Kirtan Wallah

KIRTAN WALLAH is the story of how a borderline life of brokenness leads to Spiritual awakening. It tells of seeming miraculous experiences with America's great teachers from the East. The book is also about a kirtan wallah, who long before kirtan was a household word, traveled like Johnny Kirtan-seed across the USA, teaching and learning.The story begins with a dynamic higher planes experience with the American teacher, Ram Dass which changed Shubal's life. His journey continues ...
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KIRTAN WALLAH is the story of how a borderline life of brokenness leads to Spiritual awakening. It tells of seeming miraculous experiences with America's great teachers from the East. The book is also about a kirtan wallah, who long before kirtan was a household word, traveled like Johnny Kirtan-seed across the USA, teaching and learning.The story begins with a dynamic higher planes experience with the American teacher, Ram Dass which changed Shubal's life. His journey continues into friendships with many teachers who came to Shubal's "Boston Satsang" to promote their darshan. After time with Sathya Sai Baba in India, he was asked to host Amma Karuna Mayi in Boston. Shubal also hosted and befriended Shree Maa from Assam and Swami Satyanana Saraswati. The book goes on to tell about experiences with Mata Amritananda, singing for her and her great mystic darshan. Experiences with Baba Harihar Ram-ji and his guru Bhagwan Ram-ji reveal secrets of the Aghor tradition. He befriends Mirabai Devi from South Africa and through her meets Namadeva, aka Thomas Ashley Farrand. Shubal hosted Shivarudra Balayogi for two summers and another devotee of Shiva Bala Yogi, Shivabalananda.The chapter on Ma Chetan Jyoti, the greatest kirtan wallah of them all is full of her humor and power. The book also contains stories and interviews with some of the national kirtan singers, Krishna Das' interview is very educational. There are also interviews with Swami Satyananda about community, Wah! About her life, Ma Chetan Jyoti about kirtan, and an interview of Shubal himself by Steven Rosen. Finally, the essays on kirtan practice and western charts for ten kirtans finish off KIRTAN WALLAH.