Album Notes

Swami Ma Chetan-Jyoti, originally from Canada, has lived in India for almost 35 years. Truly devoted to the spritual life, she is the only woman ever ordained as a swami by her guru Sri Chandra Swamiji. Now at age 62 "Ma" lives in Rishikesh, directly beside the Ganges River, where she maintains a small ashram. Ma has been chanting the Names of the Divine as part of her spiritual practice for most of her life, and as the gifted musician she is, has collected hundreds of traditional chants and composed many of her own chants as well. She has traveled widely throughout India, singing in temples and other holy places, and has performed for as many as 80,000 people at one time.

Several years ago, world-famous kirtan wallah Krishna Das connected with Ma on one of his trips to India. He was so moved by the beauty of Ma's chanting and the depth and passion of her devotion that he invited her to come to the US and tour with him. That spring and summer, Ma spent time in Woodstock and New York City, did some touring with KD, and came out to the Pacific Northwest, eventually returning to New York, where she recorded Ram Bhaav Re before leaving for India.

She returned to North America the following year, touring through Toronto, New York, California, and Oregon, where she was received with love and gratitude by people hungry for the fire of her spiritual passion and devotion to God. As one of her devotees here in the West says, "Ma must be seen to be believed, a combination of raw power and deep silence produces a profound mood in the participant. Her kirtans always take you to the deepest places."

"Ram Bhaav Re", blessed with Ma's distinctive style,on this Cd combines with the voice of her friend Sruti Ram who is a kirtan singer of renowned in Woodstock NY,Scott Molampy (Damaru)who has a delicate touch with drums needed on this CD and a little help from friends on chorus, producing a work of haunting devotion. You can just put it on "repeat" all day long in your temple or yoga school!

As she says of her devotional chanting, "There is nothing I would rather do than sit and chant the name of Ram. It fills me with peace and wisdom. May you also be filled in the same way while chanting the name of Ram."