For many years we have chanted Mantras during Yoga classes,
conducted by Rao; the easy short ones that we, western people, were
able to learn. Once we tried to do a long Vedic Peace Mantra,
but we abandened the project and returned to our familiar chants.
Some years ago I got the idea to make recordings of the Mantras
and Slokas, just to keep the memory of their melody and rythm, as
well as their pronounciation.
We aranged for recordings in my studio and did two sessions for vocals.
The process of making the music was one of catching the moment.
Mostly I started with some kind of drone, and soon ideas would come,
that made me pick up certain instruments, and play along. It was all
very leisurely, and the music didn’t take long to reveal itself.
Rao has been of great help chanting traditional Mantras and Slokas
from the Bhagavad Geetha and Upanishads. But also in providing
translations and notes.
There are so many Mantra’s and different ways of chanting. The same
Mantra can be sung with different rythms and melodies, according to
different traditions. It was our aim to represent the chanting in a
traditional way, the way Rao has been taught to in India…
So enjoy our beautiful creation, that is rooted in OM!
Chants by G.N. Rao
Mantra’s and Sloka’s selected, translated and commented by G.N. Rao
Music and production by Leonardo
Instruments used: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric tampura, synthesizer, organ, xylophone tingsha’s, singing bowl.
Sleeve design by Leonardo at Studio Sixty, Groningen.
Recordings 2011 © & 2012
- Śuklāmbara dharam vishnum
śaśi-varnam chaturbhujam
Prasanna-vadanam dhyāyeth
sargva-vighnōpa sānthaye
I pray to Lord Ganesha, who wears bright clothes, holy,
has a white complexion, with four hands,
has a pleaseant face, who removes all obstacles
and is the embodiment of peace.
- Vidyā-rambhē vivāhē cha
Praveśē nirgamē thathā,
Sangramē sankatē chaiva,
Vighnasthasya na jāyathē
One does not have any problems,
if one worships Lord Ganesha
before learning, before marriage,
before entering a new house and also while leaving,
before starting a new project and in difficulties
- Om Namasthe asthu bhagavan
Viswescvaraya, maha-devaya….
…Trayambakam yajāmahē
Sugandhim pusthivardhanam
Urvārukamiva bandhanān
Mrityōr mukshiya māmritat…
I worship Thee,
Oh sweet Lord of transcendental vision
Oh giver of prosperity to all,
May I be free from the bonds of death,
Like a ripe fruit dropping from the tree.
May I never forget my immortal nature.
- Sadyojatham, prapadyami,
Sadyojathaya vai namah….
(3) and (4) are the ancient Vedic Mantras
chanted by Brahmins and priests in Shiva
Temples to invocate God. Mostly, they are
chanted twice, boh morning and evening,
with other eleborate ‘Rudram’.
These ‘Rudra’ have two parts (a) namakam
and b) chamakam and they are too big
and long to recite.
- Om Namah Shivaya
This is the oldest Mantra in praise of
Lord Shiva. It can be chanted with any tune
and with any instrument, like harmonium,
and is often chanted. On one particular night,
it is called Maha Shivarāthri, some people
chant it throughout the night. It can be
chanted individually and in a group also,
aloud and silently.
- Aham vaiswānarō bhūthvā
Prāninām dēha-māshrithah
Prānā-pāna samā-Yukthah
Pachāmyannam chathurvidham
I am the fire of digestion in every living being
and I am the breath of life, incoming and outgoing,
By which I digest the four types of food
(Bhagavad Geetha Ch, XV, sloka 14)
- Brahmārpanam Brahma-havih
Brahmāgnou Brahmanā Hutham
Brahmaiva thēna ganthavyam
Brahma-karma samādhinā
One who performs spiritual acts (sacrifice),
Things that are used for that purpose,
which are consumed by fire,
All are part and parcel of the Supreme Being,
Including the act and the purpose
(Bhagavad Geetha Ch, IV, sloka 24)
- Om bhūr bhūvah suvāhā
Om tat savitūr varenyam
Bhargo dévasya dheemahí
dhiyo yó nāh prachodayaat
O God! You are Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Almighty,
You are all Light. You are all Knowledge and Bliss.
You are Destroyer of fear, You are Creator of this Universe,
You are the Greatest of all.
We bow and meditate upon our light.
You guide our intellect in the right direction.
- Karma nyè vàdhi karastè,
mà phalèshu kadàchana
mà karma-phala-heturbhooh,
ma te sangòstva-karmani
You have the right to do your duty
but, do not expect any fruits there of.
