Bhakti
Bhakti is a musical journey into Kirtan music sung primarily in Sanskrit, an ancient language known for its healing vibrations. Bhakti Band musicians fuse their diverse backgrounds in rock, soul, world and jazz music with their love for meditation and yoga to bring expression to this beautiful form of meditative singing. Bhakti has played everywhere from New York’s Town Hall and Lincoln Center to the United Nations and Jakkur Airfield in Bangalore, India in front of a crowd of millions. All band members actively volunteer on community service projects and use their music to help harmonize, heal and uplift the people around them. Bhakti is inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian whose mission of uniting the world into a stress-free, violence-free family has inspired millions of people wordwide. New York based Bhakti performs ancient Sanskrit chants fused with acoustic rock and world percussion. All band members are accomplished musicians and had been performing and recording rock, soul, world and jazz music for many years before they connected in New York City in 2002 at an Art of Living meditation workshop. Bhakti has performed everywhere from New York’s Town Hall and Lincoln Center to the United Nations and Jakkur Airfield in Bangalore, India in front of a crowd of millions. All band members actively volunteer on community service projects and use their music to help harmonize, heal and uplift the people around them. They derive their inspiration from world-renowned humanitarian His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and their musical influences range from The Beatles, to U2 and Aretha Franklin. ABOUT SANSKRIT CHANTING/KIRTAN: There is an ancient Sanskrit proverb that says: "The words of Rishis and Enlightened Ones are immediately translated into experience." Your whole body is made up of atoms. When you sing Sanskrit Chants, the sound energy gets absorbed into every atom of your body. Just as a mirco phone absorbs sound and converts it into electricity, the body absorbs sound and converts it into consciousness. When you Chant, your entire body gets soaked in energy and transformation happens. If you are sitting and listening to gossip or violent music, that gets absorbed by your body. When you hear the Knowledge or chant with your heart, your consicousness is elevated. H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar -Founder of the Art of Living Foundation Member Since: May 06, 2006 Members: MANISH TANDON -Vocals/Accoustic Guitar MARY WALKER - Vocals ARAM BAJAKIAN - Accoustic Guitar JOEY REPICE - Drums -Percussion YUMNA OMAR - Drums - Percussion MATT MILLER - Bass Influences: Beatles, Areatha Franklin, U2, Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, Wah