Idea of Varanasi                                            

            Madonna's Shanti Mantra and Varanasi Pandits

                                                             Varanasi, May 10, 1998.  "" Material girl "" Madonna's quest for spiritualism by weaving in Sanskrit mantras into her songs has impressed the pandits of Varanasi, but they want her to learn a little more of the language before reciting the hymns.

                                                               The pop icon, in her latest album  "" Ray of light", had taken verses from "Yoga Taravali , a Sanskrit classic authored by Adi Shankara of Hatha Yoga. As Sanskrit scholars lay great emphasis on correct pronunciation of the "Deva Bhasha"(language of the gods), the pandits have been quick to notice a few errors in Madonna's rendering of "Shanti-Ashtangi"" as a single in the album.

                                                                 Some pandits are surprised why she should have chosen to labour on the Yoga Taravali, which in 19 verses defines the techniques of purifying the nerves for attaining  a vibrational unity with the ultimate reality. The text, according to them , in not in vogue even among Sanskrit scholars.

                                                                  The hymn recited by Madonna goes thus:

                                                                  Vande gurunam charnarvinde 

                                                                 Sandarshita swatma sukhavabodhe

                                                                 Nihashreyase jangalkayamane

                                                                Samsara halahala, moha shantih

                                                                ( I worship the lotus feet of the Guru, which are the source of eternal happiness and self-realisation and work like an antidote  to the lethal poison generated by worldly indulgence)

                                                                  But, there some consolation for Madonna. She is the not the only one to err in Sanskrit. Pandits of Varanasi recently detected not one but two mistakes in a verse recited by Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in his address to the nation.

                                                                   Acharya Vageesh Shastri, a Sanskrit professor, has sent a letter to Mr Vajpayee advising him to learn Sanskrit properly as he is heading India, the birthplace of the mother of most of the world languages. His contention is that Mr. Vajpayee recited the verse distorting the meaning of the shloka. " Two errors in a single shloka are too much, he says.

                                                                    Referring to Madonna, Shastri, who himself has written a commentary on Yoga Taravali , feels it is amazing that a pop singer has chosen a shloka from this text which is not popular among Sanskrit scholars.

                                                                    Some feminist scholars wonder why Madonna, a post modern feminist, has now turned around to tell the womenfolk about the glory of motherhood, beside practicing the most difficult of Yoga- pranayam, breath control.

                                                                    Is it yet another trick to market herself by using an esoteric text and yogic postures or a real urge to reinvent or transform herself, some of the scholars ask.

                                                                    Commenting on the mispronunciation , Dr. B. N. Chaturvedi, a Sanskrit scholar said , " how can "Shanti-Ashtangi" bring peace to Madonna and her audiences when she pronounces "Shaanti, Shaanti" as " Shantee Shantee"?

                                                                   It is one thing to make a mistake in ordinary conversation but quite another to chant a mantra incorrectly, the scholars say. A famous instance from the scriptures say that priests of the demon king Vritrasura had recited mantras in wrong manner at a ritual aimed at ensuring the victory of the demon against Deva king Indra. The backlash empowered Indra to demolish Vritrasura.

                                                                   Acharya Vageesh Shastri is somewhat kinder to Madonna saying it was but natural for a westerner to make mistakes while reciting Sanskrit alphabets like tha, ta, da and dha etc.

                                                                   He invited western learners including Madonna to come to Varanasi and improve their language skills.

                                                                   For sociologist, the album " Ray of Light" adds yet another dimension to the already complicated problem "The MP" (the Madonna Phenomenon or Madonna Paradigm).

                                                                    A scholar at the Women's Study Centre , Banaras Hindu University said her  songs gave new identities to sub cultural groups and legitimized the role of misfits in western societies.

                                                                     No wonder that Madonna instantly appeals to Africa-Americans, Hispanics, gays and lesbians, who form a major chunk of her audiences. Now she is attracting the Non-Resident Indians(NRIs) by using Indian symbols, yogic body postures and Indian philosophical fervour, he said.

                                                                     DR. A.K. Joshi, a sociologist, feels the Indian audiences will certainly be happy to see "Om" on Madonna's right palm and a "bandhan"(sacred thread) on her wrist.

                                                                     Her songs like " it does not matter whether you are black or white, a girl or boy" has distinct political message too. Madonna, like a political strategist, challenges the hegemonic dominant culture in the United States while giving an expression to the sentiments of the sub cultural groups, Dr. Joshi points out.

                                                                      Recent studies on feminism have noted that " the Madonna phenomenon" serves as a touchstone for theoretical discussion of the issues of morality, sexuality, gender relations, gay politics, multiculturalism, feminism, race, racism, pornography and capitalism.

                                                                      And above all, while the rest of the world is trying hard to discover " the real Madonna", the lady suddenly decides to undertake a spiritual journey-destination India.

                                                                       But for ordinary listeners or viewers it is sheer joy to see their idol chanting " Japo Harinam"( chant the God's name) or " Swastiman".

                                                                       "Ray of Light" might also encourage some copycats to misuse the Indian symbols for ensuring commercial success.