A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu or Sikh devotional song, often but not necessarily of ancient origin. Great importance is attributed to the singing of bhajans within the Bhakti movement. It is also one of the pillars of Sikhism and in that context refers to the singing of the Sacred Hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, or "SGGS". The Sikhs place huge value on this type of singing and a Sikh is duty bound to listen to and/or sing Guru-Kirtan as frequently as possible. In Surat Shabd Yoga, bhajan means listening to the inner sounds of the Shabd or the Shabd Master.

Bhajans are deeply rooted in the Indian tradition. Bhajans are simple songs in soulful language expressing the many-splendored emotions of love for God; a complete submission or self-surrender to Him through singing.

Traditionally, the music has been Indian classical music, which is based on ragas and tala

Mantras and Prayers

A mantra is a sacred syllable, word or verse, which has been revealed to a sage in deep meditation. A mantra, when recited with devotion, concentration and understanding, revitalizes the body and mind with mystic power, and harmonizes thought and action.

A mantra, when repeated constantly during meditation, first loudly and then through silent and mental chanting, changes the consciousness.

Prayer is uplifting inspiring and fascinating for the mind and it has great power. Therefore, it is very important that each of you learns to pray. Through prayer you purify your mind and gain spiritual strength. Thus prayer is the foundation of success.

History and Origin

The groundwork for the bhajans was laid in the hymns found in Sama Veda, the third Veda in the Hindu scriptures. They are distinguished from the Sanskrit shlokas by virtue of their easy, lilting flow, their colloquial renderings and their profound appeal to the masses. Bhajans are sung in a group of devotees, with a designated lead singer. The simple tunes, repetition of words (particularly the various Names with which God is addressed) and phrases lend the hymns a kind of tonal mesmerism. Anecdotes, episodes from the lives of Gods, preachings of saints and descriptions of God's glories have been the subject of bhajans. The Dhrupad style is a famous form of bhajan. Another well-known form of the bhajan is the keertan/kirtan, or, song in the Haridas tradition.

Types of Bhajans

A look into the past reveals that bhajans as a genre have come a

Great Exponents

The medieval age saw devotees like Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera, Narottama Dasa (founder of Garan-hati style), Kabir and others composing bhajans. In the modern times, composers like Pt. V. D. Paluskar and Pt. V. N. Bhatkhande have tried to mingle Raga Sangeet or Indian classical music - which had been an exclusive domain of the elite - with bhajans, thereby democratizing the Raga tradition. Chanting of bhajans and kirtan continues to be a favorite mode of worship in the Bhakti tradition of Hinduism, a tradition often regarded as far more accessible to the average person. This popularity is also reflected in the emphasis of many different gurus on chanting. For instance, devotees of Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi all over the world perform bhajans on every Thursday (and Saturday or Sunday) wherein they refer to God with various names, such as: Rama, Krishna, Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Mahavir, Zoroaster, Jehovah, Sathya Sai Baba himself, and other names.

Popularity with the Masses

The common masses indulge in bhajan-singing without realizing that such traditional methods of invoking the divine can have a tremendous stress-removing impact. Bhajan mandalis, or gatherings, that have existed in the Indian villages since the beginning of the Bhakti era, have proved to be great social levelers, where individuals unhesitatingly participate in the singing, relegating their petty differences to the background. This participatory action elicits recreation and consequently a kind of mental relaxation. They close their eyes to ensure that they concentrate and thereby meditate on this near ecstasy.

Modern Forms

While most Hindus devoutly sing bhajan in its more traditional form, there are smaller groups that experiment with incorporation of non-Indian instruments like the guitar and interspersing Western themes like jazz.

Usage in Surat Shabd Yoga

In Surat Shabd Yoga, the spiritual exercises (sadhanas) include repetition, particularly silent repetition of a mantra given at initiation), and bhajan (listening to the inner sounds of the or the Shabd Master).

Bhajan Bhajan