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.
Sarve Shaam
Ravi Shankar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sarve shaam Svasthi Bhavatu
Sarve shaam Shaantir Bhavatu
Sarve shaam Purnam Bhavatu
Sarve shaam Mangalam Bhavatu
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niraa mayaah
Maa Kashchid-dhuhkha Bhaag-Bhavet
Asato Maa Sadgamaya
tamaso Maa Jyothir-Gamaya
Mrityor-Maa Amritham Gamaya
Om shaanti shaanti shaantihi!
[Translation BEGIN]
Om
May auspiciousness be unto all;
May peace be upon all;
May fullness be granted all;
May prosperity be given all.
May all be happy;
May all be free from disabilities;
May all behold what is auspicious;
May none suffer from sorrow.
Lead me from the unreal to the Real;
Lead me from darkness to the Light;
Lead me from mortality to Immortality.
Om Peace! Peace! Peace!
[Translation END]
The lyrics to Ravi Shankar's song "Sarve Shaam" contain a powerful message of unity and positivity. The song begins by invoking blessings of well-being, peace, fullness, and prosperity upon all. The subsequent verse emphasizes the importance of collective happiness and freedom from disabilities, with a prayer that all may behold what is auspicious and none suffer from sorrow.
The final verse is a plea for guidance and transcendence, as the singer asks to be led from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from mortality to immortality. The use of "Om" at the beginning and end of the song is significant, as it is a sacred symbol in many Indian religions and represents the essence of the universe.
Overall, "Sarve Shaam" is a reminder of the interconnectedness of all beings and a call to promote positivity and well-being for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Om
The sound of the universe that represents the essence of life.
May auspiciousness be unto all;
May all beings have success and prosperity in life.
May peace be upon all;
May all beings live in harmony and tranquility.
May fullness be granted all;
May all beings have a sense of completeness and wholeness.
May prosperity be given all.
May all beings have abundance and prosperity in life.
May all be happy;
May all beings experience joy and contentment in life.
May all be free from disabilities;
May all beings be free from physical and mental limitations and suffering.
May all behold what is auspicious;
May all beings witness goodness and positivity around them.
May none suffer from sorrow.
May all beings be free from pain, grief, and suffering.
Lead me from the unreal to the Real;
Guide me from the illusions and delusions to the truth and reality.
Lead me from darkness to the Light;
Guide me from ignorance and negativity to enlightenment and positivity.
Lead me from mortality to Immortality.
Guide me from the cycle of birth and death to eternal peace and bliss.
Om Peace! Peace! Peace!
May peace prevail in all realms - physical, mental, and spiritual.
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bhoomipurohit_nd5_em802
I'm an Indian, it makes me soooo happy to listen to Western and Indian music fusions <3. It's so lovely that my country's culture and music is appreciated all over the world. I'm proud of being born in this beautiful country <3 <3
@adrijabhattacharya4140
I am an Indian and I love the bonding of Panditji and George.
@anotherkindofmind
This is the one I remember from back in the day (from the documentary, I think). This had a huge positive effect on my life and music ☮☮☮
@sinestrobeatles9575
You remind me a bit of George, AKoM!! Sri Krishna🙏
@josebastida9951
Medito con este dulce sonido mantra,...
@alishawasthi8837
This album is a blessing to mankind ❤️
@davidcameron6278
I would like this to be played after I have left my body. Such profound lyric. Thank you Ravi and George.
@hotdblackalways
🙏🏻 so much peace & positivity
@josebastida9951
Que todo ser sintiente no sufra. 🕉 🕉
@up_ontheladder
It leaves the soul with such positivity.