First Bhajan

On this momentous day in the year 1940, Baba proceed to a garden around the house of the Inspector of Excise, for it was extensive and open; He sat under a tree with the whole town around Him. Immediately, He inaugurated the Bhajan that was to progress so quickly and dramatically in every nook and corner of this vast land revolutionizing the habits and attitudes, the nature and character of hundreds of thousands. The very first song which He taught the astonished mass of humanity was an invitation to surrender to the Feet of the Guru who had so mercifully appeared. It also contained a lesson that Baba has always emphasized since then that Bhajan or reverential adoration must be a mental upsurge, not an oral exercise.

It ran thus:

• Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam,
• Dustara Bhava Sagara Taranam
• Guru Maharaj Guru Jai Jai
• Sai Natha Sad Guru Jai Jai
• Om Namah Shivaya, Om Nama Shivaya, Shivaya Namah Om
• Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva, Aruna Shiva Om