Prayer of Repentance
Encyclopedia
The Prayer of Repentance is a prayer
created by Meher Baba
. Meher Baba dictated the prayer in Gujarati
in Khuldabad
, India
in November, 1951.
The prayer has become a part of a canon of prayers regularly repeated by Meher Baba's followers, along with the O Parvardigar
and the Beloved God Prayer
. The three prayers are repeated morning and evening at Meher Baba's samadhi in Ahmednagar, India
.
in November 1951. It was then translated into English by two disciples Eruch Jessawala
and William Donkin." However it was not introduced until one year later on November 8, 1952. Baba introduced the prayer saying, "Maybe some of you, or many of you, or all of you have no bindings, or desires and attachments. But as today I am in this state (of a devotee) I would like you to join me, to encourage me in asking God's forgiveness." The prayer was read aloud numerous times in Baba's presence, often with an added prelude written by Baba. For example in 1954 it was read aloud in Baba's presence by his disciple William Donkin with the following prelude:
In an interview by Tim Owens at Meherazad in 1980, Eruch Jessawala described the process of translating prayers by Baba. "When a prayer was given by Him, it remained a prayer. Some words were in Gujarati, Urdu
, some in Hindi or Persian
, most in English. Then we'd do a little dressing-up in English and read it out to Baba, and He'd approve what He had dictated. He also inspired the ones who would do the dressing-up. The whole thing was 'rattled out' in the first place, given quite spontaneously."
The prayer was one of two prayers Baba asked his followers around the world to recite daily for a period of six months, from the end of January to the end of July 1968.
's The God-Man (London: Allen & Unwin, 1964) reads "harm" (not "ruin"). Also, an editorial footnote in the first English text of Lord Meher: The Biography of the Avatar of the Age Meher Baba (printed and Web-based) notes that the last word "will" was originally "wish," but was unintentionally changed due to a printing error. However, this account is contradicted by Eruch Jessawala
, the disciple who translated the prayer from its original Gujarati
, the language it was given in by Meher Baba, who said he originally translated it as given. In an article on the topic in LoveStreet LampPost (2000) Ward Parks writes, "Eruch explained that Baba had originally dictated the prayer to him in Gujarati. In that language, the last word of the prayer was marji (marzi in Urdu
), an etymon that does not differentiate between 'wish' and 'will' but encompasses both meanings." The prayer is recited as given above during arti
ceremonies at Meherabad
and it is as it is on the official Avatar Meher Baba Trust
website.
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
created by Meher Baba
Meher Baba
Meher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
. Meher Baba dictated the prayer in Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
in Khuldabad
Khuldabad
Khuldabad Urdu: خلد آباد is a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning garden of paradise...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in November, 1951.
The prayer has become a part of a canon of prayers regularly repeated by Meher Baba's followers, along with the O Parvardigar
O Parvardigar
O Parvardigar is the common name of a prayer composed by Meher Baba, sometimes called the Master's Prayer or the Universal Prayer. It is also a song on an album by Pete Townshend....
and the Beloved God Prayer
Beloved God Prayer
Beloved God is the common name of a prayer created by Meher Baba on August 25, 1959. Meher Baba was fond of the prayer, and encouraged his followers to repeat it....
. The three prayers are repeated morning and evening at Meher Baba's samadhi in Ahmednagar, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Text of the prayer
- We repent, O God most merciful; for all our sins;
- for every thought that was false or unjust or unclean;
- for every word spoken that ought not to have been spoken;
- for every deed done that ought not to have been done.
- We repent for every deed and word and thought inspired by selfishness,
- and for every deed and word and thought inspired by hatred.
- We repent most specially for every lustful thought and every lustful action;
- for every lie; for all hypocrisy;
- for every promise given but not fulfilled,
- and for all slander and back-biting.
- Most specially also, we repent for every action that has brought ruin to others;
- for every word and deed that has given others pain;
- and for every wish that pain should befall others.
- In your unbounded mercy, we ask you to forgive us, O God,
- for all these sins committed by us,
- and to forgive us for our constant failures
- to think and speak and act according to your will.
