By Joan (Jayadevi) Bragar

I find myself singing along with Gurudevi while driving my car. “OM Guru Mere Guru.” 

On her album Honored Guru Gita, it’s a mere five minutes long, with a catchy melody. The words are easy to learn. I have downloaded it to my phone.

This chant in tribute to her Guru is sung in the Ashram every morning before Shree Guru Gita. The words honor the person of her own Guru, Baba Muktananda. 

At the same time, it honors the Guru-principle, Grace ― the revelatory power of God. Within each of the three short verses, succinct lines are repeated for a serene effect.

In Verse 1, you repeat the first line “OM Guru, OM Guru.” It stems from the mantra Guru OM, which Muktananda received from his Guru, Bhagawan Nityananda. Muktananda gave this mantra to Gurudevi, and she shares its Grace with us. 

In the second line of Verse1, “OM Guru, Mere Guru” fondly calls the Guru “mere Guru” — my Guru.

We hail the Guru in Verse 2, by chanting “Jaya Guru OM” four times. Gurudevi renders this verse as “Hail to the revealer of the Divine within.” The concluding line of Verse 3 is OM Guru OM, sung sonorously four times.

Chanting the three verses through, even though it’s only three times, I am carried into peace.