Shravan
By · Comments
During the month of Shravan, occurring roughly in August, Shri Krishna plays with all of His bhaktas in Vrindavan by the door of His Lila bower, filling them with His inner nectar. During Shravan, Shri Krishna daily swings in a Hindola, which can be painted, studded with jewels or mirrors, decorated with fruits or flowers, or can be made of silver or even gold. Shri Harirayaji explains in a kirtan:
Swing, swing, swing – Beloved Krishna, swing!
A golden Hindola stands by Yamuna’s banks,
surrounded by lovely blossoming trees and vines.
Rasika Pritam sings, “When I see this, the pains of my heart are relieved.”
[excerpted from Path of Grace by Shyamdas]
They swing together, arm in arm.
Look by the door of the fresh forest bower – see the splendor all around!
Krishna first plays a full scale on His flute, then plays a protracted tone, and then softens the note.
Sings Swami Haridas, “Radha plays in Krishna’s bower.
When I behold that divine beauty, I give everything else away.”
Bhakti Immersion 2010, Ananda Ashram
By · Comments
Annual Bhakti Immersion Weekend with Shyamdas at Ananda Ashram
Radhe Radhe! If you are in the New York area don’t miss this intimate devotional retreat at the serene Ananda Ashram. I consider Ananda to be my home-ashram, where I have been visiting and leading programs for decades. We will have plenty of time and the lovely space to explore bhakti teachings, stories, mantras, songs, and more. anandaashram.org
Arjun Bruggeman
By · Comments
Arjun Bruggeman is featured on Shyamdas’s Songs of Sweetness album and joins him for several events every summer. Shyamdas and Arjun combine their passions for rhythm and improv to create spontaneous bhava well worth witnessing — and taking part in!
Arjuna is Krishna Das’s primary touring and recording tabla accompanist. He studied classical percussion under Michael Frashe and tabla with Zakir Hussain, Ty Burhoe, and Benjy Wertheimer.
Arjun Bruggeman on tabla [1:33m]: Adam Baba
By · Comments
Adam Baba — doesn’t this photo say it all? A blissful, benevolent being who loves to “bhaj.” His humor and goodness are matched only by the spiritual funk he conjures up with his bass, enough to get anyone in the divine mood. Connect with this soul brother at one of Shyamdas’s many New England events, like the Boston Chant Fest, Omega, and others. Sample Adam Baba’s groovy bhajan bass from Shyamdas’s Songs of Sweetness album, below:
Steve Gorn: bansuri
By · Comments
We are fortunate to have a musician of the caliber of Steve Gorn (stevegorn.com) in the U.S., offering virtuoso bansuri flute performance and accompaniment. Shyamdas and his audiences are thrilled by Steve’s presence in a number of Shyamdas kirtans every year, as he accentuates the devotional heights and depths of the divine praise that is kirtan. Steve G offered this hauntingly beautiful finishing touch to the “Grace Goddess Yamunaji” track of Shyamdas’s Beloved Chants.
Naren Budhakar: tabla
By · Comments
What to say of Naren? One of the sweetest people you could hope to meet, as well as most versatile and sensitive tabla artists you could hope to hear. He accompanies dance, instrumental, and vocal artists in an astounding array of musical genres, a testimony to his broad aesthetic sensibilities. Naren regularly supports Shyamdas in venues in and around New York city. You are sure to enjoy any performance and conversation with this remarkable man. Here’s a sample of his tabla wizardry, from Shyamdas’s album Sweet Radhe!
Unfathomable!
By · CommentsThe poet Rasakhan was a gay, Muslim born Krishna bhakta who lived in the 16th century. I guess you could say he was radical! Shyamdas, like the rest of India, is very fond of his works, and in 2007 he translated a collection entitled The Poems of Rasakhan: Treasure House of Love, which includes this poem, “Unfathomable.” It is without a doubt one of the most widely recognized poems throughout North India. At Shyamdas’s kirtan events, you will notice any Indians in the audience singing along to this one — at least the last line. Next time you can too!
shesha, ganesha, mahesha, dinesha, suresha hu jahi nirantara gavain
jahi anadi ananta akhanda acheda abheda su veda batavain
narada se suka vyasa rahain paci hare tau puni para na pavain
tahi ahira ki chohariyan chachiya bhari chacha pai naca nacavain
The gods Shesh, Ganesh, Mahesh, Suresh and Dinesh constantly sing of Him Who is beginningless, endless, unlimited, indestructible, void of differences, and revealed in the Vedas. Narada, Sukha, and Vyasa are exhausted from searching for Him — they can never fathom His limits. Yet, the dairymaids of Vrindavan can make Him dance – for a sip of buttermilk from the palm of their hands!
And yes, I selected this poem because Shyamdas also sang it for you on his CD, Sweet Radhe! (track 3 “Rasakhan I”). Click on the play button below to listen
Shri Krishna’s Form
By · CommentsThe following passage is from the famous Puranic text, the Shrimad Bhagavatam, in the section called the Venu Gita — the Song of the Flute. The original Sanskrit can be found in any copy of the Bhagavatam. Shyamdas also included this passage in the introduction to his text, The Teachings of Shri Vallabhacharya
varhapidam natavaravapuh karnayoh karnikaram
vibhradavdasah kanakakapisam vaijayantim ca malam
randhran venoradharasudhaya purayan gopavrndaih
vrndaranyam svapadaramanam pravisad gitakirtih
Shri Krishna is adorned with a peacock feather, and His ears are graced with flowers. His shawl is the color of brilliant gold. He wears a garland made of forest flowers and appears as the Actor-Husband. He is the Swaminis’ choice, their Lord and Husband. He fills the holes of His flute with the nectar from His lips. His praises are sung as He enters Vrindavan, surrounded by His cowlad friends. His lotus feet appear splendid and create dalliance wherever they touch the earth.
Shyamdas also sang these lovely verses on his first CD, Beloved Chants (track 2: “Krishna”)
Bhajan Boat ’09
By · Comments
Boat full of Bhajan
By · CommentsA boat cruise on the Shri Hudson-ji River and a crew of kirtaneers — a boat full of bhajan! Be sure to join us next time for this awesome annual event.
