Most Indians would be very familiar with one of the most famous prayers and probably the most popular. That is Om Jai Jagdish Hare. I will attempt in the article below to connect the various spiritual thoughts with the literal meaning of the prayer.
Stanza 1. Om jaya Jagdiśa hare
Swāmi* jaya Jagadiśa hareBhakta janoṃ ke sankataDāsa janoṃ ke saṅkaṭaKśana meṃ dūra kareOm jaya Jagadiśa hare
Literal meaning
Oh Lord of the whole UniverseMighty Lord of the whole UniverseThe agonies of devoteesThe sorrows of devoteesIn an instant, you make these go awayOh Lord of the whole Universe
Spiritual Analysis
As indicated in several earlier articles, the only existence is of Reality, the Absolute Truth or Brahman. Once we gain knowledge of Brahman and become Brahman, there is no more sorrow.
Take the example of characters in my dream. Assume that in my dream there is a flood and the various characters including me are in sorrow or suffering. How can my sorrow as experienced by me in the dream go away in an instant? If I, the dream character somehow realize that what i am experiencing is a dream and I wake up, the sorrow is gone. Hence on realization that this world is a illusion, at that very instant, all sorrows are gone.
Stanza 2: Jo dhyāve phala pāveDukha bina se mana kāSwami dukha bina se mana kāSukha sampati ghara āveSukha sampati ghara āveKaṣta miṭe tana kāOm jaya Jagadiśa hare
Literal meaning
He who's immersed in devotionWith a mind without sadnessLord, with a mind without sadnessJoy, prosperity enter the homeJoy, prosperity enter the homeA body free of problemsOh Lord of the whole Universe
Spiritual Analysis
Assume in my dream, there is a character who totally believes in some super power, which in reality is nothing but me sleeping in my bed. This dream character knows or fully believes that the super power will take care of him. It is total faith or devotion in a power other than him, which means that the character is giving up his/her ego and surrendering to that super power.
In the same way, for those on the spiritual path, via the route of devotion, there is nothing that the Supreme cannot do. They think that whatever they do is because of Him. They have totally subdued their ego and act as an agent of the Supreme. This ability to cut out the ego ensures that there is no attachment to the dualities of the magical world and peace and prosperity reigns.
Stanza 3: Mātā pitā tuma mereŚarana karu maiṃ kiskiSwāmi śaraṇa karu maiṃ kiskiTuma bina aura na dūjāTuma bina aura na dūjāĀśā karuṇa maiṃ jiskiOm jaya Jagadiśa hare
Literal meaning
You are my Mother and FatherWhom should I take refuge withLord,whom should I take refuge withWithout you, there is no otherWithout you, there is no otherFor whom I would wishOh Lord of the whole Universe
Spiritual Analysis
It is obvious based on the analogy of the dream as to who the father and mother of characters in my dream are going to be. Since I am the dreamer, for every character in my dream, I am the father and mother.
For every wave in the ocean, water is the father and mother. For every jewel, gold is the father/mother. For each one of us, who is nothing but pure Brahman, our father and mother are nothing but Brahman.
Stanza 4: Tuma pūraṇa ParamātmāTuma AntarayāmiSwāmi tuma AntarayāmiPāra Brahma ParameśwaraPāra Brahma ParameśwaraTuma saba ke swāmiOm jaya Jagadiśa hare
Literal meaning
You are the ancient great soul,You are the indwellerLord, you are the indwellerPerfect, Absolute, Supreme GodPerfect, Absolute, Supreme GodYou are the Lord of everything and everyone,Oh Lord of the whole Universe
Spiritual Analysis
For a dream character who is the in-dweller? Who provides the foundation for the dream character's existence? It's me the dreamer in my bed who provides the base and am the in-dweller in each of my dream characters.
Assuming we see a rope in dark and think it is a snake, the in-dweller of the snake is the rope. In exactly the same way the Supreme Truth or Brahman provides the base. Owing to the power of illusion of Brahman, there is a seeming multitude. However for each of the multitude, the in dweller is Brahman.
Stanza 5: :Tuma karuṇa ke sāgaraTuma pālana kartāSwāmi tuma pālana kartāMai mūrakh khalakhāmiMai sevaka tuma swāmiKripā karo BhartāOm jaya Jagadiśa hare
Literal meaningYou are an ocean of mercyYou are the protectorLord, you are the protectorI am a simpleton with wrong wishes,I am a servant and you are the LordOh Lord,Grant me your divine graceOh Lord of the Universe
Spiritual Analysis
This is again from the perspective of practitioners of Bhakti yoga. They are giving up their ego and will do every action in the world as an agent of the Lord. Since every action in this world leads to an equal reaction, we continue in the cycle of birth and death. However if any action is done assuming agency of some Super power, there is no karmic influence of the action.
Stanza 6:Tuma ho eka agocharaSaba ke prāṇapatiSwāmi saba ke prānapatiKisa vidhi milūṃ dayāmayaKisa vidhi milūṃ dayāmayaTuma ko maiṃ kumatiOm jaya Jagadiśa hare
Literal meaning
You are the one unseenOf all living beingsThe Lord of all living beingsGrant me a glimpseGrant me a glimpseGuide me along the path to thee,Oh Lord of the Universe
Spiritual Analysis
To the character in my dream, I am the Unseen and the Lord of all living beings in my dream. There is absolutely no way that any of my dream characters can see me who is sleeping in my bed.
In exactly the same way, Brahman can never be seen by us. When we see Brahman, we have become Brahman. If I, in my dream have seen me in my bed, that means I have awakened and the dream I and the real I have merged.
Stanza 7,8.
- Dīna bandhu dukha harata
- Thākura tuma mere
- Swāmi ṭhākura tuma mere
- Apane hāth uṭhāo
- Apani śaraṇa lagāo
- Dwāra paṛā hūn tere
- Om jaya Jagadiśa hare
Tan man dhan sab kuch hai teraSwami sab kuch hai teraTera tujh ko arpanTera tujh ko arpanKya laage meraOm Jai Jagadish Hare
- Literal meaning
-
- Friend of the helpless and feeble
- Benevolent saviour of all
- Lord, benevolent saviour of all
- Lift up your hand
- Offer me thy refuge
- At thy feet
- Oh Lord of the Universe
- Removing earthly desires
- Defeating sin,Supreme Soul,
- Lord, defeating sin
- With all my Faith and devotion
- Oh Lord,With all my faith and devotion
- In Eternal Service Unto Thee,
- Oh Mighty Lord of the whole Universe
- Spiritual Analysis
Why do we suffer? We suffer primarily because of desires. Why do we have desires? We have desires because we have forgotten that we are full by ourselves. We have wrongly identified with body/mind/intellect and feel a void which we try to fill through object of desires. In trying to meet our desires we perform acts which give us karmic impact and make us get equal punishment/rewards in a worldly sense. However even if a karmic act gives us worldly pleasure, in effect it is a sin because we have not yet realized we are Supreme and do not need this worldly happiness.
As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.
I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.
1. My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
2. Attain Infinite Bliss
Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide
3. The Spirit Of Spirituality
The Spirit Of Spirituality
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