The spiritual name, Sanjaya, was given to me in 2010 by my beloved yoga teacher, Akash Bornstein, or Maaji, as she is affectionately known.
Sanjaya was a wise counsellor in the epic Vedic text, the Mahabarata. This figure comes to prominence within the setting and in the recording of the events of the Bhagavad Gita, both an historical account and a metaphorical representation of the great ‘spiritual battle’ that we all face. Its meaning signifies complete victory through the inner journey of introspection, self-examination, or contemplation. It continues to be a reminder and an aspiration.
My musical journey began, essentially, through my father who had a broad and eclectic taste that covered many genres. Over the years, I have been involved in a similarly varied range of musical
performance.
In 2008 I studied, established and committed to a yogic lifestyle, including asana, meditation, philosophy, and other yogic practices. Kirtan, or devotional singing to the Divine, became and remains one of the great joys of this path, and the spiritual or devotional songs and chants included here have been developed over this time.
I have found music and sound to be one very direct and immediate means of contact with the Divine, in whatever way we may wish to envision that Mystery. In contacting the Divine, I am referring to both a greater Intelligence or Consciousness beyond the limited boundaries of a constructed self, or ego, but also to the Divine attributes of a Higher Self or Consciousness that lies and is reflected within.
In this way, spiritual songs and chants are not only a direct means of communication or connection, but also a form of integration, bringing what may be hidden aspects of ourselves into the subconscious, conscious and, ultimately, super-conscious awareness. Naturally, this is an individualised process of organic or gradual unfoldment.
On reflection, all music, whether consciously or unconsciously, is a means by which we bring aspects of ourselves into physical or manifest reality. From my own view, spiritual songs and chants are both simply, and profoundly, a conscious choice of manifesting at the highest level of light or awareness that we are able. This is potentially of great benefit, not only to ourselves, but also as a means of infusing through the broader consciousness of all beings. The primary function is then
beyond one of entertainment, which has its own value, but becomes an act of love and service toward a higher state of collective Being or Wholeness.
This is the intention and the purpose of the music and sounds that you will discover here.