Finally, it was time to release the album that we had been working on for the last two and a half years: Ten Million Moons. Eddie Stern’s Asthanga Yoga New York and Sri Ganesha Temple, always being supportive, offered to host the event. It was the perfect venue because it had an Old World ambiance and because, with Sri Ganesh and Radha Govinda Deities acting as witnesses, it was a place where we could make the album a true offering.

The tickets sold out online, and each guest recieved a complimentary copy of Ten Million Moons as appreciation for their support. By the time the show started, the room was packed.

Gaura began the night by singing, “Guru Gauranga Jayate,” which was an offering of respects to his guru and to all teachers.  It was an honest and humble way to begin a night in celebration of Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits‘ newest accomplishment.

Then, accompanied by special guest Wah! on bass, we went on to sing a few more of the songs featured on the album. Everyone was on their feet. There was then a break to mingle and eat some of the vegan snacks brought over from the Radha Govinda Temple in Brooklyn:  samosas and dhoklas and salad!

The second half of the program was full of more improvisational chanting. Our friend Mike joined in for some beatboxing, MC Yogi stood up and rapped about Ganesh and Krishna, and Shyamdas accompanied the kirtan in the final set. Finally, Gaura asked Srikanta Prabhu from the Radha Govinda Temple to chant. He lead a more traditional Hare Krishna kirtan that ended the night with everyone excited for all that is to come.

A very special thanks to Adideva Cuffee for taking all the amazing photos.

Listen to the entire Kirtan!

To listen, click on the links below then press play. To download, Right Click on the word “Download” and select “Save As…” from the menu. Having trouble downloading? Read our Help Section.

• 01 Gaura Vani – Guru Gauranga Jayate (549)
• 02 Gaura Vani – Krishna Murari (553)
• 03 Gaura Vani – Siksastakam (452)
• 04 Acyuta Gopi – Hare Krishna (540)
• 05 MC Yogi – Jai Sri Krishna (356)
• 06 Srikanta – Govinda Jaya Jaya (10767)
• 07 Srikanta – Hare Krishna (437)
• 08 Srikanta – Hare Krishna (282)

There is a revolution building. It started five hundred years ago and has been slowly leaking into cracks and crevices ever since. It’s slow moving, but very patient. It needs no one to thrive, but a chosen few are given the gift of being able to spread it. This revolution uplifts the heart and makes it dance, makes it sing, makes it laugh. It has the power to transport anyone to the best place ever. A place where there is nothing but love, where every word is a song and every step is a dance. This revolution is kirtan. We take up war against pride, envy, and greed every time we do kirtan and we re-dedicate ourselves to the cause: being loving, gentle, humble more full human beings. Our battle-cry and our armor is the Hare Krsna mantra and we can be heard singing at the top of our lungs. We sing into battle and defeat our opponents with dance, taking over their hearts and holding them captive. We hold onto our prisoners of war and only ask that they help take up our mission and spread kirtan as far and wide as they possibly can. This is As Kindred Spirits, this is our revolution. Our mission was the theme of the kirtan at the East Village Temple Yoga Studio performance. We implored that people look at the revolution that has been getting bigger and bigger and to become a part of it. We negotiated with them, telling them all the good points about it, and in the end, we did the one thing that we knew would capture them fully and bring them whole-heartedly to the cause…we did kirtan.

Happy Kirtan

Acyuta Gopi

Acyuta Gopi is a member of As Kindred Spirits and a powerhouse kirtan leader in her own right. Browse the Downloads page for some of her transforming kirtans.

Having trouble downloading? Read our Help Section.

• 01 Gaura Vani – Invocation (216)
• 02 Gaura Vani – Hare Krsna (290)
• 03 Gaura Vani – Siksastakam (254)
• 04 Gaura Vani – Hey Gopal (247)
• 05 Gaura Vani – Hey Nath Narayana (346)

Our last concert completed, we woke the next morning to face our final day in South Africa. As with every day, the sun rose high in the clear blue sky. One of the best things about such reliable good weather, is being able to do so much outside. As a final farewell, our hosts were going to introduce us to one of the most popular South African outdoor activities – the braai! Basically a barbecue, but with a much more catchy Afrikaans name, we’d been anticipating it for our entire trip. Gaura spent a few moments each day practicing shouting ‘BRAAI!’ with just the right macho Afrikaner intonation (with success)!

Preparations started early. One by one, cooks arrived – Nash in charge of marinades, Prema Sindhu prabhu in charge of cooking kebabs, Alysha helping everywhere possible – as the saying goes, many hands made light work. It was a weekday, but many who worked nearby ducked out for a few hours to come and have ‘the last supper’ with us.

