May we be drawn by rhythm and melody of music into the world of musical appreciation.
Rādha and Govinda enjoying dance and music together.
Note the beautiful costumes,
signifying the beauty of real culture.
Image from https://www.hindisoch.com/
Note the beautiful costumes,
signifying the beauty of real culture.
Image from https://www.hindisoch.com/
Radhe Govinda mantra,
by Krishna Das,
a New Translation.
With meaning
for Kirtan Concert.
The Video Recording.
There is a magnificent and very professional video recording on Youtube of Krishna Das performing the Radhe Govinda mantra, spelled and pronounced “Raadhey Govinda.” It was in 2013, in the Church of St Paul and St Andrew, New York. I give discuss the translations below, with meaning for the Kirtan concert.
This Youtube video has 9 million viewings! It is powerful because we see the audience, and how they respond to the music led by Krishna Das. The joy and delight on their faces is vivid and real. They join in with hands and voices. As the tempo increases, they get to their feet and move freely in dance. This is bhakti.
Available at – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEeMdzKSFp8
Other songs from this concert are also on Youtube, and are also extremely popular. I give the url on my pages for : hare Krishna hare Rama, and Shambhu Shankara namah Shivaya.
The Song.
We enjoy an extended introduction on harmonium by Krishna Das, as Arjun Bruggeman tunes up his hand drum. Krishna Das is not troubled, and Arjun begins the rhythm that carries this song and the audience. He is joined by John Mc Dowell also on drums and Nina Rao on finger cymbals. These three suddenly increase the tempo half way thru the song, and the audience get to their feet. David Nichtern’s electric guitar then becomes prominent in the fast music.
The Venue.
The concert was at the United Methodist Church of St Paul and St Andrew, New York city. This venue has been devoted to sacred song and Divine service for over a century. They describe themselves thus –
“St. Paul & St. Andrew is a community of radical welcome on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where all are valued because of who they are and the talents, gifts and energy they bring. As a congregation, we challenge ourselves to follow Jesus into the streets of the city to increase the amount of love and justice in the world. We do this through dynamic and provocative worship, inclusive relationship building and putting progressive Christian values into action.”
There is a magnificent and very professional video recording on Youtube of Krishna Das performing the Radhe Govinda mantra, spelled and pronounced “Raadhey Govinda.” It was in 2013, in the Church of St Paul and St Andrew, New York. I give discuss the translations below, with meaning for the Kirtan concert.
This Youtube video has 9 million viewings! It is powerful because we see the audience, and how they respond to the music led by Krishna Das. The joy and delight on their faces is vivid and real. They join in with hands and voices. As the tempo increases, they get to their feet and move freely in dance. This is bhakti.
Available at – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEeMdzKSFp8
Other songs from this concert are also on Youtube, and are also extremely popular. I give the url on my pages for : hare Krishna hare Rama, and Shambhu Shankara namah Shivaya.
The Song.
We enjoy an extended introduction on harmonium by Krishna Das, as Arjun Bruggeman tunes up his hand drum. Krishna Das is not troubled, and Arjun begins the rhythm that carries this song and the audience. He is joined by John Mc Dowell also on drums and Nina Rao on finger cymbals. These three suddenly increase the tempo half way thru the song, and the audience get to their feet. David Nichtern’s electric guitar then becomes prominent in the fast music.
The Venue.
The concert was at the United Methodist Church of St Paul and St Andrew, New York city. This venue has been devoted to sacred song and Divine service for over a century. They describe themselves thus –
“St. Paul & St. Andrew is a community of radical welcome on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where all are valued because of who they are and the talents, gifts and energy they bring. As a congregation, we challenge ourselves to follow Jesus into the streets of the city to increase the amount of love and justice in the world. We do this through dynamic and provocative worship, inclusive relationship building and putting progressive Christian values into action.”
The Mantra Discussed
for Kirtan Concert.
Most webpages high in Google ranking will tell you that Radha is Krishna’s beloved, including online images of Radha and Krishna. What other interpretation might be more relevant to us non-Hindus, and especially to the video recording and all the people we see there?
This song uses only three Sanskrit words – Raadhey Govinda and Gopaala (rādhe govinda gopāla) but they are enough.
