One of the chants featured on the new album Kirtan Aid: Orphan’s of Rishikesh is “Aad Guray Nameh”—the Protection Mantra—shared by sacred songstress Deva Premal. This particular mantra surrounds the magnetic field with protective light and translates to “I bow to the Primal Wisdom; I bow to the Wisdom through the Ages, I bow to the True Wisdom, I bow to the Great Transparent Wisdom.”
The call-and-response spiritual art form of Kirtan aids the individual in attuning themselves with the Infinite. The goal of Kirtan is to bring peace to the mind by attaining the stage of sahaj (bliss).
Sometimes the songs can do more than uplift the individual; they can uplift community. Kirtan Aid: Orphan’s of Rishikesh is a nonprofit music project to develop an empowerment home for abused and abandoned children in Rishikesh. Prabhavati Dwaba is the founder of Ramana Garden Children’s Home—named for Sri Ramana Maharshi, a holy Saint of India. Ramana Maharshi sent Prabhavati Dwaba to meditate in a cave on the bank of the Ganges where local children would come and visit—many were alone, after having suffered unbearable life experiences, or were on the verge of being sold to brothels. Prabhavati guided the children and eventually was motivated to begin the school. Many of the Kirtan musicians featured on this album have actually traveled to Ramana’s Garden to chant with the children.
The Sat Nam Fest Foundation was formed in collaboration with Spirit Voyage Records and Sat Nam Fest and the Kirtan Aid album is one of their first projects. The artists contributing here hail from a variety of spiritual traditions and record labels, offering the gift of song in support of service. In addition to Deva Premal, the album features Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, Jai-Jagdeesh, Tina Malia and Shimshai, Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach, Harnam, Wynne Paris, Simrit Kaur, Dave Stringer and Karnamrita Dasi, Ram Dass and Nirinjan Kaur, and Sudha and Maneesh de Moor. All proceeds from the album go towards expanding the home for the children. Learn more at: spiritvoyage.com.
Krishna Khalsa leads Sadhana at Yoga West on Friday mornings and is an international healer, teacher, and intuitive.
