The illustration shows a flowering rudraksha tree, a form sacred to Lord Shiva.
As a Siddha Yoga musician, anytime I am playing harmonium for Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho, I experience pure joy and reverence for God’s boundless nature. When this namasankirtana begins, I feel as though the Lord himself is dancing on my fingertips along the harmonium keys, and I soon forget I am playing. This sensation becomes so ecstatic that I simply must celebrate God’s presence through the power of sound. Because the musical scale of this chant goes up and down in serpentine and spiraling intervals, I experience a blissful freedom of movement that is my idea of the state of Lord Shiva. The image that arises in my heart is that of Shiva Nataraj—the dancing Shiva, the one who dispels the illusions of the mind and the duality of creation.… Read more
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, the Siddha Yoga Guru, composed the words of Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, “the great night of Lord Shiva,” in 1988. The music was adapted by Gurumayi from a traditional melody. In November of the following year, in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Gurumayi chanted this namasankirtana during the first Global Siddha Yoga Shaktipat Intensive via satellite broadcast in which she imparted shaktipat diksha to thousands of students and seekers in fifty-five cities around the world.
The Darbari Kanada raga, which inspired the composition of this chant, is a melodic pattern brought into Hindustani classical music by the sixteenth-century composer Tansen at the request of storied Emperor Akbar, who wanted a raga that could be sung at night. Darbari means “court” in the Hindi language, and the rasa, “flavor,” of this raga evokes valor, grandeur, and stately magnificence—all qualities of a royal court.
Namasankirtana is the repetition of the divine name in song. On the Siddha Yoga path, this Sanskrit word refers both to the practice of chanting the names of God and to the chant itself. Repeating God’s name to music has immense power. In the twenty-five years of my sadhana, namasankirtana has always been of vital importance, as it invariably uplifts my spirit. Whether I am part of the lead group of Siddha Yoga musicians or one of the response chanters in the satsang hall, the experience is sacred. Throughout the duration of the namasankirtana, I imagine that I am inhaling and exhaling sound—the blessed sound of God’s name.
The positive effect that namasankirtana has on my state of being is immediate: as soon as I give myself to the chant by both listening and responding to the melodic lines, it feels as if the music does the rest. Very easily, my heart and mind are cleansed of any thoughts or feelings that might be painful, worrying, or sad. As the chant continues, my entire being feels flooded with love.
So as sadhakas, let us immerse ourselves in the Siddha Yoga practice of chanting with a namasankirtana that is associated with rebirth and renewal. Let’s refresh and revitalize our joy and reverence by chanting the name of Shiva—Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho—and experiencing the Lord’s magnificence within and all around!
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The chant
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho is so powerful! When we chant it at the local Siddha Yoga meditation center, the whole environment fills with a vibrant energy. Surges of love rise like waves in my heart, and my eyes become moist with tears of happiness and peace.
As we chanted it recently in a video live stream
satsang with Gurumayi, I felt as if Lord Shiva himself had appeared in his beautiful form and enveloped the entire space of the center. The rhythmic sound of the chant remained within me long after the
satsang ended.
Cuttack, India
My memories of
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambo are precious and filled with joy. Years ago during a
satsang, after an ecstatic chant of this
namasankirtana, we had the opportunity to come forward for
darshan. On this day, I asked Gurumayi for a spiritual name. When she said my new name, I felt it enter and take root in me. It seemed as if a fountain of joy exploded and spread throughout my being. This feeling was so intense that I burst into spontaneous laughter. When I returned to my seat, I was still laughing and experiencing the flow of a river of joy within. This must have been contagious, as my neighbor started laughing, then someone else joined in, until it appeared that many of us were sharing in this moment of pure happiness.
My spiritual name has been my anchor and my beacon throughout my years of
sadhana. This name from my Guru has often given me the courage to persevere and has shown me the direction to take when I have felt lost. Its blessings continue to unfold like a lotus.
Québec, Canada
Today I am celebrating the thirty-first anniversary of receiving shaktipat diksha, divine initiation, from Gurumayi during the Shaktipat Intensive broadcast by satellite from Gurudev Siddha Peeth in India on Easter 1990—just the second Global Siddha Yoga Shaktipat Intensive. Reading this account of how Gurumayi composed the words and music for this namasankirtana and how she chanted it during the first Global Shaktipat Intensive in November 1989 evoked a flood of memories for me—and gratitude for her presence and grace in my life all these years.
