In all of the scriptures of the human race, there may not be found a more deeply and beautifully expressed hymn to human unity than Samgacchadvam. First sung more than 10,000 years ago by a people living in Central Russia, where it became included in the Rig Veda, it is now sung by people around the world as a prelude to collective meditation. Its affirmation of unity is not only timeless, but has heightened relevance for the fragmented humanity of today. Here is its phonetic pronunciation from Sanskrit, along with its English translation.
Sung ga cha dwung, sung wa da dwung
sung wo manaang see jah nahtam.
Day vah bhahgung yatah poorvay
sung jah nah nah oopah satay
Samah nee va ah kootee
samah nah hri dayah nee vaha
Samahna mastoo wo mano
yatah vaha soo sa hah satee
Let us move together; let us sing together;
let us come to know our minds together.
Let us share like sages of the past
that all people together may enjoy the universe.
Unite our intention;
let our hearts be inseparable.
Our mind is as one mind
as we, to truly know one another, become One.