Review by Karen Karleski: "Mantram is Ravi Shankar's effort to set Sanskrit chants from ancient Hindu scriptures to music, and the result is a captivating mix of chant and music. Produced by George Harrison, this collection of mantras and prayers from the Vedas, Upanishads, and other scriptures powerfully transports the listener to a place of peace where it's possible to be one with the universe. It's as if a heavy, enveloping cloak of serenity falls from the dark, floating sounds of cello opening the CD. Shankar employs flute, tamboura, harp, and other instruments to accent the mighty "Om" thread that weaves itself through the cloth of this album, bringing together deep, ominous voices with delicate, earthly instruments. One looking for extensive Shankar sitar might be disappointed, but the beauty of this artist's creativity and spiritual vision sweeps one away into a larger, more meaningful listening experience. Highly recommended."
| 1. Vandanaa Trayee Om 1. sve vak ra tun da ma haa kaa ya ko ti sur y a sam a pra bha. nir vigh nam ku ru me de va shu ke kaar ye shu sar va daa. 2. sve vak ra tun da ma haa kaa ya ko ti sur y a sam a pra bha. nir vigh nam ku ru me de va shu ke kaar ye shu sar va daa. 3. sve vak ra tun da ma haa kaa ya ko ti sur y a sam a pra bha. nir vigh nam ku ru me de va shu ke kaar ye shu sar va daa. 4. sve vak ra tun da ma haa kaa ya ko ti sur y a sam a pra bha. nir vigh nam ku ru me de va shu ke kaar ye shu sar va daa. Om Yaa kun den du tu shaar a haar a dha va laa. Yaa shu bhra vas traa vi taa. Yaa vee naa va ra dan da man dit kat a raa. Yaa shve ta pad maa sa naa. Om Gu rur brahm aa gu rur vish nuh. Gu rur de vo ma hesh va rah. Gu rur saak shaat pa ram brah ma. Tas mai shri gu rur dev na mah. Om (Verse not included in recorded chant) Yaa brahm aa chyut a shank ar a pra bhri ti bhir De vais sad aa poo jit aa Saa maam paa tu sar as va tee bha ga va tee Nish shesh a jaa dyaa pa haa. May that Goddess - Bhagavati - the blessed Saraswati presiding deity of learning and remover of our lethargy, laziness and ignorance, kindly protect us. She is pure and white like the Jasnmine, the full moon and the garland-like formation of dewdrops. She is dresed in a spotless robe. She has in her hand the auspicious instrument Vina. She is seated on a white lotus. She is the one who is always respected by Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shankara the Annihilator and other Gods. The Guru is none other than the creator, Lord Brahma; he verily is Lord Vishnu, the preserver, and he truly is Mahesvara, the destroyer. He is the supreme Brahman himself. To such a Guru I offer my salutations. 2. Omkaaraaya Namaha Om Om om kaa ram bin du sam yuk tam nit yam dhyaa yan ti yo gi na ha kaa ma dam mok sha dam chai va om kaa raa ya na mo na ma ha. om kaa raa ya na mo na ma ha. om kaa raa ya na mo na ma ha. om kaa raa ya na mo na ma ha. na mo na ma ha. na mo na ma ha na mo na ma ha na mo na ma ha Om. The sacred letter 'Om' is associated with the sacred dot - the Bindu. This 'Om' is the bestower of all wishes and is indeed capable of leading one to freedom from worldly bondage and is meditated upon by yogis. To this letter 'Om' we offer our salutations. 3. Vedic Chanting (one) Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli 10th Anuvaka (tait tir i ya u pan i shad shik sha val li) de va pi tir kaar yaa bhy aam na pra ma di tav yam maa tir de vo bha va pi tir de vo bha va aa chaar ya de vo bha va a ti thi de vo bha va yaan ya na vad ha iya ya an i kar maa se vi tav ya an i no i ta ra an i yaan yas maa ka gum su char i ta an i ta a ni tya yo paas ya an i bhee shaas maad vaa ta ha pa va te bhi sho de ti soor y a ha bhee shaas maad ag nis chen drash cha mirt yur dhaa va ti pan cha ma i ti sai shaa nan das ya mee mam saa bha ya ti yu vaa syat saa dhu yu vaa dhy yaa ya kah a shish tho dir dhish tho ba lish thah tas ye yam prit he vee sar vaa vit tas ya poor naas ya a te sa e ko maan u sha aa nan daa ha te ye sha tam maan ush aa aa nan daa ha sa e ko man ush ya gan dhar vaan aam aa nan daa ha shro tri yas ya chaa kaam a ha tas ya te ye sha tam man ush ya gan dhar vaan aam aan an daa ha sa e ko de va gan dhar vaan aam aan an daa ha shro tri yas ya chaa kaa ma ha tas ya te ye sha tam de va gan dhar vaan aam aan an daa ha sa e kah pi tir naam chir a lo ka lo kaan aam aan an daa ha shro tri yas ya chaa kaam a ha tas ya te ye sha tam pi tir naam chir a lo ka lo kaan aam aan an daa ha sa e ka aa jaa na jaan aam de vaan aam aan an daa ha shro tri yas ya chaa kaa ma ha tas ya te ye sha ta maa jaa na jaan aam de vaan aam aan an daa ha sa e kah kar ma de vaan aam de vaan aam aan an daa ha. ye kar ma naa de vaan a pi yan ti shro ti yas ya chaa kaa ma ha tas ya te ye sha tam kar ma de vaan aam de vaan aam aan an daa ha. 4. Asato Maa Om Om 1. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 2. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 3. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 4. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya Ah Ah Ah Ah Om 5. