Devotional Songs: Ranjit & Unmesh Swanson

We are delighted to present here two performances by Ranjit and Unmesh, who have been studying meditation with Sri Chinmoy for more than 30 years, and specialise in Bengali studies; they know the language, and are quite good at singing Bengali songs as well. In the first performance they offer us two songs. The first song, “O Kanaiya”, is a song to Lord Krishna, written by Sri Chinmoy.

The second song is a song by Mirabai, called Chakar Rakho Ji, is sung, according to Ranjit and Unmesh, “in the style of M.S. Subbulakshmi, who sang this song all over the world during her very long career.”

The song is a plea from the devotee to become a servant of the Lord: “O Lord, make me your servant.” Sri Chinmoy writes about Mirabai: “Mirabai was a devotee of the high, higher, highest order. Among the saints of India, she is absolutely unparalleled. She composed many, many bhajans, which are prayerful songs to God. Each song Mirabai wrote expressed her inspiration, aspiration and sleepless self-giving.”

The second performance is of the first song that Swami Vivekananda sang for Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna enjoyed Swami Vivekananda’s singing like anything. Sometimes, when Swami Vivekananda sang, Sri Ramakrishna would go into Samadhi (ecstasy-trance).

We hope that this devotional music will inspire you to reach new heights. Our gratitude to Ranjit and Unmesh for their soulful offering.

Other Recordings by Ranjit and Unmesh

Kamalakanta Nieves
May 2007

Artist: Ranjit and Unmesh
Release year: 2007
Duration: 18 minutes
Acknowledgements: Sri Chinmoy
Format: Advanced Audio Coding
Image: Ranjit & Unmesh Swanson