This Track is a dedicated to our beloved Teacher & Master Swami Sivananda

“Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya” is the invocation of Swami Sivananda. We ask this great master to assist us, to help us, to inspire us. “Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya” is a mantra that every disciple of Swami Sivananda can repeat daily, it is a mantra with which one can connect with Swami Sivananda. “Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya” can also be used as a Dhyana Moksha mantra, a mantra for meditation, it is a mantra that can also lead to enlightenment, it is also a mantra that one can take initiation into, that is why it is also a Diksha Mantra.

“Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya” consists of four words: Om means Om, cosmic sound. Namas means “reverence to”, which becomes “Namo” before “Bhagavate”. Bhagavate means “divine” also means “the manifestation of the divine” also means “venerable”. And so it is: “Homage to Sivananda, Swami Sivananda, who is a manifestation of the Divine.” Or: “Homage to the venerable Swami Sivananda.” Sivananda is also called Shiva, which is God or love, and Ananda - joy. One could also say: “Homage to divine love and joy.”

“Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya” is aimed at Swami Sivananda, but is also aimed at love and joy. This mantra can be repeated in addition to your normal mantra whenever you want to connect with Swami Sivananda, whenever you particularly need guidance from the Master. Many people use their main mantra simply to feel and experience God, and when they need guidance or help in a specific situation, they turn to the guru. And in our tradition that is Swami Sivananda.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishan Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Spiritual translation:

“Om honor to the divine in his manifestations as Vishnu, Krishna and Rama”

It is the mantra that addresses Hari, Rama and Krishna. Hari is of course Vishnu, Hari means “yellow”, Hari also means “radiant”, Hari also means “who attracts the hearts of all”. Rama means “the one who is full of joy”, Krishna means “the black”, “the dark” and therefore “the mysterious”. And so “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” is the aspect that connects all three aspects of Vishnu, Rama, Krishna and Hari. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Rama is also seen as the lover of Krishna. And sometimes Hari is also referred to as Shakti, Shakti of Krishna.

So, there are different interpretations of these three names. At Yoga Vidya we assume that Hari is Vishnu, Rama is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu and Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Originally the mantra actually began with Rama beginning, “Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare”, then “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare”. And there was in the 16th century the Shri Krishna Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, also called Gauranga or just Chaitanya, and this Chaitanya was such a great devotee of Krishna, he really wanted to say Krishna first. And so he turned the mantra around and turned the classic mantra, “Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,” into the mantra, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.” , Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.” But the classic order is Rama first, Rama was born before Krishna and therefore Rama should be sung before.

But of course, if one interprets Rama as either Bala Rama or also as Radha, or if one interprets Rama as Bala Rama, brother of Krishna and interprets Hari as Radha, then of course one wants to repeat Krishna first. But when you receive an initiation in the Yoga Vidya tradition, you should repeat it so that “Hare Rama” comes first. If you sing it, then of course you can sing however you want and since the Hare Krishna movement is particularly important in German-speaking countries and this Maha Mantra is also particularly chanted, the Maha Mantra is very often sung in Yoga Vidya in such a way that “Hare Krishna” is sung first and only then “Hare Rama”. - Maha Mantra, great mantra that is particularly aimed at experiencing joy in life, experiencing joy, feeling your heart, feeling love, being able to give love, connecting with the divine.

Om Bhagavan
Shri Bhagavan
Ananda Bhagavan
Shivananda-Bhagavan

Spiritual translation

O Swami Sivananda, you are great joy, you have my deep admiration.

“Om Bhagavan” is one of the most popular kirtans at Yoga Vidya. “Om Bhagavan” is a kirtan with simple lyrics and a simple melody, it is a rhythmic kirtan that you start very slowly and can speed up more and more. “Om Bhagavan” is a kirtan for worship of the Guru, the spiritual teacher, a kirtan that can be repeated especially to invoke Swami Sivananda's blessings, Swami Sivananda's presence. It is also a kirtan to thank Swami Sivananda. Bhagavad means “worthy of worship”, Bhagavad means “the one who should be worshiped”.

And so Swami Sivananda is Bhagavan, someone to worship. “Oh Swami Sivananda, you are worthy of worship.” Swami Sivananda is Ananda, Ananda means “full of joy”. Swami Sivananda is present everywhere and so one says, “O Swami Sivananda, I worship you. O Swami Sivananda, you give me bliss. O Swami Sivananda, you manifest yourself in me as bliss. Oh Swami Sivananda, help me to give joy to others too.” You can of course combine this kirtan with any other guru name and we are happy to repeat the name of Swami Vishnudevananda, who is also worthy of worship and through his teachings leads us to great joy.