Kirtan
One could be forgiven for thinking kirtan is the new yoga in the western world, when in fact it has been thriving here in Australia, in Satyananda Yoga circles, for 40 years.
For
those not initiated into its magic, kirtan is a beautiful (and
powerful) form of meditation, which involves chanting verses of mantras,
melodically, with an accented beat, and repetition i.e. repeating the
same two to four verses over and over again. One person leads the
singing of a group, the group repeat back exactly what was sung, in
volume, speed and mantra i.e. in call-and-response.
The repetition of the rhythm, mantra and melody combine to entrain the mind, body and heart together, restoring & reintegrating all three back to wholeness. You will feel put back together again, from wherever it was that you had come apart. Regular kirtan ensures that you don't come very much apart.
The repetition of the rhythm, mantra and melody combine to entrain the mind, body and heart together, restoring & reintegrating all three back to wholeness. You will feel put back together again, from wherever it was that you had come apart. Regular kirtan ensures that you don't come very much apart.
Live kirtan is held in very many
communities today, look for one
near you.
communities today, look for one
near you.
Examples of kirtan, below ...
Moola Mantra - by Sudha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=174&v=Y8yWdGPrxLo
om sachit ananda parabramha purushottama paramatmaa
sri bhagavati sametaa
sri bhagavate namahaa
Translation
May I remember and call upon the Highest, in the form of Bliss,
that my life be uplifted.om sachit ananda parabramha purushottama paramatmaa
sri bhagavati sametaa
sri bhagavate namahaa
Translation
May I remember and call upon the Highest, in the form of Bliss,
Sarva Mangala - by Tina Malia & Shimshai
Sarva Mangala Mangalyei
Shive Sarvartha Sadikei
Sharanyei Tryambakei Gauri
Narayani Namostute
May the warm fires of Goddess shine upon your hearts - and may you know your heart's desire...
Jaya Bhagavan - by Krishna das
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFv41fxBncI
Salutations to the Transcendental Divine I see you in everything. (I am That.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdR-nUVDsXA
As you have loved and adored Me, so I love and adore You.
Commonly, kirtan consists of one to four verses. Even if it seems complicated, it is easily learned by continuously singing just one verse at a time. Repeatedly chanting even one verse is mindful meditation and deeply beneficial for the chakras/mind.
There are many kirtans with just one verse, comprised of a few simple mantras, for example, Om Namah Shivaya; Om Mane Padme Hum; Jaya Bhagavan, etc, which are super easy to learn. Any mantra can have many, different melodies.
There are many kirtans with just one verse, comprised of a few simple mantras, for example, Om Namah Shivaya; Om Mane Padme Hum; Jaya Bhagavan, etc, which are super easy to learn. Any mantra can have many, different melodies.
As
well as having one, or a number of verses, kirtan can also be mellow,
dramatic, serene, uplifting, awakening and/or joyous. They are always
delicious. Some people take to kirtan instantly, others may take two or
three initial exposures to it for the mind to totally embrace.
Kirtanists today tend to turn kirtan into a concert, a performance, but as you will see from this video, kirtan is not a concert, or performance, it is the leading of meditation.
More about kirtan . . .
Kirtan chanting begins with the person who is 'leading' the kirtan. They more often than not play an harmonium
- a squeeze-box keyboard which sits low to the floor and which sounds a
lot like a church organ. The lead kirtanist is also usually accompanied
by drum, guitar and/or other musical instruments. The kirtanist opens
the chant by singing alone, to which the group responds, singing
together, as one voice, calling back to the kirtanist.
The kirtanist may lead the kirtan slowly, or fast, softly and sweetly, or strongly. However it is done, it is organic, completely in the present moment, emotionally healing, mentally clearing and uplifting for the heart -an endorphin activator.
One can also sing kirtan alone, which is very beneficial for creating inner communion with the Divine. But this benefit is also had when singing with a group, except the effects is stronger and one is present and responsive.
The kirtanist may lead the kirtan slowly, or fast, softly and sweetly, or strongly. However it is done, it is organic, completely in the present moment, emotionally healing, mentally clearing and uplifting for the heart -an endorphin activator.
