Happy Solstice!
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Come to our home on Thursday, June 22, 8pm for an evening of Kirtan, Bhajan and Satsang with the one and only SHYAMDAS, a singer who has been a Bhakta and heavily involved in authentic Indian Krishna Devotion for more than 30 years.
This is not one of those freeform Singing/Kirtan events: this will be an evening of immersion into the Krishna Leela and how to become more involved in it.
INTRODUCTION TO KIRTAN
by Swami Sivananda, excerpts from his book “Bhakti Yoga”
Kirtan is singing of God’s Name with feeling. Such singing has a benign effect on both the physical and subtle bodies. It is an excellent method of soothing the nerves and directing the emotions to a positive goal. While the mantras are in Sanskrit, the kirtans can be sung in any language, for example, Christian hymns are kirtan.
Sanskrit, the most ancient of human languages, is also known as “Devanagri” (language of the Gods). Sound, made up of vibrations, is energy. A Sanskrit mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure. It is made up of root sounds, which are the actual vibrations arising from the object or action for which it is used. For example, in all languages, “ma,” or some variation of this sound means “mother,” and this is the sound with which the chilld naturally calls its mother.
Since the Sanskrit words are the actual sound manifestations, we use them when chanting. Mantras can be translated, but their translations do not have the same power.
Sound, made up of vibrations, is energy. A Sanskrit mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure. To release the energy from the sound, we learn to repeat it as a certain rhythm. When you start repeating a mantra, it creates a specific tought pattern. The energfy literally manifests itself.
Name and form are like the two sides of a coin; you cannot have one without the other. When you repeat a name, the form comes to mind. Although you may not conciously know the form connected with a certain mantra, it still creates a specific thought pattern in the mind. The thought patterns created by mantras are positive, beneficial, calming ones.
Mantra chanting is the easiest of all modes of approach to God. In the Kali Yuga (iron age — our time now), Kirtan alone is the best Yoga. There is a power in every word. Even as the name of a thing in this world generates the consciousness of that thing in the mind, the name of God generates God-conciousness in the purified mind and becomes the direct cause of the realization of the highest perfection of God.
Kirtan melts the heat, fills the mind with purity and generates harmony and Divine Love. He who chants the name of God forgets the body and the world. The devotee enters into the superconscious state by singing devotional music.
The chanting of Sanskrit Kirtan, even mechanically done, produces certain effects. When done with devotion, and awareness of the meaning, its benefits are immeasurable.
