Album Notes

Devotional Kirtan is a collection of live recordings from retreats and celebrations at the Mount Madonna Center and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple. Since 1979, when the land at Mount Madonna was purchased, we have gathered on many occasions with our revered teacher, Baba Hari Dass, to sing, chant, pray and celebrate together. These live recordings from events over the last two years, capture some of the devotional energy of those times; ranging from the excitement of hundreds singing together on New Year’s Eve to the deep meditative atmosphere of our “bhakti nights”.

Mount Madonna Center is a yoga community and conference center located on 355 acres of mountain-top redwood forest and grassland overlooking Monterey Bay, in Northern California. We are a community whose talents and interests are unified by the common practice of Yoga and inspired by the teachings of master yogi Baba Hari Dass. Sponsored by the Hanuman Fellowship, our intention is to nurture the creative arts and the health sciences within a context of personal and spiritual growth

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple was founded by our teacher, Baba Hari Dass in 2003 and the temple is sited on a beautiful sacred spot, where Hanuman (who in the Indian tradition symbolizes selfless service) inspires and protects our resident community. Each day at sunrise and sunset, the daily ritual of Arati is performed and we gather to sing, chant and practice together.

In the Yoga tradition satsang or sangha is considered one of the four doors to liberation. Satsang means the gathering or company of truth seekers, and in our Satsang Community, kirtan has long been an inspired expression of our spiritual practice. We hope these musical offerings inspire and enrich your personal practice as they do ours.