"KIRTAN!

THE ART AND PRACTICE OF ECSTATIC CHANT"

THE SONGS

The sanskrit words that we sing in these kirtans are "mantras", or divine names. A
"mantra" can be thought of as a sonic embodiment of the supreme being who, through
grace, takes infinite recognizable forms. When touched by the blessings of an enlightened
master or the longing of a pure heart, these "mantras" become fully alive and have the
power to carry us back to the One, the universal heart. So these ancient words hold within
them the very presence of the deity; they are prayers, they are vessels for our prayers, and
they are that One to whom we are praying....

The chants dont tell stories and aren't actual sentences. Rather, they are like simple
roadmaps to help the mind leap from mental remembrance into the heart essence, where
we actually meet and commune with that being who is the source of all. And, really, it's
okay if we dont fully understand the translations or pronunciations. Through these simple
kirtans we can communicate with our hearts, with our souls; we can cry, we can laugh,
we can dance.........
 DISC ONE

TRACK 1: GANESHA SHARANAM

Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha

Gan Gan Ganapati Sharanam Ganesha

Ganesha = the elephant-headed god; son of Shiva and Parvati.

The name Ganesha consists of: "gana" + "isha".

“Gana” means troops or multitudinous spiritual attendants of Shiva.

“Isha” = "Lord".

Therefore Ganesha is the "Lord of the troops". Ganesha is the remover

of obstacles and is invoked at the beginning of any endeavor. He also
represents the earth element, the root, which needs to be solid before we
can proceed.

Sharanam = refuge, protection

Gan Gan = These are parts of the "bija" , or seed mantra of Ganesh; they are his core sounds and
don't carry discursive meaning. Bija mantras are said to contain the essence of the diety.

Ganapati = another name of Ganesha. "Gana" means "troops" and "Pati" means Lord or
protector. So "Ganapati" and "Ganesha" really mean the same thing, "Lord of the troops".

[Approximate translation: I seek refuge in Ganesha..Please protect me, oh great Elephant.]

TRACK 2: INVOCATION/INTRODUCTION

Thoughts on Kirtan, Bhakti Yoga, and the Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism....

I really don't think of myself as a "teacher"; I'm just another being stumbling down the rocky road
to God. But I am finding that sharing my thoughts and my experiences helps me open up in new
ways, and leads me to deeper understandings of my own journey. Remember that there can be no
"experts" in the path of Bhakti. We're all just small children crying to the universal Mother to
please please take care of us, don’t forget about us, please hold us in your eternal arms.....
TRACK 3: RADHE GOVINDA

Radhe Radhe Radhe Govinda

Radhe/Radha = the supreme goddess, the beloved of Krishna, the supreme worshipper, the
embodiment of beauty and all the qualities of love, human and divine. An avatar of Lakshmi, the
Divine Mother, the sustainer of all existence.

Govinda = Krishna, the cowherd boy. The absolute, unmanifest God, in the form of a beautiful
dark hued, flute playing young man. Hari, the thief of hearts, the beloved of Radha.

Praising the divine couple, we awaken that love within ourselves, in the forest of our own hearts
where we meet our beloved in the stillness of night.

TRACK 4: SITA RAM

Sita Ram Sita Ram Sita Ram Jay Sita Ram

Sita = the infinite goddess, the embodiment of devotion and loyalty, especially in divine union.
The daughter of the earth. Sita is an incarnation of Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity and abundance
on all levels. She is thought of as the Kundalini Shakti, or power of God residing within us and
all around us.

Ram = the infinite, all pervading supreme being, an embodiment of dharma, truth, the protector of
the earth. Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu, Lord and protector of the created universe, the one
who preserves the stability of the worldly realms (natural and human). The supreme
consciousness.

Maharajji said:"All things are possible by taking Ram's name." He used

to repeat "Ram Ram Ram" under his breath at all times, night and
day....Lord Hanuman, the great monkey god, the embodiment of
devotion, would take His beloved Ram's name and achieve the
impossible, the miraculous.

