This bhajan was composed by Pandit Chandrakant Apte of the Gwalior Gharana, who dedicated much of his life to living and teaching Indian Classical Music in Jamshedpur. He was Anurag's first Guruji and is credited with laying the foundational elements of Anurag's music and vocal tone. Anurag studied under Pandit Chandrakant Apte ji from the age of 3, spending the first decade of his musical journey under his guidance. Unfortunately, some of the original lyrics were lost over time, particularly after the first verse. Consequently, Anurag wrote the rest of the bhajan himself starting from the second verse. He then performed this bhajan live at a solo concert at Carnegie Hall in New York accompanied by Utsav Lal on the Steinway Grand Piano and Nitin Mitta on Tabla.
Lyrics
Ye jeevan anmol hai bande Bin Hari janam ganvaye Ye tan hai maati ka bande Maati mein mil jaye
Tero sukh dukh mein aayo kaam Man sumar sundar hari naam
Verse 1 Lobh moh irshya ko tyago Hari bhajan mein dhyan lagavo Sancha sukh hai hari Bhajan mein Pavan hai hari naam.
Verse 2 Guru jan ki su-sangati paao Sad-guru ki shik-sha apnao Sancha sukh hai Guru smaran mein Amrit hai Guru naam Verse 3 Jeevan ke sabhi klesh mitao Harsh Anurag se man ko sajao Sancha sukh hai Prabhu charan mein Pavan hai Prabhu naam
Meaning
This bhajan, "Ye Jeevan Anmol Hai Bande," carries a deep spiritual message. Here’s the meaning of the verses:
Ye jeevan anmol hai bande, Bin Hari janam ganvaye This life is precious, O human, but without the remembrance of God, it is wasted. The song emphasizes the value of human life and the importance of spiritual devotion. It suggests that a life without the remembrance of God is squandered.
Ye tan hai maati ka bande, Maati mein mil jaye This body is made of earth, O human, and it will eventually return to dust. This line reminds us of our mortal nature and the transient nature of physical existence.
Tero sukh dukh mein aayo kaam, Man sumar sundar hari naam In your joys and sorrows, only God’s name comes to your aid; so remember the beautiful name of God. It advises that in times of happiness and suffering, the divine name is the only true support.
Lobh moh irshya ko tyago, Hari bhajan mein dhyan lagavo Renounce greed, attachment, and jealousy; focus your mind on the worship of God. This verse encourages letting go of negative emotions and instead concentrating on devotion.
Sancha sukh hai hari Bhajan mein, Pavan hai hari naam. True happiness lies in the worship of God; the name of God is pure. It states that real joy and purity are found in singing the praises of God.
Guru jan ki su-sangati paao, Sad-guru ki shik-sha apnao Seek the good company of spiritual teachers and follow the teachings of the true Guru. This advises seeking the guidance of enlightened teachers and following their instructions.
Sancha sukh hai Guru smaran mein, Amrit hai Guru naam True happiness is in the remembrance of the Guru; the name of the Guru is like nectar. The verse emphasizes the importance of remembering and valuing the teachings of the Guru.
Jeevan ke sabhi klesh mitao, Harsh Anurag se man ko sajao Remove all the miseries of life; decorate your mind with joy and love. It suggests that spiritual practice can alleviate life's sufferings and fill the mind with joy and love.
Sancha sukh hai Prabhu charan mein, Pavan hai Prabhu naam True happiness is found at the feet of the Lord; the name of the Lord is pure. The final lines assert that genuine bliss is found in surrender to the divine, and the name of the Lord is purifying.
Overall, the bhajan encourages a life of devotion, remembrance of God, renunciation of worldly desires, and following the guidance of a spiritual teacher. It underscores the idea that true happiness and peace are found in spiritual practice and the worship of the divine.