Kirtan: The Sacred Vibration That Purifies the Heart

Kirtan (also known as sankirtan, bhajan, chants, or chanting) is call and response meditational singing. It may be the simple repetition of a Sanskrit name of God, or it may be a more complex poetic composition called pad kirtan that describes the virtues, form, pastimes or actions, or abode of God. In any of its forms, kirtan is a style of meditation related to the practice of bhakti or devotion, which is the heart of the Hindu religion. All Hindu spiritual practices culiminate in bhakti, which is also the path of grace.

The purpose of kirtan is to enliven and develop one's devotional relationship with God, and by so doing, naturally purify the heart. Rumi, the great Sufi Saint, said, "Your heart is like a mirror. Its back faces towards the world and its front faces towards God." This is an indication that we have an innate capacity to experience a profound and ecstatic relationship with God. That feeling is reflected in the mirror of the heart. We don't feel divine relationship because the mirror is covered with a layer of dust, dirt and other impurities. It has lost its capacity to reflect. If it were cleansed (or purified), that reflection (or divine presence) could be immediately seen (or felt). When done correctly, the sacred vibration of kirtan purifies the heart.

How to Have a Great Kirtan Practice

Just as it is natural to feel heat if you stand next to a fire, so it is natural to believe that just by singing Sanskrit chants that any kind of spiritual experience might be possible, but in fact kirtan is more than music and vocal repetition.

There are some important steps to follow to make kirtan a true meditation that have been described in many sacred Hindu writings. The Bhagwatam explains these in Sanskrit as: (1) shravanam (listening), (2) smaranam (remembrance), (3) kirtanam (chanting).

(1) Shravanam or listening. We use material in our kirtan practice such as God's name, etc. that takes you beyond your small 'self' (soul) and gets you in touch with the 'Self' of your 'self', the ultimate divine power, God. That material explains what and how God is. Although the knowledge of God's personality is described in the Hindu scriptures, it is found in its most practical and understandable form in the teachings of God realized Saints or mahapurush. When these Saints communicate the knowledge of their practical experience of God, they are also called Guru. The word Guru means "the one who removes the darkness of ignorance and bestows divine knowledge."

By hearing, listening to and studying such teachings, and then understanding them and reflecting upon them, we form our devotional foundation. This builds our trust and faith that God exists. In may be that such a Saint may also write kirtan. This is the best kind of kirtan composition to use in your devotional practice as it is also imbued with that Saint's grace, and in general, he will accompany this with specific instructions for its use.

(2) Smaranam or remembrance. Remembrance is also called rupadhyana (rupa - form, dhyana - meditation). It is the act of opening your heart, being present in the moment and feeling God's presence and love. It is the time to use your devotional imagination and visualize God's form near you (the same form whose name you will be taking in kirtan). This loving remembrance is the life breath of kirtan practice and this alone creates a channel of grace.

(3) Kirtanam or chanting. Physical kirtan can either be done silently or vocally or as a static or dynamic meditation. There is no rule for when and how to practice kirtan, as long as your feeling of God's presence is intact. If you become distracted from this, then take a moment to center yourself, feel divine presence and continue the chant.

The great Saint Tulsidas has written,
Prem bhagati jal binu Raghuraee,
Abhiantar mal kabahun na jaee.

Please consider this point: Unless you shed tears of devotional love, the impurities of the heart can't be washed away. By following the above three guidelines, the sacred vibration of kirtan, combined with your faith and longing for God, is the best way to ensure your kirtan produces the greatest effect in your practice of bhakti.

For finer points related to bhakti and kirtan practice, visit the below link.

Bhakti Yoga Meditation
An online resource for bhakti yoga practice