Note:(Important) the single 'a' is pronounced like a short u, like duh. So throughout this study course, you'll see the 'a' in the Sanskrit transliteration line, but you'll see the 'u' in the English syllable rendering line. Just keeping thinking 'duh', and don't make the 'u' into a 'ooo' sound.

Note in the following phrase, when there is a 'u' in the Sanskrit transliteration, we render it in the English syllables as 'oo'.

OM: all sacred texts begin (and often end) with OM - the syllable containing the universe.

Note: the double 'aa' is pronounced with an extended 'a' sound, as in awl, law, saw, arm, harm. In English, when we talk about a "long a" sound, we say it more like 'ay' as in cake or make. In Sanskrit, that sound is written 'ai', not 'aa'. So here in gurugitaa, we just want to extend the 'aaaaaa' sound out a little longer; don't make it into a dipthong.

In the transliteration, the 'u' should be pronounced like our 'oooo' sound.

Shri means auspicious, holy or high. Gita means song. So Guru Gita means the song of the Guru.

Note: if you find the 'sya' tricky, think of 'see ya later', then just keep shortening up the 'eeee' sound of 'see ya' until they smash into each other.

Mantra - sacred syllables designed to bring the mind to union with the Absolute. The entire text of the Guru GIta is a mantra.

Note: the consonant combination "bh" means there is a slight aspiration, as though you have extra air following the pronunciation of each consonant – bh is pronounced like 'abhor'.

In Sanskrit, the 'v' sound is sometimes hard and sometimes soft; soft meaning it's halfway between a 'w' and the hard 'v' sound we use in English. That's why sometimes you see this word spelled two ways: Bhagavan or Bhagawan.

Bhagavaan means great Lord; Sadaa Shiva is another of the many names for Shiva.

Note: In Sanskrit there is a subtle distinction in the 'i' vowel. There is a short 'i' and longer one. We have not shown this in the transliteration in the Guru Gita book because it is more subtle, but the word Shiva actually uses the shorter 'i', which is pronounced more like the i in "its". We usually say Sheeva, but if you can shorten the 'i' sound, you'll be a bit more correct.

There are two 'r' sounds - one that is a consonant, like our 'r', and another that is actually a vowel. Vowels have the purpose of helping you get from one sound to the next sound smoothly and easily. So when you see an 'r' before another consonant or consonant pair like the 'sh' here (rsh), it's usually the vowel - give the 'r' a little roll of the tongue to lead it into the letters that follow. Sometimes it helps to imagine an invisible short 'i' after the 'r' sound, to help you say it. That's why we often see this word spelled out for English "rishi". Rshi means great seer or sage, and is derived from the Sanskrit root 'to see'.

In Sanskrit there is a letter often seen at the end of words that looks like a colon :
It is called visargha, and tells us to repeat the last vowel as though there were a faint echo to it. So here, our last vowel was an 'i', at the end of rshi. So we kind of bounce on that once again, ever-so gently and delicately.... (hee)

Rshi means one who sees, a great seer, a cognizer. Names of saints like Maharishi include this word.

Note: param: the highest, the most supreme; atma (atman) the Self, Pure Consciousness; deva: divine, God. Paramaatmaa are two words that are combined and used frequently in the Guru Gita. Worth memorizing.

Note: prasad: gift from the Guru, carrying his grace; siddhi: accomplishment, achievement

As above, the consonant combination "dh" means there is a slight aspiration, as though you have extra air following the pronunciation of each consonant. When it's doubled-up as it is here, first pronounce the 'd' then the 'dh'; then start smashing them together. In Sanskrit, there would be a subtle distinction of pronunciation between saying 'sidhi' or 'siddhi'. It's as though there's a really small pause on the first d to give it a moment on its own, then you roll into the next 'dh'. It's subtle though - don't get stressed about it (-:

In English, when we see a 'th', we always want to pronounce it like 'this' or 'that'. These are sounds that don't exist in Sanskrit. When you see the 'th', just give it extra air after the 't', like our word anthill.

Note: Again we end this phrase with visargha, which tells us to repeat the last vowel as though there were a faint echo to it. So here, our last vowel was an 'a', at the end of yoga. So we kind of bounce on that once again, ever-so gently and delicately.... (ha)

Jape is a grammatical form of japa, which is the repetition of a mantra, often using a mala or string of beads for verbal repetition.

Now repeat the entire verse all together - One of your goals should be to read the transliteration of the Sanskrit smoothly and easily. In this way, you could recite from the Guru Gita book, wherever you are: