"Bani Pro" Nitnem CD by Rajnarind Kaur: Review

• "Bani Pro 1" is designed according to Panj Bania, five required prayers as outlined by Sikh Rahit Marayda (SRM), code of conduct.
• "Bani Pro 2" is a supplemental CD with additional prayers not included in "Bani Pro 1" which are read daily by many devout Sikhs.

Rajnarind Kaur, a Sikh of Punjabi descent born in the USA, had the privilege to be schooled in Gurbani from an early age. Growing up she participated with her family in reading Sidharan and Akhand paaths from Guru Granth Sahib (intermittent and unbroken reading of complete Sikh scripture). On a visit to Brazil, Rajnarind Kaur witnessed the difficulties of learning to read Sikh prayers by those not born to Sikhism. At home in the USA she heard kids in gurmat camps struggling with accent. Realizing the need for an audio tutoring medium, Rajnarind Kaur dedicated herself to the mission of aiding proper pronunciation and developed the "Bani Pro" Nitnem CD which was released in 1999.

Because of popular demand Rajnarind Kaur released a second CD in 2006 which included the the complete "Anand Sahib" along with other selections popular in Sikhism such as "Shabad Hazare" and "Ardas", the formal prayer of petition. These CD recordings subsequently became known as Bani Pro 1 & 2. Demand for "Sukhmani Sahib" may come to fruit in a "Bani Pro 3" in the foreseeable future.

Rajnarind Kaur married Jang Partap Singh in late 2002, and is the mother of two sons. She remains passionately committed to promoting learning pathways within Sikhism.

1. Japji Sahib 20:31 (min:sec)
   • 1 Mool Mantar :14
   • 2 Pauri 1-5 2:51
   • 3 Pauri 6-38 17:33
2. Jaap Sahib 24:24 (min:sec)
   • 4 Chhape Chhand Tav Prasad :37
   • 5 Bhujang Preyat Chhand 3:14
   • 6 Chachri Chhand Tav Prasad 1:02
   • 7 Bhujang Preyat Chhand 2:14
   • 8 Tera Jor Chachri Chhand :10
   • 9 Bhujang Preyat Chhand 1:12
   • 10 Charpat Chhand Tav Prasad :24
   • 11 Rooal Chhand Tav Prasad 2:09
   • 12 Madhubhar Chhand Tav Prasad :57
   • 13 Chachri Chhand Tav Prasad :09
   • 14 Bhujang Preyat Chhand :23
   • 15 Chachri Chhand :17
   • 16 Bhagvati Chhand Tav Prasad Kathate 3:50
   • 17 Chachri Chhand :34
   • 18 Charpat Chhand Tav Prasad :16
   • 19 Rasaval Chhand Tav Prasad :37
   • 20 Bhagvati Chhand Tav Prasad 1:20
   • 21 Madhubhar Chhand Tav Prasad 1:16
   • 22 Harbolmana Chhand Tav Prasad 1:09
   • 23 Bhujang Preyat Chhand :59
   • 24 Ek Achhri Chhand :27
   • 25 Bhujang Preyat Chhand :58
3. Tav Prasad Swaye 4:10 (min:sec)
   • 26 4:10
4. Rehras Sahib 19:16 (min:sec)
   • 27 So Dar Rag Asa Mehla Pehla 2:15
   • 28 Asa Mehla Pehla :55
   • 29 Asa Mehla Pehla :54
   • 30 Rag Goojri Mehla Chauta :58
   • 31 Rag Goojri Mehla Panjvan :54
   • 32 Rag Asa Mehla Chauta So Purakh 2:28
   • 33 Asa Mehla Chauta :57
   • 34 Asa Mehla Pehla :29
   • 35 Asa Mehla Panjvan :31
   • 36 Kabio Bach Benti Chaupi 4:39
   • 37 Swaye :22
   • 38 Dohra :10
   • 39 Ramkali Mehla Tija Anand 2:30
   • 40 Mundavani Mehla Panjvan :28
   • 41 Salok Mehla Panjvan :37
5. Kirtan Sohila 5:10 (min:sec)
   • 42 Rag Gori Dipki Mehla Pehla :55
   • 43 Rag Asa Mehla Pehla :28
   • 44 Rag Dhanasri Mehla Pehla 1:01
   • 45 Rag Gori Poorbi Mehla Chauta :56
   • 46 Rag Gori Poorbi Mehla Panjvan 1:47

