THE GUJARATI ARTI: BUJAVE NAAR

For the musical notation, please visit Avatar Meher Baba Israel

From Lord Meher by Bhau Kalchuri (vol. 3, pp. 773-74):

…Sometime earlier, Mohan Shahane had written an arti for Baba in Marathi, which was being sung at all the gatherings. The mandali, however, wished to have an arti composed in Gujarati, and so Baba told them to write one, but none of the songs satisfied Baba.

Finally, on January 11th, 1926, Meher Baba wrote his own arti called Bujave Naar, which later became known as the Gujarati Arti. [English translation follows.]

O God, command that the fire of ignorance be extinguished!
Bestow upon Your lovers the light of faith for which they long.

O Master Meher Baba! We lay our heads at Your feet.
O Meher Baba! You are the One who knows the original state of God.

You are the Lord of Truth! You are the lover and Beloved in one.
You are the torrent of Infinite Knowledge and the Ocean of Oneness.

O Beloved, bestow upon us seekers the knowledge of Ezad.
For You, Paramatma, are omniscient, Divine Knowledge Itself!

Intoxicate us by making us drink from the cup of love divine.
Oh Saki, promise us a cup of wine! We offer our lives in sacrifice to You.

Our ship founders in mid-ocean; only if You steer can we remain afloat.
O Meher Baba! You are our captain and protector!

Transliterations:

Bujave nār jehelatni

Yē ker kūdratne farmān tu

Chhē lāgi āsh bhaktōne

Ke bakhshe nūre-iman tu

Ayā murshid Meher Baba

Charanpe tujnā dharāye sar

Khudānā zāt-thī vākef

Thai bēthō Meherbān tu:

Tu chhē mālik hakiqatnū

Tu āshek bhī ne aref bhī

Tu chhē darīya-e-wahedat

Mārefatno hôi tufari tu

Hamō rehrav me ây sālik

Bakh-sh-jadnyan īzadnu

Ke tu parmātma dnyānī

Chhē ne muktyar-e-irfan tu

Khudānā prēmno pyālo

Pilāvi mast hamne ker

Chhē tuj per jan sadke

Saqiyā api-de paymari tu

Hamārī nāv bhar dariye

Tarave tōō hame tariye

Hamara nakhuda ay Meher Bābā

Chhē nighebāṅ tu.

[Donkin’s Diaries (Sheriar Foundation, 2011), pp. 196-97]

Bujaawe naar jallatani aye kar kudratnay farma too
Chhe laagi aas bhaktoney kay bakshay nooray ima too
Aiya moorshad Meher Baba charanpar toojna dhariyay sar
Khoodana zat thi vakef thai betho Meherba too
Too chhe malik hakikatno too aashek bhi nay aaref bhi
Too chhe dariya aye vahedat marefat no hoi toofa too
Humo raherav nay aiy saalek bakhash jay gnyaan eezad noo
Kay too Paramatma gnyaani chhe nay mookhtaar irfaa too
Khoodana premno pyalo pilaavi must hamnay kar
Chhe toojapur jaan sadkay saakiya aapi day paima too
Humaari naav bhar dariyay taraavay tow humay tariyay
Humaara nakhooda aiy Meher Baba chhe nighebaa too.
Humaara nakhooda aiy Meher Baba chhe nighebaa too.