Akhanda Bhajans

[Guest guest]

13-14 November

Akhanda Bhajans

 

sourced: http://www.sathyasai.org/calendar/akhand.html

 

Akhanda Bhajans

 

Today we are having non-stop twenty-four-hour global devotional singing the

(akhanda bhajan) by Sai devotees all over the world. This is being done not

for the sake of one individual, one nation, or one community. It is for the

welfare of humanity as a whole.

 

The bhajans that are sung permeate the ether in the form of sound waves and

fill the entire atmosphere. Thereby, the whole environment gets purified.

Breathing in this purified atmosphere, our hearts get purified. Reciting the

Lord's name is a process of give and take. Singing the Lord's name should

become an exercise in mutual sharing of joy and holiness. It should be

remembered that the sounds we produce reverberate in the atmosphere. They

remain permanently in the ether as waves and outlast the individual uttering

the sounds.

 

Community bhajans should not be treated as a pasttime. When thousands of

persons join in singing bhajans, they should be fully absorbed in the

devotional process and the ecstasy of that experience. The singing should be

vibrant and soulful, and not mechanical or drawling and uninspiring. It

should combine feeling (bhava), melody (raga) and rhythm (tala). What

delight can be experienced when all sing in chorus, with the same feeling,

in the same tune, and to the same timing! When there is such unity, the

Divine can be experienced.

 

Not all realize the potency and efficacy of reciting the Lord's name. The

first requisite is purity of thought, word, and deed. The name that is

uttered by the tongue should be meditated upon by the mind. What is uttered

and dwelt upon should be hailed by clapping the hands. This threefold

concentration on the Divine name --unity of mind, speech, and action--

purifies the heart and nourishes the feeling of devotion.

 

When chanting the Name is done in community singing, it should be in a form

in which the entire group can participate easily. The tune, the rhythm, etc.

should be such that all can follow the bhajan. If the lead singer takes up a

song that is not familiar to others, the response from the group will be

poor. There will be no enthusiasm or genuine participation. Their minds will

be distracted. When all the devotees participate in the bhajan, the

vibrations that are produced will generate joy and harmony.

 

Many who organize mass singing on special occasions are not aware what kind

of bhajans that should be sung then. A person who has an individual style of

his own may sing as he likes in private, but he is not suitable for

community singing.

 

Some rules are to be observed in conducting community bhajans. Elaboration

of a melody (alapana) may be done in individual singing (keerthana), but it

is wholly out of place in community bhajans. Hence, in such bhajans, the

accent should be entirely on the Name.

 

Divine Discourse: 8 November 1986

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Embodiments of the pure Aathma! Last November, on the 23rd, people from all

parts of the world had assembled here to celebrate the Golden Jubilee, and

office-bearers of the centers were here for the Second World Conference and

other functions that took place. Later ,they expressed their desire to be

allotted a date before the close of the Jubilee Year when they could

celebrate the happy occasion in their own places. In order to overcome their

disappointment, it was decided that, in all centers all over the world,

singing the glory of God's name (namasamkirtan) would be held for a full

twenty-four hours beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (yesterday) and ending

at 6:30 p.m. today.

 

Therefore, in 42 countries around the globe, more than 7,000 centers have

enthusiastically taken up this pleasant assignment.

 

This has been named an akhanda bhajan, that is to say, devotional singing

done without a break. But was it really an akhanda bhajan? It is begun at

6:30 on the evening of one day and closed at 6:30 on the evening of the next

day. Can we call it 'unbroken' devotional singing? What is a period of 24

hours, when we consider the vastness of the universe and the eternity of

time? It is just a wink, a minute part of the life of man on earth. By

engaging yourselves in the recitation of the name of God for one single day,

you claim to have done devotional singing "without a break!" Akhanda-bhajan

must be as continuous as breathing itself if it is to deserve its name.

