Jai Uttal is a Grammy-nominated singer and one of the pioneers of kirtan and world music. He blends Indian influences with rock and jazz, and has performed around the world for almost fifty years.
First kirtan
He grew up in New York and began studying classical piano at seven. At about 16, in 1967, he heard kirtan for the first time at a gathering in Central Park, and the mantras captivated him at once.
His teachers
- Ali Akbar Khan, master of Indian classical music, showed him that music is a path to God.
- Neem Karoli Baba, his guru, and Shri Siddhi Ma, his spiritual mother, planted devotion in his heart.
Bhakti
Devotion was central to his spiritual life even before hatha yoga. For him, music and bhakti go hand in hand.
A story of recovery
He overcame addiction with the support of others, prayer and faith. Kirtan, fatherhood and marriage help him stay sober.
Source: Yoga Basics – The power of bhakti yoga with Jai Uttal.
