Songs for Kids Vol. 1 (Mahatma Das)

1. The Twenty-six Qualities of a Devotee
2. Verses Describing the Qualities of a Devotee
3. The Names of Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita
4. The Tweny-five Qualities of Srimati Radharani
5. Lord Caitanya Sings Sweetly (Sri Nama)
6. The Ten Incarnations of Vishnu (Sri Dasavatara-stotra)
7. Oh Lord of the Universe (Jagannatha Swami)
8. Dance, Dance, Dance (Radha Krsna Bol Bol)

(words to these songs are in separate files)

While Arci devi dasi was working at the Back To Godhead mail order department, parents would regularly inquire from her about new material for kids. So she asked me if I could produce songs for children and she gave me a few ideas. I told her I would and that I had been thinking about this for years.
While on a trip to Texas, my wife Jahnava and I further discussed the project with Tapasvini, the then head of the temple children’s school in Houston. She gave us the idea to use music to teach sastra. I immediately appreciated the idea and knew it would be a fun and easy way for our children to learn the scriptures, both in Sanskrit and English.
After returning from Texas, I discussed the project with Krsna Kanti Prabhu, a professional recording engineer who had done a similar project for a Christian group. He gave me useful information that I put into practice. Shortly after, I recorded the first song, The Twenty-six Qualities of a Devotee, with the Los Angeles temple school students. We did this as a test run. The children and parents loved it, so we knew we were on the right track.
Just after this, I went to Vrndavana for three months. While there I wrote another seven children’s songs. After returning, I relocated in Dallas, upgraded my studio, arranged the music for the songs with the help of Krsna Caitanya and recorded the vocals with the help of my wife, several devotee singers, and the Dallas temple school students
When the original recording went all over the world in the late 90’s, something interesting happened: moms loved them as well. So, although this was intended for kids (we went out of our way to have kids sing), devotees of all ages can enjoy the songs.  And the benefit of listening is that you automatically memorize sastra, bhajans and prayers.

Narration
Jahnava devi dasi
Lead Vocals
Mahatma dasa: Verses, Sri Nama, Qualities of Radharani,  Names in the Gita  
Vrakesvara Pandita dasa: Radha Krsna Bol Bol
Jahnava devi dasi: Qualities of a Devotee,  Names in the Gita,
Indranilamani  devi  dasi: Dasavatara-stora, Qualities of Radharani
Dallas Gurukula: Jagannatha Swami

Background vocals
Candravali devi dasi and Indranilamani devi dasi: Radha Krsna Bol Bol
Los Angeles Gurukula - Gaura Nitai, Krsna Sakti, Sumukhi, Sita:  26 Qualities  of a Devotee
Dallas Gurukula – Radhika, Jahnavi, Gayatri, Amrita, Radha Kunda, Bhadra, Kaliya Krsna, Sesa: All other songs  

All songs and music written, arranged and played by Mahatma dasa except for :
Dasavatara-stotra: Sarvatma dasa and Antonio Artese
The 26 Qualities of a Devotee: Michael Caulton and Mahatma dasa
Radha Krsna Bol Bol: Krsna Caitanya dasa and Mahatma dasa

Adaptations of songs and verses in English by Mahatma dasa.

Engineered and  recorded by Mahatma dasa
Mixed and mastered by Mahatma dasa and Bhakta Raoul

Thanks to Arci devi dasi who inspired this project, Tapasvini devi dasi and Krsna Kanti Prabhu who gave the ideas, Krsna Caitanya Prabhu (my engineering instructor) and his wife Vaisnavi devi dasi who let me live in their house while I was working on the music, Nandulala Prabhu in Los Angeles and Dharma dasa in Dallas, both who allowed me to set up my studio in their homes, Indranilamani devi dasi for her time and enthusiasm, the Dallas devotees for their support and cooperation, and my wife Jahnava devi dasi who made many sacrifices to allow me the time needed to work on this project.