NAMASTE

Kirtan, also known as sankirtan, is the call-and-response chanting inspired and popularized by the great saint Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The roots of kirtan go back over 500 years to Renaissance India. During this period the influence and style of kirtan became the focal point for the upsurge in religious expression in Bengal led by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This joyful mood quickly spread throughout India, where today kirtan is accepted as one of the surest paths to enlightenment. The singing is accompanied by the ancient musical raga musical tradition with a rhythmic drumming style that transports the chanters to profound spiritual realms.


The power of sound is felt directly by chanting the ancient mantras and names of the Divine. A deep meditation is possible if aim, faith and concentration blend into the experience of the chant. In Yoga, Kirtan is the practice of singing and repeating the name of God (in both male and female aspects), as well as using descriptive phrases or divine attributes. The word Kirtan comes from the Sanskrit root "kirt", or "kirti", meaning to name, to communicate, to share, to participate in, to celebrate, to praise, and to glorify. The purifying power of God's name is mentioned in most spiritual traditions.


Concentration on the different names of God, the meanings, or the ragas (melodic structures) increases the focus of Kirtan. For some, translating the words and meaning of the Kirtan enhances concentration and devotion, while others prefer to dwell on the Name itself or on the raga. In reality, a person doesn't need to literally know the meaning of the chant, because the power is inherent in the sound. If someone is totally present in the chant, the energy and power will be experienced and can awaken them into the Stillness within.



In Love and Light


Pritam