In the early days of our movement, we were all students in every sense of the word. While we were learning the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, we were also "flavor hunting"—not just for spices and traditional recipes in the kitchen, but for the authentic sounds of the Vedic tradition.
The 1976 Mayapur-Vrindavan Festival was a vibrant time of cultural exchange. Living at the Fogla Ashram, we didn't have easy access to the internet or global archives. Our "world wide web" was the simple act of connecting two tape decks together with a patch cord.
I remember meeting Rksaraj das in his room. He had recently returned from traveling through South India with Yasodanandan Swami and Acyutananda Swami. They were pioneers in bringing the Brahma-samhita to the forefront of our festivals, often singing those verses to inaugurate their programs. Rksaraj wasn't just a kirtan leader; he was the consumate Vaishnava musician and connossieur of transcendental sound.
Recording by Rksaraj dasa (ACBSP)
Remastered 2024 by Uttamasloka dasa (ACBSP)
While visiting Udupi—one of the most sacred seats of the Madhva line—Rksaraj recorded the Shivalli Madhva Brahmans chanting sacred vedic texts. This group is known for their strict adherence to tradition and their powerful, resonant style of chanting.
For the devotees back then, hearing a recording like this was a revelation. It provided a glimpse into the roots of the culture we were adopting. Just as a cook wants to know the traditional way to temper spices, we wanted to hear the traditional way to vibrate these ancient mantras.
Audio Contents of the Video
The Morning Awakening (Udupi, 1975)
00:00 – Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam (Traditional Dawn Prayers)
14:50 – Sri Venkateswara Stotram (Glorification of the Lord's Form)
21:20 – Sri Venkateswara Prapatti (Prayers of Surrender)
26:10 – Sri Venkateswara Mangalasasanam (Auspicious Concluding Verses)
33:45 – Shanti Mantra: Saha Nau Vavatu (Vedic Peace Prayer)
Upanishads, Brahma Samhita, and Gita
45:00 – Taittiriya Upanishad: Bhrigu Valli (Dialogue on the Nature of Brahman)
1:02:15 – Sri Brahma-samhita: Verse 1 (Govindam Adi-Purusham)
1:04:30 – Sri Brahma-samhita: Verses 29–32
1:08:45 – Narayana Upanishad (Glorification of the Supreme Source)
1:16:20 – Kali-Santarana Upanishad (The Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra)
1:22:10 – Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verses 1–30 (Traditional Vedic Recitation)
Photos in the Video: A Tour of South India
Many of the photos shown in some of these videos are taken by Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa, a disciple of His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) during his many tours across India. Since 1987, Stephen has traveled through every state of India except Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, assembling a collection of over 18,000 slides and images of temples, historical and holy sites, festivals, people, and the culture wherever he has traveled. Many Indians tell him that he has seen more of India than most Indians. But he has done so due to his respect for the culture and his curiosity to experience the spiritual nature of the many sacred places this country has to offer, and his desire to share the sacred nature of India's Vedic culture with others who may be similarly interested. For all of his work, besides writing over 50 books on the Vedic spirituality of India, he has been granted some prestigious awards, such as the Padma Shri award in 2025, which is India's fourth highest civilian award given by the government of India for distinguished service to the country. More information about him and his writings and projects can be seen at his website: http://www.stephen-knapp.com
~ Gopati das ACBSP