This is what the band says about this new track:
Gaura Vani: I love this track so much. It epitomizes the energy of The Hanumen for me. This is also a song we played with the inmates at Oreg0n State Correctional Facility. I’ll never forget the image of 100 feet stamping in time to the rhythm of the song.
John De Kadt: Fun, super upbeat, so much fun to make because of its spontaneity.
Jahnavi Harrison: I never knew what zydeco fiddle was until I had to try and play it on this track! I love the sound – perfect for a transcendental knees-up!
Benjy Wertheimer: Every time I listen to this track, it takes me into a unique journey, a moonlit walk in the bayou … and off in the distance I hear the echoes of mantra. Curious, I walk into a small grange hall at the water’s edge and it’s jammed to the rafters with singers and dancers joyously, playfully and energetically surrendering totally to the love of the Divine. What great joy awaits us when we let ourselves go crazily into loving devotion! 

Connect with The Hanumen HERE

Honoring the Divine Mother at Buddha B Studio
Washington DC: May 11

Bhakti Retreat with Radhanath Swami, at Sivananda Ashram Bahamas: May 17-21

Harmonium Workshop and Kirtan at Sadhana Yoga
Hudson, NY: May 24

Kirtan at Euphoria Yoga, Woodstork, NY: May 25

Kirtan at Yoga Mandali, Saratoga Springs, NY: May 26

12 Hour Kirtan at Bikram Yoga, Philadelphia, PA: June 1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/hindu-spring-festivals-increase-in-popularity-and-welcome-non-hindus/2013/04/05/d4828e00-9bf4-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html

April 27 – Miami Ratha Yatra, The Festival of Chariots, followed by the Festival of India in Coconut Grove

April 28 – 12 Hour Kirtan in Coconut Grove

For more information on the location of Miami Ratha Yatra and 12 Hour Kirtan click on the image to the left or HERE

Haribol!

Saturday, March 23, 7pm – 9pm
Flow Yoga Center
1450 P St NW, Washington, DC
$15 pre-registered, $20 at the door

Download the free PDF version here:
http://www.namarupa.org/special-issues/ShyamDas-Special.pdf

A 4 color perfect bound print on demand version is available for purchase from Magcloud here:
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/517040?__r=6360

CONTENTS
COVER PHOTO by MARTIN BRADING
OBITUARY by HANNAH LILA SELIGSON-SCHAFFER
A STRANGE THING by EDDIE STERN
EVERYDAY WITH SHYAM by MIKE DIAMOND
IN MEMORIAM by GAURA VANI
NAMA & RUPA by VALLABHDAS
OUR LAST DATE by ALLY GOPI KREIM

ARTICLES by SHYAMDAS
ECSTATIC COUPLETS
RASAKHAN
OCEAN OF GRACE
GOVARDHAN LILA
YAMUNA’S STORY
HARI’S LILA

On the early morning of January 20th, a rare and special soul was taken from this world. Shyamdas, world-renowned scholar, author and translator, kirtan leader and dear devotee of Krishna was killed in a motorcycle accident while in Goa, India. He was there with a group of friends, students, god-brothers and sisters teaching Sanskrit, leading chanting and sharing his deep love for Radha and Krishna. The following note is posted on his website about his final days in Goa.

“Hari OM…Our priceless friend Shyamdasji left this world last night. He spent his remaining hours, as usual, in satsang and bliss with a group of dear friends. On this night in particular they were reading Shri Vallabhacarya’s teaching “Krsnashraya” and reflecting deeply on and repeating the refrain, “Krsna eva gatir mama…Krishna is my refuge and destination.” He has arrived at his final refuge and destination now.”

His passing gives me an opportunity to share my appreciation for him as a devotee of Krishna and genuine lover of God. I am indebted to him in many ways, for although he was from a different lineage than I am (Vallabhacharya’s line, also called Pushti Marg), he made an undeniable impact in my world by his example of tirelessly spreading the yuga-dharma (the prime spiritual duty for this age) of chanting God’s names and introducing thousands to the beauty and joy of kirtan (congregational chanting). Because of this, he holds a place as a very important teacher in the modern age who influenced some of the most well-known and important cultural icons of our time, such as the musicians Sting, Madonna, and the Beastie Boys. He also acted as a link to the sacred land of Krishna, known as Vraj or Vrindavan for many in the modern American yoga scene, inviting them and guiding them into a physical and spiritual connection with that holy land. So we celebrate his life with this humble remembrance.

