Samsāra | Ft. Pranav Nigam, Elif Dincer, Arya Mihir Singh | June, 2024
Saṃsāra is a rendition of the guru pādukā stotram — a hymn in reverence to the guru, composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya (8th c. CE). The composition is set in rāga Kāfī and draws its inspiration from a deeply contemplative moment during a boat journey towards the Manikarnika Ghāt in Vārāṇasī. The imagery of the boat gently traversing the waters became a powerful metaphor for the role of the guru — the one who guides the seeker across the vast ocean of worldly existence (saṃsāra), offering direction, refuge, and illumination amidst life’s ceaseless currents. Through this composition, Saṃsāra seeks to musically evoke that sacred relationship between the guru and the seeker, where guidance becomes the vessel and wisdom the passage.