Customer Reviews

Sacred Temples of India

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This music is wonderfully meditative and blissful. A bit of nature, a bit of heaven...lovely arrangements. Perfection! I recommend it highly for all those on an Eastern path and for those who enjoy contemplative, serene music. Lovely!

This is easy listening Indian fusion. It's soemthing to put on in the background and groove to, not something that really grabs your attention. I expected something a bit more special, particularly as it is called 'Sacred temples of India'. Also, Manesh Vyas is one of the musicians and his work is generally fantastic. But unfortunately little of his genius shows through here. There is a smoothness to the music and a nice gentle rhythm, but nothing that transports us into the 'sacred'.

This is a beautiful CD - some followers of Chinmaya's earlier music may recognise some of these tracks, remastered from Chinmaya's earlier CDs issued by Nightingale Records (produced by Sangit Om). As well as being remastered, the tracks have also been renamed and sometimes overlaid with new elements (like bird calls). It's almost like a "greatest hits" collection of earlier Chinmaya.

But even though we're not dealing with original compositions here, these tracks have been significantly changed by their remastering and remixing, and they sound much fresher than in the original Nightingale releases.

Strongly recommended. Can't listen to it enough.

The title & beautiful artwork of this CD may lead people to the conclusion that the music is traditional rather than fusion. Not so. These beautiful, equisite (primarily instrumental) mantras represent the highest standard & equality of East-West fusion. They are joyous, light hearted offerings. A previous reviewer stated that one could sense the fragrance of these lovely musical flowers--and I agree. The mantras represent almost a 50-50 balance of the East-West influences. #4 CHAMBA with its dramatic intensity is my favorite, though that honour could just as well go to #8, the concluding mantra CHIDAMBARAM, returns to the lighter, almost jazzy, finale.

But in truth, I like them all--a lot.

Chinmaya Dunster is a great musician & composer.

I intend to explore more of his work.

Om
Shanti
Shanti
Shanti
OM

Sounds for Karma Busting
Breath of the Heart
Gayatri Mantra
Gayatri Mantra: Hymn to the Spirit Within the Fire
Maha Mrityunjay Mantra

I have every Chinmaya Dunster CD; such artistry. This is my favorite along with the "On Sacred Ground" yoga cd. Inspiring. Beautiful.