Bhajan

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A traditional form of musical devotion still popular in India today. A bhajan is a spiritual song as well as group worship through music and song. Bhajans are customarily performed in a soloist-group format.

 
Part of a series of articles on the
Science of
the Spoken Word



   Main article   
Spoken Word



   Forms of the spoken Word   
Affirmation
Call
Chant
Decree
Fiat
Invocation
Mantra
Prayer



   Eastern forms   
AUM
Bhajan
Bija mantra
Golden Mantra
Om mani padme hum



   Western forms   
Hail Mary
Rosary



   Specific rituals   
Mother Mary’s Circle of Light
Fourteenth Rosary
Archangel Michael’s Rosary
Ritual of the Resurrection Flame
Kuan Yin’s Crystal Rosary



   Related topics   
Violet flame
Violet-flame decrees
Balance of violet-flame and blue-flame decrees
Pranayama
Djwal Kul's breathing exercise
 

For centuries, Hindu devotees have embraced the bhajan as a source of deep spiritual renewal. Today bhajans are performed on holy days, special occasions or with a gathering of relatives, friends and neighbors. An evening of bhajans can last for several hours, often lifting the participants to a state of religious exaltation. A soloist sings a verse and the group repeats it to the accompaniment of percussion and other instruments. Generally the recitation begins slowly and then speeds up.

A distinctive element of the bhajan is the repetition of the names of God. According to Hindu tradition, singing and meditating upon the names of a deity evoke his or her power and presence. To the Hindu, the bhajan is also a medium of divine grace, bringing salvation to those who have erred.

See also

Spoken Word

Sources

Shiva: Sacred Chants from the Heart of India (audio CD)