Suprabhatham literally means ‘good morning’! (Su, good, prabhatham, morning or dawn). In Western culture, people wish each other “Good Morning.” But in Indian culture this is not done, because it is considered to be the equivalent of pouring water on the leaves of a tree. For effective watering of a tree, water must be given to the roots of a tree. The root of the Tree of Life is God. So God, who is latent and immanent in all, is sought out and made patent and public. In this prayer God is visualised as sleeping and then woken up and wished “Good Morning.” Of course the Divinity in us is never asleep; but unless we take at least one step towards activating it, it does not manifest itself. Such a step is the singing of Suprabhatham, and putting into practice its implications.
The first two stanzas of any Suprabhatham song exhort the sleeping God in us to arise (uththista). This word is repeated four times. First, God is requested to get up in order to engage in Divine duties for the day (Kartavyam Daiva Mahnikam). Second, it reminds God that He is not an ordinary person, but one with responsibilities for the whole world. The last “please get up” addresses Him as the ‘Most Merciful One’ and requests Him to get up for the sake of the welfare of the world as a whole (Loka Mangalam).
When we pray thus, the Divinity inherent in us is manifested not for the sake of individual material welfare, but for the purpose of the welfare of the whole world or at least for the integration of the whole personality: physical, mental and spiritual.
After the first two stanzas others follow, each of them ending with wishing God “Good Morning.” The Venkatesa Suprabhatham, which is the most famous Suprabhatham song in India, says its first “Good Morning” to the consort of God, the Goddess who personifies Mercy and Compassion, and is said to be resident in His chest region. In the later stanzas, Lord Venkateswara of the Seven Hills (Tirupathi) is recognised as one of the forms of the omnipotent, and omnipresent, omniscient God – the originator and sustainer of the creation, the protector of His Devotees. He is also recognised and praised as the one who has descended to earth repeatedly in suitable forms for the removal of rampant evil and the re-establishment of Dharma for human beings. In the last but one stanza, He is seen as the Bridge that alone helps us to cross the ocean of life.
In the Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatham the approach is quite different. The six ‘Good Mornings’ are respectively said by:
- Selfless volunteers (sevadals) in service of God
- Singers of Soul-stirring, Heart-purifying bhajans
- Devotees who have a special aptitude and enthusiasm in worshipping God ritually (Puja) with lamps, flowers, etc.,
- Devotees who are intellectuals like scientists, but have realised the validity of super- sensory, beyond-the-mind Truths, revealed in Scriptures
- Devotees who are interested in knowing the Nature of Life, mo e than anything else, and have come to Prasanthi Nilayam to seek answers for their questions from the Lord
- The totally dedicated devotees who are wedded to the Lord for life and who seek nothing except praising the Lord and implicitly obeying His will.
Depending upon the levels of consciousness, different interpretations may be read between the lines of Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatham.
For example, one devotee wrote in “Sanathan Sarathi” magazine long ago that the six stanzas actually refer to six stages of spiritual awakening or of activating the spiritual centers inherent in our body. Accordingly, the Chitravathi mentioned in the third stanza represents the skeleton body, with three nadis: ida, pingala and susumna. This is an interpretation welling out of a subjective experience, which when accepted gives a different dimension and meaning to the meaning to the prayer. Devotees who have just begun their journey as spiritual aspirants should sing this Suprabhatham between 4 am and 6 am as a regular spiritual exercise.
However, the maximum benefits may begin to flow only when the meaning is well understood and the implications sought are put into practise in day-today life. As Bhagawan Baba has pointed out, one must try to “awaken the Divinity inherent in everyone, not by preaching, but by the exemplary practise of Truthfulness, Right Conduct, Peace and Love towards every being.” That indeed will be the true Suprabhatham, heralding the dawn of the Golden Age for Mankind!
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Suprabatham
Easwaramba Suthah Shreeman
Poorvaa Sandhyaa Pravarthathe
Utthishta Sathya Sayeesha
Karthavyam Daivam Aanhikam
Meaning
O Son of Easwaramba ! O Resplendent Majestic One ! Dawn is heralding in the East. The daily tasks of Divinity which Thou hast undertaken has to be accomplished, therefore, awake, O Lord Sathya Sai!
