Shekhar Ravjianii’s calming chant to help one deal with Coronavirus lockdown
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 14, 2020)

On Monday, Day 20 of the lockdown, singer-composer Shekhar Ravjianii unveiled his version of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, which he recorded and released in collaboration with T-Series within a span of four days. “I am lucky to have a fully-equipped recording studio at home. Bhushan Kumar’s recording label is amazing with devotional songs. They quickly put together a video,” he says.

The idea came to Shekhar during one of his daily morning prayer sessions. “I start my day chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, Gayatri Mantra and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra which my grandmother taught me. I don’t sing them to a tune; it’s just a recitation, which calms me down and keeps me going through the day,” he shares, hoping that it’ll help those who are under stress and losing hope in these uncertain times, “like the daily wage workers,” he avers.

A day before the song’s launch, Shekhar took to the ‘gram to share some powerful words, one of which goes, “You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember you are my guests. Not masters.” Ask him about them and Shekhar says, “From what I am hearing, we have a long way to go. Hence I wanted to put these messages of positivity out in the universe.”