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 6. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 7. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 8. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 9. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 10. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 11. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya 12. A sa to maa sad ga ma ya Ta ma so maa jyo tir ga ma ya mrit yor maa am ri tam ga ma ya Om. O Lord Please lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. 5. Sahanaa Vavatu 1. Om sa ha naa va va tu sa ha na u bhun ak tu sa ha veer yam kar a vaa va hai te jas vi naa va dhee ta mas tu maa vi dvi shaa va hai 2. Om sa ha naa va va tu sa ha na u bhun ak tu sa ha veer yam kar a vaa va hai te jas vi naa va dhee ta mas tu maa vi dvi shaa va hai 3. Om sa ha naa va va tu sa ha na u bhun ak tu sa ha veer yam kar a vaa va hai te jas vi naa va dhee ta mas tu maa vi dvi shaa va hai 4. Om sa ha naa va va tu sa ha na u bhun ak tu sa ha veer yam kar a vaa va hai te jas vi naa va dhee ta mas tu maa vi dvi shaa va hai Om shaan tih shaan tih shaan tih. May the Lord protect us together. May he nourish us together. May we work together uniting our strength for the good of humanity. May our learning be luminous and purposeful. May we never hate one another. May there be peace, peace and perfect peace. 6. Poornamadah Om poor na ma dah poor na mi dam poor naat poor na mu da chya te poor nas ya poor na maa daa ya poor na me vaa va shi shya te Om shaan tih shaan tih shaan tih That is perfect - this is perfect. What comes from such perfection truly is perfect. What remains after perfection from perfection is yet perfect. May there be peace, peace and perfect peace. 7. Gaayatri 1. om bhoor bhu vas su va ha tat sa vi tur va ren yam bhar go de vas ya dhee ma hi dhi yo yo nah pra cho da yaa te. 2. om bhoor bhu vas su va ha tat sa vi tur va ren yam bhar go de vas ya dhee ma hi dhi yo yo nah pra cho da yaa te. 3. om bhoor bhu vas su va ha tat sa vi tur va ren yam bhar go de vas ya dhee ma hi dhi yo yo nah pra cho da yaa te. 4. om bhoor bhu vas su va ha tat sa vi tur va ren yam bhar go de vas ya dhee ma hi dhi yo yo nah pra cho da yaa te. 5. om bhoor bhu vas su va ha tat sa vi tur va ren yam bhar go de vas ya dhee ma hi dhi yo yo nah pra cho da yaa te. 6. om bhoor bhu vas su va ha tat sa vi tur va ren yam bhar go de vas ya dhee ma hi dhi yo yo nah pra cho da yaa te. May there be peace on mortal, immortal and divine planes. I meditate upon the most brilliant splendor of the Sun God. May he stimulate our intellect (so that we are inspired to take the right action at the right time). |
8. Mahaa Mrityunjaya 1. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te. 2. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 3. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 4. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 5. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 6. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 7. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 8. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 9. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te 10. om tri yam ba kam ya jaa ma he su gan dhim push ti var dha nam ur vaa ru ka mi va ban dhan aat mrit yor muk shee ya maam ri taa te Om. We worship Lord Shiva the three-eyed one, the one who is the master of all senses and qualities and the one who is the sustainer of all growth. May he release us from the bondage of death as a ripened cucumber is released from its stalk and may he (not deprive us of immortality) grant us immortality. 10. Geetaa 1. kar man ye vaa dhi kaar as te maa pha le shu ka daa cha na maa kar ma pha la he tur bhooh maa te san gost va kar ma ni. 2. kar man ye vaa dhi kaar as te maa pha le shu ka daa cha na maa kar ma pha la he tur bhooh maa te san gost va kar ma ni. maa pha le shu ka daa cha na maa pha le shu ka daa cha na maa pha le shu ka daa cha na maa pha le shu ka daa cha na Om. You have but the right to perform action; you have no hold onto the results thereof. May you not seek the rewards of action and may you never engage in wrong action. (This is not an excuse for inaction!.) 14. Vedic Chanting Taittriiya Aranyaka, 4th Prasna (Pravargya Mantras, 42nd Anuvaka) pri thi vee shaan tih an tar ik sham shaan tih dya ush shaan tih di shash shaan tih a vaan ta ra di shaash shaan tih ag nish shaan tih vaa yush shaan tih aa dit yash shaan tih chan dra maash shaan tih na ksha traa ni shaan tih aa pash shaan tih osh a dha yash shaan tih va nas pa ta yash shaan tih ga ush shaan tih a jaa shaan tih ash vash shaan tih pu ru shash shaantih brah ma shaan tih braah man ash shaan tih shaan ti re va shaan tih shaan tir me as tu shaan tih ta yaa ham shaan ty aa sar va shaan ty aa mah yam dvi pa de chat ush pa de cha shaan tim ka ro mi shaan tir me as tu shaan tih ag nir me vaa chi shri tah vaag ghir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ham a mir te a mir tam brah ma ni va yur me praa ne shri tah praa no hir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ham