Bhakti Rasa Kirtan

“Bhakti Rasa Kirtan” began in February 2009 when some yoga teachers decided to get together informally to chant. Members of the local yoga community enjoyed the chanting so began regular once a month Kirtans open to the public. Since that time the band has continued to evolve and has expanded to lead Kirtan events at yoga centers and retreats in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.

Kirtan is a unique type of music. Its roots are in India where it has
been practiced for longer than anyone can remember. Kirtan in
America is different however and has its own style. The chants are
call and response audience participation, similar to singing
around the campfire. It is not necessary to know t...he chants in
advance. They are usually pretty simple and very repetitive, so
you will catch on quickly.

Most chants contain words that are in Sanskrit, mantras from an
ancient language. The music however is modern and
recognizable and ranges from folk type melodies and harmonies
to popular rock. Some blend aspects of both Indian and American
music.

Kirtan is for all people. There are no masters of kirtan, no experts, no teachers, no advanced students, no beginners. The practice itself is the teacher, guiding us to ourselves. Kirtan teaches itself by allowing us to enter into a mystery world — a world where all the logic of our minds, all the conditioning and learning are left outside — and we allow ourselves to expand into the mystery. And in this mystery, we create a temple inside of our hearts, a place of refuge, a place of love, a place of being, a place of sanctity… whatever we need. –Jai Uttal

Why chant?
Here's what Robert Gass says in his book Chanting:
• We chant to join our voices to the voices of countless seekers, worshipers, mystics, and lovers of life, in every time and in every place, who have shared in sacred song.
• We chant to fill our hearts and fill our homes with loving and peaceful vibrations of sound.
• We chant because it's fun.
• We chant to help the stress and freneticness of our busy lives melt away.
• We chant to spread our wings and let our soul take flight.
• We chant for the sheer joy of letting our God-given voices sing out.
• We chant for the heartful communion that we feel with others when we come together in song.
• We chant our prayers to God, so that our lives may be graced by more intimate presence of the One known by so many names.

Andy and Maria Allen are both Hatha Yoga teachers and have been attending kirtans as part of their spiritual practice since 2003. Starting in 2009 they began helping to lead kirtans in yoga centers and retreats all around the San Francisco Bay area.

Andy Allen – Dholak (an Indian drum) and Percussion
Maria Allen – Harmonium, (Indian pump organ) Vocals
Daniel Allen – Guitar, vocals
Gabriele Jones – Kartals (indian cymbals)

$10 Love offering most welcome