The Art of Veda Appreciation – With Krupa

Krupa compares reciting Veda to the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Salvador Dalí — you can’t experience any of them in a hurry. “Take your time to take them in,” advises Krupa…

By Sophia Ann French

The first time I heard Krupa recite Veda in an online class, the genteel strength of her voice struck me immediately — her voice carried the experience of musical training. I wasn’t surprised to learn she is a singer, songwriter, composer and music producer. She’s jammed with greats like Neneh Cherry and Maxi Jazz (from Faithless). She has performed at Womad, Glastonbury, Brixton Academy, and the Jaipur Literature Festival, and her mission is to “amplify compassionate healing and to inspire joy and understanding through the power of sound.”  Music and spirituality are in Krupa’s DNA — her mother is a singer, and she recalls how multiple generations in her family have been inclined towards the arts and spirituality. “My grandfather followed an Ayurvedic lifestyle and was a regular participant in the Theosophy Society. He was constantly talking about practices and philosophies that benefited all of humanity. My maternal grandfather was a musician, and I think my great-grandfather was a photographer… So, I think a love for the arts and spirituality flows through our bloodline. I mean, even my siblings are so interested in Indian mythology and Greek mythology, my mum loves Buddhism, and we’ve always celebrated different ways of looking at the world,” says Krupa. 

While the spiritual path was always a part of her life, Krupa turned to spiritual practices to heal the pain she felt when she lost her sister. “Music was spirituality for me. But, after losing my sister at a young age, I moved away from spirituality as a result of feeling the intense pain of loss. I stopped all practices. I wasn’t praying, chanting, or making much music. I just withdrew from life and myself. I lost my self-belief and my ability for self-love! That’s such a big thing. But, the pandemic forced me to take time and reflect, and I felt I needed something from my motherland (India) to hold me. I remember my grandfather praying every day and hearing the sound of Om. At that time, a friend recommended Shantala, and I signed up for the Veds Studies Foundation Course. I loved it, and reciting Veda has empowered me to pray again. I feel connected to what I lost. The last time I felt that way was before my sister passed away. After she passed, I had this void. But it was a necessary void to be where we are today. So everything is as it is meant to be. Finding greater consciousness and the support and love of the Veda Studies community is like drinking water after walking through a desert for many years. I was so grateful,” says Krupa. 

Veda’s Healing Touch

Veda recitation has become a daily cleaning ritual for Krupa. She likens it to daily habits and explains that, “We wake up every morning and brush our teeth because we know if we don’t, it won’t be good for our long-term health. Veda practice is like that for me. If I wake up feeling confused or overwhelmed, I start reciting Veda, and I think practicing Veda correctly is like a neutraliser for me. That’s the mystical aspect of this practice. I feel that when I practice, it gives me the ability to carry each day with grace. Reciting Veda has made me less anxious and less worried about things. I have more faith, which carries me through to the next day. I also feel that reciting Veda has helped me tune into my intuition. We all have that voice in our head like an inner compass, and reciting Veda has helped me trust my instinct and intuition more.”

For the Love of Studying

Krupa is one of the recent graduates of the Indica Veda Studies Teacher Training Programme (2024), and while she was hesitant at the start of the course, she feels we’ve all transformed for the better at the end of it. “I was initially reluctant to join the Teacher Training Programme because our classmates are such scholars and learned people. But I remember how encouraging Shantala was; she always told me that I am better than I think I am.  I’m very thankful that she did. It made me believe in myself. It just takes one person to help us believe in ourselves. I have to give a very special mention to my study group during this course.  They’re unbelievable, and I don’t think I could have completed this without them. There was so much that happened during the TTC that was outside of the Vedas — we were a group of people that just connected deeply over the teachings of these mantras, the practicing of the mantras, the meeting of these mantras, and we’re like these crazy Vedic nerds who would never meet each other if it wasn’t for Veda Studies.”

Sound Advice

I asked Krupa what her advice would be to beginners at Veda Recitation. “Follow your instinct. If you lack faith, recite a short mantra and experience how it cleanses your mind and creates clarity. Trust that process. This might sound cheesy, but I want to remind all new students that you are not alone. Other students also struggle like you do, and there is no perfect student. Learning Veda is not a test of your abilities, race or culture; it is an unconditional practice that provides the student with a direct source to a higher way of being.” She also encourages new students to learn at their own pace and discourages being in a hurry. Krupa feels every student must take their time to refine every mantra they learn before moving on to the next. “Learn what calls out to you and learn it well. I feel the power of that one mantra that you spend time and energy with has the power of 20 mantras. Don’t rush through the mantras. That would be a shame. It would be like glancing at the Mona Lisa in a hurry and then quickly looking at a Renoir or a Dalí. You can’t appreciate the greats in a hurry. It is the same with Veda. Take your time, take it in, and let the magic work.” 

I can’t think of a better way to end this interview than on a musical note. Krupa’s album, Celestial Frequency, explores Vedic themes, and her song, Courage, is a modern rendition of the voice of Durga. You can listen to it on all major streaming platforms. 

To get in touch with Krupa, email her at [email protected]