Spirit Hollow

In the beginning of Creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Vishnu, and blessed them by saying, “ May you be happy by this sacrifice because its performance will bestow on you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation.

–Bhagavad-gita, 3:10, (A.C. Bhaktivedanta, trans.)

In 16^th century India, two contemporaries, following two separate traditions, began to promote the chanting hymns and mantras as a devotional practice to express love and praise for God. Shri Gaura Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Vaisnava tradition in Bengal and Guru Nanak of the Sikh tradition in northern India both recommended to their disciples the practice of sankirtan (or gurmat sangeet among the Sikhs). As a private meditation it was called japa, involving the chanting of mantras given by the guru or of hymns from the sacred texts. As a communal practice, it is called kirtan and involves the chanting of hymns in a call-and-response mode to the accompaniment of musical instruments (traditionally the harmonium, tablas and finger cymbals).

The tradition of kirtan was popularized in the West by His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acarya and founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Bhaktivedanta, quoting and commenting on the Srimad Bhagavatam, states:

“In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.” Other sacrifices prescribed in Vedic literature are not easy to perform in this Age of Kali, but the sankirtana-yajna (the “complete repeating” sacrifice) is easy and sublime for all purposes, as recommended in Bhagavad-gita also.

(Bhaktivedanta, A.C., Bhagavad-gita As It Is,{Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Sydney, 1986} p. 173)

Now, with popular performers like Krishna Das, Deva Premal and others leading kirtan across the country, many are finding the kirtan experience, as Shri Bhaktivedanta says, “ easy and sublime” for the purpose of expressing devotion.

At Spirit Hollow, the group Devi came together as a group of friends sitting together with their instruments and playing in accompanying to the Sankrit chants they had learned. Composed of Art Lindemanis, Carl Bucholt, Tracey and Emery Forest, Devi tours the tri-state region, offering the kirtan experience to others as an expression of their devotion to Spirit and their hope for the betterment of all people.  Devi has been writing and playing new, soulful songs and is in the process of producing and recording its first CD.

Devi performs ecstatic chanting from the Indian Bhakti Tradition, accompanied by guitar, harmonium and drums.  Sacred mantras are sung together in Sanskrit and English.  The vibration tunes and heals our bodies and expands our energy field.  Kirtan is a perfect augmentation to any yoga or heart-opening practice, as it cultivates love, devotion (bhakti) and deep peace (shanti).

Audience participation is encouraged!!  Kids welcome!!  Bring rattles, tambourines, finger cymbals or drums.  For information contact us at spirithollow@wildblue.net or call 802-447-3895.

SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2PM–SPIRIT HOLLOW:  part of the Spirit Hollow fundraiser and summer party; no charge!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 7-9PM at SPIRIT HOLLOW: as part of the Andrew Harvey Workshop.  Come for free if you are participating in the workshop or make a nominal donation of $10 at the door fof the stand-alone event. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 6-9PM at Breathing Room Yoga in Manchester, Vermont (with vegetarian potluck dinner from 6-7PM and kirtan from 7-9PM).  $15 at the door.  For details, see Breathing Room Yoga.