Devotees and followers of Sri Gurudev Sivananda in South Africa and elsewhere, follow Gurudev’s invariable custom of commencing all functions with the following invocatory Kirtans, and concluding them with the peace chants that follow. Invocatory Kirtans Jaya Ganesha Jaya Ganesha Jaya Ganesha paahimaam Sri Ganesha Sri Ganesha Sri Ganesha rakshamaam Jaya Saraswati Jaya Saraswati Jaya Saraswati paahimaam Sri Saraswati Sri Saraswati Sri Saraswati rakshamaam Saravanabhava Saravanabhava Saravanabhava paahimaam Subramanya Subramanya Subramanya rakshamaam Sivananda Sivananda Sivananda paahimaam Sivananda Sivananda Sivananda rakshamaam Jaya Guru Shiva Guru Hari Guru Ram Jagad Guru Param Guru Sat Guru Shyam Adi Guru Advaita Guru Ananda Guru Om Chit Guru Chitgana Guru Chinmaya Guru Om Jaya Siya Ram Jaya Jaya Siya Ram (2) Jaya Radhe Shyam Jaya Jaya Radhe Shyam (2) Jaya Hanuman Jaya Jaya Hanuman (2) Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare (3) Sivananda Sivananda Sadguru Natha Sivananda Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Om trayambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat. Concluding Peace Chants Sarveshaam swasti bhavatu, sarveshaam shaantir bhavatu, Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu, sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu; Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niraamayah, Sarve bhadraani pashyantu, maakaschid duhkhabhaagbhavet; Asato maa sad gamaya Tamaso maa jyotir gamaya Mrityor maa amritam gamaya; Om poornamadah poornamidam poornaatpoornamudachyate, Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamevaavashishyate. Om shaantih shaantih shaantih! Meditation On Lord Shiva Shaantam padmaasanastham shashadharamakutam panchavaktram trinetram, Shoolam vajram cha khadgam parashumabhayadam dakshinaange vahantam; Naagam paasham cha ghantaam damaruka sahitam chaankusham vaamabhaage, Naanaalankaara deeptam sphatika maninibham paarvateesham namaami. MEANING: I prostrate myself before the five-faced Lord of Parvati, who is adorned with various ornaments, who shines like the crystal jewel, who is seated peacefully in the lotus pose, with moon-crested crown, with three eyes, wearing trident, thunderbolt, sword and axe on the right side, who holds the serpent, noose, bell, damaru and spear on the left side, and who gives protection from all fear to His devotees. Meditation On Sri Shankaracharya Padmaaseenam prashantam yamaniratamaanan gaari tulya prabhaavam, Phaale bhasmaankitaam bhasmita rujira mukhaam bhojanindeevaraaksham; Kambugreevam karaabhyaam avidtamurulasat pustakam jnaanamudraam, Vandyam geervaana mukhyair natajana varadam bhaavaye shankaraaryam. MEANING: I meditate on Sri Shankaracharya who is seated in the lotus posture with Jnanamudra, who is calm, endowed with virtues like Yama, Niyama, etc., whose glory is as great as that of Lord Shiva, who wears the sacred ashes on the forehead, whose face resembles the blossomed lotus, with lotus-like eyes, possessing sacred books in hand, who is ever adored by people of high learning and wisdom, and who fulfils the desires of his devotees (who prostrate themselves before him). Meditation On Lord Dattatreya Maalaakamandalu dharah karapadmayugme Madhyastha paaniyugale damarutrishoolam; Adhyastha urdhva karayoh shubha shankhachakre Vande tamatrivaradam bhujashatkayuktam. MEANING: I meditate on Lord Dattatreya, the son of Atri, who has six hands, who holds the rosary and water-vessel in two hands, with damaru and spear in the other two hands, and with conch and discus in the upper two hands. Meditation On Lord Ganesha Gajaananam bhootaganaadisevitam Kapittha jamboophala saara bhakshitam; Umaasutam shoka vinaasha kaaranam Namaami vighneshwara paada pankajam. MEANING: I worship the lotus feet of Ganesha, the son of Uma, the destroyer of all sorrows, who is served by the host of gods and elementals, and who takes the essence of the kapittha-jarnbu fruit (fruit resembling the bilwa fruit). Meditation On Lord Subramanya Shadaananam kumkumaraktavarnam Mahaa matim divya mayoora vaahanam; Rudrasya soonum sura sainyanaatham Guham sadaaham sharanam prapadye. MEANING: I always take refuge in Lord Guha (Lord Subramanya) of six faces, who is of deep red colour and infinite knowledge, who has the divine peacock to ride on, the son of Lord Shiva and the leader of the army of the Devas. Meditation On Sri Krishna Vamshee vibhooshita karaan navaneeradaabhaat Peetaambaraadaruna bimbaphalaa dharoshthaat; Poornendusundara mukhaad aravinda netraat Krishnaat param kimapi tattwam aham na jaane. MEANING: I know not any other Reality than the lotus-eyed Krishna with hands adorned with flute, looking like a heavy-laden cloud in lustre, wearing a yellow silk garment, with His lower lip like a ruddy bimba fruit, and with face shining like the full moon. Meditation On Sri Rama Dhyaayedaajaanubaaham dhritasharadhanusham baddhapadmaasanastham, Peetam vaaso vasaanam navakamala dala spardhinetram prasannam; Vaamaankaaroodhaseetaa mukhakamala milal lochanam neeradaabham, Naanaalankaara deeptam dadhatamuru jataa mandalam raamachandram. MEANING: One should meditate on Sri Ramachandra, with hands reaching the knees, holding the bow and arrows, seated in the locked-up lotus posture, wearing a yellow garb, with eyes vying with the newly-blossomed lotus petals, with a pleasant gait, who has Sita seated on His left thigh, who is blue like the clouds, who is adorned with all kinds of ornaments and having a big circle of Jata on the head.
