Bada Haridas

Bada Haridas, originally trained in classical music and jazz, holds a degree in music composition from the University of Southern California and furthered his studies in Switzerland. Despite his professional musical background, he embraced a spiritual path in 1975 under his guru, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, which led him to leave behind his career as a performer to become a dedicated practitioner of bhakti yoga. Since then, Bada Haridas has become a renowned kirtan singer and teacher, deeply involved in devotional music rooted in the Vaisnava tradition, especially focusing on the songs and poetry of saints like Narottama Das Thakura and Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He combines traditional Sanskrit and Bengali devotional songs with both Eastern and Western musical influences, creating soulful compositions that inspire devotees worldwide.

Living in St. Augustine, Florida with his wife, Bada Haridas teaches musical instruments such as the mridanga and harmonium, along with voice and music theory. He travels internationally to perform, lead kirtan, and conduct seminars on Vaisnava devotional music. In 2024, he co-founded the online "Art of Kirtan" school, aimed at preserving and teaching the heritage of kirtan music, leveraging his extensive experience and collaborations with other prominent musicians in the spiritual music community. His work reflects a heartfelt dedication to both the musical craft and spiritual practice of kirtan singing.