Skip to main content

Tata's Prayer: A Vision of Divine Awakening

Remembering KPS Paniker – Tata on His Birthday – A Light That Still Shines

On this day, August 19th, (1886) we commemorate the birth of our beloved Tata (Grandpa), K.P.S. Paniker. As we remember Tata on this special day, we are drawn to one of the most profound legacies he left behind — his universal prayer. In this prayer, Tata doesn't ask for personal blessings. Instead, he opens his heart to the entire cosmos, invoking a world illuminated by the Lord’s grace, filled with compassion, freed from fear, jealousy, and anger, and united in the pursuit of Dharma. He envisioned a transcendental path open to all beliefs — a path of inner peace, virtue, and universal love.

We invite everyone to read Tata’s prayer, to pause in reverence, and to reflect on the timeless message it carries. May his words continue to inspire us, and may his light continue to guide our hearts.


The Prayer of Universal Love


അഖില ജഗത്തിനും ഈശാനം തവ

 മഹിമയെ കാണുവാനാകണം

 Akhila jagathinum eeshanaam thava

 Mahimaye kanuvaanaganam

Poetic Verse:

 May all the world, O Lord so high,

 Behold Your glory in the sky.

Insight:

 Divine glory is not meant for a chosen few — let all beings awaken to the presence of the sacred in this world.


സകലചരാചര സാക്ഷിയാം തവ

 പ്രകൃതിയെ അറിയുമാറാവണം

 Sakalacharachara saakshiyaam thava

 Prakirthiye ariyumarakanam

Poetic Verse:

 You who witness all that lives,

 Grant us the wisdom nature gives.

Insight:

 The Lord is the silent witness of all creation. To understand Him, we must learn from nature, which reflects His truth.


തവകര സ്പർശത്താൽ ദീപ്തമായിടും

 തനുവിതു ശോഭനമാകണം

 Thavakara sparshathaal deepthamayidum

 Thanuvithu shobhanamaakanam

Poetic Verse:

 Let this body glow with grace,

 Touched by Your hand, a sacred place.

Insight:

 When touched by divine grace, even our physical self becomes a vessel of light and beauty.


തവ കരുണാഗുണ മോർത്തു കാണുവാൻ

 മാനമിതു പാവനമാകണം

 Thavakarunakunamorthu kaanuvan

 Manamithu paavanamaakanam

Poetic Verse:

 To glimpse Your mercy's gentle light,

 Make pure my heart, both day and night.

Insight:

 True vision begins with purity of heart — only then can we recognize divine compassion in our lives.


വിവിധ മനോഹര സൃഷ്ടി ജാലത്തിൽ

 ഹൃദയമിതാർദ്രമായ്‌ ചേരണം

 Vividhamanohara shrishtijaalathil

 Hridhayamithardhramai cheranam

Poetic Verse:

 In wonders of Your grand design,

 Let tenderness within me shine.

Insight:

 The beauty of creation is an invitation to feel deeply — let our hearts become soft and responsive.


നിരവധി ലോകത്തെ കാത്തിടും തവ

 ഭരണമതിൽ തൃപ്തി തോന്നണം

 Niravathilokathe kaathidum thava

 Baranamathil thripthi thonnanam

Poetic Verse:

 In Your just rule that guards the land,

 Let peace and trust within me stand.

Insight:

 Even amidst chaos, divine order governs the world. Trust in it brings inner contentment.


അനവരതംനിജധർമ്മമാർഗ്ഗത്തെ

 അനുകരിപ്പാൻ ശക്തി നൽകണം

 Anavarathamnija dharma maargathe

 Anukarippan sakthi nalkanam

Poetic Verse:

 To walk the path of truth each day,

 Grant strength to never turn away.

Insight:

 The path of righteousness requires constant effort — may we have the courage to stay true.


ബഹുവിധ ക്ലേശങ്ങലെൽക്കിലും സത്യ

 പഥമൊഴിയാതെന്നേ കാക്കണം

 Bhahuvitha kleshangalelkilum sathya

 Padhamozhiyathenne kaakkanam

Poetic Verse:

 Though trials come and sorrows weigh,

 Let truth within me never sway.

Insight:

 Even in suffering, let us not abandon our inner compass — truth is our unshakable refuge.


ഭയ മത മാത്സര്യ കോപ ശീലങ്ങൾ

 മതിയിതിൽനിന്നിനി നീങ്ങണം

 Bhayamathamaathsarya kopa sheelangal

 Mathiyithilninnini neenganam

Poetic Verse:

 Let fear, envy, wrath depart,

 And cleanse the corners of my heart.

