The Practise of Satsang
The practice of satsang is the basis for like-minded people to commune together and participate in singing bhajans and the glories of their favorite God-head. The bhakti movement in India is perhaps the major sect which practices satsang on a regular basis to sing the glories of Lord Krishna. The word satsang (सतसंग) literally means “in good company” – it is a conjunction of the two words sat (meaning good) and sang (meaning “in the company of”).
According to Wikipedia satsang is
(1) the company of the “highest truth,” (2) the company of a guru, or (3) company with an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the truth.[1] This typically involves listening to or reading scriptures, reflecting on, discussing and assimilating their meaning, meditating on the source of these words, and bringing their meaning into one’s daily life.
The Prayer of Surrender
I would hear this traditional prayer being sung often in my maternal grandmother’s house when I was growing up in India. The original is in Hindi, and I have (loosely) translated it into English. It is actually more of a bhajan than a prayer, which means it is designed to be sung in a group setting as part of a satsang rather than as a personal prayer.
It conveys the message of total submission to the almighty, of having faith in the supreme power, and of giving up control and having trust “in God’s hands”.
In the Hands of the Almighty
Let me surrender the outcome of my life – into your caring hands, into your caring hands.
May my victories be in your hands, and my defeats be in your decisive hands, in your hands.
Let me resolve on this day, to be one with you some day.
And devote all the love of this world, into your accepting hands, into your hands.
Whether I stay detached from this world, or remain engrossed within this world.
Let me be detached through your hands, or be engrossed within your hands, within your hands.
If I were to be granted a human life, may I serve constantly at your feet.
And may the strings of my beating heart, be always remain attached to your hands, to your hands.
When I get entrapped within this world, let me find my way back to your door-step.
And thence shall all my sins, be judged in your forgiving hands, in your forgiving hands.
The difference between you and me, I am mortal and you divine.
And while I remain caught up in this world, the world remains in your hands, in your divine hands.
सरकार तुम्हारे हाथों में
अब सौंप दिया इस जीवन का सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में, सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में।
है जीत तुम्हारे हाथों में, अौर हार तुम्हारे हाथों में, अौर हार तुम्हारे हाथों में।।
मेरा निश्चय है एक यही, इक बार तुम्हें पा जाऊं मैं।
अर्पण कर दूँ जगती भर का, सब प्यार तुम्हारे हाथों में, सब प्यार तुम्हारे हाथों में।।
या मैं तो जग से दूर रहूँ, अौर जग में रहुँ तो ऐसे रहूँ।
इस पार तुम्हारे हाथों में, उस पार तुम्हारे हाथों में।।
यदि मानुष का मुझे जन्म मिले तो हरि चरणों का पुजारी रहूँ।
मुझ पूजक की इक-इक रग का, हो तार तुम्हारे हाथों में, हो तार तुम्हारे हाथों में।।
जब-जब संसार का बन्दी बनूँ, दरबार तेरे में अाऊँ मैं।
तब-तब हो पापों का निर्णय, सरकार तुम्हारे हाथों में, सरकार तुम्हारे हाथों में।।
मुझमें तुझमें है भेद यही, मैं नर हूँ अाप नारायण हैं।
मैं हूँ संसार के हाथों में, संसार तुम्हारे हाथों में, संसार तुम्हारे हाथों में।।
ab sau.np diya is jiivan ka – transliteration
ab sau.np diya is jiivan ka, sab bhaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n,
sab bhaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n
hai jiit tumhaare haatho.n me.n, aur haar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, aur haar tumhaare haatho.n me.n
meraa nishchay hai ek yahii, ik baar tumhe.n paa jaau.n mai.n.
arpaN kar duu.n jagtii bhar kaa sab pyaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, sab pyaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n
yaa mai.n to jag se duur rahuu.n, aur jag me.n rahuu.n to aise rahuu.n.
is paar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, us paar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, us paar tumhaare haatho.n me.n
yadi maanush kaa mujhe janam mile, to hari charNo.n ka pujaarii rahuu.n.
mujh puujak kii ik ik rag kaa, ho taar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, ho taar tumhaare haatho.n me.n
jab jab sa.nsaar kaa ba.ndii banuu.n, darbaar tere me.n aauu.n mai.n.
tab tab ho paapo.n kaa nirNaya sarkaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, sarkaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n
mujhame.n tujhame.n hai bheda yahii, mai.n nar huu.n aap naarayaN hai.n.
mai.n huu.n sa.nsaar ke haatho.n me.n, sa.nsaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n, sa.nsaar tumhaare haatho.n me.n.
Audio and Video Reference
The video below has the classic rhythm and intonation for this prayer – feel free to use it as a reference for your own satsang!
Do you have a favorite prayer to share with our readers? Please add it to the comments section below. Thanks!