Shyamdas is known by most as kind of divine madman whose kirtans were filled with spontaneity and humor. He was an incredible raconteur and extemporized during his kirtans about everything from current events to stories of Radha and Krishna. He could speak 5 languages and translated many of the songs and writings of saints from the Pushti Marg tradition, including those of Vallabhacharya, Govinda Svami, Raskhan, Surdas and others. He was always distributing prasad (sanctified food) that he’d cooked for his deities and magically always had enough for any last minute guests. He played tennis in a dhoti (Indian “pants” made from one large piece of folded cloth). He always wore bundi-style kurtas (shirts) that seemed like a throwback to a bygone era in Indian devotional fashion. He was a do it yourself-er and had no problems doing any service, whether it was humble or grand.

There are some beautiful stories about Shyamdas’ life and spiritual journey in the book The Yoga of Kirtan by Satyaraja Dasa (Steven J. Rosen) www.yogaofkirtan.com. One incredible story stands out in my mind. He was taken to a psychologist as a young child because he would often tell his family about a beautiful, “blackish boy” who would sometimes follow him. He remembers having visions of this boy throughout his childhood, which were accompanied by a mystical and transcendent feeling. Later he came to the conclusion that this “boy” was actually a form of Krishna, who is also often described as blackish or blueish in complexion.

Shyamdas was introduced to spirituality in the 60’s and began reading books on Buddhism and yoga. Somehow from his reading, a very specific question arose clearly in his mind that fueled his search for a guru and led him to India and ultimately to his life’s work of devotion to Krishna and kirtan. He wanted to know whether God was formless and devoid of qualities or whether he was the possessor of all diversity and all qualities. This search brought him with a group of other young seekers to the ashram of his first guru, Neem Karoli Baba in Vrindavan. Shyamdas stayed and studied with saints in Vrindavan, eventually meeting his second guru Sri Prathameshji, who he studied with for 20 years. Shyamdas began to carry these teachings with him when he would visit the West and was one of the first (if not the first) to begin chanting in yoga studios in America in the 1980s, beginning with the Jivamukti Yoga Center run by Sharon Gannon and David Life in New York City.

Jai Uttal, the influential kirtan artist, is a longtime friend of Shyamdas and tells a funny story about their time together in those days. Jai was living in Berkeley, California, and was a well-known and busy musician with a host of responsibilities. Shyamdas would often drop by unannounced (sometimes more than once a day) and just want to hang out and chat and share stories and do kirtan, and Jai would be trying to politely get him to leave. But Shyamdas would say, “I’m not leaving until we sing Hari’s name together.” And he would practically force Jai to drop whatever plans he had and sit and sing with him or he would refuse to leave. Once they finished chanting, Shyam would leave happily.

I asked Satyaraja Dasa about his relationship with Shyamdas and why he thought the beloved chanter was important to the modern kirtan scene. Here’s what he said:

“Shyamdas was in a unique position to bring spiritual practitioners — especially in the modern yoga community — to the next step. You see, he was a disciple of the spiritual luminary Neem Karoli Baba, and he was also a disciple of Goswami Prathmeshji of the Vallabha Sampradaya, a legitimate Vaishnava lineage. Because of this, he was able to serve as a bridge, linking practitioners from the two traditions — this has proven to be beneficial for both. In addition, I would say that Shyamdas served the contemporary yoga world by conveying true jnana, i.e., knowledge, from a bona fide source. His bhakti-infused pronouncements were always rich with traditional commentary and insight. Indeed, he was a scholar of numerous Indic languages and he used that scholarship to good effect. But he was not merely a scholar; he was a consummate practitioner, and a jokester too. In fact, these latter qualities speak to why he will be so missed. It’s why I miss him. I can say that for certain. His heart was full of joy, and this, more than anything else, came out in his kirtan. This joy, or ananda, is a gift from God, as was Shyamdas himself. He was a gift from above, no doubt, and I miss him already, more than words can say.”

In my experience, Shyamdas was a source of incredible encouragement and enthusiasm. He would often shower me and our kirtan groups with praise. He commented that he liked the way we presented the philosophy and culture of sacred India in an accessible way, while still keeping the essence. We would often stay up with him late into the night long after the festival attendees had gone to bed discussing and even debating ideas and sharing realizations and aspirations. We shared about our tradition and teachers and he shared about his studies and translations. He urged us to think deeply about everything we said and did.

In my heart and mind Shyamdas is an uncle and friend, a mentor and champion in the mission of spreading the Holy Name. His companionship will be sorely missed. I am honored though to continue this seva in his absence. There is a famous poem about the passing of devotees by Bhaktivinoda Thakur, that hasn’t left my mind since I heard the tragic news.

