Kirtan: What is it?
What is Kirtan?
Kirtan is the call and response chanting of Sanskrit names of the Divine, led usually to melodious music. It is often called Bhajans which is a broader term meaning devotional song. It is a practice to open the heart and is often thought to be the ‘Yoga of the emotions’ as it helps us to transform negative emotions and connect with the silence and peace within.
Sound has an unbelievably powerful effect on us, and Sanskrit is a powerful language that resonates on a deeper level than most languages. It is said to be the most ancient language in the world and closest to the primordial sounds, or sounds of creation. So singing Kirtan can be an a deeply purifiying practice, transforming negative emotions and stilling the mind. When the chant ends and the whole room drops into deep silence and stillness, for a moment, maybe just a split second, you can feel the peace that lies within.
Kirtan is a practice of Bhakti Yoga, which is the yoga of devotion. like all yogas, Bhakti yoga is a practice aimed to unite the individual soul with the universal or supreme conciousness, through devotion. It is often considered to be suitable to those with an emotional nature, and is considered to be one the easiest practice of this time to achieve the state of yoga.