Lord Shiva continues to dance in my heart.
North Carolina, United States
The first time I chanted
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho was during a Children’s Intensive held during Gurumayi’s visit to Mexico City in 1998. I was just eight years old. Chanting with all the children felt so joyful as we sang together ecstatically!
After the chant concluded, I offered Gurumayi a bouquet of red roses in
darshan. She smiled and gave me a big hug. To this day, the melody of this chant evokes profound longing in me, along with the vivid memory of being enveloped in the Guru’s love.
New York, United States
This chant enlivens every cell in my being. It fills me with joy, with power, and with love for God!
Bettange-sur-Mess, Luxembourg
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho has a “place of honor” in my
sadhana. It was the
namasankirtana I chanted in 1988 in my first Siddha Yoga Shaktipat Intensive
, when I received spiritual initiation from Gurumayi. Any time I chant it, not only does it evoke the timeless, sweet memory of that most auspicious event in my life, but it also connects me immediately to the exalted and very concrete experience of the awakened Kundalini Shakti. I feel it flowing throughout my being, filling me with joy, contentment, and a renewed sense of profound gratitude for the Siddha Yoga path.
Rome, Italy
Sitting in front of my
puja and chanting
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho, I prayed to have an experience of Shiva. After a short time, I felt warmth in the area of my heart and a sweet sensation of joy enveloped me. And I had the insight:
This is Shiva, this is the presence of Shiva within me. As I continued chanting, I recalled images of Gurumayi’s presence in my life. I recalled moments when I experienced Gurumayi’s care and love. A deep feeling of gratitude followed, as I realized how much love Gurumayi has for me.
Paris, France
As I chanted
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho with the recording today, I felt a surge of joyful energy rise within me. I recalled happy times in which I chanted it with Gurumayi, on video or audio, or live with musicians at the meditation center. A smile spread over my face and my mind became serene. In the melody and rhythm I experienced the dance of Shiva.
Pune, India
This magnificent chant embodies and celebrates every particle of my 37 years of
sadhana. Strong, inspiring, uplifting, harmonious, it warms my heart and nourishes my mind. For me, the music that Gurumayi and Baba have given us is a treasured gift. There is nothing like it anywhere!
What would my days be like without
aratis, hymns, and
namasankirtanas? How would my heart express its love and longings? Words inevitably fall short, but the beautiful music resounds and rings and resonates on, expressing and carrying my heart forward, step by step by step.
I am grateful for all that Gurumayi has done to expand this exquisite opportunity and legacy! What a joy it is to chant
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho today, remembering the first time I ever heard it and chanted it with Gurumayi in 1988.
Washington, United States
This was my first time chanting
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho with Gurumayi on the recording. I immediately recognized the feeling of pure joy that bubbled up in me and I loved it!
Horsholm, Denmark
I love chanting
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho so much, not only because I am chanting God’s name, but also because this
namasankirtana holds delicious memories for me. This was possibly the first chant after the mantra that I really made my own. So as I chanted along with the recording this morning, I felt myself become very soft and fluid, and my heart filled my entire body with the gentle perfume of love.
Later in the day I was trimming back a rather rebellious lavender bush. As I snipped at it and lavender perfume filled the air, I was reminded yet again that I am close to the Self at all times.
Hampton Hill, United Kingdom
What a great synchronicity for me to see Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho on the Siddha Yoga path website homepage. I usually work in a location close to my home, but recently I have been driving further distances to work in a number of different locations in outlying areas.
While I drive, I have been playing and chanting along with Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho. Because of this practice, I arrive at work in bliss! Later, I leave work looking forward to the drive home when I again immerse myself in the joy of this namasankirtana. Though I don’t usually enjoy driving, now I associate driving with chanting Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho and I relish it!
California, United States
Chanting
Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambho with Gurumayi always uplifts me. No matter the state of my mind or body when I begin to chant, I experience an inner energy rising up and dancing within me. I may be sitting still, but this inner energy stretches up to the sky. My body sways gently, my eyes moisten, and there is an inner smile that fills me with optimism and
shakti.
Vadodara, India
