In 1966,The Mother asked Sunil Bhattacharya to compose the musical accompaniment for Her readings of Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri. He continued to compose music for Savitri (and for the New Year) till his passing in 1998.
In his compositions for Savitri and for the New Year, Sunilda incorporated chantings of mantras from the Vedas, the Upanishads and various Stavas and Stotras, invoking the diverse Godheads of India. To him, the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were the Supreme as well as all the Goddesses and Gods of Indian mythology. As a result, we often find him replacing the names of the different deities mentioned in the originals with the names of the Mother or Sri Aurobindo.
MANTRAS IN SUNILDA'S SAVITRI MUSIC
SAVITRI BOOK 04 CANTO 01
1
Happy, bringing the god's eye of vision, leading the white Horse that has perfect sight, Dawn is seen expressed entirely by the rays, full of her varied riches, manifesting her birth in all things.
Rig Veda 7.77.3
Translation by Sri Aurobindo
SABCL Vol 10, p 130.
2
स हि द्युभिर्जनानां होता दक्षस्य बाह्वोः ।
वि हव्यमग्निरानुषग्भगो न वारमृण्वति॥
अस्य स्तोमे मघोनः सख्ये वृद्धशोचिषः ।
विश्वा यस्मिन् तुविष्वणि समर्ये शुष्ममादधुः॥
2
He is men's priest of the call who by his illuminations carries in his two arms of the Understanding the offerings wholly in a continuous order ; as Bhaga, the enjoyer, he reaches our desirable good.
In the lauding of this master of plenty, in his friendship as his light grows, for all things are in this Fire of the many voices, men have founded their strength in him, the Noble One.
Rig Veda 5.16.2,3
Translation by Sri Aurobindo
SABCL Vol 11, pp 228-29.
RECITATIONS BY THE MOTHER
SAVITRI BOOK 04 CANTO 01
1
LINES
139 In this high signal moment of the gods.
140 Answering earth’s yearning and her cry for bliss,
141 A greatness from our other countries came. . . .
149 A spirit of its celestial source aware . . .
151 Descended into earth’s imperfect mould
152 And wept not fallen to mortality,
153 But looked on all with large and tranquil eyes.
2
LINES
199 Outlined by the pressure of this new descent
200 A lovelier body formed than earth had known.
201 As yet a prophecy only and a hint,
202 The glowing arc of a charmed unseen whole,
203 It came into the sky of mortal life
204 Bright like the crescent horn of a gold moon
205 Returning in a faint illumined eve.
