Bhagavan Das (yogi) – Wikipedia

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American yogi

Bhagavan Das
Bhagavan Das with Amulya Maa in October 2020

Bhagavan Das with Amulya Maa in 2020
Born

Kermit Michael Riggs
Occupation(s) Spiritual teacher, singer, writer
Spouses

  • Bhavani

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1972; d. )​

  • Sharada Devi

  • Amulya Maa

    ​

    (m. 2020)​
Children 3
Website bhagavandas.com

Bhagavan Das (Devanagari: भगवान दास) (born Kermit Michael Riggs) is an American yogi who lived for six years in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. He is a bhakti yogi, kirtan singer, spiritual teacher and writer.

History[edit]

In 1963 at the age of 18, Kermit Riggs left California and journeyed solo through Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East, eventually arriving in India. During the six years he spent as a wandering ascetic in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, he writes that he received numerous initiations and teachings from various saints and sages. In 1965, Bhagavan Das met his guru, the Hindu holy man Neem Karoli Baba. He became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba.[citation needed]

In 1967, Bhagavan Das guided spiritual teacher Ram Dass (known then as Richard Alpert) throughout India and introduced him to Neem Karoli Baba. Bhagavan Das appeared in Ram Dass’ 1971 book Be Here Now, which described Bhagavan Das’ role in Ram Dass’ spiritual journeys in India.[[[Wikipedia:Citing_sources|page needed]]]_7-0″ class=”reference”>[[[Wikipedia:Citing_sources”>[7]

Bhagavan Das is the author of the 1997 autobiography, It’s Here Now (Are You?). In 2002, he released his seventh full album, called Now, that was produced and arranged by Mike D of the Beastie Boys, an East-meets-West musical pairing.[8]

Personal life[edit]

In 1972 in California Bhagavan Das married his girlfriend, Bhavani, who was expecting their child; subsequently their daughter, Soma, was born in New York. In 1974 in Berkeley, California, while still married to Bhavani,[a] he met Usha. Bhagavan Das and Usha had a son, Mikyo, and a daughter, Lalita. Bhagavan Das’ marriage to Bhavani ended with her death in 1983. He and Usha separated c. 1984.

Bhagavan Das was married to Sharada Devi for 12 years.

In early 2019, Bhagavan Das and his current wife Amulya Maa began singing and teaching together. On October 1, 2020, they were married.[11]

Autobiography[edit]

  • It’s Here Now (Are You?): A Spiritual Memoir. Broadway Books. 1997. ISBN 0-7679-0009-X.

Radio plays[edit]

Selected discography[edit]

  • AH, 1972
  • Now (produced by Mike D of the Beastie Boys),[8] 2002
  • Holy Ghost Sessions (with Richard Sales), 2004
  • Golden Voice, 2007
  • Love Songs to the Dark Lord, 2009
  • The Howler at Dawn, 2009
  • Mother Light, 2014

Selected video appearances (self)[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Citations[edit]

Works cited[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Black, Lee Bob (June 10, 2016). “The Dharma and Cult of Bhagavan Das: An interview”. Medium. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  • Brown, Jeff (2010). Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation. North Atlantic Books. pp. 149 ff. ISBN 978-1556438103.
  • Brown, Jeff (2019). Grounded Spirituality. ENREALMENT Press. ISBN 978-1988648033.
  • Clores, S. (2000). Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider. Red Wheel Weiser. ISBN 978-1573241724.
  • Heilig, Steve (December 1, 1997). “Bhagavan Das’ Spiritual Journey Has Been a Wild Ride”. SFGATE. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  • Ingram, M. (2020). Retreat: How the Counterculture Invented Wellness. Watkins Media. ISBN 978-1912248780.
  • Johnsen, Linda; Jacobus, Maggie (2007). Kirtan!: Chanting As a Spiritual Path. Yes International. pp. 37–51. ISBN 978-0-936663-43-2.
  • Liechty, M. (2017). Far Out: Countercultural Seekers and the Tourist Encounter in Nepal. University of Chicago Press. pp. 146 ff. ISBN 978-0226428949.
  • Narayan, K. (2008). My Family and Other Saints. University of Chicago Press. pp. 129–30. ISBN 978-0226568218.
  • Newman, David (2014). The Timebound Traveler. Non-Duality Books. Ch. 4. ISBN 978-1908664426.
  • Osborne, Adam (n.d.). “Bhagavan Das”. the-wanderling.com. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  • Osborne, Adam (n.d.). “Kermit Michael Riggs: Bhagavan Das and the Laguna Beach Connection”. the-wanderling.com. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  • Smith, H. (2015). “Allen Ginsberg and Bhagavan Das: January 1972”. The Smith Tapes: Lost Interviews with Rock Stars & Icons 1969-1972. Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 386 ff. ISBN 978-1616893835.

External links[edit]