Govinda is another Name for Krishna, and in the traditional story telling, Krishna was a gifted musician. His music attracted many Gopi women who tended the cows, and of these Radha was the closest to Krishna. Thus Radha can mean closely attracted to music, with strong musical appreciation. To the extent that all other matters fade into insignificance, and we are entirely with the music. This gives preliminary translation of –
Radha can mean “being with the music”, or musical appreciation, and
Govinda can mean the Source of the music, perhaps the musicians on stage.
However, Kirtan has a special “energy” for it also has deeper spiritual significance. Krishna is a most common Name for Deity in India, and there are many Krishna temples and devotees there. Thus Radha can also mean “closest to Deity”, in the sense that the Presence of Deity is foremost in our attention. By this I mean that enjoyment, appreciation, upliftment, inspiration and good will are most strong in our consciousness. This gives a deeper meaning for Kirtan –
Radha can mean us as spiritual practitioners, and
Govinda can mean the Source of healing.
In the video, the people are absorbed in the important spiritual practice of bhakti yoga. They are participating in Kirtan and enjoying it. By Kirtan, I usually mean a genre of music where talented Western musicians put the ancient Sanskrit mantras to good music. But in this video, we see the other meaning of Kirtan. kīrtana means “recite and celebrate” in the dictionary.
Ecstatic Dance.
Ecstatic dance is an important feature of Kirtan, and emphasised by Chaitanya, the great spiritual leader and revivalist 500 years ago in India. He is usually depicted dancing with hands upraised. In ecstatic dance, we put all our attention into the music. If it’s mantra music, then we also focus on the sounds and meaning of the mantra, as we recite. We allow our body to move with the music, and allow the rhythm of the music to guide our dance. We give full appreciation to the musicians and what they are creating right in this moment. We abandon all inhibitions, and enjoy the powerful healing of free form dance. We try to dance elegantly and gracefully, to compliment the musicians performance. We often raise the hands high, for this also lifts the energy. This is not a courtship dance driven by sexual attraction, restricted only to couples.
Unfortunately, such free form dance is rare to see, at least in Australia where I live. The inhibitions are too strong, and when the dance band makes dance music, virtually everyone is tied rigidly to their chair. If the volume is really excessive, with dominating beat from drums and bass guitar, some may get to their feet, but the inhibitions still prevent free healing movement. This is worst at free festivals where anyone might drift into the music space.
So it is most heart warming to see many people in the audience on their feet, moving freely, and really enjoying the Kirtan. Please remember this should you be at a Kirtan concert that includes dance music. Try to abandon the Anglo inhibitions, try to get up, try to move freely, and enjoy the dance. It is very healing. This also applies to any concert music that is dancy. There will usually be some place where you can create a dance space, and it is usually right up front, closest to the musicians.
Of the Kirtan musicians on this website, the male singers Kevin James Carrol and Pralad create dance music at their concerts. I distinguish myself at their concerts by wearing brilliantly multi-coloured clothes and dancing exuberantly up front. I get to be closest to the musicians, have lots of room to move, and the experience is incredibly healing and freeing. (Unfortunately I missed the Krishna Das concert in Brisbane in 2017, and I doubt he will perform here again.)
The Locative Case.
However, the word in our song is not Radha but rādhe, pronounced “Raadhey”. rādhe is in the locative form. Thus -
Raadhey (rādhe) can mean “located in music appreciation”, or
Raadhey (rādhe) can mean “located in joy, upliftment, healing, inspiration.”
Let us be located in beautiful, healing and joyous Kirtan.
Govinda Raadhey Gopaala Raadhey
Half way thru the song, Krishna Das introduces the second mantra, govinda rādhe, gopāla rādhe. Govinda and Gopāla are a pair of Names for Deity of related meaning. This pair of Names describes an important dynamic in the healing process and thus spiritual practice. The dictionary helps us distinguish between these two Names with the following translations -
vinda means “find, gain”
pāla means “support, protect”.
This suggests the following translations -
Govinda can mean “finding healing and appreciation”, and
Gopāla can mean “practising and protecting healing and appreciation.”
For us to access the full healing potential of music appreciation, especially ecstatic dance, we need to first discover the beauty in music, and find within the appreciation and freedom to move. Once we have gained this special ability, then we need to practice and develop.
