Born on 7th April 1920 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India into an orthodox, well-off Brahmin family, Rabindra Shankar Chowdery's father, ShyÆm Shankar, was employed as a diwan (minister) by the Maharajah of Jhalawar. By the age of 13, Ravi Shankar was going along on every tour of his brother Uday Shankar's Compagnie de Danse et Musique Hindoue (Company of Hindu Dance and Music). At the All-Bengali Music Conference in December 1934, he met the multi-instrumentalist Allauddin Khan. Precisely when Allauddin Khan was born is uncertain. People hazard dates in the 1860s around 1862, but in later years he himself gave his age haphazardly. He would transform many musicians' lives, but he had an incalculable effect on Ali Akbar (his son), Annapurna Devi (his daughter), and Shankar himself. Allauddin Khan joined Uday's troupe as its principal soloist around 1935-1936.
In 1938, Shankar gave up a potential career as a dancer and went to study with Allauddin Khan in Maihar. In 1939, he began giving public recitals and came out of training at the end of 1944. Until 1948, he based himself in Bombay and gave programs all over India. He toured and wrote for films and ballet. Around this time he began his recording career with a small session for HMV (India). Work for All India Radio followed; as music director from February 1949 to January 1956 in New Delhi. Concurrently, his international star was on the rise. In 1954, he performed in the Soviet Union. In 1956, he played his debut solo concerts in Western Europe and the U.S. Within a decade he would be the most famous Indian musician on the planet. Within two decades he would become probably the most famous Indian alive. His English-language autobiography, My Music, My Life (1969), is still one of the best general introductions to Hindustani music.
Shankar is not one-dimensional. Apart from pursuing a career as a classical performer, he has also experimented outside this field. For this reason he has attracted criticism from purists. Some of this, especially during the Beatles era, undoubtedly had an element of jealousy to it; some was certainly warranted, because Shankar did take many chances. In fact, that was one of the things that kept his music exciting. To use a cricketing image - baseball would be wholly inappropriate - Shankar's batting average has remained high throughout a long and illustrious career.
He is the father of both Grammy award winning singer Norah Jones, and Anoushka Shankar, also a noted sitarist.
On 6 December 2012, Shankar was admitted to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, San Diego, California after complaining of breathing difficulties. He died on 11 December 2012 at around 16:30 PST, at a hospital near his home in Encinitas, California. The Ravi Shankar Foundation issued a statement that read Shankar had suffered from upper-respiratory and heart issues over the past year and underwent heart-valve replacement surgery on 6 December 2012.
Mahaa Mrityunjaya
Ravi Shankar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sugandhim pushti - vardhanam
Urva - rukamiva bandhanan
Mrytor muksheeya ma - amritaat
Om. We worship the Three-Eyed One (Lord Shiva), who is naturally fragrant, immensely merciful and who is the Protector of the devotees. Worshipping Him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk. By your Grace, Let me be in the state of salvation (Moksha) and be saved from the clutches of fearful death.
Hindus believe that there is great power in the repetition of the Sacred Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, the Mantra of Liberation.
The lyrics of Ravi Shankar's song Mahaa Mrityunjaya is a hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and transformation. The song begins with the chanting of 'Om', the most sacred sound in Hinduism, followed by the invocation of the 'Three-Eyed One' - a reference to Lord Shiva's cosmic form with three eyes. The hymn goes on to describe Lord Shiva as 'naturally fragrant' and 'immensely merciful', emphasizing his benevolent nature. The chant ends with a prayer for liberation from death and attaining immortality.
The hymn is a powerful mantra used for personal transformation and liberation from suffering. The repetition of the mantra is believed to provide protection, healing, and inner peace. Hindu followers believe that regular chanting of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra can lead to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
The hymn is a devotional offering to Lord Shiva, an embodiment of the cosmic consciousness. It is a reminder that everything in the universe is subject to change and transformation, and that true liberation can only be achieved by transcending the limitations of the material world.
Line by Line Meaning
Om trayambakam yajaamahe
Om. We worship the Three-Eyed One (Lord Shiva)
Sugandhim pushti - vardhanam
Who is naturally fragrant, immensely merciful and who is the Protector of the devotees
Urva - rukamiva bandhanan
Worshipping Him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk
Mrytor muksheeya ma - amritaat
By your Grace, Let me be in the state of salvation (Moksha) and be saved from the clutches of fearful death.
Writer(s): Ravi Shankar Copyright: Music Sales Corporation, St. Rose Music Publishing Co., Chester Music Ltd., Anourag Music Publishing
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@saheemwani
Om try-ambakam yajaamahe
Sugandhim pusstti-vardhanam
Urvaarukam-iva bandhanaan
Mrtyor-mukssiiya maa-mrtaat
Meaning:
1: Om, we worship the tryambaka (the three-eyed one),
2: Who is fragrant (as the spiritual essence), increasing the nourishment (of our spiritual core);
3: From these many bondages (of samsara) similar to cucumbers (tied to their creepers),
4: May I be liberated from death (attachment to perishable things), So that I am not separated from the perception of immortality (immortal essence pervading everywhere).
@ABSCREEN
HARAHAR MAHAADEW
JAYA BHOLENAATH
JAYA PASHUPATINATH
JAYA TRIKHANDESHWOR
JAYA UMAPATI MAHESHWOR
JAYA NAAGESHWOR
JAYA RUDRESHWOR
JAYA MAHAUMESHWOR
JAYA NANDISHWOR
JAYA BHAUMESHWOR
JAYA SHIDDHESHWOR
JAYA CHANDIKESHWOR
@mayak968
my childhood.
My mom often played this when I was very young and I may not remember much from when I was a baby, but i remember her playing the Chants of India Album in my room, and how it used to calm me down almost immediately.
@elsitar6060
God bless your holy mother !
@effervescentevanescenttran6331
You must be young, haha
@marinamartins392
Om Triyambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan Mrityormuksheeya Maamritaat
@saheemwani
Om try-ambakam yajaamahe
Sugandhim pusstti-vardhanam
Urvaarukam-iva bandhanaan
Mrtyor-mukssiiya maa-mrtaat
Meaning:
1: Om, we worship the tryambaka (the three-eyed one),
2: Who is fragrant (as the spiritual essence), increasing the nourishment (of our spiritual core);
3: From these many bondages (of samsara) similar to cucumbers (tied to their creepers),
4: May I be liberated from death (attachment to perishable things), So that I am not separated from the perception of immortality (immortal essence pervading everywhere).
@IEIAIIOMI88811
♾️♾️♾️✨✨✨
@raxlitude11
Only if this went on forever 🙏
@OswaldoPerezBaez
Vasant Paranjpe received from Master Parama Sadguru Shree Gajanam Maharaj (1918-1987) the mission to make Agni Hotra known throughout the world. He wrote the book: "Homa Therapy, our last chance". There he explains that this mantra known as Triambakam or Mahamritjunjaya mantra is one of the Homas that can be done in conjunction with the "sacred fire" to help purify the planet's atmosphere. I was fortunate, honored, and happy to meet Vasant Paranjpe personally and I bear witness to his humility and the fulfillment of his mission to help decontaminate the planet.
@chocoCo0kie
tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyormukṣīya mā'mṛtāt
@girishshah896
BlueGlass Iain