“He reasons ill who says that devotees die,
When thou art living still in Sound!
The devotees die to live and living try,
To spread the holy life around!”

Below are some specifics about Shyamdas’ death, written by his friend Mohan Baba:

“Farewell Shyam Das Ji
In the early hours of January 20, 2013, we lost our dearest Shri Shyamdas-ji. Born Stephen Schaffer in Connecticut, USA, Shyamdas-ji passed away at the Vrindavan Hospital in Mapusa, North Goa, India following a tragic motorcycle accident on a winding, hilly road near the Goa-Maharashtra border. He was 21 days shy of his 60th birthday. His companion, Allyson Kreim, riding with him on the back of the motorcycle, sustained serious but thankfully not critical injuries. She was released from the hospital after a few days, has loving support of her family and many friends, and will make a full recovery. Shyamdas Ji was a shining light for all of us, and we deeply mourn his passing. We mourn because we have lost one of the greatest Western scholar-practitioners of Sri Vallabhacharya’s Pushti Marg (Path of Grace). We mourn because he authored and translated so many beautiful and profound books, making available to the English-speaking world the sublime teachings of Shuddha Advaita in which Krishna himself is seen as everything, everywhere, and in everyone! We mourn because Shyamdas Ji was a master and lover of the divine language of Sanskrit, as well as Vrajbhasha, Hindi, and other regional languages. We mourn because of the many books that most certainly would have continued to come from the pen of his bhakti-filled hands. We mourn because Shyamdas Ji was a gifted kirtan singer, whose performances and recordings were so filled with love and joy. We mourn because of the ecstatic music he would have continued to make to uplift and inspire so many people, bringing them closer to the divine. But perhaps most of all, we mourn his loss because of what he taught us about bhakti—what it really means to love God with unswerving devotion every day, every week, every year, every decade. Writing about God, talking about God, singing about God, reveling in God, and doing God’s seva (devotional service) was the joy and the calling of Shyamdas Ji’s life. He was what is known as an ananya bhakta, “one who has exclusive devotion to God alone.” He was a powerhouse reveling in the divine play that is Krishna’s Lila. He could not be pried away. On the very day that Shyamdas Ji left behind his mortal form (at the Vrindavan Hospital, of course), he was teaching a Sanskrit text to a small group, repeating the refrain over and over again as it appears in the text: Krishna eva gatir mama—Krishna alone is where I am going; he is my only support, my only refuge. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says, “My bhakta comes to me.” There can be no doubt that our sweet Shyam Ji is now with his support, his refuge, his Beloved Krishna. We will miss him dearly. Shyam Das will be cremated at 6:00 pm in Goa on January 22, 2013 in accordance with the rites of his Pushti Marg tradition. Thereafter his ashes will be immersed in a portion of sacred Ganga in Braj, in the presence of his family, friends, and members of his ancient lineage. For 12 days following the cremation, continuous pujas and rituals will be held in the Braj area, Shyamdas Ji’s home for many decades, culminating in a large bhandara (feast). We will circulate further updates as event locations, times, and other details are finalized. -Jai Sri Krishna-”

In my recent conversation with Satyaraj-ji, he made the following point about Shyamdas’s departure. I think it an appropriate ending for this offering:

“Shyamdasji’s disappearance from our vision is disheartening, to say the least, especially for those of us who know and love him. We can take solace in the fact that, like Krishna, he resides wherever the holy name resounds. I will say this, for certain: From this moment forward, when I attend kirtan and see hands joyously upraised in supplication of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, I will sense Shyamdas’ presence, see his familiar form, smiling and goading us on, encouraging us to chant with increasingly greater enthusiasm.”

Shyamdas-ji,

Where are you now? What do you hear? What do you see? Can you hear the sweet longing sound of Krishna’s flute? Can you hear the sounds of Gopis singing Krishna’s names? Are your feet covered in the dust of Vraj? Do you see the footprints of cowherd boys mingled with those of the calves? And are you now following the footprints of our lord as he takes them to play in the forest of Vrindavan? I wish I was with you there. Please remember us to our sweet Lords Radha and Krishna and please continue to send us your loving blessings that we may continue the work of sharing Hari’s names with the world.

Yoga Ball 2013

January 20, 2013
St. Francis Hall
1340 Quincy Street, NE Washington, DC

Gather with yogis from across the DC area and special guests for an empowering evening of movement, music and community. Together we will set a positive intention for the new presidential term.

Featuring live music throughout the event with DC’s very own WYNNE PARIS, GAURA VANI, Angela Blueskies, Gita Krista Zember, Christy Freer & more.

