GauraVani.com » Ananta Govinda

Kirtan with Mayapuris and Lokanath Maharaja AYNY

sachi — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:50:44 +0000

We had an amazing kirtan at Eddie Stern’s Ashtanga Yoga and Sri Ganesha Temple with the Mayapuris and Lokanath Maharaja. The music went late into the night…

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.

24 Hour Kirtan – Post Your Media

rasa.acharya — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:00:10 +0000

The 2009 24 Hour Kirtan was the best yet! We are working on processing the multi track recordings that we recorded but in the mean time, please add a comment and share links to your own photos, videos and recordings from the event!

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.

Kirtan Hits Broadway – Kirtan at The Shala

sachi — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:00:38 +0000

Our show at The Shala was an intimate gathering of about fifty people, but all fifty of them had a smile plastered on their faces throughout the entire show. When our enthusiastic friend and fan, Dennis, stood up and began dancing, his energy was infectious. Suddenly, everyone was dancing, and I thought for a minute that the floor was bending like the fabric on a trampoline.

Eventually, everyone sat down again (whew!) and Ananta lead a sweet, slow bhajan. It was so sweet, in fact, that it inspired Acyuta to dedicate her next song to her older brother, Ananta, who, she said, “taught me everything that I know about kirtan.”

Unfortunately due to a recorder malfunction we only have the last part of this amazing kirtan.

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.

Yoga Journal Conference with Shiva Rea and Ashley Turner

sachi — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:00:50 +0000

As part of the Yoga Journal Conference, Shiva Rea gave a Flow Yoga class titled “Rasa: The Yoga of Liberating Love.” We accompanied her with some kirtan, drumming and, thanks to MC Yogi, a little bit of rap.

Later, we played a deep, mellow kirtan during a free community yoga class given by Ashley Turner. Then, we quickly packed up to get ready for our evening show at The Shala.

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.

Ten Million Moons – The Long-Awaited CD Release Party

sachi — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:30:35 +0000

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.

Kirtan at Jivamukti with Nahdi

sachi — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:15:58 +0000

We know Nahdi from the Bhakti Immersion Retreat with Sharon Gannon, and she invited us to play some soothing instrumental music during one of her yoga classes at Jivamukti Yoga in NYC. Before the performance, Nahdi was kind enough to run some of us up to the Jivamukti Cafe for a tasty lunch, while the rest of us set up the equipment in “The Krishna Room.” Then, a nice slow, soothing kirtan during an hour and a half long yoga class.

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.

Hudson Kirtan Workshop and Performance (with CBS News)

sachi — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:15:02 +0000

EDITORS NOTE: Sunday June 7th CBS will premiere “Faith, Culture and Music” which features As Kindred Spirits. Click here to find you local show time.

CBS contacted us to find out if they would include a segment about our band in their upcoming show on religious music. We invited them to follow us around on one of our typical show days, which, as usual, was atypical. We gave a kirtan workshop and performance as part of the yoga teacher training course our friends, Raghunath and Sondra, were offering in beautiful Hudson, NY. During the day, Gaura taught Raghunath and Sondra’s students the lyrics to “Krishna Murari,” while Yamuna showed them some garba steps to a rocking kirtan.

In the afternoon, the CBS crew interviewed Gaura, Acyuta, Janaki and Ananta, as sixty people stood in the tiny hall of Sandana Yoga waiting to claim a spot for the evening kirtan show. Whew! Talk about crunch time!

All the guests eventually squeezed on through, the kirtan was roaring, and CBS got some great footage for their show. The show is called “Faith, Music and Culture” and will be broadcast Sunday, June 7 on the CBS Television Network nationwide.

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.

AKS Featured on CBS News – Show Times

rasa.acharya — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:50:35 +0000

A few weeks ago, while we were in Hudson NY a CBS New film team came and hung out with us for about 8 hours. The unit was/is working on an interfaith religion special, called Faith, Music and Culture which will be broadcast Sunday, June 7, on the CBS Television Network nationwide. Click here for show times in your region (PDF).

CBS just put out a press release which can be read here.

Click here for show times in your region (PDF).

Jammin’ w Jeff Greene in NYC

gaura.vani — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:00:25 +0000

I first met Jeff Greene with John Kruth a little while back and we went out to a funky musical instrument store in the Village. There were instruments from all over the world hanging off the walls. When we saw Jeff again at the East West Living fundraiser he invited us over to his apartment to look at his own collection of musical instruments.

Ananta, Caitanya, Rasa and I. You wouldn’t believe it. He has instruments from all over the place – a hurdy gurdy, and a rubab, and a dutar, and a nickelharpa, tonic tamorbourine or something like that…man. Drums from all over. Frame drums and tambourines and kanjeeras and all kinds of stuff. The coolest thing is that Jeff can play them all really well. And his apartment is beautiful. What a fun thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.

Listen to some of the jam!

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.

Jeff Greene, Gaura Vani, Ananta Govinda, Caitanya Nitai – Jam (1379)

Light on Mumbai Fundraiser

gaura.vani — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:19:31 +0000

East West Yoga/Books/Living is a group of beautiful conscious spaces in Manhattan on 5th Ave – bookstore, yoga studio, ayurveda, and now also a gallery of the work of Alex and Alyson Grey. Our friend Michael Ferranti, who’s the Ayurvedic doctor on staff there, hosted a fundraiser for the victims of the Mumbai massacre. There were silent auctions and raffles and wonderful refreshments and beautiful company. It was fantastic. We were invited to play music along with other musicians like our dear friend Radha Gopinath and his band “One” and new friend flutist, Eric Fraser.

The special treat for us was His Holiness Radhanath Swami was there speaking about his experience in Mumbai during the terrorist attacks. He was right in the middle of speaking at a gathering that day in Mumbai on November 26th when the bombs starting going off. I’m not sure if you know that he’s my guru (teacher) and he’s usually travelling abroad. It’s always wonderful to see him and hear from him in person. He spoke about the need to combat the inner terrorists of Lust, Anger and Greed. He also spoke highly of Michael Ferranti for organizing this amazing gathering for the selfless cause of helping Mumbai’s victims through the establishment of trauma centers in the city. So far no one’s done that at all.

Of course, the kirtans at East West have always been thumpin’ and intense; dancing and spinning. The line-up for As Kindred Spirits that night was me – Gaura Vani, Acyuta Gopi, Ananta Govinda on mrdanga, Janaki singing, Ray Ippolito on electric guitar, John Kruth on flutes. Last time we were there, Kamaniya and As Kindred Spirits teamed up for an evening of divine wildness. This was no exception. Kamaniya came to dance and sing and all our friends uplifted the evening even more than where it was already at. Fantastic.

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.