Vacation Meditation - Experiential Workshop

Storytelling for the Soul and Spiritual Flute Music

Andrea Brachfeld a.k.a Kalá Devi

Kalá Devi a.k.a. Andrea Brachfeld
Photo by Sue Kaufer-Kayla

The name “Kalá Devi” means Goddess of the Arts and 1/16 of the moon. Kalá Devi was named by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati through Joan Suval, senior disciple of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, in November of 2008, at the Ananda Ashram. She is also known as Andrea Brachfeld.

At the age of 16 Kalá Devi was introduced to the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City, founded by Swami Satchidananda, and has been practicing yoga ever since. At that time, the Institute had only one large room and was housed in the same building that it occupies today at 227 West 13 St. between 7th and 8th Avenues. She immediately felt an affinity for the practice of yoga and began her meditation practice at that time, as well. It was also at that time that she realized that her purpose in life was to play the flute and be a vehicle of God by healing herself and others and sharing the music which she had always felt came through her. While living in Venezuela from 1980-1982 Kalá Devi continued her yoga practice by studying the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda and his Self-Realization Fellowship with his line of Gurus with whom she still studies to this day.

In 2007 Kalá Devi was led to the Ananda Ashram and her spiritual practice has since expanded exponentially. The ashram, located in Monroe, New York, was founded in 1964 by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati as the Yoga Society of New York. From her very first visit at the ashram, Kalá Devi has been involved in many spiritual musical activities such as learning classical Indian music with sitar master Acharya Roop Verma. When at the ashram for Satsang on Saturday nights, she accompanies the meditation led by Joan Suval, senior disciple of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, by playing her flute. The meditative melodies of Kalá Devi's flute have now been shared with the many followers of the ashram as well as her friends, family, and loyal fans. She has also performed with Deepak Kumar Pareek, light classical Indian vocalist, who is on staff at the Ashram, Naren Budhaka, tabla player extraordinaire and Classical Indian dancer Pandit Satya Narayana Charka. She is currently studying the Bansuri flute with Steve Gorn.

Kalá Devi continues to deepen her practice by formally studying the Bhagavad Gita with Swami Amarnathananda at the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a worldwide organization dedicated to helping those in need, founded by Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj. She also meditates regularly as well as takes yoga classes at the many centers in the surrounding Central New Jersey area.