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The stotras, mantras, shlokas, hymns, and chants on this page
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offered free in the spirit of service as part of the
Night Lotus offering of free multimedia spiritual resources.
Singing and recitations by Kumuda,
aka Sharon Janis
On this page, you can listen to Sanskrit chanting
and recitation with English translations for some of
the most powerful, holy, and ancient spiritual
scriptures from India, including Bhagavad Gita,
Shiva Sutras, Spanda Karikas, Bhaja Govindam,
Shiva Tandava, Kundalini Stavaha,
Pratyabhijanhrdayam, and more.These songs, mantras, and chants are sung and
recited by Kumuda, aka Sharon Janis, who first
learned to chant Sanskrit Mantras while living for
a decade in the Siddha Yoga ashram of Swami Muktananda and
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda.Sharon is the author of Spirituality For Dummies, Secrets of Spiritual Happiness, and
other books, many of which are available to read online as part of the Night Lotus website
of free multimedia spiritual resources.
Quick Links:
Bhagavad Gita
Sung in EnglishGuru Gita
Sung in SanskritDiamond Sutra
Sung in EnglishRudram
Sung in SanskritShiva Sutras
Recited in English and SanskritSaraswati Stotram
Sung in SanskritSpanda Karikas
Recited in English and SanskritHanuman Chalisa
Sung in SanskritPratyabhijnahrdayam
Recited in English and SanskritMaha Lakshmi Stotram
Sung in SanskritShiva Mahimnah
Sung in English and SanskritShiva Kavacha
Sung in SanskritKundalini Stavaha
Sung in English and SanskritShiva Tandava
Sung in SanskritBhaja Govindam
Sung in English and SanskritGanesh Mantras
Sung in Sanskrit
The audio files on this page play in streaming realplayer.
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The Glorious Bhagavad Gita: Sung in English
This is the first time the Sacred Sanskrit Bhagavad Gita
has been available sung in English.
This English version of the Sanskrit Bhagavad Gita was painstakenly and wonderfully translated and rendered by Swami Nirmalananda Giri of Atma Jyoti Ashram into accurate, singable English. You can download the pdf of this entire text from the Atma Jyoti Ashram Bhagavad Gita webpage, along with commentaries on the verses.
The Glorious Bhagavad Gita
Sung in EnglishThe discourse takes place in the middle of a battle scene of the Mahabharata saga. As the Bhagavad Gita begins, the great warrior Arjuna is despondent to see his friends and relatives arrayed in battle before his chariot, intending to fight against his side in this war. In the midst of this dilemna, Arjuna refuses to fight and takes refuge in his friend Krishna, who then reveals his cosmic, universal form and teaches Arjuna the great wisdom of life, death, and enlightenment. Chapter 1 sets the stage with names of all the warriors and instruments of war that were gathered before Arjuna on the battlefield, and the subsequent chapters elucidate the Bhagavad Gita teachings and wisdom.
Chapter 1: The Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna
Chapter 5: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action
Chapter 6: The Yoga of Meditation
Chapter 7: The Yoga of Wisdom and Realization
Chapter 8: The Yoga of Imperishable Brahman
Chapter 9: The Yoga of the Kingly Science and Kingly Secret
Chapter 10: The Yoga of Divine Glories
Chapter 11: The Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Form
Chapter 12: The Yoga of Devotion
Chapter 13: The Yoga of the Distinction Between the Field and the Knower of the Field
Chapter 14: The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas
Chapter 15: The Yoga of the Supreme Spirit
Chapter 16: The Yoga of the Division Between the Divine and the Demonical
Chapter 17: The Yoga of the Division of Threefold Faith
Chapter 18: The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation
A Powerful Buddhist Text
The Diamond Sutra: Sung in English
Listen to an enlightening conversation between the Buddha and his disciple Subhuti
THIS ONE HOUR RECORDING includes the following sections:
1. CONVOCATION OF THE ASSEMBLY
2. SUBHUTI MAKES A REQUEST
3. THE BODHISATTVA'S VOW
4. HOW A BODHISATTVA PRACTICES CHARITY
5. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TATHAGATA
6. THE FUTURE OF THESE TEACHINGS
7. NO ATTAINMENT, NO TEACHING
8. REAL MERIT HAS NO MERIT
9. THE FOUR LESSER VEHICLE REALIZATIONS
10. AROUSING THE PURE ASPIRATION WITHOUT ABIDING
11. MERITS OF MEMORIZING THIS SUTRA
12. NAMING OF THE SUTRA
13. TRUE CHARACTERISTICS ARE NOT CHARACTERISTICS
14. THE SUTRA IS NOT FOR LESSER VEHICLE PRACTITIONERS
15. PURGATION THROUGH SUFFERING OF BAD KARMA
16. DEFINING THE BODHISATTVA
17. PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FACULTIES ARE UNOBTAINABLE
18. NO MERIT IS GREAT MERIT
19. DISCERNING THE BUDDHA IN FORM
20. NO DHARMA IS DHARMA, NON-LIVING BEINGS ARE LIVING BEINGS
21. THE ATTAINABILITY OF PEERLESS PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT
22. THE ROLE OF GOOD FACTORS
23. MERITS OF TRANSMITTING THE SUTRA ARE FAR GREATER
THAN THOSE OF CHARITY
24. NO SENTIENT BEINGS FOR THE TATAGATA TO SAVE
25. TRYING TO DISCERN THE BUDDHA BY HIS BODILY CHARACTERISTICS
26. ATTAINMENT OF ENLIGHTENMENT BASED ON
BODILY CHARACTERISTICS
27. BODHISATTVAS DO NOT APPROPRIATE MERIT
28. THE TATHAGATA DOES NOT COME OR GO
29. THE STATUS OF COMPOSITE THINGS
30. WRAPPING UP THE FOUR VIEWS
31. CONCLUSION
CLICK HERE for more information about ordering this recording and CD
Click the play arrow to view a video of The Diamond Sutra Sung in English being performed as part of a concert at the Sun Valley Opera House:
The Shiva Sutras:
Recited in Sanskrit and EnglishThe Shiva Sutras are the cornerstone of Kashmir Shaivism, and contain the firm and powerful ancient roots of some of today's "new age" concepts of universal creation, power of the mind, and a great and wonderous vision of a wide array of powerful and enlightening teachings. This text is one of the greatest gems of humanity to have survived the waves of time.
The Spanda Karikas:
Chanted in Sanskrit with English TranslationThe Spanda Karikas is another powerful scripture from the great philosophical tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. This rendition was recorded in October 1982 by Kumuda (Sharon Janis) at age 22, to honor the passing of her guru, Swami Muktananda. Muktananda had instructed her to study the Spanda Karikas as a means of discovering the merging of science and spirituality.
The Pratyabhijnahrdayam:
Recited in Sanskrit and EnglishThe Pratyabhijnahrdayam translates as "The Doctrine of Self Recognition," and it is one of the main scriptures from Kashmir Shaivism. This short but enlightenment-packed text expounds a great vision of universal awareness and how we fit into the universe from the highest perspective. This rendition was also recorded by Kumuda at age 22 in October 1982.
Listen to the Pratyabhijnahrdayam
This beautiful hymn of devotion is said to have been composed by one of the celestial musicians of heaven to please the Lord after he had behaved badly and attracted Shiva's wrath. Just a few lines from this hymn used to send the great sage Sri Ramakrishna into deep states of spiritual bliss. This chant has been sung for decades in Siddha Yoga ashrams and centers.
The Kundalini Stavaha:
Sung in Sanskrit and Translated in EnglishThe Kundalini Stavah is an ancient Sanskrit chant that describes and honors the Kundalini Shakti - the great Universal Energy of Powerful Transformation that creates this entire universe, and that also resides, ready to be awakened, at the bottom of your spine.
Listen to the Kundalini Stavaha
Bhaja Govindam
Sung in Sanskrit and Translated in EnglishThis Sanskrit scriptural song was composed by the great sage Shankaracharya and his disciples as they were walking along the road and came upon a very old man who was barely able to stand with a cane. The man was fervently studying Sanskrit grammatical texts, with the then prevelant belief that such efforts would lead him to salvation. Out of compassion for the man, Shankaracharya and his disciples composed and sang these enlightening verses to the old man, describing the nature of life, death, desire, and freedom.
Play a video rendition of Bhaja Govindam with translation
A short introductory Mantra to Ganesh
More info about this Sanskrit devotional prayer on the
Shree Guru Gita Page
Play a video of Shree Guru Gita chanting
Click the arrow to play
Shree Rudram: Namakam and Chamakam
Sri Rudram Medium Speed Version
More info about this ancient Vedic text on the
Shree Rudram PagePlay a video of Shree Rudram being chanted:
This Sanskrit hymn honors and invokes Saraswati,
goddess of wisdom, the arts, and eloquent speech.
A Sanskrit prayer by Tulsidas to the god Hanuman,
who inspires courage and strength in his devotees.
A Sanskrit hymn to honor Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and blessings.
These powerful Sanskrit mantras invoke the protection of Lord Shiva.
These mantras are said to have been sung when Shiva created the Universe.
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Chanting and Devotional Singing
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Watch a video about Sharon Janis and her book Spirituality For Dummies:
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