The power of Sankirtan- a nada yoga practice

Hari Aum.

Sankirtan means singing the names or mantras of God in a group. This is regarded as a powerful spiritual practice by many yogis, including my Guru Sivananda.

The name or mantra of God is equal to God.  The English word 'sound' does not really do justice to the the significance of the name or mantra of God.

'Sound' is an ordinary word in English. We use it to communicate.

However, to a yogi, 'sound' is not a means of communication. It is a means of communion. A means of communion with God, who Himself is most powerfully manifest as 'sound'. The sound of God is His/Her name or mantra.

In this iron age or Kali yuga, the yogis say that human beings are mentally and physically weak. They do not have much capacity to do arduous tapas. Life is short, full of troubles, anxieties, worries and diseases. Many people spend their days in a terrible hurry, with barely enough time to eat and sleep, let alone having time do any arduous tapas.

In this difficult situation, are modern city dwellers with jobs and families doomed? As they have no ability to sit and meditate for hours on end, are they not doomed to make no spiritual progress?

No, say the yogis emphatically. They are not doomed. Why?

Because the sadhana for this Kali yuga is the practice of the sound of God. This can be done in a city or a village, on land, air or sea, or anywhere. It has a powerful effect, regardless of whether or not one has faith or devotion, regardless of whether or not one even understands the meaning of the sound of God.

There are two potent practices of the sound of God.

1. Japa - the private recitation of a mantra or name of God. This is an individual practice, usually done while one is alone.

2. Sankirtan- this is singing the name or mantra of God with other people, a joint practice.

Both japa and kirtan are 'nada yoga' practices, the path of union with God (yoga) through sound (nada).

My Guru Sivananda says the following about Sankirtan (see link below for full article):

"When several people join together and practise Sankirtan, a huge spiritual current or Mahasakti is generated. This purifies the heart of the aspirants and elevates them to the sublime heights of divine ecstasy or Samadhi."

"The powerful vibrations are carried to distant places. They bring elevation of mind, solace, strength to all people and work as a harbinger of peace, harmony and concord. They annihilate hostile forces and quickly bring peace and bliss to the whole world."

"Lord Hari says to Narada, 'naham vasami vaikunthe yoginam hridaye na cha, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tishthami narada', i.e., 'I dwell not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the Yogins, but I dwell where my devotees sing my name, O Narada.'"

"Kirtan destroys sins, Vasanas and Samskaras, fills the heart with Prem and devotion and brings the devotee face to face with God."

http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=443&format=html


As my Guru and many other Gurus say, kirtan is an excellent spiritual practice. It is said to open up the heart chakra and connect one to God. One can sometimes sing alone and sometimes in the company of others. Recently I attended a kirtan event organised by some bhakti yoga practitioners. They also offered a free workshop for beginners on how to play the 'khol' (mridanga made of clay). The khol has a wonderful sound and adds to the joy of sankirtan.

I so liked the sound of the khol/mridanga that I have now purchased one to use during my kirtan. I am trying to learn how to play this purely for the purpose of kirtan (have no wish to turn professional!). As I have a busy schedule due to work etc and there are no teachers close to where I live, I have turned to YouTube to learn how to play this instrument.

There are some online excellent lessons for beginners who wish to play the khol/mridanga. I am sharing a link below of one of the YouTube series that I have found the most useful. I am still very much a beginner at this but have managed to learn a couple of basic rhythms so that I can sing some of my favourite kirtans to this. Am hoping to hone my skills with the khol in the coming months so that I can really make the most of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IhAMRLRS4Y


A final note. My Guru Sivananda loved kirtan so much and propagated it all over India to such as extent that he earned the nickname 'sankirtan samrat'- emperor of kirtan. He would do kirtan with his disciples on lorries, boats, buses, while walking etc to spread awareness amongst people of the power of sankirtan.

Here is an excellent article by him on the different modes of kirtan that can be undertaken, ranging from 'akhanda kirtan' (non-stop kirtan) to boat and lorry-kirtan.

http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=1105&format=html


Along with  japa, I would strongly recommend readers to engage in some kirtan from time to time. It really soothes the nerves and creates peace and bliss in the mind. One also feels closer to God through the practice of kirtan. No instrument is needed while doing kirtan. However if one likes, one can clap one's hands to the rhythm of the kirtan or play an instrument of one's liking.

There is gain and gain alone in doing japa and kirtan according to Sivananda. He says this is the only wealth that will follow us into the hereafter.

We spend all our time doing activities to take care of our perishable bodies and mind. It would be wise to spend at least some time daily doing kirtan and japa to nourish the soul (this practice also relaxes and thus restores health to the body and mind).

Hope this article inspires more readers to take up the practice of sankirtan yoga and thus tune into the divine within.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

Lord Narayana's promise

Hari Aum.

Lord Narayana has made a number of great promises that are well-known. In the Gita, He makes a number of promises regarding the preservation of good, destruction of evil, and granting relief to His devotees from the pains of samsaric existence. We are all familiar with His statements that He will incarnate in every yuga to uphold dharma (goodness/righteousness) and remove adharma (evil/unrighteousness). Also His promise that one who abandons all sense of personal doership and seeks refuge at His feet, will be delivered by Him.

I would like to discuss one particular promise of His however that is mentioned in the Padma Purana. Here Hari and his devotee Narada are having a conversation. Hari says to Narada "Naham vasami Vaikunthe, Yoginam hridaye na cha. Madbhakta yatra gayanti, tatra thishtami Narada".

He says "I do not live in Vaikuntha, nor in the hearts of yogis. Where my devotee sings, there I reside Narada". This sloka is quoted by many, including my Guru Sivananda, as a reason to perform sankirtan- singing the names of God. God is an embodiment of Truth. Truth is given great importance in the spiritual path. God's words are not to be taken lightly therefore. The origins of these words is the embodiment of Truth Himself and therefore the words are also absolutely true.

Of course in truth, God is everywhere. In Vaikuntha, in our hearts, here, there and everywhere. There is nowhere where He is not. However, this sloka is to give importance to the practice of the singing of the names of God as a powerful means to be in the presence of God. People often complain that God feels very far away. Through the practice of kirtan we can invoke His presence and feel Him near us.

Almost as a response to this great promise of Narayana, is the devotee's statement in the Brihan-Naradiya purana. "Harer namaiva, namaiva, namaiva mama jivanam. Kalau naastyeva, naastyeva, naastyeva, gatiranyatha". This means "Hari's name alone, name alone, name alone is my life. In Kali (yuga), there is no other way,  no other way, no other way". The repetition of the phrases three times in each sentences is for added emphasis.

I like to sing these two slokas sometimes when singing by myself (I almost always sing alone as this feels more natural and unrestricted - and I don't have to worry if my singing sounds good or otherwise!). The first sloka is to remind Lord Narayana of His promise to be present where His names are sung (He is present anyway, so it is probably more a way to remind myself that He is present here and now). The second sloka is to make a request to God that the name of Hari should be the basis of my life.

I have a picture of my Guru Sivananda on the wall just above my wooden temple with Vishnu and other deities. My Guru loved kirtan and used to be called 'sankirtan samrat' during his lifetime as he was so keen on promoting this sadhana as an effective means of God realisation. I know he is listening when I sing, his picture looks extremely alive to me. Guru is a principle not a body, and is everywhere, including in the photo. Looking at his photo while singing gives me increased faith and interest in kirtan and the name of God, as my Guru is an embodiment of faith in the Name.

Om Sri Guruve Namah
Om Sri Krishnaya Namah 

Hari Aum Tat Sat.