba Muktananda.  Gurudevi has rendered this beautiful hymn into English verses.  You can find audios and lyrics of both.

We sing the full version as part of the arati (candle ceremony) honoring Baba Muktananda before the morning meditation.  We subscribers to the online Meditation Club joyfully sing it with Gurudevi and the Swamis every day. The shortened version with English is sung in our Satsangs, in-person and online on Sundays and Wednesdays.

When I wanted to be able to sing along, I learned this hymn on morning walks along the harbor. Every day, I would bring two lines to memorize.  I started with the chorus:

Mera Antara timira mitavo,

Sadaguru jyota se jyota jagavo.

Remove the darkness concealing me,

Teacher of Truth, awaken my inner light

You, too, can memorize this chorus and join us in song. All the resources you need are now available:

• Find the words for the Hindi version in Gurudevi’s new book Yoga’s Sacred Songs on page 31.  The English version is on page 36.
• Download the free Gurudevi Nirmalananda App from Google Play or Apple App Store.  Click on “Satsang Chants” to find the words for “Jyota se Jyota” at the top of the list.
• Or find the words on the svaroopa.org website on the “Satsang Chants” list under the purple “Freebies” tab.

Even better, listen to Gurudevi sweetly sing it in Hindi on her new album Honoring the One Who Needs No Praise, and in English on the recently released Mystical Song of the Guru.

As the song starts to wind down, I look forward to belting out the final verse:

Jivana Muktananda Avinashi. (x2)

Charanana sharana lagavo.

Sadaguru jyota se jyota jagavo!

O limitless one, Swami Muktananda,

In your lotus feet, I take shelter.

Teacher of Truth, awaken my inner light!

Hearing this perfectly sets me up for meditation.  Muktananda awakens “my inner light.”  

Come sing along with us!