01. Sathya Sai Ki Jai
Look at the waves washing the shore,
You can hear them dancing
You can hear them roar!
As they rise and fall -all day,
What do you think they seem to say?
Sathya Sai ki jai!
Sathya Sai ki Jai!
Look at the trees moving in the breeze,
Hear them dancing among the leaves
Do you hear them sing song after song?
Softly and gently all day long?
What do you think you hear them singing
In such harmony their voices mingling?
Sathya Sai Ki Jai!
Sathya Sai Ki Jai!
I go to temples, join in the prayers
There are idols covered with flowers in layers
Radiant in the light of myriad lamps they seem
Bathed in offerings of honey and cream-
Moved, I gaze and gaze in rapture-
At their beauty and immense power!
My heart leaps- what are they saying
Even as a thousand lips are praying?
Loud as conch and drums, I hear them say
Sathya Sai Ki Jai!
Sathya Sai Ki Jai!
02. My Rose Of May
Holding a promise for tomorrow,
In glorious bud, today
Enfolded as in a dream
O golden rose of May!
Soon you will break forth
At the touch of the morning sun
A hundred hearts to conquer
Before the day is done!
You are my golden rose, Baba
The most perfect, the best
Teach us your many lessons
And put our hearts to rest.
Help us to be like you
The golden rose of May
Spreading beauty and fragrance
Day after day!
03. We Are Your Children
We are your children, Baba
Flowers of every shape and hue
Gathered from gardens to worship-
Sincere, pure and true!
The world will watch in wonder
As we break forth in every clime
Perfected by your lovely hands
Over an endless period of Time.
We are your children, Baba
Watching thro’ the night
Waiting for the glorious morning
When you’ll wake us to the light!
04. The Red Lotus
A red lotus is abloom,
Unseen by human eyes
In light or dark-
Sunset or sunrise.
Unfurling its petals
Day after day,
A thousand- petalled flower
It will be, some day.
Yes, it is bhakthi
With its radiant face
A gift given by Baba to us,
In His immense Grace!
05. The Lotus
There is a lotus abloom,
Ready to play its part,
Biding its time
In the cavern of my heart.
A beautiful lotus
A thousand-petalled - one
Silently waiting
For Baba-the Sun!
06. Baba Embodiment Of Sound
Listen to the wind
Listen to the water
Listen to them
Rippling with laughter!
Listen to the river
Listen to the sea
Listen to them
Singing endlessly!
The flower is not silent
Nor are the leaves-
They rustle and whisper
Together with the breeze!
What are they saying?
Of what are they singing?
So gently, so softly
With echoes ever ringing!
Are they singing your praises?
Of your power and might?
Forever chanting your name
Ever in your sight?
They sing of you, Baba
To you, they are bound
O Lord of all Creation-
O! Embodiment of Sound!
07. For Those Who Dare
Oh! Mind, go find your voice-if you can
Into realms unknown to man.
Lose yourself in an ocean of sound
Swept by a tidal wave, off ground!
Soar into that sunlit path- the raga leads
Into sacred spaces to fulfil its needs,
Stop and surrender at the altar of the Lord
Gathered into the arms of God!
What music will unfold in that state!
A fusion of divine sounds reverberate
Such peace, such harmony, such rest
The most profound, the very best!
Don’t give up, let your voice lead you there
It is given only to the few who dare!
08. Purple Water-Lily
Oh!, you purple water lily
You set my heart aflutter!
I am so dumbstruck
Not a word can I utter!
You are a perfect symphony
Unheard by human ears-
We catch snatches of it
In the silence of our tears!
So lovely of form, lily
Unmatched in beauty and being
We can only gaze in rapture
At the wonders beyond seeing!
Oh! Purple water lily
You gave me such a start
Today, you opened your petals
And let me gaze into your heart!
And there in my rapture
In that golden space
Like a flash of lightning
I see Sai Krishna’s face!
09. When I Gaze Into A Flower
When I gaze into the heart of a flower,
I feel deeply, as if some power
Has swept me off my feet!
I hear my heart skip a beat-
As I lift my eyes in silence
My world melts into nothingness.
I hear my heartbeat, loud and clear
I also feel on my cheek-a tear!
My throat chokes-words cannot capture
Such immense purity! Such rapture!
Oh! I have found my voice today
Like a bird I will sing my way.
Into the open sky I’ll soar
To reach the form I so adore!
O! Baba, you have given me so much to sing!
I, now gather my harvest of poems and bring
Lay them all at your holy Feet
Knowing I have reached my sweet retreat!
No more seeking-they are done
Like a shadow,
I’ll melt before my Sun!
11. Nature
Everything in Nature, big or small has stature
We stop and ask how were they put together?
The swaying tree, the falling rain
Delicate links in a magical chain!
Everything in such harmony, kinship
Beautiful, perfect, worthy of worship
God in Nature was enough to adore
No temples they built in days of yore!
Now we ruin Nature day after day
Then go to the temples- to pray!
12. Baba Mighty King
You are the invisible atom-mighty king
Your imprint is on everything!
In things, big or small- you are there!
Moving invisibly in the air!
Sometimes, I don’t know what to do
If everything on earth is you
Then I must treat every object with deference
For it is worthy of utmost reverence!
13. Flowers Of Glory
The flowers of glory are all I see
Wherever my eyes or feet lead me-
In gardens, meadows, plains or parks
Adorned on grasses or tree barks
Orchids, roses and lilies so tall
O Baba! How I love them all!
In all their forms I see your face
Drenched in the beauty
Of your immense Grace!
14. Sri Sathya Sai
In the darkness
Of the night-
I go to sleep,
My heart closing
Like a flower
Petal by petal
Enfolded in the
Golden light
Of the yonder moon-
The All-embracing Grace
Of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
And in the morning
I awake-
My heart opening out
Like a flower,
Petal by petal,
Drawing in deeply
Of the light and warmth
Of the glorious sun-
The effulgent, radiant
Sri Sathya Sai Baba!
15. There Is No Sorrow
There is no sorrow,
There is no frustration,
There is no despair
As I gaze upon your face.
If you should lead me
If you should guide me
How could I lose my way?
You are all that I seek.
If I should reach
Thy lotus Feet
I shall have found
My life’s goal.
16. Ocean Of Love
Unaware I fell into this ocean
Not knowing how to swim,
But, strange to say-I did not sink
Held up by I know not what.
Here, it is calm a pool of peace
And silence.
What happened to the storm
Raging outside?
Here, it is neither surf nor swell
Neither wave nor tide
No winds blow
To batter the soul.
Here, I am motionless
I simply float on water
Held down by nothing
For I have neither
Breath nor body
Neither mind nor will.
Where am I? Who am I?
Are you my saviour?
Baba?
17. Divine Boatman
Divine boatman, carrying my soul
Across this ocean of Love!
That has neither bank nor shore
No beginning, and no end.
And from which
I never wish to surface.
I am content to remain here
Submerged, forever.
18. To, The Koel
Call out, oh! koel,
Loud and long!
Fill the garden
With your divine song!
Sing of His glory,
Sing of His fame,
Dazzle all ears
With His Sacred Name!
Call out to Krishna,
Call out to Rama,
Unfold in song,
The Divine Drama.
Call out to Baba,
Call out to Sai,
Call out all Names,
From earth to sky!
So, call out, O koel!
Loud and long,
Fill the garden
With your divine song!
- Prema Ramakrishnan