Jay = glory to, victory to Sita and Ram are recognized as the divine couple, the union of male
and female, lord and devotee, microcosm and macrocosm, Atma and Paramatma, Kundalini and
Shiva (consciousness).

[Approximate translation: Glory to Sita and Rama]

TRACK 5: NATARAJ/OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Nataraj Nataraja Jay Shiva Shankara Nataraja

Shivaraj Shivaraja Shambho Shankara Shivaraja

Nataraj/Nataraja = "Lord" or "King (raja)" of the dance (nata). This is an epithet of Shiva,
referring to his "tandava", his ferocious dance of fury which causes the entire world to crumble
into dust. This is the auspicious and sometimes frightening clearing away of the old, leaving way
for the creation of the new.

Shivaraj/Shivaraja = "Lord" or "King" Shiva.

Shankara = an epithet of Shiva, meaning the "annihilator" .

Shambho = an epithet of Shiva.

[Approximate translation: Lord of the dance, Lord of the dance, glory to Shiva, glory to the
annihilator, the Lord of the dance, lord Shiva, lord Shiva, Shambhu, Shankara. Lord Shiva please
perform your Tandava dance of annihilation upon the demons of ignorance and ego within
me! Please grant me liberation.]

DISC TWO

TRACK1: DURGA PAHIMAM

Hey Ma Durga Hey Ma Durga Hey Ma Durga Rakshamam

Hey Ma Durga Hey Ma Durga Hey Ma Durga Pahimam

This mantra refers to the Goddess as she is glorified in the Devi Mahatmya, the "Glorification of
the Great Goddess", an ancient scripture which tells the story of how the Goddess saved the world
from demonic forces. In the ferocious battle that ensues, She turns into the various forms: Uma,
Parvati, Durga, Kali.....

Durga = the goddess Durga, literally "tough going", or "difficult to approach". Durga rides on a
lion or a Tiger; She is ferocious, but is also the beneficient, resplendent divine mother. She is an
aspect of Kali, (or Kali is an aspect of Durga).

Rakshamam = protector

Pahimam = savior

[Approximate translation: Oh Mother Durga! Oh Mother Durga!

My protector, my saviour.
 Oh Ma, please protect me.
Oh Ma, please save me.]

TRACK 2: HARA HARA MAHADEV/OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Hara Hara Hara Mahadev

Om Namah Shivaya Namah Shivaya

Lord Shiva is the cosmic energy of change and transformation; the fire that burns away all that
stands between us and freedom. He is the absolute pure consciusness, the embodiment of
auspiciousness. He is known as the Lord of time, of dreams, of the unconscious mind, of ghosts,
of death. He is the exhale, that creates room for the inhale. He is destruction, that opens up the
way for rebirth. Creation, preservation and destruction....happening every moment. When we sing
to Shiva, we offer ourselves to Him to be cleansed, purified, transformed, liberated. We offer our
sense of separateness, our ego driven self will to the will of the divine. As Hanuman said to
Rama: "Free me, free me from the tentacles of egoism......."

Hara = a name of Shiva, means "remover" or "destroyer" of spiritual ignorance, ego, greed,
anything at all that keeps us from God.

Mahadev = an epithet of Shiva. "Maha" means "great" and "dev" (Sanskrit =

"deva") means God. Thus "great God".

Om = the cosmic sound, the sacred syllable; the core sound of creation, preservation, and
destruction.

Namah Shivaya = I bow to; I surrender to, I honor; I offer myself unto Shiva, the great Lord of
yogis and of transformation; the indwelling higher Self.

[Approximate translation: Two of the names of Shiva, which invoke His energy as the great
God and destroyer of darkness: Om, I bow to Shiva]

TRACK 3: JAYA RADHA

Jaya Radha Jay Radha

Jay Govinda Jay Gopala
Jaya Radhe Jaya Radhe
Mukunda Madhava Hare Murare
Hare Krishna Hare Hare

Jaya = glory to, victory to

Radha = The beloved of Lord krishna. The supreme worshipper. The divine Goddess.

