When Patricia Kerr left the midwest in the mid 70's, she wasn't exactly seeking enlightenment. What she really had in mind was fame and fortune in the record business, so she put together an all-female band, Ira Gobu. While woodshedding in Connecticut, the girls discovered an Integral Yoga center and began coming for hatha classes, and Friday night kirtan. One day their teacher, Padma, informed them that her guru, Swami Satchidananda was coming to town, and they were invited to meet him in a small private satsang at his home. |
It was a meeting that would change her life. Patricia asked Swamiji
to bless her little band, and he serenely told her to "give
the people something uplifting" with the music. After that,
a series of events transpired, like beads on a mala, (rosary) all
strung together: She went to a ten day silent retreat to be initiated
by Swamiji himself, where she met her future husband, who then got
her a record deal at RCA, where she recorded her signature ballad,
"Water My Soul", which she often sang for Sri Gurudev,
Swami Satchidananda, and the other devotees. He gave her the name Meera, the celestial singer. A corporate purge at RCA left "Water My Soul" languishing on the shelf, but Meera continued to write and record while her interest in yoga was flourishing. She took the Integral Yoga teacher training in 1978 at the Satchidananada Ashram, began teaching at the IYI in New York City, and got married. (continued) |
