Price: $33
Skill Level: All Levels
Location: Reverie Ballroom | Emerald
Dates: December 21st, January 18th
Time: 10:00am to 11:15am
Kirtan is often called the heartbeat of Bhakti Yoga because of its uplifting, expansive nature—and because it's simply a lot of fun. At its essence, kirtan is a devotional (Bhakti) practice that helps us connect more deeply with our hearts, with Spirit, or with God. Just gathering together and singing the divine names can have a profoundly purifying and healing effect.
Krishna Das offers a beautiful explanation:
"The words of these chants are called the divine names, and they come from a place that's deeper than our hearts and thoughts, deeper than the mind. As we sing them, they turn us inward. They bring us into ourselves. As we offer ourselves into the experience, the experience changes us. These names come from the Hindu tradition, but it's not about being Hindu or believing anything in advance. It’s just about doing it and experiencing it. Nothing to join—you just sit down and sing."
And that’s really all there is to it. Come to a kirtan, sit down, close your eyes, listen, and sing. The worst thing that can happen is nothing. But more often, you’ll leave feeling more open, peaceful, and connected—to yourself and to others.
About Rob & Melissa
Before we discovered kirtan, we made a mutual commitment to place devotion at the center of our relationship. Early on, we even created a mantra—without knowing it was one—“Be Nice and Have Fun!” As our devotion deepened, we naturally found ourselves drawn to Bhakti Yoga and the heart-opening practice of kirtan. Over time, our devotion to one another evolved into a shared devotion to chanting the divine names, especially the name Ram.
As our connection with kirtan, Neem Karoli Baba, and Hanuman grew, we began considering what to call our musical project. Should we use a spiritual name or simply go with “Rob and Melissa”? We chose the latter, wanting to keep kirtan accessible, especially for newcomers. Still, we sometimes wondered if the name was too plain.
Then, while working on our second album Tejase, we noticed something that moved us deeply. Written vertically, “Rob And Melissa” formed the acronym R-A-M—the very name we most love to sing. It had been hidden in plain sight all along. For us, that discovery was a divine confirmation. Though simple on the outside, the name carries a sacred essence within. And so, we've been joyfully Rob and Melissa ever since.
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