Podcast 10 - Jahnavi Harrison leads the Mahamantra

Recorded at our February kirtan this year, a mere few weeks ago, we are very happy to present a kirtan from Jahnavi, who has regularly visited kirtans since 2007. We have had a spectacular lack of success recording her kirtans in Oxford and are indebted to Vasudeva who came all the way from East London to be our technical wizard at this session.

Jahnavi in Oxford in 2008

I found this write-up on Jahnavi on the web, where she is highly praised by two of the giants of the US kirtan circuit:

"Jahnavi Harrison was born and raised in a family of English bhakti yogis at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire. She is a multi disciplinary artist, trained in Western classical violin, South Indian dance (Bharatanatyam) and Carnatic music, as well as writing and visual arts. She aims to practise and share the rich culture of bhakti yoga as taught to her parents by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Since 2009 she has been travelling internationally with sacred music bands 'Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits' and 'Sita and the Hanumen', and regularly collaborates with kirtan artists like Krishna Das, Shyam Das, Wah!, Shantala and Jai Uttal and Shiva Rea. She frequently features articles on bhakti yoga and the arts for publications like Pulse magazine, Elephant Journal, as well as her own blog - 'The Little Conch'. She offers workshops in mantra music, harmonium and sacred movement and currently helps to share kirtan with a broad range of Londoners through the Kirtan London project.

‘When she sings and plays one feels that one is eavesdropping on the music of the Gods. She needs no recommendation, one only has to have ears to hear her and one knows immediately that we are in the presence of grace.’ - Krishna Das

‘Jahnavi Harrison is a being of total devotion. Listen to her sing and let the doors of your heart fly open.’- Jai Uttal

For a glimpse on YouTube see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSMKAXv_9w4


Download this episode (right click and save)

or listen now:

To download this podcast on iTunes, search for 'oxford kirtan'.

Podcast 007 - Tulasi sings 'Krishna He'

Tulasi Harison sings 'Krishna He' at our December Kirtan. Just the chant to ring in the new year. Happy 2013 everyone, and may you be blessed with auspicious sounds to hear, peace in your hearts, inspired thoughts, and action that pleases everyone..

Tulasi chanting in Oxford, May 2011

Download this episode (right click and save)


Listen now:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Oxford's Longest Kirtan

Blissful Chanting!

  By Lucy Barton

At first, Wheatley Park School looked like any other school building would do on a Sunday morning. Silent, almost lonely, as it awaited the return of its throngs of children and staff to repopulate it come Monday. But this Sunday, it would be witness to the longest continuous kirtan ever held publicly within the county of Oxfordshire. As we walked through the double doors of the main entrance, we were struck by the transformation that had overcome the school hall. 

The walls were hung with richly coloured tapestries and the air was filling with the sweet smell of incense. But the crowning glory of the decorations was the beautiful altar, where Kirtan Krishna stood, flanked by beautifully arranged floral displays and illuminated by tea-light candles. It was certainly a spiritually uplifting environment. The floor, making optimal use of the school’s resources, was spread with blue gym mats, which made surprisingly comfortable seating; and the hall was arranged with the musicians seated in the centre encircled by the respondent chanters.

Lucy, the author of this piece, relaxing at home

The kirtans began with a melodious invocation by Ranchor Prime, a familiar voice of the Oxford kirtans. Many more of our favourite visiting kirtaniyas (kirtan leaders) were present, such as the sisters Jahnavi and Tulasi, and some new faces, such as Amala Harinam, a very well-reputed travelling kirtan leader. The mood was both meditative and dynamic; the kirtans would start gently, and then gradually mount to frenzied tempos, spurring everyone to clap their hands, and some of the more energetic to dance. The rhythm was augmented by the widely distributed kartal-cymbals and shakers, and the melodies embellished by the beautiful playing of Nadiya Mani and the other flautists.

 

The kirtans were continuous, but water, strawberries and yoghurt, and a sumptuous vegetarian lunch were provided for chanters who needed replenishment. It was an enlivening and uplifting occasion for all; perhaps the most impressive aspect was that, even on such a large scale, one hundred and fifty people through the day, the kirtan managed to preserve the same atmosphere of sanctuary and focus that is so unique to the Oxford kirtans. It is a real tribute to all those who were involved in the preparation of this event and to all the participants.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to Dev & Rachna Bahl, and Nimesh & Anita Desai, and their families, who acted as organisers, helpers, and sponsors, and a special thanks to all those who came to give their hearts and voices to the kirtan for making this event such a success.

Suitable for all age groups...

The Six-Hour Kirtan Approaches

Podcast 005 - Tulasi Harrison Sings

In this podcast Tulasi Harison sings two bhajans and a kirtan. The first, Jaya Radha Madhava is a lovely little bhajan (hymn) meditating on Vrindavan, the birth place of Krishna, and remembering all the places associated with spiritual relationships of love.

The second is Sri Krishna Chaitanya a short mantra very popular in Bengal, and the third is Govinda Jaya Jaya, a simple na ssublime bhajan which originated in the Radha Raman temple some hundreds of years ago.

We are very thankful to Tulasi for leading us in kirtan so often in Oxford. This picture is of Tulasi singing the very Bhajans you are about to hear, in July of 2011.

This recording is an hour long, so sit back, or straighten your back, and prepare to hear and be happy. If you find your foot tapping you are in the zone.

Remember you can subscribe to these podcasts by filling your email address into the box in the side, clicking the RSS button, or going into itunes and searching for 'Oxford Kirtan'.


Download this episode (right click and save)

or listen now:

 

Podcast 004 - Meru Sings Govinda Jaya

Our intrepid Meru leads us in this 2009 recording of Govinda Jaya Jaya.

It is twenty minutes long, with just enough time to get into the meditative mood Meru always creates.

Meru has left Oxford and now lives in her native Sweden, and we live to see her again and chant with her in an Oxford Kirtan.

Govinda Jaya Jaya is a very popular bhajan throughout India. It'salways good to have this simple mantra in your back pocket if you run into a kirtan session, or in the back of your head on any day of the week.

Download this episode (right click and save)

Or listen now:

Kirtan

Welcome! This blog is for all of us in Oxford who likes kirtan, and of course, for everyone else who also wants to tune in.

On this blog we'll put up various kirtans (chants) we recorded at our sessions, and some inspirational postings to help us deepen our understanding and appreciation of this form of meditation.

Kirtan is an ancient form of musical meditation from northern India, which is practised by Hindus and Sikhs alike. It stems from the bhakti-tradition, or devotional tradition, and is performed in a call-and response style. This means that the participants follow the chant, melodic variances, and mood of the lead chanter.

We started our kirtans in April 2006, and the experience has been so good that we plan to continue. The pace for now is about one kirtan a month, but we might increase the frequency in the future. Please feel free to join in.

If you have any queries about kirtan, or our sessions, please write a comment or contact us at: keshava6@hotmail.com.