 

You must probe into the real significance of the singing of the name of God

(samkirtan) in which you are engaged. Kirtan is "singing aloud the glory of

God." Samkirtan is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not

from the lips or tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that

wells up from the heart when the glory of God is remembered. It is the

spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy. No attention is paid to the

blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or

appreciation of the listeners. It is sung for one's own joy, one's own

satisfaction, one's own delight. Only kirtan of this supreme type deserves

the name samkirtan.

 

Singing this intense yearning for God and enjoying the experience of adoring

Him helps to purify the atmosphere. Today, man is forced to breathe the air

polluted by sounds that denote violence, hatred, cruelty, and wickedness.

Therefore, he is fast losing the high attainments that are in store for him.

The vibrations resulting from singing the glory of God can cleanse the

atmosphere and render it pure, calm, and ennobling. It is with this high

purpose in view that this program of global singing aloud the glory of God

(samkirtan) was designed.

 

Divine Discourse: 14 November 1976

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Again, akhanda bhajans means that it should not be just a twenty-four hour

affair or even a seven-day affair; it must go on from birth to death, this

contemplation of the Source and Goal of things. The procession to the

cremation ground starts immediately on birth, and the beating of the heart

is the drumbeat for the march toward that place. Some take a longer route,

some reach quickly, but all are on the way. Therefore, bhajans has to start

in childhood and has to continue. It must be the constant companion of man,

his solace and strength. Don't postpone it to old age, for it is the

essential food for the mind.

 

Take the name of the Lord and repeat it always. I was listening to the

bhajans you did here yesterday and today. Your voices were low; they could

scarcely be heard outside this hall. I know that in a certain institution

where they decided to do akhanda bhajans, they had to hire a few persons at

so much per hour so that their plan could succeed. Do bhajans with faith and

enthusiasm. Let the whole city shake with the devotion you put into every

Name that you sing. The Name promotes comradeship and establishes concord;

it stills all storms and grants peace.

 

Divine Discourse: 10 July 1959

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[Guest guest]

leo909

Thu Oct 7, 2004 1:17pm

Re: Akhanda Bhajans

 

NOVEMBER 13 AND 14

 

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"M.Samtani" <mahesh

Thu Oct 7, 2004 1:26pm

Akhanda Bhajans

 

Sai Ram Jnanda

 

Akhanda Bhajans this year is on the 13th of November, Saturday

 

Love & Light

Mahesh

Spain

 

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Dharma Rajah <dharmarajah

Thu Oct 7, 2004 2:53pm

Re: Akhanda Bhajans

 

Sai Ram

The Akhanda Bhajans this year is scheduled to commence

on Saturday 13th November.

Dharma

 

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CM VENUGOPAL <cmvenugopal2004

Thu Oct 7, 2004 11:21pm

Re: Akhanda Bhajans

 

Sai Ram

 

The Akhanda Bhajan is organised on 13th and 14th November 2004 from

6 pm to 6 pm with Aarthi at 6 pm on 14th.

 

Some Samithis also conduct 79 Bhajans (to coincide with Baba's

Birthday) with Aarathi at 6 pm sharp. For 79 bhajans, it takes

almost 5 hours.

 

Sai Ram

 

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"Sunil Lala" <sunil.lala

Fri Oct 8, 2004 0:31am

Re: Akhanda Bhajans

 

Om Sai Ram

Apology

 

AKHANDA BHAJANS 2004

 

Akhanda Bhajans 2004 will be held on the weekend of 13 november 2004

6pm Saturday to 6 pm Sunday (14th November).

 

Jai Sai Ram

 

 

Regards

Sunil Lala

 

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"Naren Patel" <sairam_naren

Fri Oct 8, 2004 8:54am

RE: Akhanda Bhajans

 

Sai Ram

 

I think its on 13th Nov 2004 after Diwali

 

Sairam

Naren

[Guest guest]

om sai ram

dates for akhanda bhajans are 13/14 of november