Sedona Kirtan Yoga, or “SKY”, has been a part of the Verde Valley and Sedona community for over 30 years. We are students and disciples of our beloved Spiritual Teacher, Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa, the founder/acharya of the Science of Identity Foundation.
Our humble goal is to introduce the singing and chanting of the transcendental Holy Names throughout the community.
Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gauranga), the Golden Avatar, appeared some 500 years ago in India, as had been prophesized in the Vedic Scriptures. His primary mission was to awaken the sleeping souls from their deep slumber – a slumber that has caused us to forget our eternal, loving relationship with the Supreme Soul – God. The method of awakening Lord Chaitanya recommends for this age (Kali Yuga), is the singing and chanting of the Names of God (Mantras). This is the process known as “Kirtan” or “Sankirtan,” also referred to as “Mantra Meditation”.
These Mantras are given to all freely – we do not charge or make a business of Kirtan. It is also not a “performance”, in the sense that the focus is not on the chanter’s voice or musical abilities, but rather, on the faith and sincerity of the reciter, as well as the attitude of the reception. The Holy Names of God are your birthright – a loving gift from God to every one of His beloved children, regardless of race, gender, religion or status.
Kirtan is purifying because the Names of God and God Himself are non-different, God being Omnipotent. These transcendental sound vibrations are free from all material contamination. They purify the heart, and awaken in us deep spiritual insights, giving us a glimpse of the joy and peace we are always seeking. The Names of God are our shelter from the tumult and chaos of our earthly struggles.
The first three verses of Lord Chaitanya’s famous “Sikshastakam” prayers expound on this, as well as recommend the attitude one should have when practicing Kirtan:
Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna, Govinda, Allah, Jehovah, etc. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
We, at SKY, would like to invite you to our regular Kirtan Gatherings twice a week at the following Home Centers:
THURSDAYS, Sunset Kirtan at the Cultural Park trailhead, Sedona (1.5 hrs before sunset. Please call for current start time)
SUNDAYS 6980 Coyote Trail, Cornville. Join us from 5:30 – 8:30 pm for lively, mellow, soothing, rocking kirtan and a delicious vegetarian dinner. (Note: Start times and locations change seasonally. Please call to confirm current time and location)
Free of Charge, and everyone is invited.
Other activities and classes can be found on our website calendar.
“Haribol” means “Chant the Names of Hari (God)!” Please accept our gift of the names of “hari”.
Haribol! Haribol!