Just before eating, we were surprised and touched to receive farewell gifts from our friends Hladini and Alysha. They’d both been driving us everywhere and taking care of every need, but they still put effort into such a generous gesture.

One delicious feast and two kirtans later, it was time to load up the cars and brave the traffic. We wrote messages and signed T-shirts together hastily for everyone not coming to the airport. Scraps of paper with scribbled email addresses were exchanged, accompanied by promises to return. We delayed leaving for as long as we could, but finally we had no choice but to go – otherwise we really would be staying in South Africa!

 

At the airport there was a quick scramble to get the American crew on their flight. We all waited in the check in line with them, making up a group of almost twenty! The airport staff were unamused. As more devotees arrived to say goodbye to us, they frustratedly told us to get out of the line if we weren’t flying!  There was no time for another long, drawn out goodbye. Abruptly, we were split up and we sadly waved to Gaura, Rasa, Vrinda, the kids and Vrinda’s father, Annutama prabhu.

My flight back to London left a few hours later, but almost everyone stayed with me, just so I didn’t have to be at the airport alone. As ever, I was impressed and moved by the characteristic kindness of the South African devotees.  It is said that there are six kinds of loving exchanges by which one builds and nurtures relationships. During our time in South Africa, I really felt I’d experienced a perfect illustration of this. Offering and receiving food and gifts, sharing our thoughts and feelings with deep trust, and most importantly, chanting together, after only ten days, we felt as if we were family. As I walked through the barrier, watched by caring faces, I felt unbelievably lucky.  I suddenly realised that wherever the chanting of Krishna’s name is found, such kindness, generosity and love are automatically present.  The joy of kirtan unites us in every moment shared – as kindred spirits.

Jahnavi Harrison plays Carnatic violin and sings in As Kindred Spirits. When not going to university, she travels the world painting and performing and tracking it all in her blog: The Little Conch.

A couple days before we were scheduled to leave South Africa, we had a day free to just spend time with our hosts and see some of the city sights. Many of us had family members eagerly awaiting a little taste of South Africa upon our return, so first we headed into the centre of Johannesburg to do some shopping at the African craft market.

Walking through the shopping centre on the way to the market, it was slightly disorientating to see wreaths of snow-sprayed pine and Christmas lights whilst the sun beat down outside. For most of us, this was our first experience of  the reversed seasons of the Southern hemisphere – it made a welcome change to the clouds of home!

We spent a good couple of hours browsing in the market. If you wanted something stereotypically African, it was here. Brightly beaded trinkets (’You choose first, then I give you best deal’), handmade drums (’I can tell you are musician, I give you a special price’), tribal masks, bread baskets with rhinos trotting around the edge (’You like? I make myself – you see how good!’) – every corner presented a new plethora of souvenir options! The stall owners were curious to know about our slightly unusual group, walking around chanting on our japa beads (’Excuse me, what is in the magic bag?’) and uncannily picking out all the items ‘Made in India’! I even got a few queries about which airline I worked for!

Eventually, we bought everything we needed, honing our bargaining skills in the process. Some us were practised already, after many trips to India. Fortunately for the rest of us, we had the expertise of Raji, who helps in running his family’s market stall.

We left the city centre to spend the rest of the day at the Padayachee family home, where we’d been invited for dinner by Nanda Kishor and Kandarpa (Kartik’s brother in law and sister). The afternoon slipped away in the beautiful grounds of their home as we relaxed and just enjoyed each other’s company. The Jozi boys introduced Ananta, Rasa and Gaura to the fine English sport of cricket, and true to form, Ananta was soon in hot competition with the South African boys – though he still bowled like a baseball player

In the evening, more devotees arrived and we sat in Nanda and Kandarpa’s temple room for some melodious kirtan. Many of the faces present were those who’d been there for our first night in South Africa, just under a week before. Now having shared so much together, it felt even more wonderful to join in singing Krishna’s name. Ananta sent the mantra around the room, getting each person to lead the chanting for one verse. Even the shyest singers gave in after a little encouragement, and each new voice turned the kirtan into a beautiful joint prayer.

A wonderful feast came next, finally followed by a spontaneous theatrical performance by Revati, Kairava, and Prema Sindhu prabhu’s daughters – Rasa and Priya – and not forgetting Rasa Acharya (making a cameo appearance as Lord Krishna’s evil uncle, King Kamsa).

Hearts warm, bellies full, ears filled with kirtan – it was another great day in South Africa.

Jahnavi Harrison plays Carnatic violin and sings in As Kindred Spirits. When not going to university, she travels the world painting and performing and tracking it all in her blog: The Little Conch.

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• 01 Ananta Govinda – Hare Krishna (465)