Govinda = The Personality of Godhead, the hue of whose soft body resembles the blackish color
of a new cloud.

Mukunda = He who bestows freedom, who removes the burdens of the earth.

Madhava = The vocative form of Madhu (Maadhu). An epithet of Krishna that means
"descended from Madhu". There is also a suggestion of springtime, for "madhu" means the
spring season and it also is related to the word for honey, wine, and sweetness. So there are lots of
luxurious and sweet overtones to this incarnation.

Hare = vocative form of "Hari", i.e., "to Hari", "to Krishna".

Another chant to Radha and Krishna, the cosmic lovers. Some consider
Radha not only Krishna's beloved, but also His preceptor, His guru. For
while Krishna is the unmanifest, beyond form, invisible to human eyes,
Radha brings Him into form through her love, through Her passion. We
can see God only through the Goddess, through our hearts and emotions,
through our tears, through our songs. Oh Radha, in this life and all of my
future births may I, by Your grace, always remember Your lotus feet.

TRACK 4: RADHA RANI

Radharani Ki Jay Maharani Ki Jay

Bolo Radha Govinda Ki Jay Jay Jay

Ki = a Hindi grammatical construction that operates something like an

apostrophe; it means "of" or belonging to.

Rani = queen

Radharani= queen Radha

Maha = great

Maharani = great queen

Ki = of

Jay = victory/glory

[Approximate translation:
Glory to Great Queen Radha! Glory!
Sing the glory of Radha and Krishna!
Glory glory glory! Yay! Yay! Hooray!]
TRACK 5: SHRI KRISHNA GOVINDA

Shri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare

Hey Natha Narayana Vasudeva

Shri [shree] = blessed, holy, glorious. It is used as a prefix to the names of divinities and also of
sacred places, people, scriptures ,etc. (i.e., sri guru, Sri Krishna). It is also a very ancient name
of Lakshmi, the divine Goddess, the consort of Krishna, and as such evokes her divine, radiant
splendor.

Krishna = Like Rama, Krishna is an avatar, or incarnation, of Vishnu, the preserver of the
universe. He is the supreme being, the Atman, the inner soul, and is known for His beguiling
beauty, playful qualities, and transendent flute playing. The word Krishna means 'all attractive".

Govinda = a name of Krishna, Lord of the cowherds, who as a blue-skinned teenager sported with
the Gopis in the forests of Vrindavan.

Hare = Krishna

Murare = vocative of Murari, which is a name of Krishna that means "enemy of [the demon]
Mura".

Hey = Hey, Oh!

Natha = Lord

Narayana = an epithet of Vishnu or Krishna; it means "descended from Nara, the

original/primordial Man".

Vasudeva = an ancient epithet of Vishnu or Krishna; it means "Lord of

abundance".

[Approximate translation:
Oh beloved Krishna, Oh Govinda, Oh Hari, Hey Murari ,
Oh Lord Narayana, Oh Vasudeva [all names of Krishna].
I worship you with my heart and soul.]

TRACK 6: KALI BOLO

Kali Bolo Kali Bolo Bolo Bolo Ma

Jaya Mata Kali Jaya Jaya Ma

Kali = the goddess Kali, the black, ferocious, destructive, and yet highly
auspicious goddess; the consort of Shiva and thus the feminine
embodiment of his Shakti (energy). She is often called Kali Ma (Mother Kali) or simply just Ma.
She is the wrathful Goddess who ferociously and victoriously battles the demons of ignorance,
ego, and spiritual darkness.
Ma = ma, mother

[Approximate translation:
Sing (the name of) Kali.
Sing it! Sing it! Sing it!
Call on Ma! Call on the Divine Mother as an infant cries to his or her Ma.
Kali Kali Kali. Victory to the Mother.]