Below are the best articles we could find featuring krishna das.Krishna Das is an American vocalist and recording artist specializing in kirtan, the yogic devotional practice of singing or chanting Hindu and Sanskrit mantras or divine names.
CLEAR ALL
On Kirtan, what makes music sacred, and his inspiration from Neem Karoli Baba.
Kirtan master Krishna Das talks about what happens when he chants, what the mantras mean, and why sound is a powerful medium on the spiritual path.
He’s driven a school bus, dabbled in the blues, and meditated in the jungles and ashrams of India, but today Krishna Das is known as the King of Kirtan.
Krishna Das is known for his ability to transport his audience to other worlds with his deep, hypnotic voice. Fusing traditional kirtan of the East with Western harmony and rhythm, Krishna Das has developed his own musical style.
When one hears a chant like Aum Namoh Bhagvate Vasudevaya, it is not a Grammy award ceremony that comes to mind as the setting of such chanting; but that is precisely what Krishna Das has been able to do—take cherished age-old Indian kirtans to a global stage such as the Grammys.
“I understand there are people who feel that what happens in the West with chanting is ridiculous—what do we know about chanting?” says Krishna Das, the white guy from Long Island whose name is synonymous with Indian mantric music in America. “That’s really dumb.
Anjula: For you who don’t know, Krishna Das is known as the rock star of Yoga. He’s a kirtan singer. Could you just break down a little what kirtan is? Krishna Das: Kirtan is a chanting practice. It’s a spiritual practice, a meditational practice, but it involves singing and chanting.
Kirtan master Krishna Das spoke with us about spiritual practice, suffering, and finding love within.
Krishna Das leads kirtan (chants invoking the name of God) all over the world. After meeting Ram Dass in 1968, he went on to the life-altering epiphany of being with their guru, Neem Karoli Baba, Maharaj-ji.
During this time of biopsies and surgeries and pathology reports, I rediscovered the music of Krishna Das, whose low, sonorous voice had been the soundtrack to my weekly yoga class for years.
There are known concerns about this teacher’s actions. Please see our Teacher Policy in the footer menu on this page for more information.
Photo Credit: Andrew Toth / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images