An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.

Today’s episode starts with traditional style raga-kirtan from Vaiyasaki, with words composed by 16th-century female poet and saint Mirabai. The song is called Syamol Sundara Shyam and is an ode to Shyaam, a name of Krishna which means beautiful stormcloud-coloured one.

In the second set we hear another longer piece composed by Bachan Kaur entitled Forgiveness. Bachan writes: “A combination of an english song that came to me to inspire a friend when she could not feel or see her inner beauty, and the 20th stanza of Japji, the morning prayer of the Sikhs. It’s like a reset button for when we’ve lost our way, to remember all is forgiven, all is love, all is perfection in the eyes of the Beloved – it’s a love song from the God to us.”

Next up we hear the track Hang Sau Dub from Yogi Cameron and Masood Ali Khan. This is from their collaborative album Mantra Grooves. Silvia Nakkach and Christopher Eickmann combine forces to produce a beautiful album entitled Medicine Melodies. We hear one selection from that called Tudo Bem Bem, or All is Good, Good. Next is a recitation of prayers to the Twenty-One Tara’s in the Tibetan language by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Tara is considered a female Buddha, or Bodhisattva, depending on the school of Buddhism. This set ends with a sweet and meditative piece entitled Tsok Song of the Dakinis by Upaya, a dakini being the female embodiment of enlightened energy in tantric practice.

The last track is a fun and snappy electronic offering to Maha-Lakshmi by Mantratronic, otherwise know as Luca Treu, an artist and bhakti-yogi based in Italy.

Note: This show has a few lost words and gaps due to glitches with the station digital recorder. It still makes sense =). The music segments are fine.

Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – June 6th 2013.mp3