Purify the world by Sankeerthana

July 6, 2008

There is no age like the Kali Age, none at all.

Where by mere meditation on the name of the Lord,

The Supreme Goal is realized. Oh Blessed One!

Even a multi-millionaire has to be content

With ordinary raiment and food.

He cannot live on a diet of gold.

When Time is unpropitious, a stick may turn into a snake

While, when it is favorable, dust may turn gold.

The wheel of Time can make a scholar a dumb animal,

And a dumb man can become a saint,

And a wealthy man may become a plaything of the

Goddess of Poverty at one time.

Whatever your prayers, you cannot get

What you are not destined to get.

Don't cherish, Oh young man, any desires.

Lead instead a noble life with intelligence.

What more can I tell you--

The good people assembled here?

Embodiments of Divine Love!

" Samyak-keerthanam Sankeerthanam " (Congregational singing of bhajans is the best

of bhajans). There is a big difference between Keerthanam and Sankeerthanam.

Keerthanam is an individual affair. It is singing by an individual for the

fulfillment of his prayers. Sankeerthanam aims at the well being of the whole

universe. This is also described as Saamaajika bhajans (community singing). This

method of singing bhajans was first initiated by Guru Nanak, the founder of

Sikhism.

Sankeerthana aims at demonstrating unity in diversity. When all the participants

combine to sing in unison with one voice, it is described as Sankeerthana.

Four kinds of Sankeerthana

Sankeerthana is of four kinds: One is Guna sankeethana; two, Leela sankeerthana;

three, Bhaava sankeerthana; four, Naama sankeerthana.

Guna sankeerthana applies to the kind of bhajan in which the devotee recites the

auspicious qualities of the Divine, experiences oneness with the Divine, and

acquires the Godly qualities. Thyaagaraaja had recourse to this type of singing.

In one of his keerthanas, he exclaimed: " Oh Lord! You are beyond all words. Is

it possible for even Brahma or other Gods to extol your glorious exploits? I am

waiting for your grace. Hearken to my entreaties. You restored to the preceptor

the son whom the Lord of Death had taken away. You conquered the God of Love.

You liberated from prison Vasudheva and Dhevaki. You protected Draupadhi when

she appealed to you in despair. You were the guardian of the Paandavas. You

relieved Kuchela of his poverty. You saved 16,000 damsels from subjection. " In

this manner, Thyaagaraaja recounted the great qualities of God in his songs.

Geetha Govindam is a form of Leela Sankeerthana

Leela sankeerthana refers to the enjoyment by the devotee of the sacred sport of

the Divine in ecstatic dancing and singing and being totally absorbed in it.

This is exemplified by the Geetha Govindam of Jayadheva.

Bhaava Sankeerthana: This is illustrated by Raadha alone, who expresses her

different feelings towards God and identifies herself with the Divine in every

mood of devotion. She expressed her devotion in the five forms of Shantha

(Serenity), Saakhya (friendliness), Vaathsalya (eternal love), Anuraaga

(affection) and Madhura (sweetness). Raadha and Meera were the exponents of

Bhaava sankeerthana.

Naama sankeerthana: Chaithanya was the exponent of this form of keerthana. " All

names are yours. There is nothing in this cosmos which does not bear the imprint

of your name or form " Sarvaroopa Dharam Shaantham Sarvanaamadharam Shivam

Satchidaananda Roopam Advaitham Sathyam Shivam Sundararn " (Svaami sang this

sloka). Chaithanya reveled in singing the name of the Lord as signifying all

that was beautiful and glorious in the universe.

While in each of the previous aeons the devotees adopted one or other methods of

singing the glories, it is the supreme good fortune of the residents of

Prashaanthi Nilayam to enjoy all the four forms of sankeerthana. The bhajans

sung here are a combination of all the four forms of sankeerthana.

The significance of Naamalikhitam

There is yet another special form of glorifying the name of the Lord. This is

Naamalikhitam (writing the Name of the Lord). Contemplating on the name of the

Lord mentally, uttering the name by mouth and writing the name by hand serve to

perform Trikarana Suddhi (purify the mind, the speech and the action).

The name of the Lord has been glorified in different ways all over the world.

Jayadheva was one who enjoyed always the leelas (sport) of the Divine,

experienced the presence of the Divine within him, devoted every one of his

daily activities to enjoying the sport of the Divine, felt that he had no use

for anything other than God's love, merged his love in Divine Love and thereby

became the very embodiment of Divine Love. As people did not comprehend the

spiritual significance of his keerthanas, they misunderstood and misinterpreted

the meaning of Jayadheva's Ashtapadhis (octaves).

Hanumaan, after the completion of his mission in Lanka, went to Seetha to

receive her blessings before returning to Raama. At that time, Mother Seetha

blessed Hanumaan in this manner: " Hanumaan! You are full of prowess,

intelligence and fortitude. May you never grow old. " This did not give joy to

Hanumaan. Noticing his sense of disappointment, Seetha blessed him again: " Live

as an immortal. " Even this did not please Hanumaan. Seetha then blessed him

again: " Hanumaan! You are full of virtues! May the dwellers in the three worlds

extol your qualities. " Hanumaan felt embarrassed and bent his head as if he was

ashamed to hear her praise him. Observing Hanumaan's reactions, Seetha finally

blessed him thus: " May Shri Raama always love you! " The moment he heard these

words, Hanumaan was in rapture. " This was all that I wanted, " he declared. " I

must be worthy of Raama's love. A life without Raama's love is an utter waste.