Utthishtotthishta Partheesha
Utthishta Jagadheepathey
Utthishta Karunapoorna
Loka Mangala Siddhaye
Meaning
Awake, Awake, O Lord of Parthi! O Lord of the entire Universe and Mankind ! Awake, O Compassionate Lord! So that the world attain auspiciousness, happiness, prosperity, welfare and blessings.
Chitraavathi Thata Vishaala Sushaantha Soudhey
Thishtanthi Sevaka Janaah Thava Darshanaartham
Aadhithya Kaanthiranubhaathi Samastha Lokaan
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatham
Meaning
In the vast Mansion, full of bliss and tranquility, (Prashanthi Nilayam) on the banks of the river Chitravathi, those anxious to serve Thee are waiting for Thy Darshan. The radiance of the Sun is illumining the World. O Lord Sathya Sai! Blessed by Thy wakefulness, we pray for an auspicious day.
Thwannaama Keerthana Rathaah Thava Divya Naama
Gaayanthi Bhakthi Rasa Paana Prahrushta Chiththaah
Daathum Krupaasahitha Darshanamaashu Thebhyah
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatham
Meaning
Devotees engrossed in singing Thy Glory are happy and blissful, when they taste the nectar of devotion. Kindly shower Thy Grace by granting them Thy Darshan. O Lord Sathya Sai! Blessed by Thy wakefulness, we pray for an auspicious day.
Aadhaaya Divya Kusumaani Manoharaani
Sreepaada Poojana Vidhim Bhavadanghri Mooley
Karthum Mahothsukathayaa Pravishanti Bhakthaah
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatham
Meaning
Bringing holy flowers with captivating colors and fragrance, for worshipping Thy Lotus Feet, in the form as prescribed by the scriptures, Thy devotees are coming in, with great yearning and enthusiasm. O Lord Sathya Sai! Blessed by Thy wakefulness, we pray for an auspicious day.
Desaantharaagatha Budhaah Thava Divya Moorthim
Sandharshanaabhirat hi Samyutha Chiththa Vruthyaa
Vedoktha Manthra Pathanena Lasanthyajasram
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatham
Meaning
Wise persons from distant countries, moved by yearning to have Thy Darshan, have come and they are having great delight in reciting constantly mantras of the Vedas. O Lord Sathya Sai! Blessed by Thy wakefulness, we pray for an auspicious day.
Shruthva Thavaadbhutha Charithram Akhanda Keerthim
Vyaaptham Diganthara Vishaala Dharaathalesmin
Jignaasu Lokaupathishtathi Chaasramesmin
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatham
Meaning
Hearing Thy marvellous tales and fame that has reached the farthest horizons, earnest seekers of Reality have come to this place and are waiting. O Lord Sathya Sai! Blessed by Thy wakefulness, we pray for an auspicious day.
Seetha Sathee Sama Vishuddha Hridhambu Jaathaah
Bahvanganaa Kara Gruheetha Supushpa Haaraah
Sthunvanthi Divyanuthibhih Phani Bhushanam Thwaam
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatham
Meaning
Women devotees, whose (petals of) heart are unattached to the world like Lotus petals (which are unattached to the water in which they grow, even though they cannot survive without water) and are similar to Mother Seetha in virtues and piousness are singing Thy Glory – the Glory of Lord Shiva adorned with Serpent around His neck – through holy hymns holding excellent flower garlands in their hands. O Lord Sathya Sai! Blessed by Thy wakefulness, we pray for an auspicious day.
Suprabhatham Idam Punyam Ye
Patanthi Dine Dine
Tey Vishanthi Param Dhaama
Jnaana Vijnaana Shobhithaah
Meaning
Whoever daily recites this morning awakening Hymn will attain the Highest Abode resplendent with the Supreme intelligence as well as Supreme wisdom.
Mangalam Guru Devaaya
Mangalam Jnaana Dhaayine
Mangalam Parthi Vaasaaya
Mangalam Sathya Saayine
Meaning
May the divine Guru be auspicious to us; May the Bestower of wisdom be auspicious to us; May the Lord, Who manifested in Parthi be auspicious to us; May Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba be auspicious to us.
