Celebrated American Sanskrit rock band to dedicate next album to Hindu statesman Zed

suchandra · September 6, 2008

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Celebrated American Sanskrit rock band to dedicate next album to Hindu statesman Zed

Punjab Newsline Network

Saturday, 06 September 2008

"Shanti Shanti", globally famous only Sanskrit rock band of the world consisting of an all American family, will dedicate their next album to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who recited the historic first Hindu prayer in United States (US) Senate in Washington DC last year.

Robert Henry Forman, music producer for the group, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on saturday, said that before starting recording of this new album, which would include Sanskrit recitations from pre-BCE ancient Hindu scriptures, the group would also formally seek Zed's blessings. Zed had done remarkable work with his groundbreaking prayers in US and various State senates and assemblies from ancient Hindu scriptures, and Hindus as well as many non-Hindus were proud of him, he added.

"Shanti Shanti" has recently come up with a pioneering new album on the oldest scripture of the world Vedas. Titled "Veda", this sixth album of the group contains shlokas (hymns) from all four Vedas—Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Atharva-veda, and Yajur-veda, some as old as 1,500 BCE. The group has sold about 50,000 records.

"Shanti Shanti" consists of American sisters Andrea D. Forman and Sara A. Forman, their younger brother Micah M. Forman and father Robert Henry Forman. The Formans have never been to India, never had a Sanskrit teacher, and still Andrea and Sara can spontaneously chant, read, write, and translate Sanskrit since they were nine and seven years old respectively.

Devout Catholics, Andrea and Sara have also translated and chanted Ave Maria, a traditional Christian prayer, in Sanskrit. They have toured various countries and various states of USA giving packed Sanskrit musical performances. They have been in various television shows, mentioned in various publications, and extensively written about.

"We fell in love with the overwhelming stillness, exuberance, clarity and amplified sensory awareness of Sanskrit poetry," Andrea and Sara stress.

Applauding Shanti Shanti for their marvelous work, Rajan Zed says that let us learn from each other as we are headed in the same direction.