Sankirtan or
Kirtan
Sankirtan is the singing of Lord’s names with faith and devotion.
In Kali Yuga by the singing of the Lord's Names are
obtained all the fruits that were available to our forefathers who lived in the
preceding Yugas by severe penance, austere mode of life, performance of
sacrifices and such other unimaginably difficult ways of attainment.
I quote the words of four great masters about kirtan and the power of the name of God.
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| ~ Haidakhan Babaji |
‘Chant the name
of the Lord always.’
By chanting the mantra, its vibrations spread all
round you. You will then meditate for yourself and others. By holy chants
alone, I will lead and win any war in this world. Whatever happens, all the
devotees of God will be saved by Divine Will.
~ Haidakhan Babaji
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‘Bhakti is the
same as vichara (Self-enquiry).’
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| ~ Sri Ramana Maharshi |
Really
there are only two methods, Enquiry and devotion. One leads to the other. A
devotee concentrates on God.
A
seeker, follower of the Jnana-marga seeks the Self. The practice is equally
difficult for both.
Since
God is verily the Self, love of the Self is love of the God and that is bhakti.
Jnana and Bhakti are thus one and the same.
Service,
like prayers, japa and even businesss done in God’s name, lead to the highest
Goal; Self-realization.
Complete
effacement of the ego is necessary to conquer destiny, whether you achieve this
effacement through Self enquiry or through bhakti-marga (Bhakti yoga
path).
Self-enquiry
is possible for mature minds, not for immature ones. For the immature ones,
japa nama, worship of images, pranayama, visualizing a pillar of light and
similar yogic and spiritual and religious practices have been prescribed.
~ Sri Ramana
Maharshi
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‘By calling God
by His name you make Him come to you.’
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| ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj |
Q: The repetition
of the name of God is very common in India. Is there any virtue in it?
M: When you know the name of a thing, or a person, you
can find it easily. By calling God by His name you make Him come to you.
Q: This constant
repetition of a few words, is it not a kind of madness?
M: It is madness, but it is a
deliberate madness. All repetitiveness is tamas*, but repeating the name of God
is sattva-tamas* due to its high purpose. Because of the presence of
sattva*, the tamas will wear out and will take the shape of complete
dispassion, detachment, relinquishment, aloofness, immutability.
~ Sri
Nisargadatta Maharaj
Note:
* GUNAS: Gunas are the three qualities of nature and
mind.
Sattva (light, purity, balance, harmony).
Rajas (activity, passion, distraction).
Tamas (inertia, dullness, stagnation).
GUNAS &
MIND: The gunas are
the main substance of the mind.
Sattva makes the mind calm, pure, one-pointed, introverted,
luminous and joyful.
Rajas makes the mind extroverted, passionate, distractive,
agitated, gives pleasure and pain.
Tamas makes the mind dull, obscured, cloudy,
perversed, inert, inattentive and self destructive.
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‘Japa ultimately
results in Samadhi or communion with the Lord.’
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| ~Swami Sivananda |
Japa Nama is an important limb of Yoga or divine life. A mantra is divinity. Japa is
the repetition of the mantra or the names of the Lord.
In Kali Yuga, practice of Japa alone can give eternal
peace, bliss and immortality. Japa ultimately results in Samadhi or communion
with the Lord.
Sankirtan is the singing of Lord’s names with faith and
devotion.
When you sing His names, feel that Lord Hari (God) or
Ishta Devata* is seated in your heart, that every name of the Lord is filled
with divine potencies, that the old vicious impressions in the subconscious
mind (Samskaras) and desires (Vasanas) are burnt by the power of the name and
that the mind is filled with Sattva or purity, that Rajas and Tamas are
completely destroyed, and that the veil of ignorance is torn down. This kind of
mental attitude brings the maximum benefit of Sankirtan.
It is not the number of Japa or the length of time of
Kirtan that counts for spiritual growth but it is the intensity of Bhava with
which the Lord’s names are sung.
* Ishta Devata : The form you love to adore God. viz. Krishna, Jesus Christ etc.)
~Swami Sivananda“
Peace love harmony