Galactica and Arabic

You —

In the opening sequence of battlestar Galactica, is it arabic that is being sung?

Sounds like it but I can;t seem to make out any of the words. If anyone can, maybe try for a translation? just asking as it is pretty addictive tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fKAk96xkl4

PS when trying to get the opening I noticed that all the episodes seem to have a different drum beat at the end of the intro!

f anyone has seen Galactica, they will know as soon as the drums start beating, it is time to shut the eyes. This is the only show in the world that shows what's gonna happen in this very episode at the start of every episode! The war drums are awesom, but the spoilers not so much.

Forum

Amal — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 - 12:28

Its the Gayatri mantra (Hindu psalm/hymn)

[quote]The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered (Sanskrit) mantra in Hinduism, second only to the mantra Om.

By many Hindus, the Gayatri is seen as a Divine awakening of the mind and soul, and within it a way to reach the most Supreme form of existence, and the way to Union with Brahman. Understanding, and purely loving the essence of the Gayatri Mantra is seen by many to be one, if not the most powerful ways to attain God.[/quote]

Om, bhur bhuva svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo na prachodayat

Translation:

We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three worlds: gross, subtle, and causal.

I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal initelligence.

We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri]see here for more info[/url]

[size=9](i know what you mean though, it does have an easten sound to it)[/size]

You — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 - 13:45

Listening to the stuff on that guys site, it seems more Galactica 2003 (the mini series - basically 3 hours of humanity being systematically wiped out) than the series. (that does not sound arabic either...)

The vocalisation from the series does not seem to match the words quoted by Amal.

So, the mystery is not solved...yet.

Amal — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 11:06

[quote="Admin"]
The vocalisation from the series does not seem to match the words quoted by Amal.

So, the mystery is not solved...yet.[/quote]

I think it matches the words quite well.. :? Anyone else agree?

You — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 12:59

Are you listening to the vocalisation from Galactica 2003 (the mini series) which it does sound like), or galactica 2004? (the series proper)

I linked to the youtube of Galactica 2004 (season 2)

As further explanation, the vocalosation contains the three sylables "sa" "le" "ma" at one point.

the gayatri does not.

Maybe I am totally off base? I will ahve to try listening to it again later on.

*DUST* — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 18:32

since u seemed so bothered by this admin, i listened to your clip! :roll: 😉 doesn't sound like arabic to me. according to wikipedia: 'Opening theme Gayatri by Richard Gibbs'

Dave — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 18:40

[quote="Amal"]Its the Gayatri mantra (Hindu psalm/hymn)

[quote]The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered (Sanskrit) mantra in Hinduism, second only to the mantra Om.

By many Hindus, the Gayatri is seen as a Divine awakening of the mind and soul, and within it a way to reach the most Supreme form of existence, and the way to Union with Brahman. Understanding, and purely loving the essence of the Gayatri Mantra is seen by many to be one, if not the most powerful ways to attain God.[/quote]

Om, bhur bhuva svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo na prachodayat

Translation:

We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three worlds: gross, subtle, and causal.

I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal initelligence.

We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri]see here for more info[/url]

[size=9](i know what you mean though, it does have an easten sound to it)[/size][/quote]

I don't know much about hinduism but that ^ sounds like completely nonsense.

You — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 18:56

[quote="*DUST*"]since u seemed so bothered by this admin, i listened to your clip! :roll: 😉 doesn't sound like arabic to me. according to wikipedia: 'Opening theme Gayatri by Richard Gibbs'[/quote]

Wikipedia is talking about this [url=http://richardgibbsmusic.com/musicpages/battle/tokiss.htm]this[/url] containing gayatri. Go just under half way through to hear the words, and you can tell it is from the subcontinent atleast in style, and sounds nothing like the opening sequence.

You are right about it not seeming to contain arabic words, but it is sung in a middle eastern style.

But it is abbreviated, so maybe it was changed for "artistic" reasons?

Either way the only reason I brought it up was that it was doing my head in trying to figure it out.

*DUST* — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 19:10

i'm pretty sure i heard a 'swaha' and 'prathna' somewhere in the clip, both are hindi words. or actually i think 'swaha' is from sanskrit but point being they are both words related to hindu prayer.

Seraphim — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 19:49

[quote="Don Karnage"][quote="Amal"]Its the Gayatri mantra (Hindu psalm/hymn)

[quote]The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered (Sanskrit) mantra in Hinduism, second only to the mantra Om.

By many Hindus, the Gayatri is seen as a Divine awakening of the mind and soul, and within it a way to reach the most Supreme form of existence, and the way to Union with Brahman. Understanding, and purely loving the essence of the Gayatri Mantra is seen by many to be one, if not the most powerful ways to attain God.[/quote]

Om, bhur bhuva svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo na prachodayat

Translation:

We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three worlds: gross, subtle, and causal.

I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal initelligence.

We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri]see here for more info[/url]

[size=9](i know what you mean though, it does have an easten sound to it)[/size][/quote]

I don't know much about hinduism but that ^ sounds like completely nonsense.[/quote]

I think its to do with enlightenment.

and i think you'll find that:

[quote]Om, bhur bhuva svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo na prachodayat[/quote]

Is translated as "Oh all-protecting lord, please guide our intellects, so that we may proceed in the right direction towards enlightenment"

but it sounds different on the recording clip.... maybe it is maybe it isnt.

You — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 - 20:06

I was wrong.

[quote="Amal"]Om, bhur bhuva svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
[b]Bhargo devasya dhimahi[/b]
Dhiyo yo na prachodayat[/quote]

That bit in bold threw me off, as it seems that either the vocalisations are taking artistic liberties with it, or the transliteration is pretty bad. Or I am tone deaf. Probably the latter as I do not have a musical bone in my body.

need to get the tune out of my head as the second line is blasphemic. (it that even a word?)

One interesting thing about galactica is that humans are polytheists and are being eradicated by the "Cylons" who are machines originally made by man, but are monotheists.