ON BHAJANS

                                                                     

The word Bhajan has become very popular in modern days. The word means worship of God by repeating His name and singing his glory. In spiritual parlance it is called ‘ nama sankeertan’ Obsessed with tiresome worldly duties, pressures and entanglements in the family life man wants to forget those strains and stresses. Bhajan  comes in handy to give man the chance to forget all of them by thinking and singing the glory of God! From time immemorial this tradition has helped many a man to forget his worldly duties and concentrate on the divine. Many saints, sages and devotees have attained salvation through bhajans or nama sankeertan. A classical example of the Bhajan mad person is none other than sage Narada , who with his veena called ‘mahathi’ sings in praise of Lord Narayana without a break all the 24 hours!  Purandara Dasa another great exponent of ‘bhajana sampradaya’ who was called ‘sangita pitamaha’ is another example!

         Why should we have bhajan? Is it not a waste of time in this modern world? Why not utilize that time for some other useful work? These questions are generally asked.  Man’s material needs and necessities do not allow him to concentrate on God. His mind and body are under severe fatigue. In such a situation singing bhajans and thinking about God gives him a great relief. For an hour, he can totally forget all his worries and mingle with the chorus and regale himself!  The reverberating names of God soothe his tormented soul and he is charged with fresh energy to face the problems of life. It raises him to a higher spiritual level from the base of material stage. Not only this, “ Bhajan cleanses and purifies the atmosphere by its vital vibrations. It inspires, instructs, cures and comforts. Chanting the name of the Lord can be considered as the highest form of ‘sadhana’. You can travel anywhere in the light of this name” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba.

         “ Kalau kalmasha chittanam papadravyopa jivinam vidhikriya vihinanam gatir Govinda keertanam” For the dirty minded people in Kaliyuga, seeped in corruption and earning through devious ways and who are not bound by what the Vedas and the Sasthras say, the only resort is singing the name of Govinda!!It is a kind of sathsang that can transform the sinner into a saint! Lord Narayan tells Narada that he does not live in his abode Vaikunta; nor does he live in the hearts of yogis who meditate on Him. But He is always present wherever His devotees sing His glory through bhajans! There is no fixed time for bhajan. You can always repeat His name at any place, time and even while you work! You can do it alone or with family members or join a bhajan group and chant in chorus! The more you sing His Name the greater is the presence of spirituality in you! You think good, speak good and also do good. A silent metamorphosis occurs in you culminating in your staunch devotion to God! An atheist can become a theistby the influence of bhajan!

          People have, to some extent realized the importance of bhajans in their lives! Programs of Namasankeertans are telecast live by different TV channels! Different schools of bhajans have evolved.’Divyanama  sankeertan,’ ‘Ayyappa Bhajan’ ‘Panduranga Bhajan’ ‘ Abhag Bhajan’ are a few varieties that cater to the different aspirations of the people. We see people, immersed in the spirit of the bhajan and dance to the tune of the song in the congregation, without any inhibition! That is the effect of bhajan on the individual! ‘In this age of Kaliyuga, the easiest way to reach the Lord is to chant the name of the lord. There is nothing more sacred than His name.’ says  BABA.

How should bhajans be sung? They should be sung with great devotion fixing God in one’s heart. The bhajans should be soft and soothing and sweet! The ‘bhava’ or the spirit of the song is of paramount importance. The song should be simple, with the different names of the chosen form of God—Rama, Krishna, Siva, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Devi, Subrahmanya, Anjaneya  and others. While raga and thala or beat are quite important, no attempt should be made to exhibit one’s excellence and proficiency in music! Bhajans are not musical concerts! They are sacred and the spirit should be maintained. After a bhajan session the person should feel elated and invigorated. The idea of singing a bhajan song is to allow the participants to repeat the names of the Lord. Hence simple ‘ namavalis’  should be sung by the leader of the bhajan. It is heartening to see many children and youngsters taking to singing bhajans  now a days.  Competitions like “ Bhajan Samrat” in Sankara TV are welcome and induce a spirit of competition among the groups to excel one another in singing bhajans! Let there be a spiritual renaissance in society through devotional singing of bhajans and lead the world to peace and prosperity!