Event Schedule:

4:00 pm  Yoga practice led by DC’s own Faith Hunter
6:00 pm  Vegetarian meal provided by DC Central Kitchen
8:00 pm  Live Music, Meditation and Kirtan

TICKET LINK

For more information visit Sambandha Yoga
To register: fill out the Sacred Heart Italy Registration Form and email it to info@gauravani.com

We will be a part of a book launch in Cape Town, then will head to Johannesburg for the very ecstatic and inspirational KB Mela and then Knights of Kirtan concerts in Johannesburg and Durban. A few details are still being finalized, but you can find the current schedule HERE

Saturday, October 13: Church of the Holy City, Washington, DC
Sunday, October 14: Princeton University, NJ
Tuesday, October 16: Kaia Yoga, Westport, CT
Thursday, October 18: Dharma Yoga, NYC
Friday, October 19: Integral Yoga Institute, NYC

Details and ticket info on Jai’s Facebook page, his website, or my Facebook page or my website

Click HERE for our ecstatic video from Boston (courtesy of Shunyam Productions)

Click HERE to find out how you can help Hanumen with the album recording project.  Also, check out Hanumen interview and performance videos in the Bhakti Beat Magazine
Connect with the Hanumen on Facebook. The project is supported by the Call and Response Foundation, a non profit bringing mantra music to wider audiences and Mantralogy, an upbeat mantra record label leading the revolution.

August 24th @ 7:30pm
$20 in advance or $25 at the door
Visit The Mindfulness Center site to register and for more information.

For more information on the “Women of Bhakti” film project, please visit the official site.

Here are the links to get more info and to register:
Laughing Lotus NYC on Aug 28
Chinmaya Maruti Temple in Andover on Aug 30

Thursday, August 9: Krishna Janmastami Festival at Kalachandji’s Temple

Saturday, August 11: Kirtan at Big Yoga Houston

Sunday, August 12 :Sunday Night Kirtan at Kalachandji’s Temple. Click HERE for video.

Monday, August 13: An Intimate Evening of Kirtan at Kalachandji’s Restaurant

Wednesday, August 15: Kirtan, Chant! at Cosmic Cafe

Thursday, August 16: Sacred Sounds at Interfaith Peace Chapel

Visit the EVENTS PAGE for more info.

Other venues include: Westport CT, several places in NJ and Upstate NY, Northampton, MA, a radio show appearance in Vermont, and many more.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EAST COAST TOUR SCHEDULE, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

Who are The Hanumen?
The Hanumen is a musical experience unifying the earthly and divine. Highly trained in the sacred music of India yet rooted in American blues, the Hanumen perform an original mix of song and story and call-and-response chant in English and Sanskrit. The sound vibrations will fill your senses with joy and nourish your capacity to be the change you wish to see in the world.

SEE YOU SOON!

2012 SCHEDULE (all times are EST)
Saturday, June 16

> 8:00  AM    Class by HH Radhanath Swami on the Glories of the Holy Names
> 10:50 AM       Inauguration Ceremony at Yajnasala

> 11:00 AM    Madhava Das
> 12:30 PM    Bada Hari Das
> 1:30 PM      Ananta Govinda & Kesava
> 2:30 PM        Jagannath Kirtan Das
> 3:00 PM        Manorama Das
> 3:30 PM        Rasa Caitanya Das
> 4:00 PM        Kishori Yatra
> 4:30 PM        Shyam Kishore Das & Rasamrita DD
> 5:00 PM        Rasikananda Das
> 5:30 PM        Nirantara Das
> 6:00 PM        Abhay Charan Das p
> 6:30 PM        Gaura Mani DD
> 7:00 PM        Param Das
> 7:30 PM        HH Radhanath Swami
> 8:30 PM        Agnideva Das
> 9:30 PM        Gaura Vani Das
> 10:30 PM      Vishvambhar & Vrinda
> 11:30 PM      Bhakti Lata DD

> Sunday, June 17

> 12:00 AM      Ram Roy Das
> 1:00 AM        Acyuta Gopi DD
> 2:00 AM       Ananta Govinda Das
> 3:00 AM       Rupi & Kumari
> 4:00 AM       Madhava
> 5:00 AM       Balarama Tirtha & Dhanya
> 6:00 AM       Sarbani Bardhan
> 6:30 AM       Keli Lalita DD
> 7:00 AM       HH Varshana Swami
> 7:30 AM       Bhadra Das
> 8:00 AM       Thakur Das
> 8:30 AM        Vani DD
> 9:00 AM        Krsna Kishor Das
> 9:30 AM        Bada Hari Das
> 10:30 AM      Agnideva Das

> 12:00 PM    SUNDAY FEAST

(SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

MUSIC SCHEDULE

TICKETS

I will be performing kirtan during opening and closing nights, as well as participating in Speakeasy Lecture series and meet and greet at the booth.

