Golden Tales - The Life of Surdas

Performed by Siddha Yoga Young People

During the Summer 2000 Retreat at Shree Muktananda Ashram, a group of young Siddha Yoga students enacted the lives of seven saints: Namdev, Janabai, Tulsidas, Rabia, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Mirabai, and Surdas. These plays, known collectively as The Golden Tales, were video taped and made available through the Siddha Yoga Bookstore to the delight of children and adults. Set from the eighth century to modern times, the stories of these saints tune our hearts to the music, magic, and love of God. Children love to watch these tales over and over again, singing along with the original compositions and retelling the traditional tales to friends and family.

Surdas spent his life as a wandering holy man, speaking and singing continually of the greatness of Krishna, of his miraculous deeds and his irresistable love. In his long lifetime, Surdas wrote so many songs that they are called "the ocean of Sur" - Surasgar. Four hundred years after his death, he remains one of the most popular poets in Northern India. In the streets of villages, towns, and cities, one hears his poems resounding: "When Hari, the Lord, touches the flute with his lips, everything in the world is changed."