Indian multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer K D Babu Kishan (Krishnendu Das) has a new release for Mother’s Day titled Joy Ma (B Network).
Joy Ma is a prayer to the Ancient Mother of Bengal, an offering of protection from the current Pandemic and all negativity.
Kali Ma is the ancient heritage of Bengal, the land of Kali Puja and Shati Peeths; she is worshiped throughout India. All her manifestations, Rakkha Kali Ma, Dakshina Kali, Bhadra Kali, Dasha Maha Vidya, Tarapith Tara ma, Kali Ghat Kali Ma, Assam Kamakhya Ma; she is Anandamoyi Ma, the bliss filled Mother of the Universe.
Babu Kishan was born in the soul and soil of Birbhum Bengal; the land of mystical Kali Ma. Born into the lap of ‘Baul Avadhut’ Sant Nabani Das Khyapa Baul and Brajabala Dasi, it was clear the moment he arrived that he was Kali’s son.
Nabani initiated Rabindranath Tagore into Baul giving him the name ‘Robi Baul’. Tagore gave Nabani the name ‘Mirror of the Sky’ and ‘Khepa Baul.’ For decades they were friends with an intellectual artistic mystical respect.
Babu Kishan’s first experience of Ma was as an infant, born premature without hope of survival. If not for his grandpa, Guru Nabani, his demise was certain. However, Nabani a long time deep Mystic Tantric Baul, took Babu to the cremation grounds at Tarapith; the Suri hospital did not have any hope. Nabani did not give up; he used all the invisible help an adept could muster. He cured his grandson and made sure he had darshan with all the Saints, gurus, swami, tantrics of 1962.
Tarapith was Nabani’s ground where he had done Sadhana for decades. He had been initiated into deep Tara Vidya practices decades earlier by Bama Khepa the Maha Saint of Tarapith. Through Tara Ma’s compassion, we have Babu Kishan today.
Growing up beside his grandpa Guru Nabani, Babu was immersed in Kali Sadhana; inborn with the greatest love of Kali Ma.
He lived next door to Rakkha Kali Mandir, the protector of the village, she is the Kali Ma of Pandemics. Babu Kishan would play on her doorstep when he was just 2 years of age, creating statues of Rakkha Kali made of mud; he would talk to and sing to Rakha Kali and she would sing back to him. Maa is always present for those that believe. Gramdma Brajabala Dasi used to color the statues Babu had created, she knew her tiny grandson was different, she too felt the presence of Ma that the tiny toddler had invoked into his creations.
In 1969, after Nabani’s passing, Babu left Birbhum and spent 12 years as a monk in the Ramakrishna Mission in Calcutta where he was devoted to Dakshina Kali Ma and experienced all Tantric practices related to Ma. Babu Kishan is the person who introduced many Indians and westerners to Kali Ma, worldwide in the 1970s, 80s and 90s on his travels, worldwide and within India. He went on to become an award winning Indian music composer in Bollywood.
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Author: World Music Central News Room
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