INTRO: After 34 years of being deeply impacted by the spiritual practice of kirtan and over 9 years of leading weekly kirtan in Sedona, AZ (during which time he has also composed about 180 chants), Natesh engaged kirtan producer extraordinaire, Ben Leinbach, and a host of very talented vocalists and musicians, to contribute their considerable talents in support of creating his first studio kirtan offering. The result is this aptly named Bliss of Kirtan album, which has inspired comments like: 'stunningly beautiful for the ear and for the soul'; 'filled with deep bhav'; 'blissful, beautiful and a balm for the heart'; 'chock full of gorgeousness'; 'a lovely and profound offering'; 'such rich nectar'; and 'a realm of enchanted Bliss'. All compositions by Natesh. Produced, recorded and mixed by Ben Leinbach at Old Bull Productions in San Anselmo, CA. Cover background mixed media art by Sheron Foster (Sedona, AZ). © 2013, Natesh Kirtan. Vocalists and musicians: Ben Leinbach: Bass guitar, hand drums and percussion, keyboard, electric guitar, response vocals Benj Clarke: Fretless bass and acoustic upright bass Daniel Paul: Tabla Eddie Young: Cello Gina Sala: Call, response and additional vocals Joni Allen: Call and response vocals Madan Oak: Santoor Monnie Ramsell: Esraj and response vocals Prajna Brianna Vieira: Call and response vocals; kartals Steve Gorn: Bansuri Steve Oda: Sarod Yvette Om: Call and response vocals Natesh: Call and response vocals, guitars, drums and hand percussion. A WORD FROM NATESH For those who have developed a deep relationship with the spiritual practice of kirtan, it is like lifeblood or prana - a necessary element for life itself. For others, perhaps they are drawn to it because it makes them feel good or uplifts them in some way they may not understand. That latter is how it was for me in the beginning, and for decades now, it is lifeblood. There is so much Bliss in chanting the Divine Name with an open heart, and it's the easiest path to Liberation! Although the Universe recently took back a chunk of my left middle finger (a major but temporary obstacle to playing guitar!) I thank God/dess with all my heart and soul that I can still chant! I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this Bliss of Kirtan album with you and grateful to all the wonderful souls who helped make it a reality and such a beautiful offering to the Divine. (More on that under 'GRATITUDE' on the facing page.) Below are the lyrics and specific credits for the tracks. In addition those credits, I also sing call and response vocals and play one or more guitar parts on each track, and Ben Leinbach and I both play a wide variety of hand drums and percussion on all tracks. Ben also plays bass guitar on the tracks except as otherwise noted. You are very likely to bliss out listening to this album, but please, at least sometimes, . . . chant! GANESHA MEDLEY (Vakratunda Mahakaya) OM Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvadaa (Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha) Om Gam* Ganapataye Namaha Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha * 'Gam' pronounced like 'guhng' Joni Allen - call and response vocals; Yvette Om - call & response vocals; Madan Oak - santoor; Eddie Young - cello; Steve Oda - sarod; Ben Leinbach - keyboard; Daniel Paul - tabla. TVAMEVA MATA Tvameva Maataa Cha Pitaa Tvameva Tvameva Bandhush Cha Sakhaa Tvameva Tvameva Vidyaa Dravinam Tvameva Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva Gina Salá - call, response and additional vocals; Steve Gorn - bansuri; Monnie Ramsell - esraj; Benj Clarke - fretless bass guitar; Daniel Paul - tabla. SHIVAYA NAMAHA OM NAMAH SHIVAYA Om Namah Shivaaya Om Namah Shivaaya Shivaaya Namaha Om Namah Shivaaya Steve Oda - sarod; Monnie Ramsell - esraj, response vocals; Ben Leinbach - response vocals, electric guitar, keyboard bass; Prajna Vieira - response vocals, addl. kartals; Yvette Om - response vocals. HARE KRISHNA MANTRA (Enchanting) Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krisha Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Prajna Vieira - call and response vocals; Steve Gorn - bansuri; Benj Clarke - acoustic upright bass; Daniel Paul - tabla. HE MA DURGA He Maa Durgaa He Maa Durgaa He Maa Durga Jay Jay Durgaa Yvette Om - call and response vocals; Monnie Ramsell - esraj; Steve Oda - sarod; Daniel Paul - tabla. BOLO RAM Bolo Raam Bolo Raam Bolo Raam Jaya Raama Sitaa Raama Jaya Raama Hanumaan (Jaya Raama Sitaa Raama Hanumaan) Joni Allen - call and response vocals; Steve Oda - sarod; Gina Salá - additional vocals; Daniel Paul - tabla. ASATOMA SADGAMAYA Om Asatomaa Sadgamaya Tamasomaa Jyotirgamaya Mrityormaa Amritamgamaya Om Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnaat Purnamudachyate Purnasya Purnamaadaaya Purnamevaavashishyate Prajna Vieira - call and response vocals; Madan Oak - santoor; Monnie Ramsell - esraj. GAYATRI MANTRA Om Bhur Bhuvaha Svaha Tat Savitur Varenyam * Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayaat OM * 'Varenyam' pronounced like 'varen-i-yam' Gina Salá - call, response and additional vocals; Eddie Young - cello. GRATITUDE This album would be nothing without the incredible contributions of so many very talented individuals, and I would be nothing without the Grace of a short string of personal Gurus, to whom I owe my deep connection to chanting, my awareness of the Self and the power and importance of meditation, and my very sanity. I offer humble pranams to my beloved Ammachi (Mata Amritanandamayi), and my previous gurus from the Sidhha Yoga path, Baba Muktananda Swami Chidvilasananda and Swami Nityananda. I am also supremely grateful to the Ascended Masters and all Beings of Light who give of themselves tirelessly for the upliftment of humanity and who light the path for others. And I am deeply grateful to Monnie for all of her love and support for the past 26 years and to everyone who has supported our kirtan in Sedona or otherwise offered words of encouragement these past 9-plus years. With respect to this album, I give my profound thanks to Ben Leinbach for his awesome production and musical skills and to all the other Beloveds who also contributed their extraordinary musical talents to the album: Benj Clarke, Daniel Paul, Eddie Young, Gina Salá, Joni Allen, Madan Oak, Monnie Ramsell, Prajna Vieira, Steve Gorn, Steve Oda and Yvette Om. More heartfelt thanks: to Alfred Goodrich (Silvertone Studios), Eddie Young, Krishan Khalsa (Open Mind Creations), and Steve Gorn, who, along with me, also did recording for the album; to Mike Fossenkemper at TurtleTone Studio for mastering the album & to Sheron Foster, for the exquisite and inspirational cover art.