Ravi has been a live musician and multi-instrumentalist since the age of five. For many years, Ravi was a semi-professional acoustic blues guitarist, committed to the historical and traditional aspects of this music. He was originally introduced to kirtan in 2003 while a student of Swami Satchidananda’s Integral Yoga. He has studied classical Indian music & harmonium with Muralidhar Pai, son of Sadguru Sant Keshavadas. He continues to study with numerous other fabulous teachers in various genres, perhaps most notably Jorma Kaoukonen since 2000. He has been leading kirtans since 2008, as well as playing with many local kirtan groups. Most recently he has been playing regularly in New England with Devadas.
Lisa Lalita Desrosiers has been a devoted yogini for 20 years, completed her yoga teacher training in 2012, and studies sanskrit mantra in the Sadguru Sant Keshavadas & Namadeva Acharya lineage. She has devoted her life’s work to the healing arts, currently works full-time as an acupuncturist, and offers kirtan as another form of vibrational healing. She has been singing since childhood and learned to play piano from her mother. Lisa is currently studying Indian Classical voice with Shuchita Rao at Learnquest Academy and studying Dhrupad with the Gundecha Brothers. She offers her sweet voice, harmonium & kartals to the Solar Dynasty Band.
Kraig Ludensky from Boston has studied with various teachers throughout his life that have helped shape his drumming, including avant-garde great Barry Altschul. In 1994-95 he studied folk drumming in Pushkar, Rajasthan India with renowned international Nagara teacher Nathu Solenki and also began basic studies of Indian Classical drumming. In 1997-98 Kraig underwent intense instruction in Tabla technique with Benares Hindu University professor of music Pandit Chotte Lal Mishra (famed disciple of Pt. Anoke Lal Misra), in Benaras, India. From 2004-2006 Kraig also studied Japanese Folk music in Ehime, Japan. Since then Kraig has mixed his experiences with modern drumming and Indian classical and world folk music, performing in a wide range of venues in the United States, Europe, Japan and India.
Carl Woolf plays violin, viola, clarinet & native american flute, among other instruments. He enjoys music, movement, prayer and meditation. Professionally, Carl has been a teacher, prayer/chant leader, software developer, and musician. He especially loves devotional music from various traditions.
The Solar Dynasty Band loves to play with other friends including Devadas of Brooklyn, Satya Franche & Ma kirtan of New York, Shivananda Sharma of Rishikesh India, Martha Williamson of New Hampshire, and other bhakti friends.
Some of the venues The Solar Dynasty Band has played include: Bethel Farm in Hillsborough NH, Ashok’s ranch in Falmouth ME, Kitchari Kirtan in Cambridge MA, Essence Yoga in Cranston RI, Braj Mandir’s Holi Festival in Holbrook, MA, yoga immersions and teacher trainings with Sara Davidson/Full Radiance Yoga in Providence RI, yoga retreat with Julia Novina Yoga in Western MA, Awakening Grace Yoga in Epping NH, At Om Yoga in Concord NH, The Corner Studio in Medford MA, Unitarian Universalist churches in Fitchburg and Ashby MA, Keene Yoga Weekend in Keene NH, Yoga Day for Peace in NH, yoga classes, living rooms, and many more.
Origins of the name “The Solar Dynasty Band”
Simply put, The Solar Dynasty is the lineage into which Lord Ram was born.
In 1870 Ralph T. H. Griffith offered an alternative meaning for the Sanskrit, “The Family of the Children of the Sun.” In the Kamba Ramayana (Tamil Ramayna), Rama’s father Dasratha is referred to as “…the scion of the Solar race. A king of kings…”
Devi Vanamali describes the lineage in her “The Song of Rama” as follows:
Long, long ago, in the beautiful land of Kosala, on the banks of the river Sarayu, was situated the magnificent town of Ayodhya. Ruled by the wise and just king called Dasratha, he belonged to the Solar Dynasty in the lineage of Ikshvaku, who was the son of Vaivasvatha Manu, the first of all created beings.
After which, Vanamali then continues to describe the divine events surrounding Rama and his brothers appearance, taking birth as Dasratha’s royal sons.
Some say St. Tulsi Das, Tulasidasa, was actually Valmiki returning in another incarnation to perfect his original work. Whether or not you believe this to be true, Tulsi Das has left us with arguably one of the finest Ramayanas, Shri Ramacharitamanasa, The Holy Lake of the Acts of Rama.
Tulsi Das writes: “With Sita by his side, the Glory of the Solar race outshone the beauty of unnumbered Loves.”
This is the essence from which we have named our band, The Solar Dynasty Band. We are all Rama’s children, and we humbly offer that we are your family band.
“Lord Ram, May i ask for Your name on the tip of my tongue ~ please give me Your Bajan on my tongue, i offer Namasan Kirtan at Your Holy Feet”