Shanti / Ashtangi
Lyrics
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita-svatma-sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara-halahala
Moha-santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu-purusakaram
Sankah-cakrasi
Ahahu-purusakaram
Sankah-cakrasi
Dharinam d ha rinam
Sahasra-hasra-sirasam
Dharinam d ha rinam
Sahasra-hasra-sirasam
Vande
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti, shanti
Shante om
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti, shanti
Shante om
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita-svatma-sukhavabodhe
nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara-halahala
Moha-santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu-purusakaram
Sankah-cakrasi
Ahahu-purusakaram
Sankah-cakrasi
Dharinam d ha rinam
Sahasra-hasra-sirasam
Dharinam d ha rinam
Sahasra-hasra-sirasam
Vande
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti, shanti
Shante om
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti, shanti
Shante om
Om shanti
Om shanti
Shanti, shanti
Shante om
***
English Translation:
I worship the gurus' lotus feet
Awakening the happiness of the self revealed
Beyond comparison, working like the jungle physician
To pacify loss of consciousness from the poison of existence
In the form of a man up to the shoulders
Holding a conch, discus and sword
Thousand headed, white
I bow respectfully
Peace
Credits
Written by Madonna and William Orbit
Produced by Madonna and William Orbit
Adapted from text by Shankra Charya, taken from the Yoga Taravali
Translation by Vyass Houston and Eddie Stern
Album
Song
While producing the Ray Of Light album, Madonna was greatly inspired by Eastern spirituality, and especially the Kabbalah. So she decided to make this song in Sanskrit. It was a B-single for Frozen (US and UK).
She performed Shanti/Ashtangi and Ray Of Light on the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, with Lenny Kravitz as guitar backup.