Hymns Great and Small

Plus A Most Abbreviated Sanskrit Primer

For the Devotees, by David R. Graham


For IRBY
Henry J. Gauntlett, 1858

OM Sai Rama OM Sai Baba OM Sai Krishna OM Sai Ram
Jai Jai Jesus Jai Kasturi Jai Jerome OM Jai Jai Ram
Jai Jai Rama Jai Jai Krishna Jai Jai Sathya Jai Jai Rama

This is God the Holy Father This is Christ the Holy Man
This is Paul the Fire of Heaven This is Stephen Bread of Life
This is Mary Queen of Heaven Magdalene so Pure and Holy

Jai Jai Durga Jai Jai Lakshmi Jai Jai Rama Jai Jai Sai
Jai Jai Rama Jai Jai Brahma Saraswathi Jai Jai Sai
Sathya Dharma Prema Shanthi Love of Sathya Sai Swami

This is Brother Francis Minor This is Little Juniper
This is Brother Bonaventure This is Dante Love Divine
Christ dwells lovingly inside the Heart that melts in lowly Splendour.

This is Seesha Guard of Dharma This is Hanuman His Friend
This is Jatayu His Protector This is Sampathi His Brother Dear
This is Bharadwaja Mighty Gothra of the Lord of Puttaparthi

This is Xavier This Ignatius This their Father Benedict
This is Anthony in Egypt This Jerome in Bethlehem
This is Clare the Sweet and Holy And Teresa Pure and Lowly

Father Christ and Holy Spirit Brahma Siva Vishnu Jai
Radha Sita Lakshmi Gowri Durga Saraswathi Sai
Siva Sathya Narasimha David Mary Paula Jerome

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For Stuttgart
Adapted from a melody by Christian Friedrich Witt, 1715

Rama Lakshmana Janaki
Hanuman Sugriva Ram
Vali Angada Sri Rama
Jambavan Jatayu Ram

Dasaratha OM Jai Rama
Kausalya Sumitra Ram
Kaikeyi Vasishta Rama
Viswamitra OM Jai Ram

Bharadwaja Siva Rama
Janaka Vyasa Ram
Sampathi Parasurama
Kumbhakarna OM Jai Ram

Vibhishana OM Jai Rama
Aja Dileepa Sri Ram
Gargi Sathananda Rama
Ikshvaku Janaki Ram

Kusa Lava Sita Rama
Hanuman Bharatha Ram
Satrughna Sabari Rama
Valmiki Kausalya Ram

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For Ode To Joy
Ludwig von Beethoven, 1823

Rama Krishna Jai Jai Bolo
Jai Jai Rama Krishna Bol
Hari Rama Hari Krishna
Hari Hari Jai Jai Bol

Jai Jai Rama Jai Jai Krishna
Jai Jai Rama Krishna Bol
Hari Rama Hari Krishna
Hari Rama Krishna Jai

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For St. Mary Magdalene (Gräfenberg)
Johann Crueger, 1653

Lord Sai Divine attend our prayers,
And make this house Your home.
Be to the people living here
Both Father, Lord and Son.

Come as the Light; to us reveal
The grandeur of Your Name.
And lead us in those paths of Life
Whereon we are the same.

Come as the Fire and purge our hearts;
Destroy the doubts therein.
Take from us enmity and woe;
Restore us free from sin.

Come as the Dove and spread Your wings;
Protect us in the storm.
Let Love Eternal be our name,
Secure as Swami's Arm.

Great Baba, Sai, the Lord of All,
Come to Your kindred here.
Be in them Father, Lord and Son,
O Holy Savior Dear.

Text adapted from Andrew Reed, 1829

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For Capel
arranged, R. V. Williams, 1906

O Swami, seated on the Swing
How beautiful Your Face.
The flowers rest around Your Neck,
So full of Love and Grace.

Your Robe is white of splend'rous Light,
The Goal, Desire of all.
Devotees' eyes watch in delight,
Hearts ripe and set to fall.

The priests are chanting Ramanam,
Their minds in ecstasy.
The strings are pulling all our hearts,
Full grateful just to be.

The Joola swings and swings and swings,
The Child inside of Bliss.
The hearts of people ring and sing --
O Heav'nly scene of Bliss!

O Bliss of worlds O worlds of Bliss,
Eternal Cosmic Child.
What words can limn Your Holiness,
What songs Your Nature mild?

