She has since created 4 solo albums on Sequoia Records* and recently released the double disc album ‘Live at the Altar of Love’ June 2011 in collaboration with her partner Ananda. 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.
Her ecstatic singing and kirtan leading, often accompanied by other talented artists, has had a powerful effect amongst various communities in the islands of Hawaii, the West Coast, and Europe, always creating a deep sense of intimacy with the divine. She has a unique style that blends beauty, power and purity to create a truly transcendental sound driven by her deep connection with spirit. A gifted songwriter, she weaves English, Sanskrit, and prayers of other spiritual traditions with musical influences from India, indigenous trance, Celtic, psychedelic and folk rock.
She has sang on stage with Jai Uttal, Shimshai, Tina Malia, Dave Stringer, Phil Lesh, and Benjy and Heather Wertheimer among other great artists and played for many yoga classes and retreats with well known teachers such as Saul David Raye, Sianna Sherman, Janet Stone, Pete Guinosso, and Dawn Cartwright.
* Her four solo studio albums Ocean of Mercy (2003), Jewel of Hari (2004) and Sublime (2008) and Radiance (2009) are available on Sequoia Records, all magnificently embellished by the fine guitar and sarod work of Deva Priyo and tabla master Daniel Paul. On Sublime also featured are bansuri flute player Manose, Ananta on violin, Yoko Silk on cello, and Luna Marcus on support vocals.
As a vocal artist she is featured on Steve Gordon’s Drum Prayer (2002, Sequoia Records) and William Ackerman’s Hearing Voices (2001, RCA/Windham Hill records), and co-produced the track ‘Tantroktam Devi Suktam’ with Ben Leinbach on his new compilation album ‘Sangha’ (2011 White Swan Records)
Since coming together with Ananda in November 2010, she has been steadily involved in their collaboration of sacred music projects and special events including recording, touring, retreats and teaching yoga together.
She is the mother of two beautiful daughters, a student of Anusara and Kundalini yoga, and the Special Events Representative at Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss, currently based in Eugene, Oregon.
Bhaja Hure Mana
Jaya Lakshmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Durlabha manava-janama sat-sange taroho e bhava-sindhu re
O mind, just worship the lotus feet of the son of nanda, which make one fearless. having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of wordly existence through the association of saintly persons.
Sita atapa bata barisana e dina jamini jagi re
Biphale sevinu krpana durajana capala sukha-laba lagi' re
E dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana ithe ki ache paratiti re
Kamala-dala-jala, jivana talamala bhajahu hari pada niti re
What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one's wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? this life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of lord hari.
Sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana, pada sevana, dasya re
Pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana govinda-dasa-abhilasa re
It is the desire and great longing of govinda dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of lord hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering him and offering prayers to him, serving the lord's lotus feet, serving the supreme lord as a servant, worshiping him with flowers and incense and so forth, serving him as a friend, and completely offering the lord one's very self.
The song Bhajahu Re Mana by Jaya Lakshmi is a beautiful hymn to worship the divine feet of Lord Hari. The lyrics are written in three stanzas, each emphasizing the importance of serving and worshiping the Lord in different ways. The first stanza urges the listener to worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. The rare human birth is an opportunity to cross over the ocean of worldly existence by associating with saintly persons.
The second stanza exhorts the listener to worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda with firm conviction and faith. Sense gratification should be given up to become Krishna-conscious. By chanting "Hare Krishna! Hari Hari!" without any motive, one can achieve the desired goal of life. The third stanza questions the real happiness that one can attain through material possessions, youthfulness, sons, and family members. Life is fleeting like a drop of water on a lotus petal. Therefore, one should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.
Overall, the lyrics of Bhajahu Re Mana encourage devotees to engage in the nine processes of bhakti or devotion to Lord Hari, namely, hearing the glories of Lord Hari, chanting those glories, remembering Him, offering prayers to Him, serving His lotus feet, serving Him as a servant, worshiping Him with flowers and incense, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering oneself to Him.
Line by Line Meaning
Bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana-abhaya-caranaravinda re
O mind, just worship the fearless lotus feet of the son of Nanda
Durlabha manava-janama sat-sange taroho e bhava-sindhu re
Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence through association with saintly persons.
Sita atapa bata barisana e dina jamini jagi re
My dear brother, I request that you worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda with faith and conviction.
Biphale sevinu krpana durajana capala sukha-laba lagi' re
If one wants to be Krishna-conscious, they must give up sense gratification and chant "Hare Krishna! Hari Hari!" without any motive.
E dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana ithe ki ache paratiti re
What assurance of real happiness is there in wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members?
Kamala-dala-jala, jivana talamala bhajahu hari pada niti re
This life is unstable like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore, you should always worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.
Sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana, pada sevana, dasya re
Engage in the nine processes of Bhakti: hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, and serving the Lord's lotus feet.
Pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana govinda-dasa-abhilasa re
Serve the Lord as a friend, completely offer yourself to Him, and make it your great longing to engage in Bhakti.
Contributed by Joshua P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.