One can also sing kirtan alone, which is very beneficial for creating inner communion with the Divine. But this benefit is also had when singing with a group, except the effects is stronger and one is present and responsive.
Kirtan has been a flourishing and beautiful part of everyday life for hundreds of Satyananda practitioners worldwide, not just in India, since the 1970's,
they embraced this practice which bypasses the mind and reaches
straight into the heart, and made it part of their sadhana. As a
result, many Satyananda students today have their own harmonium and sing
or chant various forms of mantra and melody, such as, nada yoga,
bhajan, kirtan, etc, on a regular basis. And you can too.
Kirtan mp3's are readily available from online. Deva Premal and Krishna das, are two famous kirtanists, who have single-handedly rocked the practice of kirtan to life, in the Western world.Other beautiful kirtanists include Snatam, the Meditative Mind,
Kirtan mp3's are readily available from online. Deva Premal and Krishna das, are two famous kirtanists, who have single-handedly rocked the practice of kirtan to life, in the Western world.Other beautiful kirtanists include Snatam, the Meditative Mind,
Believe it or not, kirtan is so loved that you can probably find an established group of kirtanists already in your town, or students willing to sing/learn/practice kirtan, with you.
Bhajan
Where kirtan is usually one, or a short number of short verses, repeated in a call-and-response manner from 5 - 30 minutes, bhajans contain a number of verses, each one sung once through to the end of the song and they are offered as a story for the heart. Bhajan oftenhas a chorus which is sung between verses.
Both kirtan and bhajan are devotional songs; but where in Christianity the devotion is sung to an external God, kirtan and bhajan are sung to the Godheart within, to the Inner Divine. Occasionally, it is dedicated to other humans, and this can be recognised by the names of saints or teachers. Sometimes one wants to say thankyou to their teachers, and this is one way in which it can be done.
Most usually, however, this type of devotional singing is for internal communion with the divine, and results in fairly immediate meditation once the melody and flow is learned. Here is an example of bhajan, below.
Shrii Hanumaana Chaaliisaa bhajan - by Krishna das
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGV9h2AZ0s
dohā :
śrīguru charana saroja raja janmuamanu mukuru sudhāri
barana raghubara bimala jasu jo
dāyaku phala chāri
buddhihīna tanu jānike sumirau pavana kumāra
bala buddhi bid yā dehu mohiṁ harahu kalesa bikāra
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
verses
1. jaya hanumāna
jnāna guna sāgar jaya kapīsa tihun loka ujāgar
rāma dūta atulita
bala dhāmā anjaniputra pavanasuta nāmā
2. mahaabiira bikrama bajaraNgii kumati nivaara sumati ke saNgii
kanchana barana biraaja subesaa kaanana kuMDala kuMchita kesaa
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
3. haatha bajra au dhvajaa biraajai
kaNdhe muNja janeuu saajai
shankara suvana kesariinandan teja
prataapa mahaa jaga bandan
4. vidyaavaana gunii ati chaatur raama kaaja karibe ko aatur
prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyaa raama lakhana siitaa mana
basiyaa
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
5. suukshma
ruupa dhari siyahiM dikhaavaa bikaTa ruupa dhari lanka jaraavaa
bhiima ruupa dhari asura saNhaare raamachandra ke kaaja saNvaare
6. laaya sajiivana lakhana jiyaaye shriiraghubiira haraShi ura laaye
raghupati kiinhii bahuta baDaaii tuma mama priya bharatahi sama
bhaaii