Prayers have multiple tracks (57 in all) making it easy to read along, pause, and review:

1. Mool Mantar 5:12 (min:sec)
   • 1 5:12
2. Shabad Hazare 7:29 (min:sec)
   • 2 Maj Mehla Panjvan Chaupde Ghar Pehla 1:36
   • 3 Dhanasri Mehla Pehla Ghar Pehla Chaupde 1:33
   • 4 Tilang Mehla Pehla Ghar Tija 1:14
   • 5 Tilang Mehla Pehla 1:52
   • 6 Soohee Mehla Pehla 1:00
   • 7 Rag Bilaval Mehla Pehla Chaupde Ghar Pehla 1:11
   • 8Bilaval Mehla Pehla 1:03
3. Kabio Bach Benti Chaupi 4:47 (min:sec)
   • 9 4:47
4. Ramkali Mehla Tija Anand 17:51 (min:sec)
   • 10 Stanza 1 :31
   • 11 Stanza 2 :26
   • 12 Stanza 3 :25
   • 13 Stanza 4 :28
   • 14 Stanza 5 :24
   • 15 Stanza 6 :24
   • 16 Stanza 7 :27
   • 17 Stanza 8 :26
   • 18 Stanza 9 :26
   • 19 Stanza 10 :29
   • 20 Stanza 11 :31
   • 21 Stanza 12 :24
   • 22 Stanza 13 :27
   • 23 Stanza 14 :27
   • 24 Stanza 15 :28
   • 25 Stanza 16 :21
   • 26 Stanza 17 :25
   • 27 Stanza 18 :27
   • 28 Stanza 19 :26
   • 29 Stanza 20 :22
   • 30 Stanza 21 :25
   • 31 Stanza 22 :26
   • 32 Stanza 23 :26
   • 33 Stanza 24 :28
   • 34 Stanza 25 :22
   • 35 Stanza 26 :26
   • 36 Stanza 27 :29
   • 37 Stanza 28 :27
   • 38 Stanza 29 :32
   • 39 Stanza 30 :27
   • 40 Stanza 31 :28
   • 41 Stanza 32 :23
   • 42 Stanza 33 :27
   • 43 Stanza 34 :29
   • 44 Stanza 35 :28
   • 45 Stanza 36 :31
   • 46 Stanza 37 :28
   • 47 Stanza 38 :30
   • 49 Stanza 39 :24
   • 49 Stanza 40 :34
5. Ardas 4:07 (min:sec)
   • 50 Part 1 :57
   • 51 Part 2 :26
   • 52 Part 3 :29
   • 53 Part 4 :08
   • 54 Part 5 :34
   • 55 Part 6 :24
   • 56 Part 7 :26
   • 57 Part 8 :41

I first bought the original "Bani Pro" CD recorded in 1999. I later purchased the CD under its new title "Bani Pro 1" along with "Bani Pro 2" after their release in 2006. I found that both "Bani Pro 1" and "Bani Pro 2" have multiple tracks for each prayer making it very easy to pause or review any part of the Nitnem Banis or other selections. Rajnarind Kaur speaks slowly and distinctly making it easy to identify and pronounce each syllable while learning. As each prayer becomes familiar the time required to read or recite independently from the CD is gradually reduced. Once an individual has learned prayers with the aid of the CD they will be able to read independently using the CD as a refresher when needed. Reading along with a Nitnem prayerbook helps the individual to learn recognize the characters of the Gurmukhi script in which prayers are written and also helps to commit the prayers to memory. Of course it varies with the individual, but eventually it's possible to significantly reduce time needed to read or recite prayers.

"Bani Pro 1 & 2" CD's by Rajnarind Kaur (Subject to Availability):

• Sikh Shopping Network Retail $45.99 Sale $40.00 + S&H.
• Spirit Voyage Retail $17.99 + S&H free over $25.
• CD Universe $17.79 S&H $2.99 + $1 added items.
• Punjab Mall Retail S12.99 Sale $11.99 + S&H.

• CD Baby CD $12.97 MP3 $9.99
• Amazon CD $18.99 MP3 $8.99 & DL
• Trade Bit Download $8.99

• Sikhnet "Bani Pro 1" Nitnem Banis
• Sikh Sangeet "Bani Pro 2"