Atma Bhakti: Vedic Chanting

A powerful prayer combining different mantras, sung in the style of the prayers heard in Hindu temples, where devotees pray, thank and invoke their deities for auspiciousness and protection.

Idea, composition, arrangements, vocals, Indian harp, keyboards, tamboura, bells: Manish Vyas
Bansuri, mixing, mastering: Milind Date
Vocals on Vedic chanting: Krishn Jani, Jay Dave, Manish Vyas
Yoga Teacher Harnal Kaur’s reviews: Atma Bhakti – Healing Sounds of Prayer

Lyrics / Prayers

Om
Vande Deva Uma Pathim Suragurum
Vande Jagat Kaaranam
Vande Pannaga Bhooshanam Mruga Dharam
Vande Pashoonam Pathim
Vande Soorya Shashanka Vahni Nayanam
Vande Mukunda Priyam
Vande Bhakta Jana Ashrayam Cha Varadam
Vande Shiva Shankaram

I bow down to the Lord of Uma (Parvati), the divine Guru, the cause of the universe. I bow down to the Lord who is adorned with a snake and wears tiger skin, the Lord of all creatures. I bow down to the Lord whose three eyes are the sun, moon and fire and to whom Lord Vishnu is near. I bow down to the Lord who is the refuge of all devotees and the giver of boons, Shiva Shankara.

Om
Mrityunjaya Rudraya Neelakanthaya Sambhave
Amriteshaya Sarvaya Mahadevayadhe Namaha

Oh Lord Shiva, you are the one who has conquered death and are responsible for destruction of the Universe to let life again prevail on earth. Oh Lord, you are Neelkantha as you have a blue throat. We pay obeisance to you, Oh Lord with hands folded in namaskar.

Shiva Prarthana : Om

Namaste astu Bhagavan
Vishveshvaraya Mahadevaya
Trayambakaya Tripurantakaya
Trikagni – Kalaya
Kalagni – Rudraya Nilakantaya Mrityunjayaya
Sarvesvaraya Sadhashivaya
Sriman Mahadevaya Namah

Om. I bow down to Lord Shiva, who is the creator and protector of the universe, who is the greatest among gods, who has three eyes, who is the annihilator of all the three worlds, one whose throat is blue, who is the conqueror of death, who is the Lord of all, who is propitious, who is possessed of all marks of greatness and who is the greatest among Gods. To him my prostrations.

The mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva who is addressed as Sankara and Trayambaka. Sankara is sana (blessings) and Kara (the Giver). Trayambaka is the three-eyed one (where the third eye signifies the giver of knowledge, which destroys ignorance and releases us from the cycle of death and rebirth).  This is a great mantra to use as an invocation or for thanksgiving.

Om Namah Sambhavaya Cha
Mayaobhavaya Cha
Namah Shankaraya Cha
Mayaskaraya Cha
Namah Shivaya Cha
Shivtaraya Cha

Om. O Almighty God. Thou art the supreme source of all worldly and divine pleasures. Thou art the impeller of our physical and spiritual advancement. O supreme Father ! We pay our humble obeisance to Thee.

Maha Mrutyunjaya sthotra

Om Trayambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam,
Urvaarukmiva Bandhanaan Mrityor Mokshiya Mamritaat

We meditate on Shiva, the three-eyed one, of sweet fragrance, who expands spiritual growth. Like the fully-ripened cucumber (easily snapped) from its stem, may I be free from the bondage of death. May I not be without the nectar of immortality.

Shiva Panchaakshara Stotra (1-6)

1.
Nagendra Haaraaya Thrilochanaaya
Bhasmaanga Raagaaya Maheshvaraaya
Nityaaya Suddhaaya Digambaraaya
Tasmai Nakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya

I offer my humble salutations to Lord Mahesvara – who has a garland of serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose body is covered with ash (vibhuti); who is eternal; who is pure; who has the entire sky as his dress and who is embodies as the first letter Na.

2.
Mandaakini Salila Chandana Chaarthitaaya
Nandeesvara Pramatha Naatha Mahesvaraaya
Mandaara Pushpa Vahu Pushpa Supoojitaaya
Tasmai Makaaraaya Namah Shivaaya

I bow to Lord Mahesvara, who is embodied as Makaara (letter Ma), whose body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and sandal paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and who is adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara.

3.
Shivaaya Gauri Vadana Aravinda
Sooryaaya Dakshaadhvara Naashakaaya
Shree Neelakantaaya Vrisha Dhvajaaya
Tasmai Shikaaraaya Namah Shivaaya

I offer my salutations to Lord Shiva, who is the resplendent sun for mother Gauri’s lotus face (the sun causes the lotus flower to open up and bloom; Lord Shiva makes mother Gauri’s face bloom), who is the destroyer of Daksha’s sacrificial ritual, who is the blue-necked Lord (due to the Haalahala poison which he agreed to consume), whose banner bears the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi.

4.
Vasishta Kumbhodbhava Gautamaaya
Muneendra Devaarchita Sekharaaya
Chandraarka Vaishvaanara Lochanaaya
Tasmai Vakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya

I prostrate before the God of Gods, who is worshipped and prayed to by great sages such as Vashishta, Agastya and Gautama, whose eyes are sun, moon and fire and who is embodied as Vakaara (letter Va).

5.
Yajna Swaroopaaya Jataadharaaya
Pinaaka Hasthaaya Sanaatanaaya
Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya
Tasmai Yakaraaya Namah Shivaaya

Prostrations to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksa incarnate, whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in his hand, who has the entire sky as his attire and who is embodied as the letter Ya.

6.
Panchaaksharam Idam Punyam
Yah Pateh Shiva Sannidhau
Shivaloka Mavaapnothee
Shivena Saha Modate

Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters before Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode of his and enjoys eternal bliss.

Manish grew up in a sannyas family in Gujarat, India, and was initiated into sannyas by Osho in 1978, when he was just 7. In 1986, Manish moved to Pune originally to study engineering, but instead became involved in the music department of Osho’s Commune. He played live for Osho together with musicians from all over the world. This period helped his musical horizons expand. Manish has since performed, recorded and travelled with Prem Joshua, Chinmaya Dunster, Snatam Kaur, Shastro, Praful, Sudha, Maneesh and many other musicians. He has also composed mantras for Deva Premal. www.manishvyas.com