“Do thy duty without attachment
Supreme will be thy attainment
Karma yoga be thy goal
Perform this and free thy soul”
-Bhagavad Gita 3.19, as translated by Sadguru Sant Keshavadas
The Solar Dynasty Band supports many charities and organizations as part of their seva, or selfless service. Read more about these organizations below, and please consider how you can do seva for your community.
The C.J. Maa Music School of Rishikesh India Ravi’s beloved kirtan teacher, Ma Chetan Jyoti started a music school in Rishikesh India to teach Indian Classical Music to local children, for free. Classes were originally held on the roof of her ashram. After Ma left her body in 2010, Shivananda Sharma took over as musical director of the school and continues to lead and teach. Ravi and Lisa visited the school in 2010 and continue to support the school through charitable donations raised at kirtan events. In 2014 The Solar Dynasty Band helped organize The Sounds for Seva Tour, bringing Shivananda Sharma to New England for a 2 week kirtan tour. Below is a beautiful video about the school:
BhaktiSeva (selfless service from the heart) was created in 2010 by our friend Krishnabai to raise funds for the C.J. Maa Music School in Rishikesh, India. Funds are raised by selling products imported from India. The profits go directly to support the school.
The Temple of Cosmic Religion Ravi and Lisa are blessed to be in the lineage of Sadguru Sant Keshavadas and Guru Rama Mata. (They were married by Guru Rama Mata in June 2013). Some of the traditional kirtan and bhajans they lead were composed by Keshavadas.
Sadguru Sant Keshavadas, the Founder of Temple of Cosmic Religion, belonged to the ancient line of singing saints and exemplifies the tradition Bhakti Yoga or devotional mysticism. He established numerous temples and meditation centers throughout the United States, as well as the Bhagavad-Gita Mandir and Gayatri University in Bangalore, India and conducted more than thirty peace pilgrimages around the world. He dedicated his life to the goal of world peace. Author of over 20 books and composer of more than 6,000 spiritual songs, his legacy lives on through the dedication of his wife and the spark of God-realization he instilled in his devotees and disciples.
Guru Mataji (Guru Rama Mata) the successor to Sant Keshavadas is the President of the Temple of Cosmic Religion and continues to administer its world headquarters at Vishwa Shanti Ashrama in Bangalore, India. A devoted disciple/servant during her marriage of 46 years, she is considered by many in her native India and around the world to be a saint in her own right. This humble woman is now called “Guru Mata” and vows to continue Guruji’s work.
Below is a video taken at the Vishwa Shanti Ashram in Bangalore India, where Guru Rama Mata resides while in India.
Sanatana Dharma Satsang is the religious organization sponsoring the Gayatri Temple in Beaverton. Sanatana Dharma Satsang’s co-founder and president is Satyabhama/Margalo Ashley-Farrand. She and her late husband, Thomas Ashley-Farrand/Namadeva Acharya (1940-2010) founded the organization in early 2001. He was one of the Western world’s foremost authorities on the application of Sanskrit Mantra to life’s problems.
Keene Yoga Weekend For many years, Ravi and The Solar Dynasty Band have been offering kirtan at the annual Keene Yoga Weekend. This event is 100% volunteer run with all donations going to support hospice programs at HSC.
YogaCaps A New Hampshire based volunteer yoga organization, Yoga Caps offers many programs to the community. Ravi has regularly supported YogaCaps by offering kirtan at yoga classes and at their annual Yoga Day for Peace.
