Shambhavi Christian began following the Siddha Yoga path in early 1982, after a friend invited her to visit the Siddha Yoga Ashram in Oakland, California. In August of that year, she received Gurumayi’s darshan in Shree Muktananda Ashram. Shambhavi has been a staff member in the SYDA Foundation since 1984, offering seva especially as a Siddha Yoga musician—playing harmonium for namasankirtanas and singing bhajans and English devotional songs in satsangs. Shambhavi has recorded five albums and two singles for the SYDA Foundation. She has given training to generations of new Siddha Yoga musicians.

Shambhavi was named to the national honor society Phi Beta Kappa at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she graduated with a double major in music and English. Professionally, Shambhavi was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.