Krishna Das Performing Radhe Shyam (Kirtan)

Lord Krishna and His "Main Squeeze" Radha

Going to Kirtans are literally one of my favorite things to do in life. The reverberative energy that loops through your body while you cyclically chant sacred, primordial, time-transcending syllables has the power to produce an ecstatic feeling of well-being as ancient mantric vibrations ripple through you in the form of a cosmic echo. While attending a Shiva Sutras workshop up in Esalen this past summer, I remember Benjy Wertheimer of the Kirtan group Shantala, pointing out that the Kirtan would unfailingly elevate him to a point of ecstasy each and every time he would sing and perform. And by the hysterical, stuck-in-an-orgasm look on his face during the concert, I wouldn't dare to doubt him. If you really get into the Kirtan you can certainly feel these manipulated vibrations take you on an ascending trip inwards and upwards. You can certainly zoom out and have a legitimate holotropic experience in the right setting.

That being said, it's snowing slush in New Jersey today, and like most mornings, I think it's a perfect time to put up a video of Krishna Das performing "Radhe Shyam" from his vibrating Kirtan album "Live on Earth." Below are the cyclical Sanskirt lyrics along with a loose translation to shine some light on what the hell you're saying (if you decide to participate in the at-home Kirtan, which, after all, is the entire point of this blog.) So get on the Kirtan bus, press play, sit back and enjoy the cosmic vibrations ripple through your body.

Raadhe Raadhe Raadhe Shyaam Govinda Raadhe, Jai Shree Raadhe 
Govinda Raadhe Raadhe Shyaam Gopaala Raadhe Raadhe 

Rhaadhe- Radha, Krishna's main love, the original goddess or Shakti.
Shyaam- Another name for Krishna referring to his dark color.
Govinda- The keeper or lord of cows.
Jai- Hail, Victory, Hallelujah.
Shree- Sri or Holy.
Gopaala- Krishna's name as protector of cows.

Raadhe Raadhe Raadhe Shyaam Govinda Raadhe, Jai Shree Raadhe 
Govinda Raadhe Raadhe Shyaam Gopaala Raadhe Raadhe 

This is a chant of the two that are One. Radha is the beloved of Krishna, his main squeeze among the Gopis. They merge together on the full moon night as they dance in ecstasy. Shyam is a name of Krishna that refers to his dark color, like a dense thunder cloud. Jai means hail, victory or hallelujah! Gopala is Krishna's name as the protector of cows, which are considered to be holy for their many nurturing qualities and Govinda means the keeper or lord of cows, the Big Cowboy in the Sky. In 1971, I was living in a dharamsala, a pilgrim guest house, in Brindavan. Everyday we would go to Maharaj-ji's Temple on the Parikrama road to have his darshan. The dharamsala was on a street that led to the Banki Bihari Temple of Krishna, one of the oldest and most ecstatic of the many temples in Brindavan. I had a room with a window on the street. Early every morning a blind sadhu would make his way down the street to the temple for darshan of the living Murti of Krishna playing the flute. The flute of Krishna is the divine body in all of us through which the eternal sound flows, pulling us in to ourselves where we can play our part in the Lila, God's play, and merge with the Love of the Love of the Love. As the sadhu made his way down the street he would play the shakers and sing this song. What an alarm clock! From that dusty street to this CD. Life is amazing! ~Krishna Das 

The Maharaj-ji Krishna Das is referring to, of course, is the Guru popularized by the ex-Harvard psychology professor, turned psychedelic explorer, turned spiritual being and teacher, Ram Dass. All of the acid-soaked ZOOMDOUT hippies of the sixties and seventies fled over to India to seek out Maharaj-ji's teachings after Ram Dass brought back his stories and message to the West. In his epic book "Be Here Now" Ram Das mentioned that Mahara-ji would have hordes of helpers around him to make sure his soul would stay in his body. Because otherwise, the egoless Mahara-ji would just float out of his body like a loose balloon. And so these people constantly crowding around him would act as Maharaj-ji's "soular" balloon holders, because we all know a dead body can't really teach, right? Have a Be-Here-Now type of day!