Om Namah Shivaya in Darbari Kanada Raga
Chanting with Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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I recently renewed my commitment to repeat the mantra Om Namah Shivaya throughout the day. I had the intention that this practice would support me in staying centered and attaining an uplifted state, and that this, in turn, would benefit not only me, but also those I come into contact with.
Days after I made my resolution, I woke up one morning with the sound of a chant of Om Namah Shivaya in my head. I wasn’t sure what version it was, so I went to the Siddha Yoga path website, where I quickly found out that it was Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga. I’m so grateful that I can play it continuously. It supports my well-being, eases my mind, and makes me better able to serve others. I feel that I was inspired to repeat the mantra to support me and benefit others and that I was then guided to the most helpful way for me to do this at this time.
Days after I made my resolution, I woke up one morning with the sound of a chant of Om Namah Shivaya in my head. I wasn’t sure what version it was, so I went to the Siddha Yoga path website, where I quickly found out that it was Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga. I’m so grateful that I can play it continuously. It supports my well-being, eases my mind, and makes me better able to serve others. I feel that I was inspired to repeat the mantra to support me and benefit others and that I was then guided to the most helpful way for me to do this at this time.
California, United States
My heart soars when I listen to or chant this version of Om Namah Shivaya. My being stirs with sweet remembrances of chanting it in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, and in Melbourne with Gurumayi when my parents met Gurumayi for the first time. Recently, I chanted it as I sat with my father after he had died in a nursing home. Today I chant it while sitting outside in my garden, and once again I am honored to be able to participate in life in such a way.
Warrnambool, Australia
Hearing the mantra Om Namah Shivaya in this raga reminds me of a powerful childhood experience I once when I heard Om Namah Shivaya being chanted.
When I was about seven, I developed a terrible toothache. I was so distraught, knowing I couldn’t see the dentist until the next day. I curled up in a ball on my mom’s bed that evening and she began chanting the mantra. Almost instantly, the sharp pain in my tooth dulled to almost nothing. It was amazing! When she stopped chanting, the pain came back. We went back and forth like this, with the mantra always halting the pain. I was able to fall asleep, grateful indeed.
This experience taught me that the mantra is no ordinary set of sounds and that our cells respond to it immediately.
When I was about seven, I developed a terrible toothache. I was so distraught, knowing I couldn’t see the dentist until the next day. I curled up in a ball on my mom’s bed that evening and she began chanting the mantra. Almost instantly, the sharp pain in my tooth dulled to almost nothing. It was amazing! When she stopped chanting, the pain came back. We went back and forth like this, with the mantra always halting the pain. I was able to fall asleep, grateful indeed.
This experience taught me that the mantra is no ordinary set of sounds and that our cells respond to it immediately.
California, United States
This chant always brings me immediately into meditation, with the sweet memory of being in Shree Muktananada Ashram one summer when we chanted Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga with Gurumayi. The warm summer breeze was blowing lightly through the Shakti Mandap, like the shakti and blessings of the chant.
Pennsylvania, United States
The first time I heard this raga was in Gurudev Siddha Peeth in 1991. It was Gurupurnima—a beautiful night with a full moon. I had returned to my room and was writing in my diary when I heard Gurumayi chanting the mantra in this raga.
Normally, hearing Gurumayi’s voice, I would get dressed right away and head to the chanting place. But on that night, I continued looking out the window at the full moon and listening to this beautiful chant. I was alone, but in my heart, I had a quiet and warm feeling of connection with Gurumayi.
Normally, hearing Gurumayi’s voice, I would get dressed right away and head to the chanting place. But on that night, I continued looking out the window at the full moon and listening to this beautiful chant. I was alone, but in my heart, I had a quiet and warm feeling of connection with Gurumayi.
Tokyo, Japan
When I first heard the mantra Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga, I fell in love with it because of the tenderness, the devotion, the longing that the melody expresses.
Then one day at the Siddha Yoga meditation center in my city, we watched a video during which we chanted the mantra in this raga. In the introduction to the chant, we could see Gurumayi walking through the Ashram gardens to reach the hall where the chanting and meditation satsang was taking place.
Ever since, singing the mantra Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga immediately makes me think of Gurumayi’s devotion and consequently of my own.
Then one day at the Siddha Yoga meditation center in my city, we watched a video during which we chanted the mantra in this raga. In the introduction to the chant, we could see Gurumayi walking through the Ashram gardens to reach the hall where the chanting and meditation satsang was taking place.