These important spiritual Qualities of appreciation, enjoyment, upliftment, free uninhibited movement and flexibility in dance can be quite vulnerable to sabotaging influence. They are easily weakened and eroded by lack of focus and interest, boredom, craving for sensationalism, criticism blame and resentment, and even derisive and derogatory attitudes about real culture. Such defilements intensely inhibit these important spiritual Qualities, and inhibitions are very contagious. So it is important to protect these important Qualities of healing, when we manage to find and restore them into our experience.
For reasons like these, I always prefer to go to such concerts alone. Then I can give my undivided attention to the music. I don’t have to worry about a companion who cannot find much interest in the performance, or might even find it boring or contemptible. Especially the “hare Krishna hare Rama” mantra. I am also free to get up to dance, not having to worry about a companion left behind on the chairs.
But the real reason is that I have trained my mind to take delight in simple, uncomplicated things, and become fully absorbed thus. This comes from many decades of daily meditation training to monastery level. This training is specifically aimed at letting go of busy-ness, mental noise, the need for drama, distracting thoughts and a host of other hindrances to absorption into meditation. It also cultivates delight, wonder, appreciation, contentment, clarity, good will and other spiritual Qualities related to absorption or samādhi. I believe this is the main reason why I can take real delight in simple beauty; natural, crafted, or musical; that others lose interest in almost immediately. Or never take any real interest in.
Yet appreciation for the simple things we have in life is a very healing Quality. One of the most powerful ones. Also called “thanksgiving.” What can help us train the mind like this?
This is quite challenging. So I prepared extensive treatises on spiritual practice, Deity in Kirtan, and meditation training, to help us all find useful guidance to our practice and training. With new translations of the most prominent scriptures, revealing how the Sanskrit can provide useful material for our endeavours. Published on this website.
This song uses only three Sanskrit words – Raadhey Govinda and Gopaala (rādhe govinda gopāla) but they are enough.
Govinda is another Name for Krishna, and in the traditional story telling, Krishna was a gifted musician. His music attracted many Gopi women who tended the cows, and of these Radha was the closest to Krishna. Thus Radha can mean closely attracted to music, with strong musical appreciation. To the extent that all other matters fade into insignificance, and we are entirely with the music. This gives preliminary translation of –
Radha can mean “being with the music”, or musical appreciation, and
Govinda can mean the Source of the music, perhaps the musicians on stage.
However, Kirtan has a special “energy” for it also has deeper spiritual significance. Krishna is a most common Name for Deity in India, and there are many Krishna temples and devotees there. Thus Radha can also mean “closest to Deity”, in the sense that the Presence of Deity is foremost in our attention. By this I mean that enjoyment, appreciation, upliftment, inspiration and good will are most strong in our consciousness. This gives a deeper meaning for Kirtan –
Radha can mean us as spiritual practitioners, and
Govinda can mean the Source of healing.
In the video, the people are absorbed in the important spiritual practice of bhakti yoga. They are participating in Kirtan and enjoying it. By Kirtan, I usually mean a genre of music where talented Western musicians put the ancient Sanskrit mantras to good music. But in this video, we see the other meaning of Kirtan. kīrtana means “recite and celebrate” in the dictionary.
Ecstatic Dance.
Ecstatic dance is an important feature of Kirtan, and emphasised by Chaitanya, the great spiritual leader and revivalist 500 years ago in India. He is usually depicted dancing with hands upraised. In ecstatic dance, we put all our attention into the music. If it’s mantra music, then we also focus on the sounds and meaning of the mantra, as we recite. We allow our body to move with the music, and allow the rhythm of the music to guide our dance. We give full appreciation to the musicians and what they are creating right in this moment. We abandon all inhibitions, and enjoy the powerful healing of free form dance. We try to dance elegantly and gracefully, to compliment the musicians performance. We often raise the hands high, for this also lifts the energy. This is not a courtship dance driven by sexual attraction, restricted only to couples.
Unfortunately, such free form dance is rare to see, at least in Australia where I live. The inhibitions are too strong, and when the dance band makes dance music, virtually everyone is tied rigidly to their chair. If the volume is really excessive, with dominating beat from drums and bass guitar, some may get to their feet, but the inhibitions still prevent free healing movement. This is worst at free festivals where anyone might drift into the music space.
