O adorable Lord of mercy and love!
Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.
Thou art Satchidananda.
Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.
Thou art the in-dweller of all beings.
Grant us an understanding heart,
Equal vision, balanced mind,
Faith, devotion and wisdom.
Grant us inner spiritual strength
To resist temptations and to control the mind.
Free us from egoism, lust, greed, anger and hatred.
Fill our hearts with divine virtues.
Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us ever remember Thee.
Let us ever sing Thy glories.
Let Thy name be ever on our lips.
Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.
—Swami Sivananda Saraswati
The Universal Prayer was written by Swami Sivananda. No-body has spoken about this prayer, as nobody felt any need. Swami Sivananda did not elaborate on this prayer. Swami Satyananda did not say anything about this prayer. For the first time, I am answering a question about this prayer.
There are three parts to it. The first part of the prayer is recognizing the omnipotence, the omnipresence and the omniscience of the Divine. Swami Sivananda begins by saying, ‘O, adorable Lord of mercy and love.’ That is understandable, for mercy and love are the highest qualities of life, not the conditioned, but the unconditioned qualities. ‘Salutations and prostrations unto Thee. I bow down before You. Thou art Sat, Chit, Ananda – truth, awareness and bliss. Thou art the in-dweller of all beings.’
This is recognizing that I and my Father are one. God is in me. I am not separate from God. He is the in-dweller of my heart. He is the in-dweller, because he is omnipresent, all-pervasive. The first part is recognizing the nature of God and my connection to God.
Then comes the second part, which is a prayer. ‘Grant us an understanding heart’ – not a closed heart; ‘equal vision and a balanced mind’ – this is what we are all searching for; ‘faith, devotion and wisdom’ – this is also what we are all searching for; ‘grant us inner spiritual strength to resist temptations and to control the mind’ – that means no window-shopping; ‘free us from egoism, lust, greed, anger and hatred’ – these are the things which destroy life and society; ‘and fill our hearts with divine virtues.’ This is the second part of the prayer, where we are asking God for the strength to develop these qualities and strengths.
The third part is acknowledgement and recognition of that power and force which is everywhere. ‘Let us behold Thee in all the names and forms’ – you see a tree, an animal, a bird which are alive because of the spirit that is in them. Even a worm, who crawls on the ground, is alive because it has a spirit. That spirit is not physical; that spirit is what gave it life. That spirit is also God. ‘Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms’ – recognizing that God is in me and God is in each one is the concept of atmabhava, which Sri Swamiji propagated. Let us connect with everyone, with love, with compassion, with kindness. ‘Let us ever remember Thee. Let us ever sing Thy glories. Let Thy name be ever on our lips. And, let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.’
This is the Universal Prayer. The three parts are precise and clear for anyone who wishes to pray. The nature of God is the first part. Grant me the strength to cultivate qualities is the second. And recognition of your presence everywhere, and respect and honour to Your presence is the aim.
25 February 2024, Ganga Darshan, Munger