Conversations in Bhakti: A video conversation with kirtan artist and devotee JAI UTTAL

There are certain people whose presence feels like an extension of their practice—gentle, sincere, humble, and deeply human. Our recent conversation with Jai Uttal was one of those experiences.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to sit with Jai, to listen, and to receive glimpses into his life, his spiritual journey with Maharajji and since Maharajji left his body, and the devotion that has shaped his path. Throughout our conversation, he shared openly, anuthentically, and generously, offering reflections on practice, longing, music, and the ever-unfolding journey of the heart.

What stood out most was not only Jai’s wisdom, but the way he embodies it. There is a tenderness in his way of being—a gentleness, openness, and authenticity that invites others to soften and listen more deeply. His presence carries the spirit of devotion not as an idea, but as a lived experience.

More About Jai Uttal

Jai Uttal is a Grammy-nominated composer, musician, singer, and one of the pioneering voices of kirtan and world spiritual music. His unique sound weaves together Indian devotional traditions with influences from folk, jazz, reggae, rock, and other global musical styles, creating music that feels both ancient and alive. Over the course of more than five decades, he has released over twenty albums and has helped introduce countless people around the world to the practice of kirtan and Bhakti Yoga.

As a young man, Jai was drawn deeply to Indian classical music and became a student of the legendary sarod master Ali Akbar Khan. His life changed profoundly when he met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known lovingly by devotees as Maharajji, in 1971. Jai has often shared that through Maharajji’s grace, the practice of singing mantras became his “soul support system” and the foundation of his spiritual life.

Since then, Jai’s work has become a bridge between cultures, traditions, and hearts. Through music, storytelling, and sacred chant, he has created spaces where people can gather in remembrance, prayer, joy, grief, longing, and love. His offerings remind us that devotion is not about perfection—it is about sincerity, presence, and the willingness to keep opening our hearts.

Visit his website to learn more about his music, workshops, reatreats and any other offerings.

By His Grace

It was a true honor to spend time with Jai and hear him share from his own experience. We are deeply thankful for his generosity, his vulnerability, and the warmth with which he welcomed us into conversation.

May this interview serve as an invitation to listen more deeply, love more openly, and remember the sacred thread of devotion that connects us all.

Click here to watch the interview on YouTube