DHARMA: Chants from the Dharma Traditions

These chants are from the Hindu tradition, more correctly called Sanatana Dharma and the Buddhist tradition. Dharma could be said to be the primordial law and cause of all things from which emanates all physical, moral and metaphysical order. A significant part of my own Dharma, path in life, has been to sing these chants. They have filled and expanded my heart and I have felt their blessings and influence in my life for many years. I am honoured and pleased to be able to share them with you now.

1. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama. 
   The Maha Mantra, the great mantra. Words in Sanskrit from the Hindu tradition. Hare is an address to the devotional energy of God in the forms of Krishna, the All Attractive One and Rama, the All Pleasing One.
2. Om poornamadah poornamidam poonat poornam udashyatay poornashya poornam adayah poornam eva vashishtatay.
   A chant from the Vedic scriptures that can be translated as “This is full and That is full. Though this fullness came from That fullness That fullness forever remains full.”
3. Medicine Buddha Chant –Tayata om bekendzay bekendzay maha bekendzay randza samugate soha
   In this way: Healer! Healer! Great Healer! Infinite Source of Healing! So be it.
4. Om Namah Shivaya – Homage to Shiva the principle of constructive destruction.
5. Narayana Om – In praise of Vishnu the preserver of the universe.
6. Bam, bam, bam, maha deva hara hara hara hara sadha Shiva
   Calling the energy of Shiva. Bam the sound of the damaru the double-headed drum held by Shiva. Shadha Shiva is Shiva acting through the realm of air through sound and touch.
7. Om mani peme hung (1000 Armed Chenrezig Dance)
   Chenrezig is often depeicted as having 1000 arms which represent this being’s unceasing activity in the world for the benefit of all sentient beings.
8. Twam eva mata cha pita twam eva twam eva bandusch cha saka twam eva
   Twam eva vidya dravinam twam eva twam eva sarvam mama deva deva
   You are my real mother, my real father and friend, my closest companion and lover. You are the real fountain of knowledge and riches, spiritual and material. You are the being who for me shines more than all other beings.
9. Om tare tu tare ture soha
   Praise to Tara, the Great Mother, mother of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and who liberates from suffering and grants all successes.
10. Om mani peme hung (Partner Dance)
    The way from Om to Hum is that of realizing the universal in the individual. Om the universality; mani the luminosity of the immortal mind; peme its unfoldment in the lotus centres of consciousness; hum its integration and realisation.
11. Radhe Bol – Radhe Radhe Radhe Govinda Bolo. Govinda Govinda Govinda. Radhe Bol.
    Sing the praises and celebrate the love between Radha and Krishna.
12. Rama Rama Rama – Rama, a living embodiment of the Dharma, the ideal man, son, husband and king.
13. Hare Rama Hare Krishna – the more traditional way to chant the words of the Maha Mantra is with invoking Rama first.
14. Om mani peme hung (Healing Dance)
    This version comes through Lama Gangchen Rinpoche the Tibetan Healing Lama.
15. Maha Mritunjaya Mantra – Om triambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushtivardanam urvaukamiva bhandanat mrityor mukshiya mamritat.
    Hail to Shiva, the three-eyed one. Fragrant he nourishes bounteously. From fear of death may he cut us free to realize immortality.
16. Om Shanti – Om represents that power responsible for the creation, development and dissolution of the universe, namely God. Shanti, the peace that passes all understanding.

Philip O’Donohoe: voices, guitars, harmonium and tanpura.

Recorded at Wirral Sound Studios between October 1999 and January 2000.
Engineered by Mike Watson. Mixed by Mike Watson and Philip O’Donohoe.
Produced by Philip O’Donohoe.
Originally released 2000. Remastered 2012.

Melodies and words for all chants are traditional and arranged by Philip O’Donohoe except 3,8, 9 and 15 melodies are by Philip O’Donohoe

Cover painting Tansen and Hari Dass by Kathleen Shaw based on an original painting by Kishangarth circa 1760. Tansen was one of the nine jewels of the court of Emperor Akbar, the Moghul ruler of India in the 16^th Century. Tansen’s renown as a singer and musician continues to this day especially in India.

Cover design Emily Zarb.