About Us
Gandharva Loka Christchurch is the first Gandharva Loka world music store outside of Europe. Since our opening day on March the 7th, 2008, we have provided an huge range of hard to find, top quality instruments imported from around the world – Gandharva Loka Christchurch is a music lovers paradise!
Our first and foremost aim is to be a source of inspiration to all music lovers and to help our customers discover and manifest their creativity. We strongly believe that inside every human being there is a musician waiting to come forth. We also see and feel that music has a vital role to play in creating a more harmonious and peaceful world – for music is the universal language of all humanity.
Gandharva Loka: the world music store offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of sound and is a unique addition to Christchurch. The name Gandharva Loka originates from the Sanskrit language and means 'The Abode of the Celestial Musicians'.
At Gandharva Loka we are committed to supplying great instruments made by genuine instrument makers from around the world. In many countries instrument making is an art form which has been handed down through generations and we feel the importance of helping to keep those traditions alive.
We have great relationships with many of these craftsmen and always pay a fair price for the instruments we purchase.
We stock musical instruments from all parts of the world including India, China, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Ireland and South America – to name a few. From Africa we have a great range of Djembes, Djundjuns, Balafons and hand percussion. From the Middle East we have the Darbukas, Bendirs and the Oud. From our friends in South America we bring you the Cajon, the Pan Pipes and the Pandeiro. From the diverse sub continent of India we offer the Sitar, Tanpura, the Tabla and from the vast land of China, the Gu Zheng, Erhu and Gong. From the snows of Tibet, singing bowls and from the four green fields of Ireland, the Irish flute and the bodhran.
All these instruments and many more can be found on the shelves at Gandharva Loka. We also offer a comprehensive worldwide ordering service and can help to locate those hard-to-find musical instruments that you have been searching for.
Gandharva Loka on Radio New Zealand
Award winning radio correspondent Katy Gosset interviews Gandharva Loka co-manager Vajin Armstrong for Katy's Christchurch Story show on Radio New Zealand. The interview went to air during the Afternoons programme on the 17th of September, 2009. (15 minutes)
Gandharva Loka song
This is a recording of the international Gandharva Loka Orchestra performing the Gandharva Loka song in Varna, Bulgaria, on January 9, 2007, while on a cultural tour in that region of Europe. The song was composed by Sri Chinmoy.
About Gandharva Loka's managers
Gandharva Loka Christchurch is managed by Vajin and Prasasta Armstrong who find great joy in sharing their love of music with the people who visit the world music store.
Vajin has a love for all things percussive and plays a wide range of drums including the djembe, darbuka, riq, kanjeera and various frame drums. He also finds a special place in his heart for the expressive Bansuri (Indian bamboo flute) and the Mouth Harp (aka Jews Harp).
Prasasta claims a more cultured musical background having played the piano and flute from a young age. She also enjoys singing and has performed with the renowned Gandharva Loka Orchestra – an international vocal and instrumental group. Since opening Gandharva Loka in 2008, Prasasta has found great joy in experiencing unique instruments from all over the world but has a particular fondness for the power and mystery of the gongs and the Tibetan singing bowls. Like her husband, she is very fond of introducing people to new and novel musical instruments.
Outside of the world of music, both Vajin and Prasasta are keen athletes who have a deep interest in spirituality and meditation. Vajin is a member of the University of Canterbury Athletics Club and is also a director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in Christchurch. Prasasta runs and competes in triathlons and is also a qualified homeopath. Both vegetarians, Vajin and Prasasta also work part-time at The Lotus-Heart vegetarian restaurant in Christchurch.
You will not find a shortage of enthusiasm in these young entrepreneurs. Friendly service with a smile and good advice is the ethos upon which Gandharva Loka was founded.