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
7. sahasa badan tumharo jasa
gaavaiM asa kahi shriipati kanTha
lagaavaiM
sanakaadika brahmaadi muniisaa naarada shaarada sahita ahiisaa
8. jama kubera digapaala jahaaN te
kabi kobida kahi sake kahaaN te
tuma upakaara sugriivahi kiinhaa raama milaaya raaja pada diinhaa
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
9. tumharo
mantra bibhiiShana maanaa laN keshvara bhae saba jaga jaanaa
juga sahastra jojana para bhaanuu liilyo taahi madhura phala jaanuu
10. prabhu mudrikaa meli mukha maahiiM jaladhi laNghi gaye acharaja
naahiiM
durgama kaaja jagata ke
jete sugama anugraha tumhare tete
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
11. raama duaare tuma
rakhavaare hota naaGYaa binu paisaare
saba sukha lahai tumhaarii sharanaa tuma rachchhaka kaahuu ko Dara naa
12. aapana teja samhaaro
aapai tiinoM loka haNka teM kaMpai
bhuuta pisaacha nikaTa nah aavai mahaabiira jaba naama sunaavai
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
13. naasai roga harai saba piiraa japata niraMtara
hanumata biiraa
saMkaTa teM hanumaana chhuDaavai mana krama bachana dhyaana jo laavai
14. saba para raama tapasvii raajaa
tina ke kaaja sakala tuma saajaa
aura manoratha jo koii
laavai soii amita jiivana phala
paavai
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
15. chaaroM juga parataapa
tumhaaraa hai parasiddha jagata ujiyaaraa
saadhu saMta ke tuma rakhavaare asura nikaMdana raama dulaare
16. aShTa siddhi nau nidhi ke daataa asa bara diina jaanakii maataa
raama rasaayana tumhare paasaa sadaa raho raghupati ke daasaa
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
17. tumhare bhajana raama ko paavai janama janama ke dukha
bisaraavai
aNta kaala raghubara pura jaaii jahaa janma haribhakta kahaaii
18. aura devataa chitta na dharaii hanumata seii sarba sukha karaii
sankata kaTai miTai saba piiraa jo
sumirai hanumata balabiiraa
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
19. jai jai jai
hanumaana gosaaii kriipaa karahu guru deva kii naahii
jo sata baara paaTha kara
koii chhuuTahi baNdi mahaa sukha hoii
20. jo yaha paDhai hanumaana chaliisaa hoya siddhi saakhii gauriisaa
tulasiidaasa sadaa hari cheraa
kiijai naatha hRdaya maaha Deraa
Bhajalo ji Hanuman x4
Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Rama Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Rama x8
dohā :
pavanatanaya saNkaTa harana maNgala muurati ruupa
raama lakhana siitaa sahita hRdaya basahu sura bhuupa
Bolo Bajaranga Maharaja ki je.Bhajan - sung by Sw Niranjanananda
Gurudev Daya Karake Mujhako Apanaa Lenaa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0EIA6_iARM
Lyrics:
Intro:
Gurudeva dayaa karake mujhako apanaa lenaa
Mai sharana paraa teree, charano me jagaha denaa
Gurudeva dayaa karake mujhako apanaa lenaa
Verses:
1. Tuma sukha ke saagara ho, niradhana ke sahaare ho
Isa tana me(n) samaaye ho, mujhe praano(n) se pyaare ho
Nita naama japoo tere, nahee dila se bhulaa denaa
Gurudeva dayaa karake mujhako apanaa lenaa
2. Karunaanidhi naama teraa karunaa kara dikhalaanaa
Soye hue bhaagyo ko, he naatha jagaa denaa
Meree naava bhavara dole, ise paara lagaa denaa
Gurudeva dayaa karake mujhako apanaa lenaa
3. Paapee hoo(n) yaa kapatee hoo(n), jaisaa hoo(n) tumhaaraa hoo(n)
Nahee naatha bhulaanaa mujhe, isa jaga me(n) akelaa hoo(n)
Tere dara kaa bhikhaaree hoo(n), mere doñha bhulaa denaa
Gurudeva dayaa karake mujhako apanaa lenaa
4. Darashana kaa pyaasaa hoo(n), isa jaga me(n) akelaa hoo(n)
Apanaa lo mujhe svaamee, dara-dara thukaraayaa hoo(n)
Itanaa to karo baabaa, aba sharana me(n) aayaa hoo(n)
Gurudeva dayaa karake mujhako apanaa lenaa
Jaya Guru x3 Jaya Jaya!
