Yamuna Devi

Yamuna Devi
Born
Joan Agnes Campanella

(1942-05-19)May 19, 1942
Butte, Montana
DiedDecember 20, 2011(2011-12-20) (aged 69)
Occupation
  • Cookbook author
Notable workLord Krishna's Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking (1987)

Yamuna Devi (also Yamunā Devī Dāsī; 19 May 1942 – 20 December 2011), born Joan Agnes Campanella in Butte, Montana was an American cookbook author, best known for her 1987 James Beard Foundation Award winning cookbook, Lord Krishna's Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking. She was also a senior member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).[1][2]

Devi was part of the early 1960s Beat Generation in North Beach, San Francisco[3] before meeting A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York City in 1966; becoming an initiated disciple in 1967.[4][5] In 1968, together with five other Hare Krishna followers, Yamuna flew to London to establish ISKCON in the United Kingdom.[6] There, she helped introduce Beatles guitarist George Harrison to Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy and practice.[7] Yamuna sang co-lead vocals on the 1969 Apple Records "Hare Krishna Mantra" single,[8] which reached number 12 in the UK Chart.[9] She also sang lead vocals on the 1970 Apple Records "Govinda" single, which reached number 23 in the UK Chart.[9] Both appeared on The Radha Krsna Temple album.

From 1970 to 1974 she lived and travelled in India with Srila Prabhupada as part of the World Sankirtan Party.[10]

She has been cited as an inspiration by figures such as Jahnavi Harrison.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ Bryant, Edwin and Maria Ekstrand (2004). The Hare Krishna movement : the postcharismatic fate of a religious transplant. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. p. 301. ISBN 9780231122566.
  2. ^ Rochford, E. Burke (2007). Hare Krishna Transformed. New York, NY: New York University Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780814775783.
  3. ^ Devi, Dinatarini (2014). Yamuna Devi : a life of unalloyed devotion. Alachua, Florida: Unalloyed. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-9914350-0-5.
  4. ^ Devi, Dinatarini (2014). Yamuna Devi : a life of unalloyed devotion. Alachua, Florida: Unalloyed. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-9914350-0-5.
  5. ^ "Disciples of Srila Prabhupada". Krishna.com. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  6. ^ Oakes, Philip (February 1, 1969). "Chanting Does Wonders For New Missionary Group". The Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta: 25. ISSN 0828-1815. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  7. ^ Greene, Joshua (2006). Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison. London: Bantam. p. 152. ISBN 9780553817966. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  8. ^ Greene, Joshua (2006). Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison. London: Bantam. p. 175. ISBN 9780553817966. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b "UK Official Charts – Radha Krishna Temple". UK Official Charts. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  10. ^ Berne, Suzanne (November 1993). "Last Morsel: East Meets West". Vegetarian Times (195). Active Interest Media, Inc.: 120. ISSN 0164-8497. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Jahnavi Harrison's First Album Takes Us On an Introspective Journey". ISKCON News. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  12. ^ "On being a voice in the global kirtan choir: Jahnavi Harrison". Hindu American. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Episode #13 – Jahnavi Harrison, part 2". The Late Morning Program. Retrieved 30 January 2022.