The Rhythm Divine

Bhajans are Hindu devotional songs in praise of the Divine. They began centuries ago as Hindu religious hymns, sung during puja or worship, and are considered to be the words of great masters or saints. Over time they were simplified so that ordinary working people could understand and relate to them. This is reflected in the musical style - simple repetitive melodies and dancing rhythms - and in the easy to follow lyrics praising God. His Holiness Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, an Indian Yogi born in Rajasthan, has encouraged the use of bhajans today and in this special program we'll hear from Swamiji himself talking about this tradition of devotional singing, and introducing several Rajasthani bhajans. We'll also sample the best of modern India, with the new album from Anoushka Shankar, Breathing Under Water which blends sitar and electronics.

His Holiness Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, simply known as Swamiji, comes from a lineage of respected yogis in the Hindu tradition of Yoga Vedanta. He was born in the harsh desert region of Rajasthan in north-west India, and met his spiritual master 'Holy Guruji' at the age of thirteen. After years of rigorous spiritual practice, in 1972 he moved to Europe where he developed a comprehensive system called Yoga in Daily Life based on traditional yoga practices but tailored to modern life.

Further Information

Anouska Shankar 's Homepage
Anoushka is the duaghter of Ravi Shankar and a sitar virtuoso in her own right. "She made her recording debut at 13, appearing on the album In Celebration, a tribute to the works of Ravi Shankar. Two years later she made her debut as a conductor on her father's Chants Of India album produced by close family friend, George Harrison. In 2002, at the historic Concert for George, a tribute to the late George Harrison in London, she conducted a new composition of her father's, "Arpan," which featured a guitar solo by Eric Clapton. Anoushka also performed Harrison's "The Inner Light" that evening. Her albums include Rise and her latest release with Karsh Kale, Breathing Under Water.

Anoushka Shankar will perform at the Sydney Opera House on 14 June 2008.

About Swamiji
"Born in rural Rajasthan, India, Swamiji was drawn to spirituality from an early age. At age thirteen Swamiji met his Master, Paramhans Swami Madhavananda (known simply as 'Holy Guruji'). Through serving Holy Guruji and doing rigorous spiritual practice under his guidance, Swamiji attained the state of Self-Realisation at the age of seventeen. In 1972, Swamiji moved from India to Europe to spread the teachings of Yoga...He developed a comprehensive system called "Yoga in Daily Life", based on original yoga tradition and specially directed to the needs of modern civilization. It is available to people of all ages and walks of life, regardless of age or level of physical ability. Today, Yoga in Daily Life centres in twenty six countries worldwide offer Swamiji's teachings through the practices of Yoga and Meditation.

Yoga in Daily Life

Bhajan: Hindu Devotional Music
An outline of the bhajan from a commercial website.

Music

CD title: Breathing Under Water
Track title: Easy
Artist: Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale, with Norah Jones
Composer: Shankar-Kale-Jones
CD details: Manhattan/Blue Note 0946 3 95392 2 2
URL: http://www.anoushkashankar.com/

CD title: Breathing Under Water
Track title: Abyss
Artist: Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale
Composer: Kale-Shankar-Raina
CD details: Manhattan/Blue Note 0946 3 95392 2 2

Track title: Atha Cauda Mana
Artist: Paramhans Swami Madhavananda 'Holy Guruji '
Composer: Bhagwan Sri Deep Mahaprabhuji
Performed in Rajasthan about 2001. According to Swamiji, the lyrics can be translated as "Give up all my mind, give up your wrong imagination or your attachment or your will from this world. Come to me, the Master says. I will teach you self-realisation. Oh my mind, don't be so hard. Withdraw and come to me. I will teach you self realisation."

Track title: Guru Bhakta Jagata Me Nar He
Artist: Omji Bhatt
Composer: Bhagwan Sri Deep Mahaprabhuji
Performed in Jadan Ashram, Rajasthan, in 2005 on the occasion of the commemoration of Holy Guruji's passing (Mahasamadhi). According to Swamiji, one translation of the lyrics is: "'The followers of the Guru Dev, they are the best humans in the world because they will realise the purpose of the human life and come to self-realisation'. He said, this life is not given only for eating, drinking, and creating children. This can be done by animals too or humans. You have some higher mission in this life and that mission is, be protector, help all, and finally find out or realise what is God, or what is the self. This is the highest mission of the human life. This bhajan is saying this."

Track title: Suno Sakhi Sataguru Ghara Aya
Artist: Asaram Singji
Composer: Sri Lalanandji
According to Swamiji, "Suno Sakhi means friend, but here he means 'your concentration', 'your attention', 'your senses', 'your feeling'. Guru Dev has come...and each part of the body is happy, filled with the joy of his blessing. When this bhajan is sung, many people have tears in their eyes. It is something great."

Presenter

Geoff Wood

Producer

Geoff Wood