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.
Sahanaa Vavatu
Ravi Shankar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sahanau bhunaktu
sahaveeriam karavaa vahee,
tejas vinaa vadhi tamastu,
maa vidvisha vahee
om shantih, shantih, shantihi,
hari om
The lyrics of Ravi Shankar's song Sahanaa Vavatu express the idea of togetherness, friendship, and peaceful coexistence. The singer asks for divine blessings to protect and guide them as they navigate life's journey. The first line, "Om sahanaa vavatu," is a Sanskrit phrase that translates to "May we be protected together, may we be nourished together." It is a prayer for unity, collaboration, and mutual support. The second line, "sahanau bhunaktu," continues this theme of togetherness, asking that they partake of life's joys and fruits collectively.
The third line, "sahaveeriam karavaa vahee," seeks strength and courage to face life's challenges with steely resolve. The singer wishes that they may find within themselves the power and fortitude to overcome any obstacle. The fourth line, "tejas vinaa vadhi tamastu," is a plea for the eradication of ignorance and darkness. It suggests that enlightenment and knowledge are the keys to a fulfilling and meaningful life. The fifth line, "maa vidvisha vahee," asks that no animosity or disagreement arises between the singers, highlighting the importance of harmony and goodwill.
The final line, "om shantih, shantih, shantihi, hari om," is a prayer for peace, invoking the powerful and uplifting energy of the divine. The repetition of the word "shanti," which means peace, emphasizes the importance of peaceful coexistence and the happiness and contentment it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
om sahanaa vavatu
May we be protected together
sahanau bhunaktu
May we be nourished together
sahaveeriam karavaa vahee
May we work together with great vigor
tejas vinaa vadhi tamastu
May our knowledge shine bright and remove all ignorance
maa vidvisha vahee
May we not have any hatred towards each other
om shantih, shantih, shantihi,
May there be peace, completeness and wholeness in us all
hari om
A chant to honor the divine essence within us
Writer(s): Ravi Shankar Copyright: Music Sales Corporation, St. Rose Music Publishing Co., Anourag Music Publishing
Contributed by Aubrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ns1198
Sanskrit: "Om Saha Naa vavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu"
(meaning) ”May we all be protected (from the darkness i.e. darkness of ignorance, violence, hatred, biases, lies, cheating, lethargy and procrastination) and may we all be nourished (with wisdom, light of knowledge, kindness and empathy)
"Saha Veeryam Karavaa vahai"
(meaning) may we work together with great energy,
"Tejasvi Naava dheetamastu"
(meaning) may our intellect be sharpened (like a sword of knowledge which cuts though the darkness created by lack-of-knowledge)
"Maa Vidvishaa vahai."
(meaning) Let there be no animosity amongst us
"Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih."
(meaning) let there be peace, peace & peace.
Origin of this mantra: Taittiriya_Upanishad written around 6th century BC in Bharatavarsha (aka India)
@verahuisintveld7756
May we be protected together
May we be nourished together
May we work together with great vigor (be effective)
May our study be enlightening
May no obstacle (animosty) arise between us
Om Peace (in me), peace (in nature), peace (divine forces)
@ns1198
Sanskrit: "Om Saha Naa vavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu"
(meaning) ”May we all be protected (from the darkness i.e. darkness of ignorance, violence, hatred, biases, lies, cheating, lethargy and procrastination) and may we all be nourished (with wisdom, light of knowledge, kindness and empathy)
"Saha Veeryam Karavaa vahai"
(meaning) may we work together with great energy,
"Tejasvi Naava dheetamastu"
(meaning) may our intellect be sharpened (like a sword of knowledge which cuts though the darkness created by lack-of-knowledge)
"Maa Vidvishaa vahai."
(meaning) Let there be no animosity amongst us
"Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih."
(meaning) let there be peace, peace & peace.
Origin of this mantra: Taittiriya_Upanishad written around 6th century BC in Bharatavarsha (aka India)
@aparajitak1504
Excellent brother
@vlovegan
Om Saha Naa vavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu
Saha Veeryam Karavaa vahai.
Tejasvi Naava dheetamastu
Maa Vidvishaa vahai.
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih.
@sebristori2902
Thank You ... Namasté
@guidoroman5309
real music from the source, holy.. ommm
@hemchandrapawar1449
ॐ सहनाववतु
सह नौ भुनक्तु
सह वीर्यं करवावहै
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
@verahuisintveld7756
May we be protected together
May we be nourished together
May we work together with great vigor (be effective)
May our study be enlightening
May no obstacle (animosty) arise between us
Om Peace (in me), peace (in nature), peace (divine forces)
@advaitamaunitva5363
All is Brahman
Om Shiva
Om Shakti
Hari Krishna thank you thank you
Be let go be let go come and be let's be let go
May the divine Grace of the one true Witness within and without shine forth in the collective heart of man so we may see true and understand that we are One and None together, let ignorance pass and Maya dissolve into the White Light of Pure Awareness without form l, let only Self be seen and known for infinite infinity in which we rest
@kenneththompson8933
Wisdom in words..words in wisdom..
@geraldmorain3166
Seems throuout history harmony works best.