T Ram Sewak

KIRTAN

The fourth form of bhakti articulated by Shri Ram to Sabari in Shri Ramcharitmanas (3.35) is what we popularly call kirtan.

"chauthi bhagati mama guna gan karai kapat taji gaan ".

" the fourth type of devotion is singing My praises with a guileless heart ".

Most of us would have experienced the bliss of kirtan. It involves three-fold devotion - shravan(listening),gayan (singing), andsimaran(remembering).It facilitates the objective of HIS constant remembrance and fixing the mind on HIM. While outlining the attributes of Mahatmas in Gita 9.14, Shri Krishna says that these bhakts purify their mind through kirtan, constantly worshipping and thinking of HIM.

During the bhakti movement and afterwards, saints and bhakts invariably expressed their love, devotion and mystic experiences through hymns in sweet and lyrical musical compositions that tune the soul with the Anhad Naad (eternal rhythm). This kirtan lifts one out of time and space, leading to the blessing of an occasional glimpse of divinity.

As a form of bhakti, kirtan transformed devotion from individual to collective under the guidance of a sant/guru. Both katha and kirtan create an ambience for the bhakt/mumukshu (seeker), awakening and nurturing his bhakti, thus helping him reach his Isht Devata (Cherished Deity).

In Gita 6.35, Shri Krishna says that the mind is restless and difficult to control. However, by practice and dispassion, it can be restrained. Being in sant-sang, having a fondness for HIS katha, serving the guru sans ahamkara, and hearing and chanting HIS kirtan guilelessly engages the knowledge senses in the divine realm, which helps in restraining the mind from its wanderings.

Shri Ramcharitmanas underlines kirtan (hari guna gan), sometimes as the only, but often as an easy path to moksha (salvation). Shri Ramcharitmanas (7.103) mentions that in Kaliyug, neither yoga (concentration of mind), yagya (performance of sacrifices), nor gyan (spiritual wisdom) is of any avail; the only hope for moksha lies in

Shri Ram guna gan./ DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-26

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com