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Christianity Today, May, 2008 |

It's Not Hindi—It's Human

Bringing the Ravi Shankar sound to Christian worship.

Andy Whitman | posted 5/21/2008 08:33AM

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Singing Christian worship songs in the Hindi language for an American evangelical audience can't be an easy sell. Not only is there a formidable language barrier, but cultural and theological challenges abound—like working within the Indian classical-music tradition while conveying deep Christian truths. But that's the approach used by Aradhna, a group of American and English musicians who have spent significant portions of their lives in central Asia. (Lead singer Chris Hale, for example, was raised in Nepal, where his parents were missionaries, and later served as a missionary to India with OM International.)

Amrit Vani (4 stars), Aradhna's fourth album, offers a wonderful if challenging alternative to contemporary worship's standard fare of three-chord jingles. The otherness of this album is actually its strength. Aradhna (Hindi for "adoration" or "worship") focuses on quiet, meditative devotional songs derived from the spiritual movement in India known as Yeshu Bhakti ("devotion to Jesus").

There are sitars and tablas— à la Ravi Shankar—and they sound as exotic as you would expect. There are acoustic guitar arpeggios that wouldn't sound out of place on a Windham Hill album. And in the merger of East and West, Aradhna forges something utterly fresh and beautiful. They keep it mostly calm and contemplative, but on "Narahari" (the Man-God), the final track, they showcase a soaring, post-rock crescendo:

You, who have offered yourself up, suffering agony, humiliation, and disgrace / The sacrifice of your life, destroying the poison within me / And you, who are the Desired One, my Beloved / The delight of my heart, you soothe my vision / And you, Victorious Crusher of cruel death.

Then Hale sails off into a wordless cry of the heart. It's not Hindi. It's human. And it is only one of several revelations on this strange, striking, and ravishingly lovely album.

Andy Whitman, senior contributing editor for Paste magazine

Related elsewhere:

Amrit Vani is available from Aradhna's online music store.

More music reviews are available on our site.

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May 2008, Vol. 52, No. 5

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Posted: May 21, 2008 7:36 PM

Dear Gilbert, You sound like you preach from Christian books written by white, American men in the 40's and 50's who thought Rock music was bad because it contained "African" rhythms that communicated with the devil and brought lust to the listeners. As an Asian man, i shouldn't be listening to European music that don't explicitly mention jesus, because it's part of the Druid tradition, or it honours the Norse gods. If you look at some of hymns in your pew, they are written in the 18th and 19th century, some lyrics are explicitly racist and misogynistic. Please don't tell me what music I should or shouldn't listen to. Remember, Jesus came to redeem ALL of creation.

sam	Posted: May 21, 2008 5:47 PM

Interestingly enough, "We Exalt Thee" and countless other 3 chord jingles never mention the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and yet are readily sung in worship of Jesus...I would bet even Gilbert has sung a few in his lifetime. It is time we, as the body of Christ, recognize that Heaven will be filled with instruments and voices from all around the world...at least, I know that if guitars make it, sitars will have a place too and if I recall correctly, every tribe and nation is invited....even those from a "poly god" culture. I am saddened that such vehement slander can come from Christ followers who have obviously not gone to the website to investigate before calling it "Anti-Christ" or saying the artists are not true followers of Jesus Christ. We should stop pretending to know every detail of what pleases the ear of our Father. He is for all nations and people, and I dare say, he accepts the cries from their hearts...whatever the form.

Richard Howell, India

Posted: May 22, 2008 12:56 AM


Music, like Christian faith is trans-cultural. However, Christian faith is also cultural, the Word became flesh. The album Amrit Vani is worthy of commendation, the worshippers have undergone rigrously training to learn classical music, and worship the Lord in a music, which for millions is their heart language. God bless you brothers and sisters in Christ.