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Dharmadas and his wife, Nayaswami Nirmala, are the spiritual directors of Ananda Sacramento. They provided invaluable service in the early days of Swami Kriyananda’s efforts to make Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings known in his native India. Q: Tell us about your musical background, starting as early as you like. Dharmadas: Music has always been an important … Read more

Gitanjali serves as the main choir director in the music ministry at Ananda Europa in Assisi, Italy. She also assists Mantrini and Kirtani in directing a beginner’s choir. (Photo: 2000s) Q: Did you have an early background in music? Gitanjali: I sang in choirs in junior and senior high school, and I studied piano for … Read more

Dambara is active in the music ministry at Ananda Sangha in Portland, Oregon. Come to think of it, he’s been a prominent presence in the Ananda music ministry since dinosaurs still grazed on Sunset Meadow at Ananda Village. His cheerfulness reflects the scientifically verifiable effects of a life dedicated to serving others. Dambara now frequently … Read more

Nirmala is co-spiritual director, with her husband Dharmadas, of Ananda Sangha in Sacramento, California. At the time Nirmala when wrote the following, she and Dharmadas were living in India, helping Swami Kriyananda start Ananda’s work there. (Photo: 2000s – Nirmala and Dharmadas) When I arrived at Ananda Village in August, 1975, I joined the apprentice … Read more

We spoke with Keshava at the Ananda Church of Self-Realization in Palo Alto, California on February 12, 2020. An accomplished singer, cellist, actor and choir director, Keshava is deeply involved with the arts as a path of personal transformation and service. He is on the staff of Ananda Sangha and is a full-time teacher at … Read more

Chaitanya has a lovely Irish tenor voice that he has offered in service to God who has inspired thousands. through him. Q: Tell us how you got interested in singing. Chaitanya: I was at St. Francis de Sales High School in Columbus, Ohio. I think it was in my sophomore year that I tried out … Read more

A world citizen, Saiganesh grew up in a traditional Hindu family in India. Trained as an Indian Classical musician, he is a frequent soloist at Ananda. He was interviewed by Nayaswami Asha for a series of conversations with younger Ananda members. (Photo: 2000s) Asha: I’m aware that you began singing when you were growing up … Read more

  Krishna directs the training choir at Ananda Village. Q: How did your interest in music begin? Krishna: I was about ten when they showed us the instruments we could choose to play at school, and I thought, “Oh, there’s one with just three buttons.” [Laughs] It was the trumpet, and I said, “I’ll take … Read more

When we spoke, Cindy served as the choir director for Ananda Sangha in Seattle, Washington. Since that time she has moved to Portland where she remains active in the music ministry. Q: Tell us about your early background in music, and how you became interested in Ananda’s music. Cindy: I came from a family that … Read more

Q: How did you become involved with Swami Kriyananda’s music, perhaps going back to before you came to Ananda? Raghu: I started listening to music on an AM transistor radio in the 1960s. I was nine or ten and I would come home for lunch and listen to the AM station in Buffalo, New York. … Read more