In the Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda describes this Cosmic Chant as the “hoary Sanskrit ‘Hymn to Brahma’”.
The lyrics are the last verse from the ancient Guru Gita (Song to the Guru), written by Vyasa. It is often referred to as the Guru-mantram. What is of significance is that in India everyone sings this song to praise the Guru. However, Yogananda called it “Hymn to Brahma” instead of “Hymn to the Guru”. This is because the real Guru is God, as he always emphasized. A human Guru is His pure ego-less instrument.
In other words, the whole hymn is completely dedicated to the Guru, while he calls it Hymn to God (Brahma) for it is to God that the real merit should go.
Similarly, Jesus said: “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)
LYRICS:
Brahmanandam parama sukhadam
Kabalam gyan moorteem
Dandwa teetum gagana sadrisham
Tattwa mashyadi laksham
Akam nityum bimala machalam
Sarbada sakshi bhootum
Bhawa teetum triguna rahitum
Sudgurum twum namami.
WHEN TO USE THIS SONG:
Use to invoke the help of the Masters or Guru.
SING ALONG:
This is a recording with Swami Kriyananda, when he was with SRF. It was chosen because it indeed sounds like a “hymn”. Durga Mata writes: “Master loved to play the small foot pump organ we had.” It might be that this chant was recorded with that foot pump organ, which almost sounds like a pipe organ.
The Cosmic Chants-method apart, the Hymn to Brahma lends itself perfectly to choral music. Here is an arrangement by David Miller, performed by an Ananda choir.