The Name “Mayapuris”
The kirtan movement was inaugurated in Mayapur, which lies along the banks of the Ganga in West Bengal, India. This special place is very close to our heart. My brother Bali and I studied and lived in the ashram there, Vish lived there with his family, and Vrinda was four the first time her parents brought her all the way from Sweden. Even now when we go to Mayapur, there is a feeling of having gone back in time, five-hundred years ago, to the time when Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced in kirtan through the villages. The story of how kirtan started is one we relate to quite a bit. Initially, the kirtan movement started surreptitiously. The doors were open only to Caitanya’s intimate associates who gathered together blissfully singing the night through. They dove deep into the essence of the holy names. This was the secret “nocturnal school of kirtan.” Eventually, Caitanya, full of compassion for the lost souls in the world, brought kirtan out into the streets of Mayapur and eventually all of India. Everyone was encouraged to join in this kirtan, which caused quite a revolution in the caste-divided India.
We love the history of kirtan because we’ve been singing at home and in our temples for many years before the idea of becoming kirtan-musicians even crossed our minds. Unknowingly, we’ve spent all our life doing kirtan, preparing in a sense to do what Mahaprabhu did, go out into the world and share this singing, this dancing, this happiness!
We were also quite inspired early on by the Manipuri drummers from Manipur, who have a well-developed style of dancing and seemingly flying with their drums. Once we had our mridunga-techniques down, we spontaneously began dancing with our drums, and the name “Mayapuris” manifested from this joint love of the mridunga-dance and the place Mayapur.
-Kishor
Thanks so much for the info and your wonderful bhajans and association
Truly transcendental.
A huge thank you for successfully passing on Srila Prabhupada’s torch and keeping it burning so bright for all to see the kirtan way, despite all the dense and dark jungle that surrounds us. All the hearts in this world wish to usher your group, as well as Gaura Vani’s team into your continued and blessed streak across the universe! Just like Hanuman when he performed his kirtan vrata catching all of Lanka off guard by setting the town on fire with his Bolo ” Jai Ram Jai Ram” just as you are doing setting fire to all the hearts and ears who hear your kirtan! THE H.K. family members are so proud of what your offering as Seva to the world- Please never stop chanting and dancing (like you could stop even if you wanted too! You cannot stop once the taste is upon your lips-Kaliya
PS-Thank you for pulling me into the Soup Kirtan in Santa Barbara last month. An honor to jam and party the transcendental way!
The MAYAPURIS has brought a revolution in the kirtans during their trip in Brazil 2008/2009!!!
They has inspired so many brazilian young devotees to became dedicated on this ancient art of kirtan!
Thank you so much guys!!!
Hope to see you all again and again!!!
friend
Vaikuntha Murti Das
Festival da India Brazil
I am so proud of you young men.When I see and hear you, my heart swells with BLISS! Hita and I want to talk to you about doing an event in Nashville at an awesome Unitarian Church. Lets connect soon! Titiksa dd
………………….jay nithai nithai nithai ….bolo bhai gaura nithai…….bolo bhai gaura nithai…….
awesome kirtans prabhuji
mayapuris are d best…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You guys rock! Thanks for bringing so much joy to so many people’s hearts through your kirtan. May Lord Chaitanya inspire you to always selflessly and compassionately perform kirtan throughout the world!
i heard kirtan ‘ jay radhe jay radhe….jay sri radhe , jay jay shyam ‘ sung by visvambhar das and i just started crying … There was so much feelings in his voice : so mayapuris are the best kirtan party according to me….keep it up. Jai srila prabhupada