(Editor's Note: What do yoga music CD "Adhara" and dessert have in common? Read on...)
I love fudge. The rich, chocolaty treat never fails to please. But as much as I love it, I can only eat the tiniest bit before my body rebels. Not so with shortbread. I could eat shortbread all day long, never feeling the desire to stop. The lightness, the hint of sweetness, that wonderful buttery flavor all combine to make my perfect, endless treat. In the world of Kundalini yoga music, Nirinjan Kaur is my shortbread. Her lovely voice, sweet but not too sweet, full of flavor but not overly rich, can sustain me for hours. And her album Adhara, filled with beautiful Kundalini yoga and Gurbani mantras, takes me to another world.
Born into a Sikh family, becoming a Kundalini yoga teacher at 13, and studying Gurbani kirtan at Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar, India, Nirinjan Kaur definitely knows her stuff when it comes to singing these mantras and shabads. Her pronunciation is clear, and her singing heartfelt. And on Adhara she is joined by some of the superstars of the Kundalini yoga music world – GuruGanesha Singh, Manish Vyas, and Hans Christian to name just a few. The instrumentation provided by these wonderful artists provides a wonderful tapestry of sound for Nirinjan to sing with.
Listening to Adhara feels a bit like opening up a treasure chest. Each track is unique, while maintaining the overall flow of the whole album. On “Kaval Nain” Nirinjan sings so sweetly, the tone of her voice matching the reverent tone of the shabad. “Triple Mantra” never fails to move me, as the intensity of Nirinjan’s singing makes me feel like a protective force field is surrounding me. And “Har Singh Nar Singh” is uplifting and fun, reminding people that God is taking care of everything.
“Aap Sahaaee Hoa,” perhaps my favorite track on the album, is almost hypnotic. I find myself listening to it over and over, the meaning of the words resonating deep within; “You, Divine One, have become my refuge. True is Your support, Great Creative Infinite.” Yogi Bhajan said that this mantra can eliminate enemies and give a person mental self-control. Not having many enemies, it’s hard for me to tell. But I do know that it feels wonderful to sing, and that’s good enough for me!
Adhara also includes two beautiful English tracks, “Treasure of Bliss” and “Heal Me.” I know from experience how moving the words “Whatever Thou givest me Oh Lord God, that alone I receive,” can be when the stresses of life become overwhelming – “Treasure of Bliss” is a peaceful meditation on trust and surrender, reminders that are often necessary in a busy life. “Heal Me” is a joyful celebration of the beauty, bounty and bliss that resides in all of us.
I can’t help but speak in superlatives when talking about Adhara, as it really is a magnificent album. Nirinjan’s lifetime of immersion in the Kundalini yoga and Sikh world inform the way she sings, and make Adhara a substantial offering to the world. To find out more about Nirinjan Kaur and her music, check out www.spiritvoyage.com today!
Hear more of Nirinjan Kaur's beautiful music on Aquarian!
Meditate on the sacred sound current of the So Purkh on So Purkh: That Primal God
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[...] Kaur – I've compared Nirinjan's voice and music to shortbread before, so it's only fitting that she has a place in my kitchen! Her music is so singable, which is [...]