O swing my Child in Lullaby --
How dare I call You my?
The swinging You is only I,
O Lord just let me cry.

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For Bohemian Brethren
Melody of the Unitas Fratrum, 1566

Lord Sai Who comes upon the wings of Mercy all around us.
To You we sing for all the day that night may not surround us.
It is the dawn of Truth and Peace
that calls us to Your Blessed Feet.
O Savior come among us.

Lord Sai the Day, the Day is come, for mighty deeds of Glory.
Make us to be the substance of Your Own Eternal Story.
O come to us, we are Your Own,
We pant and pray for You Alone.
O Savior come among us.

Lord Sai is Truth, Lord Sai is Love, Lord Sai is all about us.
Lord Sai is Might, Lord Sai is Right, Lord Sai is All among us.
O Savior Dear, O End of fear,
O Mercy Sai, O Loving Cheer.
O Savior come among us.

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For Cornish
M. Lee Suitor, 1982

The rocks, the trees, the river bright.
The birds, the people, full of might.
The Truth, the Love, the Heav'nly Light.
The Father wise, the Mother bright.

The cat, the rat, the night so long.
The food, the mood, the evensong.
The life, the love, the whole day long.
The Source of God, the Never-Gone.

The Solar Orb, the mercy done.
The mother's love, the loads of fun.
The days of rain and then of sun.
O Mercy bright, O Harvest won.

The way we are is how we were.
Love's love undone and still in stir.
The mighty winds of change occur.
And still still's presence, He and Her.

Messrs. Suitor and Graham were classmates from The University of Redlands, 1961-1965,  
and The Union Theological Seminary/School of Sacred Music, 1965-1969.
Cornish is present twice in The Hymnal 1982
published by The Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. 

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For Eventide
William H. Monk, 1861

The mountain tall, the stream so fresh and bright.
The heav'nly star, the mercy filled with light.
The beauteous orb, the precious color gold.
The love that can't be bought nor can be sold.

Abide with me, my life is fast away.
If you depart, how can the world stay?
O cruel man, your nature know you not.
Your life was made for love and not for "Not!"


Adwaitha Hermitage
Renton, WA 98056
Winter 1986/87, 1997/98


A Most Abbreviated Sanskrit Primer

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Aja Father of Dasaratha

Baba Father (same as Aramaic Abba)

Bharadwaja Monarch of Sages, devotee of Lord Siva, received Rama when He was in exile; Swami Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba took birth in the Gothra (spiritual lineage) of Bharadwaja

Bharatha Brother of Rama

Brahma Person of the Godhead, Creation, represented by Father in Christian iconography

Dasaratha Father of Rama, a Rajarishi, gave up his beloved Rama and life itself rather than rescind his word once given

Dharma Righteousness, the strength which holds the consciousness bound to Truth

Dileepa Father of Aja

Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Gowri Personifications of the Feminine Aspect of Divinity, each associated with one of the three Persons of the Godhead as Consort

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Gargi Woman Sage in the Court of Janaka

Gothra Spiritual Lineage, just as there are blood lineages, there are spiritual lineages; Moses, Paul and Jerome, who are the same personality taking succeeding births, are in the Gothra of Bharadwaja, a Siva (Saivite) Lineage; so is the writer

Hanuman A Monkey, ideal of devotion to God -- sees and does what is wanted without it being asked!!!; leader, with Sugriva and Angada, Monkey chiefs, in the battle to rescue Sita from the Rakshasa (demon) hordes and restore Her to Rama; frequently in Mary's pictures

Hara God in the Siva aspect

Hari God in the Vishnu aspect

Jai Victory! Hooray! Allelulia! Yeah! Yipeeeeee!

Jambavan Leader of the Bears in the battle to rescue Sita from the Rakshasa (demon) hordes and restore Her to Rama

Janaka Emperor of Mithila, father of Sita, himself a Rajarishi (penultimate Sage)

Janaki Name for Sita, Rama's Wife, indicating that Her father is Janaka, Emperor of Mithila

Jatayu Chief of Eagles, was mortally wounded attempting to prevent Ravana, demon emperor, from abducting Sita; stayed alive by will until Rama found him and allowed him to depart while in His Arms

Joola A beautifully decorated swing in which Swami Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba sits during Birthday (His) festivities devotees like to put on

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Kasturi secretary of Swami Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, departed August 1988, writer, teacher, editor, devotee of Swami Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Kausalya, Sumitra, Kaikeyi The Wives of Dasaratha and Mothers of Rama and His three brothers, Lakshmana, Sathrughna and Bharatha

Kumbhakarna Brother of Ravana, a mighty warrior, had the good fortune to die at Rama's hand because he had counseled Ravana to restore Sita to Rama and because he embodied the quality of loyalty; represents the quality of inertia, sloth

Kusa, Lava Sons of Rama and Sita

Lakshmana Brother of Rama, His constant companion, ideal of brotherly devotion, Incarnation of Adiseesha (Seesha)

Narasimha God in the Terror-Inducing Form -- a Lion !

