Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Madonna has amassed many number-one singles throughout her career, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".
Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While Evita won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded the company Maverick in 1992; it included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Her other ventures include fashion brands, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006.
With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most number-one singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With a revenue of U.S. $1.5 billion from her concert tickets, she remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 in 2012, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and Billboard in 2020. Rolling Stone also listed Madonna among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
Studio albums
Madonna (1983)
Like a Virgin (1984)
True Blue (1986)
Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992)
Bedtime Stories (1994)
Ray of Light (1998)
Music (2000)
American Life (2003)
Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Hard Candy (2008)
MDNA (2012)
Rebel Heart (2015)
Madame X (2019)
Shanti
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
The lyrics of Madonna's song Shanti/Ashtangi are in Sanskrit language, the ancient language of Hinduism. The song is a devotional chant that celebrates and pays tribute to the guru and the spiritual path. The opening lines "Vunde gurunam caranaravinde" mean "I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus," and signify the deep reverence and respect that the singer holds for the spiritual teachers who guide and inspire her. The next lines, "Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe, Nihsreyase jangalikayamane," translate to "Who reveals the knowledge of oneself and the peace that comes from within, who is always the protector of the jungle-dwellers," referring to the role of the guru in leading the disciples to self-realization and liberation.
The chorus, "Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Shanti shanti, Shantay Om," is a common Sanskrit mantra chanted for peace and tranquillity. The subsequent lines, "Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi, Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam," describe the form of the divine, who holds a conch and a discus and has thousands of heads. The final lines, "Sansara halahala moha santyai, Hala hala," mean "Destroyer of the poison of mundane existence, remove the delusion, quickly!" and convey the longing for freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
I salute the lotus feet of my gurus
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Who have shown me the path of self-realization and taught me the meaning of true happiness
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Who have freed me from the jungle of materialistic worldliness
Sansara halahala moha santyai
And have rid me of the poison of ignorance and delusion of this material world
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
I remember the divine form of Lord Vishnu, who holds the conch and discus
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
I remember the divine form of Lord Vishnu, who holds the conch and discus
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Who is the support of all creation, with thousands of heads and hands
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Who is the support of all creation, with thousands of heads and hands
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
I pray for peace
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
May peace be with you
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
I pray for peace
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
May peace be with you
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
I salute the lotus feet of my gurus
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Who have shown me the path of self-realization and taught me the meaning of true happiness
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Who have freed me from the jungle of materialistic worldliness
Sansara halahala moha santyai
And have rid me of the poison of ignorance and delusion of this material world
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
I remember the divine form of Lord Vishnu, who holds the conch and discus
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
I remember the divine form of Lord Vishnu, who holds the conch and discus
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Who is the support of all creation, with thousands of heads and hands
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Who is the support of all creation, with thousands of heads and hands
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
I pray for peace
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
May peace be with you
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
I pray for peace
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
May peace be with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Orbit, Madonna Ciccone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@talleslee5704
Vande gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Vande gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
@ZephsUniverse
In English:
I worship the gurus' lotus feet
Awakening the happiness of the self revealed
Beyond comparison, working like the jungle physician
To pacify loss of consciousness from the poison of existence
In the form of a man up to the shoulders
Holding a conch, discus and sword
Thousand headed, white
I bow respectfully
Peace
@sanelalic5062
"Shanti / Ashtangi"
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
I worship the gurus' lotus feet
Awakening the happiness of the self revealed
Beyond comparison, working like the jungle physician
To pacify loss of consciousness from the poison of existence
In the form of a man up to the shoulders
Holding a conch, discus and sword
Thousand headed, white
I bow respectfully
Peace
@Yodano11
TRANSLATION -
Lyrics:
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om (x2)
@katashley1031
Folks, this is Sanskrit, and it is the opening mantra chanted before all Ashtanga yoga classes. Her pronunciation is correct, and there is no connection between this and Kabbalah, lol. Just addressing some of the more baffling comments. For anyone asking what it means, here's the translation
Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde
I bow to the lotus feet of the Guru, the lineage and all the masters that have kept the traditions alive.
Sandarashita Svatma Sukhavabodhe
The awakening bliss of one’s own Self revealed.
Nishreyase Jangalikaya Mane
The practice acting like a jungle Medicine Man.
Samsara Halahala Mohashantyai
Pacifying delusion, the poison of Samsara (cycle of death and rebirth)
Abahu Purushakaram
Taking the form of man and serpent
Shanka Chakrasi Dharinam
Wearing a conch (symbolising divine sound), a wheel (symbolising infinite time) and a sword (symbolising discrimination or cutting through confusion)
Sahasra Shirasam Svetam
With 1000 snow-white snake heads.
Pranamami Patanjalim
I bow down to Patanjali
@ginasousabranco5637
The idea of taking a Ashtanga Yoga prayer and turn them into pop dance tracks it’s genious.
Same for Cyberrag from Music album
@moonyeah4560
EXACTLY !
@pagandude1
Madonna's best album by a long long shot. She grew and matured and this classic piece of enlightened music was the result. It is a credit to the woman and to listen to each and every one of the words on this album , one hears very real and true words and statements that can only be born of someone who has had a spiritual awakening almost in a Sufism type of way. I love you Madonna.
@truthseekeer4641
agree
@truthseekeer4641
agree
@MrBasquiat89
William orbit ;)
@truthseekeer4641
+Jayesh Patel huh?
@carlosadair
great words
@talleslee5704
Vande gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Vande gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
@zephyrsky__
Vande