Sound, breath, and the name

Om

ॐ

ஓம்

The syllable the Māṇḍūkya Upanishad calls the whole of it: past, present, future, and what is beyond the three.

How: Breathe in fully. On the out-breath sound A–U–M, letting the M hum until the breath ends. Rest in the silence after. Repeat, slowly, with the drone if you like.

Asato mā — From the unreal to the real

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

ஓம் அஸதோ மா ஸத்கமய ।
தமஸோ மா ஜ்யோதிர்கமய ।
ம்ருத்யோர்மா அம்ருதம் கமய ।
ஓம் சாந்தி: சாந்தி: சாந்தி: ॥

From the unreal lead me to the real. From darkness lead me to light. From death lead me to immortality. Peace, peace, peace.

How: Chant each line on one breath. The three śāntiḥ at the end are traditionally for the three kinds of disturbance: from oneself, from others, from the world.

Gāyatrī

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

ஓம் பூர்புவ: ஸ்வ: ।
தத்ஸவிதுர்வரேண்யம்
பர்கோ தேவஸ்ய தீமஹி ।
தியோ யோ ந: ப்ரசோதயாத் ॥

We meditate on the excellent radiance of the divine Sun: may it awaken our understanding.

How: Traditionally chanted at dawn, facing east, and again at dusk. Kanchi Periyava asked that it be kept alive as sound; chant it slowly and let the vowels be long.

Pūrṇam adaḥ — That is full, this is full

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं
पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय
पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

ஓம் பூர்ணமத: பூர்ணமிதம்
பூர்ணாத் பூர்ணமுதச்யதே ।
பூர்ணஸ்ய பூர்ணமாதாய
பூர்ணமேவாவசிஷ்யதே ॥
ஓம் சாந்தி: சாந்தி: சாந்தி: ॥

That is full; this is full. From fullness, fullness comes forth. Taking fullness from fullness, fullness alone remains. Peace, peace, peace.

How: The peace-chant that opens the Īśā. Chant it before giving something away, or before beginning work.

Saha nāvavatu — May we be protected together

ॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु
मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

ஓம் ஸஹ நாவவது ।
ஸஹ நௌ புனக்து ।
ஸஹ வீர்யம் கரவாவஹை ।
தேஜஸ்வி நாவதீதமஸ்து
மா வித்விஷாவஹை ।
ஓம் சாந்தி: சாந்தி: சாந்தி: ॥

May we be protected together. May we be nourished together. May we work together with vigour. May our study be luminous. May we not hate one another. Peace, peace, peace.

How: Chanted by teacher and student together before study. Chant it with someone, if you can, before you read together.

Namaśivāya — Sivapuranam opening

நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன்தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என்நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள்வாழ்க
கோகழி யாண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள்வாழ்க
ஆகம மாகிநின் றண்ணிப்பான் தாள்வாழ்க

Hail Namashivaya! Hail the feet of the Lord! Hail the feet of him who does not leave my heart for the space of a blink! Hail the feet of the jewel of a guru who ruled at Kokazhi! Hail the feet of him who became the Āgamas and draws near!

How: Sung at dawn in Shaiva homes across Tamil Nadu. Recite it slowly, in Tamil; the rhythm carries itself.

Hanuman Chalisa — opening

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि ।
बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि ॥

ஸ்ரீகுரு சரண ஸரோஜ ரஜ, நிஜ மனு முகுரு ஸுதாரி ।
பரனௌ ரகுபர பிமல ஜஸு, ஜோ தாயகு பல சாரி ॥

With the dust of my guru's lotus feet I polish the mirror of my mind, and sing the pure glory of the best of the Raghus, who gives the four fruits of life.

How: Neem Karoli Baba said every line of the Chalisa is a maha-mantra. The full text of forty verses is free everywhere; the Taos ashram publishes it with a translation. Begin with the opening couplet.