Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa…

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa…

Browsing through His ‘most mystifying’ Story from April 2011, we see a united Puttaparthi that stood united for a Cosmic Cause, her very own SOUL… HeartBeat, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, Whom she ‘fondled’ with great care, right from the day-1 of His Story. With Bhagawan’s most mysterious Divine Leela on in the summer month of April, Puttaparthi  turned abuzz, with collective hearts beating for Him…for Him…for Him Alone… Recapping Parthi’s mood during the trial days, here is a report from the 13th and 14th days of April 2011, extracted from the book ‘Eternal Sanctity’ by the Pune Youth Wing.

13th April

Millions flock to Him…they love Him for what He is, all that He is, for all that He has done and keeps doing for the individual, the society, the nation, the world and the universe too. For them that is proof enough of His divinity. They have experienced His magnanimity, His presence, His little and great acts of supreme grace, the miracle of His unconditional love and so are now expressing it in a befitting manner. For them, He deserves the best and they are bent upon offering their best. Unshakeable is their faith, heartfelt their gratitude, unmatched is their fervor, dedication, devotion and tenacity of purpose – to have their Lord amidst them at the earliest.

This is how it is in Puttaparthi right now. This little township is alive with plentiful pageants that carry lifesize photographs of the Lord of Parthi, while singing devotional songs through the lanes and by lanes, the crisscrossing of various such groups charging the environment with piety.

More than 200 women had a ‘coloured light’ procession of their own. A parade that glowed with the hues of adoration. Carrying plates of worship, that contained candles, flowers, coconut, turmeric, vermillion, betel nuts and betel leaves – phalam, pushpam, patram toyam – upon their heads and singing aloud hymns in worship of their Lord, these ladies carried out a special act of devotion past every temple of this holy village. Large groups of children too have taken to the streets, themselves pulling the huge chariot carrying garlanded pictures of Bhagawan – a Rath Yatra, even as they sing aloud in their tender voices, bhajans pure in their intent.

Candle lights – that rekindled hope and faith. TamasoMaa Jyotir Gamayaa – leading away from the darkness arising out of the absence of their dear Lord to the radiance of His coveted darshan. It seemed the onus is on humanity to woo Beloved Bhagawan. Clearly devotion has swept into the sands of Parthi and the hearts of its inhabitants … “Parthipurishwar Jaya Mana Mohana”.

14th April

Thursday was reserved for the men folk of Parthi to express their devotion. Hundreds gathered outside Ganesh gate with candles in their hands, a prayer in their hearts and hymns in praise of their Lord on their lips. Chants of ‘Om Sri Sai Ram’ rang out aloud and echoed in the ether. Accompanying this devoted gathering was a floral float drawn by a tractor. Colorful bouquets and flowers bedecked the gigantic photo frame of Beloved Bhagawan. They passed on their ‘candles of love, hope, faith and worship’, as an offering, which was collected by seva dal and devotees from inside the Ganesh gate and made to adorn the parapet surrounding the deities under the canopy of the peepal tree opposite Ganesha.

A myriad candles glowed bright with unified prayers and collective harmony.

Further down the main street of Puttaparthi, children sang and danced in circular formations, even as the elders of the village played the drums and cymbals with synchronized rhythm. The residents of the village, each one of them were leaving no stone unturned to coax and cajole their Beloved Lord to be amidst them again. Indeed a sustained spectacular effort with amazing dedication.

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa – A Sacred Journey From Darkness To Divine Light

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa is a powerful prayer that asks the Divine to lead us from darkness to light. This darkness is not only the absence of outer light is not only the absence of outer light; it is the inner darkness of ignorance, fear, ego, anger, hatred, confusion, and selfishness. The light is wisdom, love, purity, peace, and awareness of God within.

Human life becomes difficult when the mind is covered by ignorance. We may have education, wealth, position, and comfort, yet still feel restless if the heart is not illumined by truth. Real light does not come only from lamps, books, or achievements. Real light comes when the soul remembers its divine nature.

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa teaches that every seeker must move from lower thinking to higher understanding. Darkness makes us believe that we are separate from others, that happiness depends only on worldly gain, and that ego is strength. Light reveals that all beings are connected, love is the true power, and God lives in every heart.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often emphasized that education must lead to character and wisdom. Knowledge without values can become dangerous, but knowledge guided by love becomes sacred. The purpose of spiritual learning is not to increase pride, but to remove ignorance and awaken humility, compassion, and self-control.

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa becomes meaningful when we honestly look within. Are our thoughts pure? Are our words kind? Are our actions helpful? Do we carry jealousy, anger, or pride? The prayer is not only a request to God; it is also a call to transform our daily life through conscious effort.

Darkness often appears as attachment to the temporary. People chase praise, possessions, status, and pleasures, thinking these will give lasting happiness. But all worldly things change. The body changes, relationships change, circumstances change, and success also changes. The light of wisdom teaches us to seek the eternal presence of God beyond all passing experiences.

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa also reminds us that the path to light begins with small choices. Speaking truth instead of falsehood, forgiving instead of hating, serving instead of ignoring, praying instead of worrying, and choosing patience instead of anger are all steps toward inner light. Spiritual life grows through daily practice.

Prayer, namasmarana, bhajan, meditation, and seva are beautiful lamps on this journey. Prayer softens the heart, the divine name purifies the mind, bhajan fills life with devotion, meditation creates silence, and service removes selfishness. When these practices become steady, the darkness of the mind slowly reduces.

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa finally teaches that the greatest light is self-realization. The seeker gradually understands, “I am not merely this body, this mind, or this name. I am the Atma, the divine spark of the Supreme.” This understanding brings courage, peace, and freedom from unnecessary fear.

A person living in light does not become proud. True light makes one humble. Just as a lamp quietly removes darkness, a noble person quietly spreads love, guidance, and comfort. Such a person does not need to announce goodness. Their presence itself becomes peaceful and helpful to others.

The world today needs this prayer deeply. There is much outer progress, but also much inner unrest. Technology has grown, but compassion must also grow. Information has increased, but wisdom must guide it. Human beings must learn to move from selfishness to service, from division to unity, and from hatred to love.

A devotee should not wait for the whole world to change first. Transformation begins in one heart. When one person becomes more peaceful, one home becomes more peaceful. When one home becomes peaceful, society receives that vibration. Inner light spreads quietly, just like the fragrance of a flower.

In the end, Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa is a sacred prayer for every soul seeking truth, peace, and divine guidance. It asks the Lord to remove the darkness of ignorance and fill life with the light of wisdom. When we live with love, purity, humility, and service, this prayer becomes a living reality blessed by God’s grace.

For Samastha Lokas…