a mir te a mir tam brah ma ni sur y o me chak shu shi shri tah chak shur hir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ham a mir te a mir tam brah ma ni chan dra maa me ma na si shri tah ma no hir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ha ma mir te a mir tam brah ma ni di sho me shro tre shri taah shro tra gum hir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ha ma mir te a mir tam brah ma ni aa po me re ta si shri taah re to hir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ha ma mir te a mir tam brah ma ni pri thi vee me sha ree re sri taa sha ree ra gum hir da ye hir da yam ma yi a ha ma mir te a mir tam brah ma ni May there be peace on earth, peace in the ether, peace in the heaven, peace in all directions, peace in fire, peace in the air, peace in the sun, peace in the moon, peace in the constellations, peace in the waters, peace in the plants and herbs, peace in trees, peace towards cattle, peace towards goats, peace towards horses, peace towards mankind, peace in the absolute Brahman, peace in those who have attained Brahman, may there be peace, only peace. May that peace be in me, peace alone. Through that peace may I confirm peace in myself, and all bipeds and quadrupeds. May there be peace in me, peace alone. Air is established in my breath. My breath in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. The sun is established in my eyes. My eyes in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. The moon is established in my mind. My mind in my hart. My heart in me. Myself in the imortal, the immortal in Brahman. The direction is established in my ears. My ears in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. The waters are established in the seed. The seed in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. The earth is established in my body. The body in my heart. My heart in me. Myself in the immortal, the immortal in Brahman. 15. Prabhujee Ma Ma pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro man na me aa na ba so man na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro man na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro tu ma bi na laa ga soo naa tu ma bi na laa ga soo naa khaa li gha ta me pre ma bha ro khaa li gha ta me pre ma bha ro pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro ma na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro tan tra man tra poo jaa na hi jaa nu tan tra man tra poo jaa na hi jaa nu mai to ke va la tu ma ko hi maa nu mai to ke va la tu ma ko hi maa nu sa re ja ga me dhun daa tu ma ko sa re ja ga me dhun daa tu ma ko a ba to aa ka ra baa han dha ro a ba to aa ka ra baa han dha ro ne pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro ma na me aa na ba so ma na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro ma na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro tu ma bi na laa ge soo naa tu ma bi na laa ge soo naa khaa li gha ta me pre ma bha ro khaa li gha ta me pre ma bha ro pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro man na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee tan tra man tra poo jaa na hi jaa nu tan tra man tra poo jaa na hi jaa nu mai to ke va la tu ma ko hi maa nu mai to ke va la tu ma ko hi maa nu sa re ja ga me dhun daa tu ma ko sa re ja ga me dhun daa tu ma ko a ba to aa ka ra baa han dha ro a ba to aa ka ra baa han dha ro ne pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro pra bhu jee da yaa ka ro man na me aa na ba so man na me aa na ba so pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee pra bhu jee Oh Master, show some compassion on me. Please come and dwell in my heart. Because without you, it is painfully lonely. Fill this empty pot with the nectar of love. I do not know any Tantra, Mantra or ritualistic worship. I know and believe only in you! I have een searching for you all over the world. Please come and hold my hand now. 16. Sarve Shaam Om sar vesh aam svas tir bha va tu sar vesh aam shaan tir bha va tu sar vesh aam pur nam bha va tu sar vesh aam man ga lam bha va tu Om sar ve bha van tu su khi na ha sar ve san tu ni ram a yaa ha sar ve bha dra ni pash yan tu maa kash chit duh kha bhagh bha vet a Om sar vesh aam svas tir bha va tu sar vesh aam shaan tir bha va tu sar vesh aam pur nam bha va tu sar vesh aam man ga lam bha va tu Om sar ve bha van tu su khi na ha sar ve san tu ni ram a yaa ha sar ve bha dra ni pash yan tu maa kash chit duh kha bhagh bha vet a Om sar vesh aam svas tir bha va tu sar vesh aam shaan tir bha va tu sar vesh aam pur nam bha va tu sar vesh aam man ga lam bha va tu Om sar ve bha van tu su khi na ha sar ve san tu ni ram a yaa ha sar ve bha dra ni pash yan tu maa kash chit duh kha bhagh bha vet Om shaan tih shaan tih shaan tih om shaan tih shaan tih shaan tih om shaan tih shaan tih shaan tih May good befall all. May there be peace for all. May all be fit for perfection and may all experience that which is auspicious. May all be happy. May all be healthy. May all experience what is good and let no one suffer. Peace. Peace. Peace. |