Jai Gurudev
Vaishnavism / Bhakti Yoga जय गुरुदेव Jai Gurudev jaya gurudeva ""Glory to the Guru" — a chant of gratitude and surrender to the spiritual teacher, sung by Krishna Das in honor of his guru Neem Karoli Baba." Chords — Key of F · Warm mid-tempo swing (~100 bpm); relaxed and grateful, never rushed Call & response (identical) FJai Gurudev, BbJai Gurudev FJai GuruCdev, BbJai GuruFdev Word by Word Jai (jaya) — victory, glory, hail; Guru — the spiritual teacher, dispeller of darkness; Deva — divine, radiant being; together, Gurudeva — the divine teacher. Full Translation A simple, repeated invocation — "Jai Gurudev," victory and glory to the divine teacher. In Krishna Das's "By Your Grace / Jai Gurudev," it becomes an offering of thanks to his guru, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji), acknowledging that whatever good has come has come by the Guru's grace. It is often sung to close a kirtan, as everything is laid at the feet of the teacher. Pronunciation Tips jye GU-roo-dayv Traditional, public-domain text prepared by Kirtans.com — free to print for personal and group practice. kirtans.com/mantras/jai-gurudev

Vaishnavism / Bhakti Yoga

जय गुरुदेव

Jai Gurudev

jaya gurudeva

""Glory to the Guru" — a chant of gratitude and surrender to the spiritual teacher, sung by Krishna Das in honor of his guru Neem Karoli Baba."

Chords — Key of F · Warm mid-tempo swing (~100 bpm); relaxed and grateful, never rushed

Call & response (identical)

FJai Gurudev, BbJai Gurudev

FJai GuruCdev, BbJai GuruFdev

Word by Word

Jai (jaya) — victory, glory, hail; Guru — the spiritual teacher, dispeller of darkness; Deva — divine, radiant being; together, Gurudeva — the divine teacher.

Full Translation

A simple, repeated invocation — "Jai Gurudev," victory and glory to the divine teacher. In Krishna Das's "By Your Grace / Jai Gurudev," it becomes an offering of thanks to his guru, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji), acknowledging that whatever good has come has come by the Guru's grace. It is often sung to close a kirtan, as everything is laid at the feet of the teacher.

Pronunciation Tips

jye GU-roo-dayv

Traditional, public-domain text prepared by Kirtans.com — free to print for personal and group practice.

kirtans.com/mantras/jai-gurudev