The Asatoma Prayer is a humble request directed at your Higher Self, the Guru within you. Patanjali (author of the first written document about yoga specifically, the “Yoga Sutras,” from several thousand years ago) refers to the Guru within as the Witness or Seer beyond time.

Gurudev (Amrit Desai) calls this the Guru, Source, Higher Self, or Divine-Within.

Sanskrit

Asatoma Sadgamaya

Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya

Mrityorma Amritam Gamaya

English

Lead me from the unreal to the real

Lead me from darkness to light

Lead me from time-bound consciousness to the timeless state of be-ing

By reciting The Guru Mantra with a sincere heart, you will see the power that enlightens is all around and within you at all times. This mantra honors the energies within each of us that allows for creating, sustaining, and transforming.

Sanskrit

Guru Brahma

Guru Vishnu

Guru Devo Maheshvarah

Guru Saakshaat

Param Brahma

Tasmai Shri Guruve Namaha

OM, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

English

The Guru is Brahma, the force of creation

The Guru is Vishnu, the force of preservation with us throughout our life

The Guru is Shiva, the force of Destruction and Transformation

The Guru is the Supreme Absolute that alludes description

I make my offering (tasmai) to the beautiful (shri) remover of my darkness,

my ignorance (Guru) it is to you I bow (namah).

OM, Peace, Peace, Peace