Ever since, singing the mantra Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga immediately makes me think of Gurumayi’s devotion and consequently of my own.
San Giorgio a Cremano, Italy
I often repeat the mantra throughout the day, as an undercurrent during my daily activities. Today I resolved to remain fully conscious of the mantra for five minutes as I tidied the house. As I stayed present with the mantra while I made the bed, the thought arose: this bed is where Shiva sleeps; I am Shiva. As I cleaned the bathroom, I recognized that cleaning is a way of honoring my home as a manifestation of Shiva.
Washington, United States
Whenever I hear this beautiful chant, every cell of my body becomes calm. The voice of our Guru in the chant soothes my mind and my whole being. As I listen to this chant, my love pours forth to my beloved Guru.
Virar, India
Chanting Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga is so sweet, so powerful. It gives me such a simple and natural connection with the inner Self. I experience that, inside and outside, all are one.
Uzes, France
I have been chanting Om Namah Shivaya in the Darbari Kanada raga every day. As I chant, I try to hold in my awareness the meaning of the mantra.
From the very first day of doing this, it has felt as if the mantra has pulled me into my center, that space within me that is absolutely still and serene. I have experienced that although this space is serene, there is also a subtle vibration, which feels like the source of energy within me. Everything seems to begin from and dissolve into this space.
Paying attention to the simultaneous stillness and vibration is so enchanting that, every afternoon, I’m drawn once again to sit and chant Om Namah Shivaya. These are the most rasa-filled five minutes ever!
From the very first day of doing this, it has felt as if the mantra has pulled me into my center, that space within me that is absolutely still and serene. I have experienced that although this space is serene, there is also a subtle vibration, which feels like the source of energy within me. Everything seems to begin from and dissolve into this space.
Paying attention to the simultaneous stillness and vibration is so enchanting that, every afternoon, I’m drawn once again to sit and chant Om Namah Shivaya. These are the most rasa-filled five minutes ever!
Bangalore, India
I chant this version of Om Namah Shivaya almost every day. It has helped me through some difficult times. It seems to me a very intimate version, and often I have the impression that Gurumayi and I are alone, just the two of us, chanting together.
I remember Baba’s teaching that we should make the Guru our own, and this is exactly what I do in this chant.
I remember Baba’s teaching that we should make the Guru our own, and this is exactly what I do in this chant.
Ajijic, Mexico
Yesterday, as I chanted the mantra in the Darbari Kanada raga with Gurumayi, it seemed to take hold of my breath. My inhalations became very deep, and then each word of the mantra seemed to form and repeat itself. When the words left my mouth, they did not go outward but inward, into my body. I felt the mantra flow from my throat downward to my sacrum, like a river. Then my inhalation, broad and deep, drew a large semicircle from my sacrum to my mouth, and the mantra slid upward again inside me.
For some time, I was lulled by this great, uninterrupted, circular movement of infinite gentleness between the mantra and my inhalation. Then my breath stopped. My entire being was bathed in pure love. My head slowly fell back, my mouth opened, and I felt a sweet ball of energy enter it and then slide into my throat before spreading throughout my being and immersing me in deep peace.
For me, chanting the mantra with Gurumayi is always the most precious and mysterious journey deep within my heart.
For some time, I was lulled by this great, uninterrupted, circular movement of infinite gentleness between the mantra and my inhalation. Then my breath stopped. My entire being was bathed in pure love. My head slowly fell back, my mouth opened, and I felt a sweet ball of energy enter it and then slide into my throat before spreading throughout my being and immersing me in deep peace.
For me, chanting the mantra with Gurumayi is always the most precious and mysterious journey deep within my heart.
Quebec, Canada
I prepared myself to listen attentively to the mantra and lay down in the shavasana pose. I did not listen just with my ears; my whole being listened. My heart chanted the mantra without my lips moving.
Each time the mantra faded out and the sound of the tamboura began, I felt myself sinking deeper into myself again and at the same time becoming more and more grounded. Round after round, I sank deeper and deeper into myself until I had the feeling of being bodiless and floating in the infinite universe. A gigantic feeling of freedom filled my consciousness.
Each time the mantra faded out and the sound of the tamboura began, I felt myself sinking deeper into myself again and at the same time becoming more and more grounded. Round after round, I sank deeper and deeper into myself until I had the feeling of being bodiless and floating in the infinite universe. A gigantic feeling of freedom filled my consciousness.
Unterlangenegg, Switzerland