FEATURED YOGA MUSIC
I purchased this CD at the same shop highlighted last month—one of my favorite new age shops: Mind Body & Spirit Gifts & Books in downtown St. Cloud, MN. www.mindbodyspirit-online.com. They carry stunning jewelry, stones & crystals, books & music, essential oils & herbs, candles & incense, unique gifts & artwork, Native American items, and relaxation & meditation CDs. They also offer Intuitive/psychic readings, body & energy work, classes & workshops, and guest speakers!
This CD is out of the norm of what I’d play in my yoga classes, but I had to include it here. I love the voice of Krishna Das. He’s like grandpa singing a lullaby to you. His voice soothes me in ways I can’t describe.
My current yoga teacher training started with an in-depth review of Hindu philosophy. I mentioned above in my opening that the Universe keeps sending you the lessons in different forms. When I saw in the intro to this CD’s accompanying book the quote “all paths lead to the same goal”, I knew I needed to feature this CD.
Then I read that Hanuman, the subject of this CD, is the son “Wind-God”, and the yoga pose named after Hanuman (Hanumanasana / Monkey pose) commemorates his jumps across the ocean to re-unite two lovers who had been separated by a kidnapping. Up until he jumped the ocean, he didn’t know he had the power to do so. His love of serving others brought out this unknown power, “and proved that the word ‘impossible’ is a word not existing in a devotee’s dictionary.”
So there you have it… “Be with air. Add water” becomes the story of the Wind-God’s son and his jump across the ocean. I had interpreted my dream message as telling me to start with the heart— doing things as a service to others with love, then release control by surrendering to the flow of life—allow life to deliver to you in its own natural time and way. This will create/transform into the abundance you are looking for—be it financial, spiritual, or other.
My choice was obvious for this month’s featured CD. The story of the Wind-God’s son and his jump across the ocean. He discovers the abundance he already had within. Enjoy this wonderful CD.
About Krishna Das: Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das – known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD – has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling chant artist of all time, with over 300,000 records sold. https://www.krishnadas.com/
Product Description: Krishna Das has been singing the Hanuman Chalisa for over thirty years, and on his newest CD, Flow of Grace, he takes us deep into the heart of this powerful prayer to Hanuman, the embodiment of devotion, service, strength, and compassion. Krishna Das’ deep, hypnotic voice is steeped in love as he sings five entrancing melodies of the Chalisa, accompanied by Arjun Alan Bruggeman, John McDowell, David Nichtern, Genevieve Walker, and Nina Rao, who also leads a beautiful version of the prayer. On the final track, the Ring Song, KD and the posse break out into a celebratory Indian folk song, which playfully asks Hanuman how he accomplished one of his many divine exploits.
A bonus in the package is a “learning” CD on which all the words to the Chalisa are pronounced slowly and are transliterated and translated in the extensive 73-page book. The 73-page book is beautifully designed in full-color with photographs and stories about Hanuman, Neem Karoli Baba, and more. Krishna Das describes his experience learning the prayer, the power of Hanuman, and the practice of singing the Chalisa. Following are two excerpts:
In the Chalisa, we bow to the great beauty, strength, and devotion that Hanuman embodies; we also begin to bow to that place in ourselves. The Chalisa inspires us to try to become like him, to make the mirror of our heart as clean as Hanuman’s so that we can become aware of the great beauty and love that lives within us as our own true nature.
…We keep calling with all our heart and then, finally, just when we think we can’t take any more, the first rays of the dawn’s light reach our hungry eyes. Amazing Grace! Hanuman’s light is brighter than a million suns; his face is colored with all the beauty in this world. When he arrives, all our suffering is destroyed; we have reached the path and our way is open before us, bathed in the light of Love.
