When I first came across collective kiirtan, I felt an irresistible urge to jump right in and sing and dance with all my heart. I loved the fact that it was so inclusive that anyone could join. On the other hand I also felt that it could be even more inspiring if it was developed..
So my journey began.. I wrote kiirtans (mantra music and songs about the divine) and played kiirtan as a way being in touch with my inner self, of being of service and recording a diary of my life. In collective kiirtan anyone can lead, you just have to have the desire, yet I could see the potential in kiirtan to bring so much more bliss..
In 1979 I had the opportunity of handing a cassette of my songs into Baba's hands. At the moment I felt so much bliss and I wanted to share that with everyone. Baba showed me in my personal contact (PC) that my kiirtan gave him pleasure and so I knew what I was to do with my life. As I travelled to many different countries to perform, I was able to connect and collaborate with many amazing musicians along the way.
There was so much bliss, yet there was still something missing...I hadn't really had a full experience of the 'supra aesthetic science of kiirtan' that my spiritual teacher spoke about. So I waited. Then one day, while doing some research in Rarhi Kiirtan (North East India) I heard a traditional Rarhi Kiirtan group doing kiirtan and it just blew my mind! I had never heard or felt anything like it.
At that moment I was transported to another world, full of scintillating sounds, ecstatic dance and intense devotional expression. It took me to a place way beyond anything I had ever experienced before. For the first time I really had an intuitive realisation of what 'the supra aesthetic science of kiirtan' was, though I couldn't explain it in words.
I knew then that I had to find out how Rarhi Kiirtan works. So my kiirtan research began on a whole new level as I began to research the mechanics of how it could take participants so high? I had to unravel the secrets of kiirtan. So I plunged into a Ph.D (Music) at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and spent five years researching Rarhi kiirtan the ancient homeland of kiirtan. It was one of the highlights of my life to be able to research something I was passionate about learning. During this time in London I worked as a licensed busker in the London Underground, and met many amazing people, including Erik Azzopardi, (who is joining me in the Kiirtan Academy).
Only after my PhD viva (oral examination) was over, did the 'penny drop' and I actually 'got' how the ‘supra aesthetic science of kiirtan’ worked, it was revelation. The next part of my journey was sharing my kiirtan experience and knowledge with others far and wide. In New Zealand I was inspired to initiate a festival called 'Voices of Sacred Earth' in Auckland where we could have a community kiirtan stage for all the local kiirtan groups, and there were many. It was like a festival of kiirtan, and it is still running today.
After more than four years there I felt the longing to broaden my horizons again, so Kavita and I went to Europe to perform at various World Music Festivals and to continue with my research on Rarhi Kiirtan. Back in Rarh, Sanjay Mahato and I instigated the International Rarhi Kiirtan Competition and Festival as a way of giving back to the community who had been so generous towards me during my field work.
After all this musical activity I hit a personal rock bottom, starting with breaking my shoulder, then my family life fell apart..After two years of deep inner work and more and more avarta 'turning' kiirtan, to transform myself .. I then realised that if I wanted to support myself, my little daughter and the causes I really believed in, I must empower myself.
In order to do that, I had to do what I really loved and make this dream come true.. so I got motivated again.. I put out Kiirtan Guitar Booklet out there, came across Russell Brunson's marketing work, put together the Kiirtan collection and a new Online Kiirtan Course - Transform your Kiirtan - Transform Your life, because thats what it has truly done for me. Now, whenever I think of my past, I remember my gurus words "You are never alone or helpless because Parama Purusa is always with you" and I know its true.