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Parasurama A Brahmin Sage who swore vengeance against all rulers because one had murdered His father during a rite, he succeeded against all but Dasaratha (father of Rama) and Janaka (father of Sita) and when Sita and Rama were married, he challenged Rama to combat mortal; Rama relieved him of his Bow, which was the Bow of Siva, and so relieved Parasurama of his vow and he went away supremely happy; in fact, Parasurama was an Avatar in his own right

Prema Love

Radha Milkmaid of Brindavan, quintessential devotee of Krishna when He was a child, model for all devotees of the Lord

Rama Incarnation of Vishnu, @ 200,000 BCE, Son of Emperor Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya, Himself Emperor after exile, Husband of Sita, Herself the Incarnation of Divine Prowess; Rama is a Poorna Avatar, Fulness (Poorna) of the Godhead in human dress, as is Krishna (also Incarnation of Vishnu, 3800 BCE) and Swami Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Incarnation of Siva, today, among us, at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, South India); Rama is subject of epic poem, Ramayana, composed by Sage Valmiki

Ramanam Name of Rama meaning Name of God meaning repetition of the Name as spiritual discipline, the principle spiritual discipline of this age in which we live

Sabari An uneducated woman of low caste, devotee of a Sage, who was permitted to live in the Sage's hermitage even though a single woman, stayed behind when the Sage departed because he told her that she would get the sight, hearing and touch of Rama; she waited, grew old and blind with yearning to see Him coming toward her on the road; she picked fresh fruit each day in anticipation of offering this to her Lord; at last, He came, she was able to offer Rama the fruit and He ate it, saying its supernal sweetness was the tenderness of devotion in Sabari's heart; Sabari got the supreme blessing of leaving the body while in the immediate Presence of the Lord and He allowed her breath to merge in Him

Sai Mother

Sampathi Brother of Jatayu, told Hanuman and Vanaras (Monkeys) where Ravana was keeping Sita when they were searching for Her in order to know where to give battle and against whom

Santhi Peace

Sathananda Chief of Staff to Emperor Janaka

Sathrughna Brother of Rama

Sathya Truth

Seesha or Adiseesha The Primal Serpent (Cobra) Who represents Righteousness and carries the 14 worlds (vital centers, 7 major, 7 minor) on His thousand-hooded Head; frequently in Mary's pictures

Siva Person of the Godhead, Consumation/Destruction, represented by Christ in Christian iconography

Swami Teacher, Counselor, Guide, Guru, Protector

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Vali A Monkey, Brother of Sugriva who stole Sugriva's throne and wife and is slain by Rama for doing that, but dies a hero's death in Rama's Presence -- the best of fates

Valmiki Sage who wrote Ramayana, the Rama Epic; he had been an infamous dacoit (brigand); cared for Sita during Her exile; Kusa and Lava were born at His hermitage

Vasishta A Brahmarishi (ultimate Sage), Preceptor to the Ikshvaku (Solar) Dynasty, in which Rama took birth Vibhishana Brother of Ravana, counseled Ravana to restore Sita to Rama and then sought protection in Rama's camp; after the death of Ravana and the rescue of Sita, Rama made him emperor of the demon hordes in place of Ravana; he took birth during this century as a partially handicapped husband and father in Bangalore;

Vishnu Person of the Godhead, Preservation, represented by Holy Spirit in Christian iconography

Viswamitra Rajarishi who became a Brahmarishi, took Rama and Lakshmana on their first combat against demon hordes -- in this case, ones which were desecrating his rite

Vyasa Sage in time of Krishna, wrote the 3 epics recounting Krishna's Career, the Prototypical Guru

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Adwaitha Hermitage
December 1991


The picture at the top of this page was drawn by Mary Graham and colored by her, also. Its title is Mary Washes Jesus' Feet and it is part of Faces of the Incarnation, a coloring book from Adwaitha Hermitage.

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