Krishna Das in Auroville

Krishna Das is a rock star of the sacred music world, singing the chants that he first heard in Himalayan temples over fifty years ago. On 12 February, his performance at the Matrimandir Amphitheatre opened the Science and Spirituality conference. Yet before a note was sounded, there was already discord. Two weeks earlier, the Resident’s Assembly Working Committee had written to the Matrimandir Executives on behalf of the many community members who had expressed concerns about the choice of venue. Given Krishna Das’s popularity, it was felt the event would attract “large numbers of people from outside who may not understand the space in which he would be singing”.

What had been intended as a sacred music offering to help bring the community together as one, singing interactively in the kirtan, was caught up in the churning of Auroville, with many questioning the more frequent hosting of large-scale events and VIP visitors at the Matrimandir. This concert followed close on the heels of the 24-hour closure of Auroville to tighten security for the G20/S20 delegates’ brief visit on 31 January. 

On the day, there were long queues to enter the complex and a line of portable toilets by the bridge over the water, adding to a general ‘music festival’ vibe. There was excitement in the air as the audience talked and socialised prior to the concert.

The numbers involved are not fully clear. It seemed the attendees were primarily part of the international Krishna Das fan base. According to Mathew of AVI-USA, who helped organise the event, over 3000 people attended, and of those who registered online, 1400 identified themselves as either member of Auroville International or Aurovilian. Several Aurovilians who were present estimated that at most 10% appeared to be Auroville residents.

To start the evening, Dena Merriam spoke first, inaugurating the ‘Spiritual Summit’, followed by the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, Dr Jayanti Ravi, who welcomed the attendees, and Srimoyi, who read quotes by Sri Aurobindo. When Krishna Das and his two accompanists entered, there were loud shouts, whistles and cheers. Once he began the kirtan, the atmosphere became calmer, but it seemed at times an unusual juxtaposition to combine large crowds and concert flood lights with the intention of inner concentration. There were silken silhouettes dancing in the light of the Matrimandir’s golden discs, and at times the curious feeling of being transported to the beaches of Goa or Bali. 

Whether Krishna Das was aware of the background rumblings was unclear, but his music was a sincere bhakti offering. He dedicated chants to the divine mother, nodding towards the Matrimandir as he did so. His chants and our refrains were uplifting, although perhaps slightly flatter in the open air than within the reverberating walls of a temple. 

This was a taste of the mantras he learnt all those years ago when he came to India as a young seeker. Both the Mother and his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, passed away in 1973. As part of the 1960s generation who came to India, along with his late spiritual brother, Ram Das, Krishna Das brought some of India’s spiritual light out to the West. Now he was offering it back to India herself. 

Krishna Das let his music speak for itself, with no song introductions. His humility combined with his trademark New York humour (ending the concert with “As we say in India, see you later.”) was refreshing. 

After the concert, it emerged that five members of the Foundation Office Working Committee (Anu, Srimoyi, Partha, Arun, and Selvaraj) sent a letter to Dena Merriam and Jayanti Ravi. They wrote “in support of the letter sent to you by the Matrimandir executives, we agree that the performance of Krishna Das at the Matrimandir Amphitheatre was not a suitable choice.” They further pointed out that “it was a very large crowd who apparently had no knowledge or regard for the place.” The Foundation Office Working Committee letter concludes: “The event has been felt as a violation of Matrimandir, a disrespect towards the Mother and a misuse of the Soul of Auroville, the Park of Unity in the Peace area. Videos of wild dancing with Matrimandir in the backdrop are unfortunately already being exploited on social media.” 

The art of listening and being inspired is part of the kirtan tradition that Krishna Das exemplifies. It is to be hoped that in future a greater and deeper listening can take place in Auroville.