Dallas Navaratri Sangeetotsav
Annual music and dance festival in Dallas, TX, conducted during every Navaratri.
Music and Dance Examinations
Music and dance examinations in Karnataka Sangeeta, Hindusthani Sangeeta, Bharatanatya, Mrudanga, and Tabala.
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Check for various Sangeeta Bharati programs and events
भोजन मंत्र|Bhōjan Mantra
Sangeeta Bharati events may include occasions when we have lunch or dinner together. When a meal is part of the event, we recite the traditional Bhojan Mantra before partaking of the food.
In the Bharateeya tradition, food is regarded not merely as nourishment, but as a sacred offering that sustains the body and enables us to dedicate ourselves to a higher purpose and to the service of society.
We invite everyone to join us in reciting the Bhojan Mantra.
Devanagari Version
अन्न ग्रहण करने से पहले,
विचार मन में करना है।
किस हेतु से इस शरीर का,
रक्षण पोषण करना है॥
हे परमेश्वर! एक प्रार्थना,
नित्य तुम्हारे चरणों में।
लग जाए तन-मन-धन मेरा,
विश्व धर्म की सेवा में॥
ॐ ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविः
ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं
ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना॥
ॐ सह नाववतु।
सह नौ भुनक्तु।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु।
मा विद्विषावहै॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
English Version
anna grahaṇa karanē sē pahalē,
vichāra mana mē karanā hai.
kisa hētu sē isa sharīr kā,
rakśhaṇa pōśhaṇa karanā hai.
(Before partaking of food,
we should reflect within our minds:
For what purpose are we protecting and nourishing this body?)
hē paramēshwara! ēka prārthanā,
nitya tumhārē charaṇō mē.
laga jāyē tana-mana-dhana mērā,
vishwa dharma kī sēvā mē.
(O Supreme Lord! This is my prayer,
offered daily at Your feet:
May my body, mind, and wealth be devoted
to the service of Vishwa Dharma.)
ॐ brahmārpaṇam brahma havih
brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam.
brahmaiva tēna gantavyam
brahma-karma-samādhinā.
(The act of offering is Brahman; the oblation is Brahman.
It is offered by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman.
Brahman alone is attained by one
who is absorbed in action as Brahman.)
ॐ saha nāvavatu,
saha nau bhunaktu,
saha vīryam karavāvahai,
tējaswināvadhītamastu,
mā vidwiśhāvahai.
(May He protect us both.
May He nourish us both.
May we work together with great energy.
May our learning be radiant and fruitful.
May we not harbor hostility toward one another.)
ॐ shāntih shāntih shāntihi
(May peace prevail within us, around us, and in nature.)
The first two stanzas are a Hindi prayer, while Brahmārpaṇam is from the Bhagawad Gita (4.24) and Saha Nāvavatu is the Sanskrit Shānti Mantra found in the Taittirīya Upaniśhad. Together, these verses remind us to partake of food with gratitude and reflection, to nourish the body for a higher purpose, to dedicate our actions to Dharma and service, and to pray for nourishment, learning, harmony, and peace.
For the Emcee’s Introduction
Before we begin our meal, we invite everyone to join us in reciting the Bhojan Mantra, a traditional prayer offered before partaking of food.
The mantra reminds us to receive food with gratitude and to nourish our body, mind, and strength not merely for ourselves, but for a higher purpose and for the service of society.
May I request everyone to stand up, fold their hands, and join us in the Bhojan Mantra.