​twam eva sarvam mama deva -
meaning, discussion.
​

त्वमे       व                  माता          च             पिता               त्वमे      व        ।
twam   eva            mātā        cha           pita             twam   eva
twam   eva             maataa    cha          pita             twam   eva
this is   truly           mother   and           father        this is  truly
 
त्वमे      व                   बन्धुश्च                      सखा               त्वमे      व       ।
twam   eva            bandhu cha         sakhā             twam  eva
twam   eva             bandhu cha         sakhaa           twam  eva
this is   truly          friend    and         relative          this is   truly
 
त्वमे            व              विद्या                द्रविणम्              त्वमे      व      ।
twam     eva           vīdyā              dravinam      twam eva
twam     eva           viidyaa          dravinam      twam eva
this is    truly        knowledge     wealth           this is   truly
 
त्वमे           व            सर्वम्                 मम                    देव  देव        ॥
twam    eva          sarvam          mama            Deva  Deva
              truly        completely    am I                radiant  Presence
                                filled                                       (of Deity)

The Song.

​This is the culmination song for the albums  “Presence”  and “Bhakti”,  by Sacred Earth.  Their recent live album “Presence”  well captures the magic they can now create in live concert,  and the CD sleeve has excellent imagery of Prem and Jethro,  which seems to portray Presence.
 
In a sense,  this song brings together and expresses all that has been built up throughout the album,  in singing and instrumental.
 
Prem has turned the last line into a chorus,  and this becomes a simple five word mantra that is easy to join in with.

You can listen to and buy this song as a single,  as a download, from 
https://www.sacredearthmusic.com/listen-download  Album “Presence”,  Track 6, Twa meva  

Deva Premal offers another magnificent song for this mantra.  A Youtube video of their concert.  Incredible Presence.    Available at –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krasofv8pvM

​

​The Mantra Translated.

 
In Theistic Terms.
 
twam and  twa  just means “you”.   But in mantra,  it refers to Deity.  Indeed,   the last word of our mantra is  Deva,  which in theistic terms means “Deity or God.”    Then  Deva  Deva   means  “Deity of Deities.” 
 
Some people find it helpful to perceive Deity as a powerful and benevolent spirit being that we can call upon for assistance.  In this case,  our mantra describes this spirit being as like a caring “mother and father”,  like a caring “friend and relative.”  She or He is both “knowledge and wealth.”
 
Translating the chorus we get -
 
twam             eva     sarvam          mama            Deva  Deva
you are          truly   all                    my                  Deity of Deities.
 
In Non Theistic Terms.

For those of us who do not encounter this external God,  then  Deva  can mean Presence (of Deity).   Deva  literally means “radiant one”,  and this suggests  Presence (of Deity)  that is strong enough to be radiant with the spiritual Qualities.  Thus  Deva Deva  can mean  “radiant Presence (of Deity)”
 
twam  can also mean  “this is”.   It can be helpful to leave the essential word implied and unspoken.   This helps to simplify the language to the essentials.

 We know the mantra is about Deity or the Presence (of Deity,)  and this is confirmed by the last words  Deva Deva.   Just the word  twam  or   “this is”  can be enough to draw attention to Presence,  to reconnect with and restore Presence into this moment. 
 
In addition,  using a non-specific word like  twam  or “this”  helps avoid any unintended connotations or additional meanings that might be attached to a word like “God”.

eva  is an emphasis for the preceding word,  and usually run into it as in  त्वमेव .  In this context,  it can mean “truly”  or “surely”. 
 
mata  and pita  are like the Latin mater and pater  for mother and father.  
 
Presence is like being a caring mother,  father,  friend and relative.   Being caring to ourselves. Being nurturing to ourselves,  in healthy food,  habits and especially in thinking.   Not allowing self sabotage to take off in our mind. 
 
vīdyā (viidyaa) is like our word “vision”.  vidya   can mean spiritual knowledge or understanding.
 
sarvam  and  sarve  just means “all”.  mama  is also written as mām,  mād,  māt  (see section L 4),  and just means “me or I”.  Thus  sarvam  mama  can mean  “all of me is ...  ”  or “completely filled am I with  ....”
 
Translating our chorus we get -
 
twam             eva     sarvam                      mama            Deva  Deva   
                        truly,  completely filled    am I (with)    radiant Presence (of Deity.)

Presence.

​Since this song is about Presence,  and the album is also entitled “Presence”,  let’s look at what Presence might mean for us, and what it has to do with Deity. 
 
Eckhart Tolle prefers this word Presence  as an alternative to the word “God”,  for no one can claim monopoly on Presence. 
 
In my writings,  Deity is something that will come to us, sooner or later,  when conditions are favourable for a visit.  Our task is to create these necessary conditions.  Our task is to make effort,  guided by our own experience of what works best for us. 
 
Deity then appears in the form of release and  transcendence,  or as the Presence of the spiritual Qualities.  Thus Deity is an experience,  not a prescribed religious belief,  in these translations.  The important perception is that Deity comes from  :  beyond the ego and opinions,  perhaps from outside ourselves. 
 
Thus the important thing about Deity is not our well formed views about Deity,  but rather the Presence of Deity.  This can be understood as the Presence of the spiritual Qualities or bodhyanga,  and the absence of the defilements or kilesa (see section 2).  
 
In addition,  the Presence of Deity can be understood to be –

• Presence.  Being connected to our own vitality,  connected to other people,  and connected to the Source of healing and Mother Nature.
• Being Present,  not dwelling on past pain nor worrying about the future, and
• Being in the Here and Now.   Not wandering in endless thought,  unguarded and unguided,  which inevitably strays down dark paths where suffering lurks in ambush.
• The healing of wounds, the release of painful feelings,  the cessation of pain filled and pain driven thought. 

 
 

For more translated Sanskrit mantras  :
 click onto the  +  at the top of this webpage,  then click again onto the +
 
My introductory webpages “Mantras Translated A - C”
discuss how to gain the full benefit of these mantra writeups.