My performance times are as follows:
10:30pm – 12am on Thursday June 21 (Opening night kirtan at the Chapel)
4:30pm – 6pm on Sunday June 24 (Closing kirtan at Main Stage)
My spot at Speakeasy Lecture series:
Friday June 22 at 2pm
Meet and greet on Saturday.

2012 SCHEDULE (all times are EST)
Saturday, June 16

> 8:00  AM    Class by HH Radhanath Swami on the Glories of the Holy Names
> 10:50 AM       Inauguration Ceremony at Yajnasala

> 11:00 AM    Madhava Das
> 12:30 PM    Bada Hari Das
> 1:30 PM        Ananta Govinda & Kesava
> 2:30 PM        Jagannath Kirtan Das
> 3:00 PM        Manorama Das
> 3:30 PM        Rasa Caitanya Das
> 4:00 PM        Kishori Yatra
> 4:30 PM        Shyam Kishore Das & Rasamrita DD
> 5:00 PM        Rasikananda Das
> 5:30 PM        Nirantara Das
> 6:00 PM        Abhay Charan Das p
> 6:30 PM        Gaura Mani DD
> 7:00 PM        Param Das
> 7:30 PM        HH Radhanath Swami
> 8:30 PM         Agnideva Das
> 9:30 PM         Gaura Vani Das
> 10:30 PM    Vishvambhar & Vrinda
> 11:30 PM      Bhakti Lata DD

> Sunday, June 17

> 12:00 AM    Ram Roy Das
> 1:00 AM        Acyuta Gopi DD
> 2:00 AM        Ananta Govinda Das
> 3:00 AM       Rupi & Kumari
> 4:00 AM        Madhava
> 5:00 AM        Balarama Tirtha & Dhanya
> 6:00 AM        Sarbani Bardhan
> 6:30 AM        Keli Lalita DD
> 7:00 AM        HH Varshana Swami
> 7:30 AM         Bhadra Das
> 8:00 AM         Thakur Das
> 8:30 AM         Vani DD
> 9:00 AM        Krsna Kishor Das
> 9:30 AM         Bada Hari Das
> 10:30 AM       Agnideva Das

> 12:00 PM    SUNDAY FEAST

(SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

On Saturday, June 9th, New York Ratha Yatra  – Festival of Chariots procession down 5th Ave in Manhattan – will begin at 11:30am. Festival of India to follow at Washington Square Park from 2pm till 7pm.  Please join us for this ecstatic, unforgettable, out-of-this world experience!

More information on Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir website.

JAI JAGANNATH! JAI BALADEV! JAI SUBHADRA!
JAI SRI SRI RADHA GOVINDA!

Please visit Yoga Mandali website for more details.

June 1st from 7pm to 9pm: Mindfulness Center, Bethesda, MD. Free admission. For more info and to register click here.

June 2nd at 6:30pm: Sacred Sounds Home Program in Ashton, MD.  Free admission. For more info click here.

June 3rd at 12pm: Sunday talk at ISKCON Potomac Temple. Free admission. For more info click here.

June 3rd at 6:15pm to 8:15pm: Flow Yoga Center in Washington DC. Free admission. For more info and to register click here.

Festival Fee:
Basic Festival Fee for all adults is $165.
Fee includes all sessions, workshops, and presentations as well as breakfast, lunch and lite dinner through-out
the festival (except Sunday when there will be a sumptuous feast and therefore no dinner).

Accommodations are separate and not included in the festival fee.

Thursday, April 19th at Rutgers University

Friday, April 20th at Columbia University Earl Hall Auditorium

Saturday, April 21st: 6 Hour Kirtan at the Bhakti Center NYC

Sunday, April 22nd: Stanton Street Yoga Grand Opening Celebration

Thursday, April 26th until Wednesday to May 2nd: Bhakti Yoga Retreat at Sivananda Ashram Bahamas

Please visit the events page for more info.

Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits Facebook Page

The celebration will take place at the Broome Street Temple in New York City. The admission is free.

Friday, March 30th 6pm – 10pm

6 pm – Vishnu Sahasranama homa
7 pm – Kirtan and Ram Abhisheka
8 pm – Ram Katha
8:30 – Light prasad and more kirtan

The event’s page on Facebook