Insight:

 Let us clear away the inner shadows that keep us from peace — these emotions are not who we are.


വിനയതയാഭക്തി പ്രേമഭാവങ്ങൾ

 അനുദിനമാത്മനി ചെരണം

 Vinayadhaya bhakthi prema bhavangal

 Anudhinamathmani cheranam

Poetic Verse:

 May love, devotion, kindness grow,

 And bloom within my soul below.

Insight:

 True worship is not in ritual alone, but in nurturing qualities of the heart.


പരവശ ചഞ്ചലമാം മനസ്സിങ്കൽ

 ദൃഢതര ശാന്തി വന്നീടണം

 Paravasa chanchalamaamanasingal

 Dhridatharasaanthivanneedanam

Poetic Verse:

 In restless mind so oft enslaved,

 Let steadfast peace be gently paved.

Insight:

 A wandering mind finds rest only when touched by divine stillness — peace is the fruit of surrender.


നിഖില മതങ്ങളം തേടിടുന്നൊരു

 തവപരമാര്ഥത്തെ കാണണം

 Nikhilamathangallum theedidunnoru

 Thavaparamarthathe kananam

Poetic Verse:

 In all faiths that seek the true,

 May they behold the light from You.

Insight:

 All sincere paths lead to the same Truth. Let unity blossom through the divine at the heart of all beliefs.

P.S.

At Kalyan Sadan, from our childhood days, it was our routine to sing this prayer before dinner. I still remember waiting eagerly for it to end — not fully grasping its meaning then. Yet, even in our innocence, the prayer held a quiet power. It planted seeds of values that continue to grow, revealing deeper relevance with each passing year — especially in today’s ever-changing world




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Beautiful Convergence - quantum mechanics, supersymmetry, and Advaita Vedanta

While quantum mechanics, supersymmetry, and Advaita Vedanta arise from different traditions—one scientific and one spiritual—their core ideas resonate deeply: Both suggest that reality is non-dual at its most fundamental level. Both indicate that perceived separateness is an illusion. Both hint that observation (or consciousness) plays a fundamental role in shaping reality. Both point toward a deep unity underlying all diversity. Of course, science relies on mathematical models and empirical validation, while Vedanta relies on direct realization through inquiry (Jnana Yoga). Yet, as modern physics inches closer to a grand unified theory, it seems to echo ancient Vedantic wisdom. Perhaps, as the physicist Erwin Schrödinger—one of the pioneers of quantum mechanics—once said: "In truth, there is only one mind. This knowledge is called Vedanta." Satyendra Nath Bose (1894–1974) was an Indian physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to quantum mechanics. He is be...

Mysticism, Modernity, and Meaning: A Conversation with Swami Chinmayananda

Mysticism, Modernity, and Meaning: A Conversation with Swami Chinmayananda In this rare 1984 interview at Deakin University, Swami Chinmayananda eloquently bridges ancient Vedanta and modern life, addressing topics like Hindu philosophy, caste, mysticism, and Western rationalism. With clarity and wit, he reveals how spiritual self-mastery offers a timeless path to inner peace and social harmony. Introduction In 1984, the serene halls of Deakin University, Australia, played host to one of the most compelling voices of modern Vedanta—Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati. During his first visit to Australia, Swamiji engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue that traversed not only the depths of Hindu philosophy but also its relevance in the modern world and its resonance with Western thought. Swami Chinmayananda (1916–1993) was a visionary teacher and spiritual leader who spearheaded a global movement to share the timeless wisdom of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and Advaita Vedanta. A former journ...

Intelligence as a Construct of Maya - An exploration through the lens of Advaita Vedanta

Even Intelligence is a Construct of Maya: The Advancement of AI as Proof of Intellect as Avidya or Maya  An exploration through the lens of Advaita Vedanta In the labyrinth of Advaita Vedanta, the ultimate reality is Brahman—unchanging, infinite, and the sole substratum of all existence. Everything else, including the material world, sensory experiences, and even the human intellect, is but a projection of Maya, the cosmic illusion. This doctrine challenges the essence of human intellect, suggesting that even the sharpest intelligence is entangled in the fabric of illusion, veiling the ultimate truth. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a contemporary prism to reflect on this profound Vedantic insight. AI, a creation of human intellect, mirrors the intellect's limitations and underscores its entrapment in Maya, or Avidya (ignorance). Understanding Maya and Avidya Maya, in Advaita Vedanta, is the force that projects the unreal as real. It is responsible f...