Menoizikul; Midweek Musicalisms

April is my birthday month, so I am choosing all the items for this musical series. Given the state of the world, much of my spiritual focus has been on prayers and meditations for peace. I am opting to bring you some of my favourite mantras for enhancing the mood of peace and healing.

Traditionally, Sanskrit mantras are chanted without musical instrumentation and in a very precise, rhythmic style. When this rigid tradition is relaxed and instruments are added, the chants move from mantra to bhajan (hymn) and become more accessible to the uninitiated. This first hymn is to Vaidyanatha, Lord Shiva in his guise as the Great Physician and Healer. It sings his praises while calling for the balm of his presence.