by : Krishna Chaithanya
The great Self-realized Saint, social reformer and mystic poet Sree Narayana Guru (1855-1928) has authored many literary works in Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil languages which are classified mainly as hymns, philosophical works and works on moral import. Around 65 of them have been found and published. Many of them unfortunately have been lost or not discovered yet. The Gurudeva Krithikal (Literary works of Sree Narayana Guru) is a perfect example of giving expression to the inexpressible Absolute Truth. It is no doubt an oasis of wisdom and insights for a true seeker in the desert of this impermanent world.
However the lack of translations of these works to English and other languages has resulted in their remaining as hidden treasures. However, there have been efforts to translate them into English by some of the Sanyasins in Narayana Guru’s lineage like Nataraja Guru, Swami John Dharma Theerthar, Nitya Chaitanya Yati, Muni Narayana Prasad, etc. Many aspirants will be indebted to them for their efforts, especially to Swami Muni Narayana Prasad who has translated all the poetic works of Narayana Guru into English.
There are some prose works too among these literary works of Sree Narayana Guru which probably has not been translated by anyone yet. Among them is Gadya Prarthana (A Prose Prayer) a short and beautiful prayer in prose form. It’s a prayer to the Supreme Self to guide and strengthen the seeker on his journey to find his true identity.
I have made a humble attempt at translating it into English for all my co-pilgrims on the path of Self-enquiry.
Gadyaprarthana (A Prose Prayer) by Sree Narayana Guru
All that are seen (objects of perception) are of the forms – Sthula (gross), Sukshma (subtle) and Karana (causal) and they rise from and set into the Supreme Self.
Therefore, there is nothing other than the Supreme Self.
The nature of the Supreme Self which destroys - scorches away all the vices, which enlightens my intellect and guides me through the right path, that divine form of the Supreme Self which ought to be meditated upon, on that I meditate.
Oh Supreme Self! May Thy Grace be upon me so that I can constantly meditate upon Thee like this and gain Thy Supreme Bliss.
Oh Lord! Nothing seen (perceived) by the eyes (senses) are permanent.
Even the body is non-existent like a water bubble.
There is nothing to say except that everything is like a dream.
We are not the body but Awareness.
Even before the body was born, We – The Awareness were there.
Now even if all these cease to exist, We will remain effulging like this.
Birth, death, poverty, disease, fear – all these won’t affect us.
May I contemplate on the divine words thus being instructed and on the instructor of these divine words while eating, sleeping and ceaselessly at all times.
May Thee extract all my sins and give me Thy Supreme Bliss.
May Thy Grace be upon me so that my stay on earth is spent without hardship and eventually Thy Supreme Feet is attained.
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The great Self-realized Saint, social reformer and mystic poet Sree Narayana Guru (1855-1928) has authored many literary works in Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil languages which are classified mainly as hymns, philosophical works and works on moral import. Around 65 of them have been found and published. Many of them unfortunately have been lost or not discovered yet. The Gurudeva Krithikal (Literary works of Sree Narayana Guru) is a perfect example of giving expression to the inexpressible Absolute Truth. It is no doubt an oasis of wisdom and insights for a true seeker in the desert of this impermanent world.
However the lack of translations of these works to English and other languages has resulted in their remaining as hidden treasures. However, there have been efforts to translate them into English by some of the Sanyasins in Narayana Guru’s lineage like Nataraja Guru, Swami John Dharma Theerthar, Nitya Chaitanya Yati, Muni Narayana Prasad, etc. Many aspirants will be indebted to them for their efforts, especially to Swami Muni Narayana Prasad who has translated all the poetic works of Narayana Guru into English.
There are some prose works too among these literary works of Sree Narayana Guru which probably has not been translated by anyone yet. Among them is Gadya Prarthana (A Prose Prayer) a short and beautiful prayer in prose form. It’s a prayer to the Supreme Self to guide and strengthen the seeker on his journey to find his true identity.
I have made a humble attempt at translating it into English for all my co-pilgrims on the path of Self-enquiry.
Gadyaprarthana (A Prose Prayer) by Sree Narayana Guru
All that are seen (objects of perception) are of the forms – Sthula (gross), Sukshma (subtle) and Karana (causal) and they rise from and set into the Supreme Self.
Therefore, there is nothing other than the Supreme Self.
The nature of the Supreme Self which destroys - scorches away all the vices, which enlightens my intellect and guides me through the right path, that divine form of the Supreme Self which ought to be meditated upon, on that I meditate.
Oh Supreme Self! May Thy Grace be upon me so that I can constantly meditate upon Thee like this and gain Thy Supreme Bliss.
Oh Lord! Nothing seen (perceived) by the eyes (senses) are permanent.
Even the body is non-existent like a water bubble.
There is nothing to say except that everything is like a dream.
We are not the body but Awareness.
Even before the body was born, We – The Awareness were there.
Now even if all these cease to exist, We will remain effulging like this.
Birth, death, poverty, disease, fear – all these won’t affect us.
May I contemplate on the divine words thus being instructed and on the instructor of these divine words while eating, sleeping and ceaselessly at all times.
May Thee extract all my sins and give me Thy Supreme Bliss.
May Thy Grace be upon me so that my stay on earth is spent without hardship and eventually Thy Supreme Feet is attained.
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