A devotional album blending ancient Sanskrit mantras with contemporary sound wins international acclaim while carrying a message of spiritual unity

In a moment that resonated far beyond the awards stage, the devotional world music album Rain of Bhakti (Timeless Mantras) received two major honours at the World Entertainment Awards in Los Angeles, winning Best Global Traditional Album, while its track Divinity (Saraswati Namastubhyam) secured Best Global Traditional Song. The rare dual recognition places the album among the most celebrated global traditional releases of the year.
The awards were announced during World Entertainment Awards week in Los Angeles, held alongside global celebrations surrounding the Grammy Awards, and recognise outstanding artistic achievement across music, film and culture from around the world.
Rain of Bhakti (Timeless Mantras) is a collaborative creation by Siyer (Shriram Iyer), Bobby Beebob, PA Deepak and Joshua Pereira. Together, the artists envisioned a project that respectfully reinterprets ancient Sanskrit mantras through a contemporary musical lens. By blending sacred chants with atmospheric production, orchestral textures and choral arrangements, the album offers a modern soundscape rooted in timeless spiritual tradition.
For Siyer, who attended the ceremony in Los Angeles alongside collaborator Bobby Beebob, the moment carried a deeper emotional significance.
“Hearing our names announced in the room was surreal and deeply emotional,” he reflects. “More than anything, I felt gratitude. For the four of us who created the album, including two time Grammy winner PA Deepak and Joshua Pereira, along with more than thirty global contributors, it was a powerful acknowledgement of collective effort. To see sacred Sanskrit mantras honoured on an international platform was incredibly meaningful. It reminded me that spirituality truly has no postcode.”

At the heart of the project lies a creative intention to connect ancient spiritual traditions with contemporary audiences. While Sanskrit mantras have long been revered for their spiritual depth, their traditional presentation can sometimes feel distant for younger listeners.
“Sanskrit mantras carry immense spiritual energy,” Siyer explains. “Our goal was to preserve their sanctity while presenting them through melodies and arrangements that resonate with modern listeners. By creating an ambient and atmospheric soundscape, we hoped people would first connect emotionally and then be drawn deeper into the mantra’s meaning.”
Among the album’s standout compositions is Divinity (Saraswati Namastubhyam), the track that earned Best Global Traditional Song. The piece honours Goddess Saraswati, the deity associated with wisdom, learning and the arts.
For Siyer, the mantra holds profound personal meaning.
“It is more than a prayer. It is an invocation of humility,” he says. “As a composer, lyricist and performer, I am constantly reminded that creativity is something we receive rather than own. Chanting this mantra grounds me and fills me with gratitude. It is my way of asking that my art be guided by clarity, purity and purpose.”
The composition also reflects that reverence musically. The track features the veena performed by Kavitha Jayaraman, tabla by Enayet Hossain and the powerful harmonies of the Indian Choral Ensemble, creating a layered sound that bridges classical Indian tradition with global musical expression.

The international recognition arrives during an especially significant chapter in Siyer’s career. He also features on Shayan, the Grammy nominated album by composer and pianist Charu Suri, becoming the first Indian Australian artist to appear on a Grammy nominated album.
“It is both an honour and a responsibility,” Siyer says of representing Indian Australian artists on the global stage. “I stand at the intersection of two rich cultures. Rather than seeing East and West as separate, I see them as something that enriches each other. For Bobby and me, being recognised internationally as Australian artists of Indian origin was a proud moment.”
Beyond accolades and milestones, however, the creators of Rain of Bhakti see the album as something deeper than a musical project. It is, at its heart, an offering.
“We hope listeners feel peace,” Siyer says. “Beyond language, religion or culture, I hope the music brings a sense of stillness. If even one person somewhere in the world closes their eyes while listening and feels centred or uplifted, then the album has fulfilled its purpose.”
With its dual victory at the World Entertainment Awards, Rain of Bhakti (Timeless Mantras) stands as a powerful reminder that ancient spiritual traditions continue to resonate in the modern world. When presented with care, creativity and reverence, the timeless sounds of devotion can still speak to audiences across continents and cultures.

Tonee Sethi

More information about the album can be found at: https://rain-of-bhakti-fyc.lovable.app/