Bhajan

A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu 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 Guru Granth Sahib to music. The Sikh place huge value on this type of singing and a Sikh is duty bound to listen and/or sing Guru-Kirtan as frequently as possible.

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An open-air bhajan in session at a local temple in Chennai, India.
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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.

The music traditionally has been Indian classical music, which is based on ragas and tala (rhythmic beat patterns). Traditionally the Indian musical instruments the harmonium and tabla were used for this type of music. The Sikh Scripture contain 31 ragas and 17 talas which form the basis for Kirtan music compositions.

Contents
1 History and Origin
2 Types of Bhajans
3 Kirtan in Sikhism

3.1 Ragas in Sikh Kirtan
3.2 Tala in Sikh Kirtan
3.3 What the SGGS says

4 Great Exponents
5 Popularity with the Masses

5.1 Modern forms

6 External links

6.1 Hindu tradition
6.2 Sikh tradition

History and Origin

The groundwork for 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, the colloquial renderings and the profound appeal to the mass. These are sung in a group comprising devotees, with a lead singer. The simple tunes, repetition of words (particularly the various Names with which God is addressed) and phrases lend a kind of tonal mesmerism. Anecdotes, episodes from the lives of Gods, preaching of saints, description of God's glories have been the subject of bhajans. Another form of the bhajan is the keertan or songs in the Haridas tradition.

Types of Bhajans

A plunge into the past reveals, that bhajans, as a genre, have come a long way weaving a home for itself into the core of human hearts. Traditions of bhajan — singing have been formed over the ages — Nirguni, Gorakhanathi, Vallabhapanthi, Ashtachhap, Madhura-bhakti are some of them. Each sect has their own sets of bhajans and ways of singing them.

Kirtan in Sikhism

The Holy Sikh Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (“SGGS”) is the main spiritual authority for the Sikhs. The Sikhs hold unique high regards for their Granth (Literally “scripture”), which is treated as a living Guru (“religious master”). When Kirtan is sung, the lyrics are normally lines from the SGGS. The Shabads (“Hymns”) of the Sikh Scriptures are primarily arranged in Chapters, which are names of musical Ragas (“ musical theme”). So the main Sikh Holy Scripture is arranged in chapters that bear names of musical ragas. Each of these Ragas is unique and all the Shabads in that Chapter have to be sung in that particular Raga. The title of the Shabad also has a numeric notation, which many believe gives the singers a clear idea of the Tala or musical rhythm or beat that needs to be used for that hymn.

Below is the English Translation from page 14 of SGGS:

You will notice that the Shabad begins with “Raag Sireeraag” – Siree Raga is an important raga in Indian Classical Music. Further you will notice that the first line ends with ‘ghar 1’ – this conveys to musicians, the Tala or musical beat or rhythms that needs to be used for that Shabad.

Ragas in Sikh Kirtan

Ragas have a direct relationship to human moods and the following are the connections between Ragas and feelings/emotions:

Tala in Sikh Kirtan

In connection with Tala or musical beats/rhythms and the ‘Ghar’ in the SGGS, the following can be concluded.

What the SGGS says

The Sikh Guru gave huge importance to Kirtan and this can be concluded from the following Shabads.

On 107-8 Guruji says that illnesses of countless lives are eroded by singing Kirtan, thus:

On page 178, Guruji says that mind becomes peaceful when Kirtan is sang:

On Page 196, Guruji says, Kirtan can only be sung by good fortune, thus:


On Page 199, the SGGS advices that Kirtan keeps the mind awake and alert:

On page 208, Guruji tells us those whose hearts are alight with God, sing Kirtan:

Also on the same page, Guruji says that ‘Kirtan is my treasure’:

On page 214 Guruji tell us that by singing Kirtan we will be saved, thus:

On page 297, Guruji tells us that even death is overcome by singing Kirtan:


'On page 322, Guruji says ‘lives of those who sing Kirtan are approved’, thus:

Guruji on page 363 tell us by singing Kirtan, Naam (God’s remembrance) is instilled in the mind thus:

Guruji on page 454 tell us that all sins and sorrows depart when Kirtan is sang:

On Page 642, Guruji tells us that singing Kirtan is the ‘highest of all actions’ that we can perform:

Guruji on Page 683 tell us clearly that ‘All desires, power, pleasure, joy and lasting bliss’ are found by singing Kirtan:

On page 1300, Guruji say by singing Kirtan, all Evil-mindedness is removed:

On Page 1337, Guruji advises us that singing Kirtan is equal to bathing at 68 sacred holy places, thus:

On page 1356, Guruji tell us how by singing Kirtan, the entire world and Pride, Attachment, Greed, Anger and Lust (PAGAL, the five thieves) are conquered, thus:

And finally, on page 1075-6 Guruji tell us that in this era of the ‘Kal Juug’ Kirtan is supreme, thus:

Great Exponents

The medieval age saw devotees like Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera, 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. Towards the latter half of 20th century, Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi has revived/popularized the Bhajan tradition in India and across the Sai Centers in other parts of world. Sai devotees all over the world perform Bhajans on every Thursday (and Saturday or Sunday) referring to God with various names like: Rama, Krishna, Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Mahavir, Zoroaster, Jehovah etc. without any religious distinction and in a way proclaiming the unity of all faiths and oneness of God.

Popularity with the Masses

The common mass indulges in bhajan-singing without realizing that such traditional methods of invoking the divine can have a tremendous stress-removing impact. Bhajan mandalis that have been in existence in the Indian villages since the beginning of the Bhakti era, have proved to be great social leveller 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 and Sikhs devoutly sing Kirtan 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.

External links

Hindu tradition

Sikh tradition

Topics in Hinduism
Shruti (primary Scriptures): Vedas | Upanishads | Bhagavad Gita | Itihasa (Ramayana & Mahabharata) | Agamas
Smriti (other texts): Tantras | Sutras | Puranas | Brahma Sutras | Hatha Yoga Pradipika | Smritis | Tirukural | Yoga Sutra
Concepts: Avatar | Brahman | Dharma | Karma | Moksha | Maya | Ishta-Deva | Murti | Reincarnation | Samsara | Trimurti | Turiya
Schools & Systems: Schools of Hinduism | Early Hinduism | Samkhya | Nyaya | Vaisheshika | Yoga | Mimamsa | Vedanta | Tantra | Bhakti
Traditional Practices: Jyotish | Ayurveda
Rituals: Aarti | Bhajans | Darshan | Diksha | Mantras | Puja | Satsang | Stotras | Yajna
Gurus and Saints: Shankara | Ramanuja | Madhvacharya | Ramakrishna | Vivekananda | Sree Narayana Guru | Aurobindo | Ramana Maharshi | Sivananda | Chinmayananda | Sivaya Subramuniyaswami | Swaminarayan | A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Denominations: List of Hindu denominations
Vaishnavism | Saivism | Shaktism | Smartism | Agama Hindu Dharma | Contemporary Hindu movements | Survey of Hindu organisations

See also: Bhajan, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Aarti, Adi Shankara, Agama Hindu Dharma, Allah, Avatar, Ayurveda