Kirtan & Cacao Ceremony Weekend with Jaya Lakshmi & Ananda: Sacred Music, Yoga, Dance & Cacao Ceremony

Kirtronica (Mantra Dance): ‘Kirtronica’ is a term for a new genre of music that is currently being established in the yoga world which is electronic dance music combined with live Sanskrit/Indian chanting and singing over it. Jaya Lakshmi was one of the pioneers of ‘Kirtronica’ with her previous band “Lost at Last”, founded in Maui, Hawaii in 1997. Over the last few years Jaya Lakshmi has composed original electronic music using Ableton Live. Similar to the the Lost at Last sound, her new music is a mixture of house and tribal trance beats, with (recordings of) acoustic instruments like tabla, guitar, flute, and sarod. In the current duo format, Jaya Lakshmi sings live while Ananda runs Ableton Live. They lead the audience through an ecstatic dance journey that awakens their shakti, inspiring devotional trance states and deepening their connection with the divine.

Cacao Ceremony: Since ancient times cacao has been used ceremonially to connect with that infinite presence of love. Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda’s Cacao ceremonies are a coming together to open the heart, express creatively and rejoice with the spirit of the cacao. Accompanied by their weaving heart songs, it will be a time to express gratitude for the cacao spirit and allow for that spirit to blossom infinite possibilities within you. The Cacao that will be used is a very special type that a cacao shaman selected personally for it’s energetic qualities. It comes from Guatemala, the heartland of the Mayan people who have used it for millennia. The ceremony will be a wonderful time to learn about cacao’s origins, history, heath benefits and energetic/spiritual qualities. Let’s celebrate a new way of coming together and rejoicing in the love of the infinite spirit. Melt into a unique ceremony that will expand your heart to new levels.

Kirtan & Healing Mantra Music: Jaya Lakshmi has been sharing her beautiful kirtans for over 20 years. She has recently partnered with her new love, Ananda Yogiji. They sing and play music that initiates deep healing and opens the heart to divine joy, sharing the grace they have been given through their partnership. Offering a combination of kirtan (call and response singing), mantra repetition, bhajan and original songs, they mix English, Sanskrit and Gurumukhi as a bridge for all those who have been mysteriously called to Yoga and teachings from India. Alternating guitar, harmonium, keyboard, bansuri flutes and vocal weaving, they create a magic together that sets the stage for the Devas and Devis to dance upon.

Vinyasa Yoga & Meditation with Live Music: This workshop will be a unique blend of Vinyasa yoga and meditations led by Ananda with live music by Jaya Lakshmi. It is designed to open the heart and tap into one’s infinite creative potential. Through this workshop participants will gain tools to live an inspired and fulfilled life that overflows with bliss and abundance.

Mantra & Chanting Workshop: Participants will explore the practice of singing mantra and bhakti yoga-the path of love and devotion. Singing together, participants will connect with sacred songs and mantras in Sanskrit (the ancient prayer language of India), Punjabi (Kundalini mantras), and English. Participants will learn translations, meanings about various deities, and also be lead in guided visualizations for deepening their bhakti practice. Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda also share their own insights into the healing effects of these sacred chants.

“The beautiful Kirtan of Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda reflects years of devotional practice, a passion for Mantra and music, and a deep love for each other.” Jai Uttal

Jaya Lakshmi

Jaya Lakshmi & AnandaJAYA LAKSHMI: Jaya Lakshmi & Anandanspired by the deep devotional mood of Indian singing and music, Jaya Lakshmi began leading kirtan with harmonium and 12 string guitar and writing her own devotional songs in the early 1990′s on the island of Hawaii, shortly after receiving harinam initiation from Srila Govinda Maharaj, a great Vaisnava saint from West Bengal, India, who graciously bestowed on her the name “Jaya Lakshmi”, which means “victory to the goddess Lakshmi”, the Hindu goddess of fortune and spiritual wealth.

She has since created 4 solo albums on Sequoia Records*, the double disc album ‘Live at the Altar of Love’ (June 2011) in collaboration with her partner Ananda, ‘Kirtronica’ (2013) and the most recent release ‘Kundalini Mantra Live’ (2014). She is also known as the lead singer and songwriter for the techno-tribal group ‘Lost at Last’ that toured the US West and produced 3 albums during the years of 1997-2004. She continues to explore the format of mixing of electronica and sacred chant (‘kirtronica’) through composing and performing with Ableton LIVE.

Ananda Yogiji

Ananda is a gifted musician, song composer and mantra enthusiast. His musical offerings complement his Yogic practices with a deep devotional spirit. His music channels a unique blissful energy current supported by mantras with roots in Sanskrit and Gurbani. He sings, plays guitar, harmonium and Bansuri flute with Jaya Lakshmi. Together, they have toured internationally offering musical prayerformances, yoga and mantra workshops as well as holding their own retreats. Currently they have created 6 albums together in the 4 years together.

Cacao Ceremony Facilitator: While traveling in Guatemala, Ananda connected with a cacao shaman who shared with him the ways of cacao ceremony and spirit of the cacao medicine. Partnering with Jaya Lakshmi, their cacao ceremonies are a coming together to open the heart, express creatively and rejoice with the spirit of the cacao. Accompanied by their weaving heart songs, the ceremonies are a time to express gratitude for the cacao spirit and allow for that spirit to blossom infinite possibilities within each of us.