Lalita - Lily Diamond: Music

NARAYANI STUTI

...is one of the four hymns in the great transformational tool called “The Devi Mahatmyam” or Glory to the Great Goddess.  It is also called “The Durga Sapatsloki” and “The Chandi.”

Some years ago, when I’d had a very challenging week working with many people who were going through a struggle with HIV, AIDS and cancer, I decided that I would go to the movies on a Saturday and just surrender to the cinema experience, to give my self a rest. I went to an art movie theater in Hollywood which plays five movies at a time, so I would be sure to find one that I liked. However, I’d given a ride to a friend whose car had broken down, which made me so late that there were no more movies until midnight!

So frustrating! Stamping my feet, I turned around and faced The Virgin Megastore, which for those of you who don’t know, is actually a music store. I decided that I would wander aimlessly around for several hours as a substitute for going unconscious at the movies. But the minute I walked in the door, an invisible force pushed me to the back of the store, towards a CD bin, my hand seemed to spring out on its own and selected a CD. I could barely make out the title, “ONE TRACK HEART” by Krishna Das, as I was being propelled up to the checkout counter, and was internally told to listen to it immediately.

I had to drive to my office as that’s where my CD player was. After almost an hour drive, at the last place I wanted to be on this Saturday night with a rare opportunity to relax, I put it on. The first song sounded really good, but then, just as the second song, “Devi Puja” was starting, I was told to learn the song and sing it every day.

I took the CD liner notes which had the lyrics in transliterated Sanskrit to Kinko’s and blew them up big enough to read. Then, every morning, first thing, I would sing along with Krishna Das until I knew the song well enough to sing on my own.

About seven years later, when I was now internally urged to play the harmonium and sing, but no one would show me how, and I started to “get” melodies and chants given to me internally. I couldn’t really listen to a song and play it on my harmonium, with the one exception of the Narayani Stuti. It seemed right to keep the melody that Krishna Das had written, so I asked him if I could put in on this CD. He graciously gave me permission.