This blog is for all in Oxford and beyond who enjoy chanting sacred sounds
We're happy to announce that Sakhyarasa (remember the coconut trees?) will come to our next kirtan, this Sunday, April 13. He's a jolly fellow, as well as a jolly good kirtan singer. Have look at the post from our December kirtan as a taster.
(picture: Jonathan and Rasasthali at play)
Rumsfeld, to introduce the next kirtan, om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. One way of thinking about this mantra is to see it as a recognition and homage to an energy that is greater than ourselves. There are many things we do not know (and here is where Rumsfeld comes in) and are outside of our control. Just think about the English weather (there you go!), or death (par example). Without getting into the details of this, by acknowledging a greater power, or the unknown, we can let go a bit of our control and feel some peace. This mantra, as well as other mantras, can thus be used as a way of letting go a bit, which is a very safe of letting go. We only need to listen and chant, and let the mantra do the work. Relaaaaax. 
Rasathali ended our kirtan session in style with a great melody:
The redeeming feature of our February recording was that Shaunaka's talks came out quite well.
Well, how to put this.
Our next kirtan will be on Sunday (20th January). We've invited two young and gifted sisters, Jahnavi and Tulasi, to come and chant with us. Jahnavi is trained in the Carnatic style of classical Indian music, and plays the violin. Both have participated in kirtans since they've been born, so they bring a natural and pure energy to their chanting. Not to be missed!
As I'm writing this little post, our podcast [our recorded kirtans and talks] is getting its 10 000th subscriber! Well, right at this second, we have 9999 of them, but it changes so quickly that it'll probably shift by the time I'm done here.
the chanting whenever you want.
November is one of the darkest months in the year, but also one of lit candles and bonfires (not to speak of fireworks....). Maybe it is part of human nature to find ways to celebrate the changing seasons and to seek comfort in light and warmth.
This song is chanted in this month of Damodar (Kartik). Damodar means 'he who has a rope around his belly' and refers to Krishna as very young boy. Once Krishna's mother tried to catch him when he had been very naughty, and after much running, she finally caught him. She then tried to bind him with a rope to a large mortar so that he wouldn't escape, but her rope was two fingers too short. She then got another rope to make it longer. The rope was still two fingers too short. Then she got a third rope, a fourth rope, and on it went, but the rope was still two fingers too short...
Chant 1:
ma rama hare hare
... is tomorrow (Sunday 18 November). This kirtan will reflect the particular mood and flavour of the Indian lunar month Damodar. It is a beautiful month, much like Lent (in that some take vows), when devotees of Krishna everywhere sing the song Damodharashtakam every day, offering little candles made out of ghee (clarified butter) to their Lord. The beat of the song is different from the usual beat, which makes it particularly meditative. We sang part of it last year, followed by the Hare Krishna mantra. Here is last years kirtan by Gopal.
Our last kirtan with Ranchor Prime is not yet up on the blog due to a rebellious (or moody) podcast server. We'll post them whenever it's feeling better. Hopefully very soon.
To bring in some light into our autumnal lives, we've invited Ranchor Prime to lead our next chanting session. It will be on Sunday 21 October, at our usual time (4-6pm) and place (Friends Meeting House). Ranchor led sublime kirtans last time he came (which you can find here). He creates a wonderful atmosphere during kirtans, and it is pure pleasure to chant with him.
We will also have a special guest with us. Andy has kindly offered to play tablas in our kirtan and will come up all the way from Southampton for the occasion. He has much experience with kirtans in a variety of settings. We're looking forward having him with us!