History
Meher Baba originally dictated the prayer in GujaratiGujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
in November 1951. It was then translated into English by two disciples Eruch Jessawala
Eruch Jessawala
Eruch Byramshaw Jessawala , born in Bombay, India, was a close disciple of the silent Indian master Meher Baba, and one of his mandali. Jessawala was also the primary interpreter of Meher Baba's , and later his unique sign language.- Early life :Jessawala was born in Bombay to Zoroastrian parents,...
and William Donkin." However it was not introduced until one year later on November 8, 1952. Baba introduced the prayer saying, "Maybe some of you, or many of you, or all of you have no bindings, or desires and attachments. But as today I am in this state (of a devotee) I would like you to join me, to encourage me in asking God's forgiveness." The prayer was read aloud numerous times in Baba's presence, often with an added prelude written by Baba. For example in 1954 it was read aloud in Baba's presence by his disciple William Donkin with the following prelude:
- O the eternally benevolent Paramatma! O all-merciful Allah! O the most merciful God Almighty! O giver of all boons, Yazdan! Being fully aware of your absolute independence and your absolute indifference, Baba, with all humbleness, implores you, O allmerciful God! to accept the prayer of repentance from him on behalf of all his lovers and on behalf of all who are worthy of being forgiven.
In an interview by Tim Owens at Meherazad in 1980, Eruch Jessawala described the process of translating prayers by Baba. "When a prayer was given by Him, it remained a prayer. Some words were in Gujarati, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, some in Hindi or Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, most in English. Then we'd do a little dressing-up in English and read it out to Baba, and He'd approve what He had dictated. He also inspired the ones who would do the dressing-up. The whole thing was 'rattled out' in the first place, given quite spontaneously."
The prayer was one of two prayers Baba asked his followers around the world to recite daily for a period of six months, from the end of January to the end of July 1968.
Variations
Some printings of the prayer contain variations. The original 1964 printing of Charles PurdomCharles Purdom
Charles Benjamin Purdom, usually credited as C. B. Purdom , was a British author, drama critic, economist and editor of an English periodical called Everyman. Everyman covered books, drama, music and travel and featured articles by renowned authors such as Ivor Brown, Arthur Machen, G. K....
's The God-Man (London: Allen & Unwin, 1964) reads "harm" (not "ruin"). Also, an editorial footnote in the first English text of Lord Meher: The Biography of the Avatar of the Age Meher Baba (printed and Web-based) notes that the last word "will" was originally "wish," but was unintentionally changed due to a printing error. However, this account is contradicted by Eruch Jessawala
Eruch Jessawala
Eruch Byramshaw Jessawala , born in Bombay, India, was a close disciple of the silent Indian master Meher Baba, and one of his mandali. Jessawala was also the primary interpreter of Meher Baba's , and later his unique sign language.- Early life :Jessawala was born in Bombay to Zoroastrian parents,...
, the disciple who translated the prayer from its original Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
, the language it was given in by Meher Baba, who said he originally translated it as given. In an article on the topic in LoveStreet LampPost (2000) Ward Parks writes, "Eruch explained that Baba had originally dictated the prayer to him in Gujarati. In that language, the last word of the prayer was marji (marzi in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
), an etymon that does not differentiate between 'wish' and 'will' but encompasses both meanings." The prayer is recited as given above during arti
Arti
Arti is an urban locality and the administrative center of Artinsky District of Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Artya River at its confluence with the Ufa River, southwest of Yekaterinburg and southeast of Krasnoufimsk. Population: 13,800 .-History:It was founded in 1783 when...
ceremonies at Meherabad
Meherabad
Meherabad was originally an ashram established by Meher Baba near Arangaon Village, India in 1923 about south of Ahmednagar. It is now the site of Meher Baba's samadhi as well as facilities and accommodations for pilgrims...
and it is as it is on the official Avatar Meher Baba Trust
Avatar Meher Baba Trust
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust is a Charitable trust created by Meher Baba in 1959 to fulfill after his death various directives given by him. Bhau Kalchuri is currently its chairman.- History and charter :...
website.
See also
- O ParvardigarO ParvardigarO Parvardigar is the common name of a prayer composed by Meher Baba, sometimes called the Master's Prayer or the Universal Prayer. It is also a song on an album by Pete Townshend....
- Seven Names of God PrayerSeven Names of God PrayerThe Seven Names of God Prayer is a prayer given by Meher Baba to his students and close disciples to memorize and recite, often as a chant or song, at certain times during his life....
- Beloved God PrayerBeloved God PrayerBeloved God is the common name of a prayer created by Meher Baba on August 25, 1959. Meher Baba was fond of the prayer, and encouraged his followers to repeat it....
- 101 Names of God101 Names of GodIn Zoroastrianism, 101 names of God is a list of names of God . The list is preserved in Persian, Pazand and Gujarati...