So it is most heart warming to see many people in the audience on their feet, moving freely, and really enjoying the Kirtan. Please remember this should you be at a Kirtan concert that includes dance music. Try to abandon the Anglo inhibitions, try to get up, try to move freely, and enjoy the dance. It is very healing. This also applies to any concert music that is dancy. There will usually be some place where you can create a dance space, and it is usually right up front, closest to the musicians.
Of the Kirtan musicians on this website, the male singers Kevin James Carrol and Pralad create dance music at their concerts. I distinguish myself at their concerts by wearing brilliantly multi-coloured clothes and dancing exuberantly up front. I get to be closest to the musicians, have lots of room to move, and the experience is incredibly healing and freeing. (Unfortunately I missed the Krishna Das concert in Brisbane in 2017, and I doubt he will perform here again.)
The Locative Case.
However, the word in our song is not Radha but rādhe, pronounced “Raadhey”. rādhe is in the locative form. Thus -
Raadhey (rādhe) can mean “located in music appreciation”, or
Raadhey (rādhe) can mean “located in joy, upliftment, healing, inspiration.”
Let us be located in beautiful, healing and joyous Kirtan.
Govinda Raadhey Gopaala Raadhey
Half way thru the song, Krishna Das introduces the second mantra, govinda rādhe, gopāla rādhe. Govinda and Gopāla are a pair of Names for Deity of related meaning. This pair of Names describes an important dynamic in the healing process and thus spiritual practice. The dictionary helps us distinguish between these two Names with the following translations -
vinda means “find, gain”
pāla means “support, protect”.
This suggests the following translations -
Govinda can mean “finding healing and appreciation”, and
Gopāla can mean “practising and protecting healing and appreciation.”
For us to access the full healing potential of music appreciation, especially ecstatic dance, we need to first discover the beauty in music, and find within the appreciation and freedom to move. Once we have gained this special ability, then we need to practice and develop.
These important spiritual Qualities of appreciation, enjoyment, upliftment, free uninhibited movement and flexibility in dance can be quite vulnerable to sabotaging influence. They are easily weakened and eroded by lack of focus and interest, boredom, craving for sensationalism, criticism blame and resentment, and even derisive and derogatory attitudes about real culture. Such defilements intensely inhibit these important spiritual Qualities, and inhibitions are very contagious. So it is important to protect these important Qualities of healing, when we manage to find and restore them into our experience.
For reasons like these, I always prefer to go to such concerts alone. Then I can give my undivided attention to the music. I don’t have to worry about a companion who cannot find much interest in the performance, or might even find it boring or contemptible. Especially the “hare Krishna hare Rama” mantra. I am also free to get up to dance, not having to worry about a companion left behind on the chairs.
But the real reason is that I have trained my mind to take delight in simple, uncomplicated things, and become fully absorbed thus. This comes from many decades of daily meditation training to monastery level. This training is specifically aimed at letting go of busy-ness, mental noise, the need for drama, distracting thoughts and a host of other hindrances to absorption into meditation. It also cultivates delight, wonder, appreciation, contentment, clarity, good will and other spiritual Qualities related to absorption or samādhi. I believe this is the main reason why I can take real delight in simple beauty; natural, crafted, or musical; that others lose interest in almost immediately. Or never take any real interest in.
Yet appreciation for the simple things we have in life is a very healing Quality. One of the most powerful ones. Also called “thanksgiving.” What can help us train the mind like this?
This is quite challenging. So I prepared extensive treatises on spiritual practice, Deity in Kirtan, and meditation training, to help us all find useful guidance to our practice and training. With new translations of the most prominent scriptures, revealing how the Sanskrit can provide useful material for our endeavours. Published on this website.
To access other pages on this website, about spiritual practice or scriptures,
go to the menu at the page head. Click onto the “more” button,
or the + next to it. Then click onto more + buttons.
The intro page "Translated Mantras" discusses how to
access the full benefit of these mantra discussions.
go to the menu at the page head. Click onto the “more” button,
or the + next to it. Then click onto more + buttons.
The intro page "Translated Mantras" discusses how to
access the full benefit of these mantra discussions.
©Copyright by Mike Browning, 2021. You are permitted and encouraged to copy text from this webpage and use as you see fit, provided it is not harmful to mantra-translate.