Do not seek the rewards of your action,
and, never be attached to not doing your duty (in action).
(Geeta/ Ch. 2-47)
- Ahamāthmā, gudakeśa,
Sarva bhūthāśaya-sthithah,
ahamādiśca, madhyam cha,
bhūthānamantha eva cha
Oh Arjuna, I am the indwelling energy
abiding in all living beings,
I am the beginning, the middle and the end
of all living beings.
Geeta ch.10-20
- Ātmānam rathinam viddhi,
Śarīram rathamīvathu,
Buddhim thu sārathim viddhi,
Manah pragraha mēva cha
One should understand the (individual) self
as the controller of the chariot,
the body as the chariot, the intellect as the
charioteer and the mind as reins
(Katha – I-III-3)
- Deepam jyōthi param-brahma
Deepam sarva-thamōpaharam
Deepēna sādhyathē sarvam
Sandhyā deepam namōsthuthē
The light represents ‘the Supreme Light’
The light removes total darkness
All can be achieved through the light
I salute to such light,
Lighted during the twilight
- Samam kāya ŝirōgreevam
dhārayan nach alam sthirah
samprēkhsya nāsikāgram swam
diśā chā navalōkayan
One should keep one’s body, head and neck straight
and look at the tip of one’s nose,
without looking here and there.
(Geeta ch.6-13)
- Om bhūr bhūvah suvāhā
Om tat savitūr varenyam
Bhargo dévasya dheemahí
dhiyo yó nāh prachodayaat
O God! You are Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Almighty,
You are all Light. You are all Knowledge and Bliss.
You are Destroyer of fear, You are Creator of this Universe,
You are the Greatest of all.
We bow and meditate upon our light.
You guide our intellect in the right direction.
(This is the way we chanted the ‘Gayatri Mantra’
at our Yoga classes)
- OM
‘OM’ is also called ‘Pranava’ in Sanskrit.
It represents the Lord (Tasya vachakah Pranavah),
so says Ptanjali in his Yoga-sutras.
It is the premordial sacred sound and is the
shortest Mantra for meditation. It is also used
before and after each prayer.
- Maharshinām bhruguraham
girāmasmyēkā – maksharam
yajnā-nām japa-yajnōsmi
sthāvarānām himalayah
I am the great sage, Bhrugu, among all sages,
I am the transcendential “OM”, among al vibrations.
I am the japa-yajna* among all sacrifices.
And, i am the Himalayas among all immovable things.
(Geeta ch. X – 25)
- Om Samno-mithrah, sam varunah….
Sam no bhavathvaryamā, sam na vishno…
Om bhadram karnēhbhih…..
These are called ‘Shanti Pathas, Invocating Peace.
’Om Sahavanavavathu’ and Asatho-ma sadgamaya’
also come in this category. These are also, the oldest
ones, taken from the Upanishads, and often chanted
differently. There are many of them, but we have
shown only a few, for a taste.
The following are Peace Mantras.
- Om Poornamadah, poorna-midam,
Poornaat-poorna-mudachyatē.
Poornasya Poorna-maadaaya,
Poorna mēvaa-vasishyatē.
That (all that is immeasurable) is full (infinite).
This (all that can be measured) is also full (complete)
When you take this measurable out of the immeasurable
What remains is also immeasurable (complete, infinite)
- Asato ma sat gamaya
tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
mrityor ma amritam gamaya
om śanti śanti śanti
Lead Us From the Unreal To Real,
Lead Us From Darkness To Light,
Lead Us From Death To Immortality,
Let There Be Peace Peace Peace
Shantih, shantih, shantih is repeated, according to the tradition, thrice.
Shantih means ‘Peace’. The first time is called ‘aadi-bhauthik’, peace in physical state. The second time is called ’adhyatmic’ and means peace in the mental state. The third time is called ‘adi-daivik’ which is not in our hands,
like earth quakes, floods, etc.
It is also chanted in different ways, by different traditions. Generally it is chanted after ‘Shantih-Pathas’ and other prayers. It is also chanted just to sit quitly, to experience peace within and without.
- Sarvē bhavanthu sukhinah
Sarvē santhu nirāmayāh
Sarvē bhadrāni pasyanthu
Mā kaschid duhkha bhagbhavēth
May all be happy, May all be free from disease.
May all see what is good; May no one be subjected to misery.
OM, Shantih, Shantih, Shantih.
Let there be peace, peace, peace!
