Born in the Netherlands, Janaka began playing the guitar at age 12 and from ages 16 to 19 he toured student clubs with his rock band.  A transforming moment came in his awakening as a musician when, at a Christmas celebration concert, Janaka performed George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord”.  The audience was enchanted.  It was the first time people were stirred by Janakas unique talent of singing directly to the Divine.  Soon after, he became attracted to Indian philosophy and yoga.  In 1979 he read “Autobiography Of a Yogi” by Paramahansa Yogananda, the same book that had inspired George Harrison.  Looking into the eyes of the Master’s picture, he felt a sense of recognition and a deep connection from the past.  Over the years Janaka sang during numerous meditation and kirtan events and more recently started writing his own heartfelt songs of devotion and inspiration resulting in a series of three CD’s dedicated to the Masters, Yogananda, Christ and Krishna.

About the Music:          

Janaka’s music is devotional and enjoyable!  It springs from a deep well of inspiration nurtured by 25 years of meditation and spiritual practices, and a natural ability to express devotion through music.  His songs are permeated with a serene fragrance of Divine yearning.  The harmonious blend of Indian instruments, light pop music, and adaptations from traditional Indian chants offer a universal world appeal to be enjoyed by audiences of both East and West. His work touches all sincere hearts seeking a deeper understanding of life and a yearning to draw closer to the Divine.

The Benefits :

At the heart of Janaka’s music are two of India’s great spiritual practices: 

• Mantra Yoga,  chanting or singing directly to the Divine, or repeating the name of God thoughtfully and with attention
• Japa Yoga, devotional expression from the heart, or singing with deep yearning from the heart, a method of drawing the consciousness inside to a heightened state of Spiritual Awareness.

The intention is for listeners to sing along, audibly or mentally with the songs and to interiorize the consciousness through devotion. By mental chanting during the day one can carry this devotional echo within and remain attuned to the spiritual vibrations   , while outwardly performing daily activities.

Some of the Hindu names and ancient Sanskrit words (Govinda, Gopala etc.) in their deeper esoteric meaning represent aspects of the Divine and they work like powerful mantras. It is by repeating these mantras with Devotion, (singing with a yearning for the Divine to respond) that one experiences an increased spiritual awareness. This concept, that music in its highest and purest form becomes an expression of the soul, moving both performer and listener to a state of heightened awareness, is at the heart of Indian musical tradition.

 “….a song born out of the depth of true devotion, continuously chanted , audibly or mentally until response is consciously received from God in the form of boundless joy, is a spiritualized song. Such songs like life matches produce the fire of God Awareness whenever they are struck at the foundation stone of devotion”                                                      

-Paramahansa Yogananda