It is a living death. The only thing I

desire is Raama's love. "

Hanumaan was proficient in music. There was none that could excel him in

singing. Even Naaradha and Tumbura could not prevail against him. Such a great

singer continued always to chant the name of Raama.

Devotional singing is outpouring of love to God

What then is the essence of Sankeerthana? Its essential purpose is to earn the

love of God. Combining one's voice, tune, feeling and rhythm to the appropriate

beat of the song, the devotee should immerse himself in the singing. Harmonizing

the feeling with devotion and Love, the sacred words of the song should be an

outpouring of love towards God. That alone is devotional singing.

When the song is rendered without understanding the meaning of the words and

without any inner feeling or genuine love for God, it is a mechanical

performance. Bhaava (feeling), Raaga (melody) and Thaala (rhythm) are the

essentials for proper singing.

Even the name Bhaarath signifies the combination of these three elements.

(Bha-Ra-Tha). In every action in daily life, the combination of these three

elements should be observed. This rule can be applied even to one's studies.

Bhaava, in relation to study of a subject, means understanding the subject

thoroughly. Raaga implies cultivating a love for the subject and Thaala means

expressing one's knowledge coherently and clearly.

Understand the meaning of songs while rendering

In the rendering of Thyaagaraaja's songs, the failure to observe the meaning of

the words of the song has produced bizarre results. Thyaagaraaja's songs are in

Thelugu. Thamil musicians, who are experts in music, rendering Thyaagaraaja's

songs have often mangled the words of the songs and made them meaningless. In

one of his songs, Thyaagaraaja sang: " Ne pogadakunte neekemi kodhavu Raama? " (If

I do not praise you, what do you lose Oh Raama?). A Thamil musician sang the

song in such a manner that it meant: " If I eat pakodas, what do you lose? " It is

essential to ensure that the meaning of the words, the emotional feeling of the

composer and the melody of the song are all brought out in rendering the songs

during Nagarsankeerthan and in bhajans. Where one does not understand the

meanings of the words, he should get the meaning from those who know.

Embodiments of Divine Love!

Regard community singing as sacred devotional exercise. Even if you have no

musical ability, utter the names of the Lord with feeling and love.

There is no greater means of God-realization in the Kali Yuga than chanting the

names of the Lord. Dhyaana (meditation) in Krita Yuga, Yajna (sacrifice) in

Tretha Yuga, Archana (worship of idols) in Dhvaapara Yuga and Naama sankeerthana

(Reciting the name of the Lord) in Kali Yuga are the methods prescribed for

realizing the Divine.

Remembering the Name is the panacea. When the name is chanted as a song set to

music, it delights the heart immensely. Many pandiths recite the names as slokas

(verse). They do not experience the intense yearning expressed in the stanzas.

Some actors are able to pronounce the words loud and clear, but without any

depth of feeling. But when the names are sung melodiously they appeal to the

hearts of the singers and the listeners. Even non-believers and agnostics nod

their heads in appreciation when they listen to devotional music.

A song sung melodiously tugs at the heart-strings.

The word of a song can be expressed in prosaic manner which has no appeal to the

listener. But when they are sung melodiously as in the song: " Raama! Nannu

Kaapaadu " -- " Raama! save me, " they tug at the heart-strings. (Svaami sang the

song to demonstrate its appeal). Such sweetness is contained in the song when it

is rendered melodiously.

Everyone, whether he is well versed in music or not, should listen attentively

to the singer and try to repeat the words of the song with feeling.

Some persons attending bhajans do not move their lips at all. They may say that

they are singing the songs mentally within themselves. This is not proper. If

you have devotional feeling, it should be expressed by the tongue joining in the

bhajan. Only then it can be called Sankeerthana--singing in unison with others.

You must sing the names aloud, full-throated, as far as the voice can reach.

Only then the Divine will respond in full measure and shower His grace. No one

will go to the rescue of a drowning man if his cries are feeble. Only when he

cries aloud at the top of his voice will the cries be heard and people will rush

to save him. Sankeerthana means singing with abandon and fervor.

Everyone should realize that every limb and organ in the body has been given to

man to be used for a sacred purpose: The tongue to utter the Lord's name, the

hands to offer worship, the feet to go the temple and so on. These organs should

not be used for frivolous and unholy purposes. Sanctifying everyone of the sense

organs, man should purify the mind and contemplate on God.

The only means to purify the polluted world

Embodiments of Divine Love!

It is impossible to describe the sweetness and sacredness of the name of the

Lord. The intensity of the devotion with which you chant the name of the Lord

will yield commensurate benefits and confer joy on you. All should strive to

chant the names in unison. Today, all the five elements in the world--space,

air, fire, water and the earth--are polluted. You cannot get pure water or pure

air. The sounds you hear are impure. The earth is polluted. The Kali Yuga has

become Kalmasha Yuga (the age of impurity). To purify all this the only means is

chanting the names of the Lord.

Today people spend most of their time watching the TV and Video screens. Is it

any surprise if children born in these circumstances are TV products? They

behave as actors from childhood. They indulge in stunts. Only the parents are to

blame. In olden times, when a woman was enceinte, she used to hear stories about

Prahlaadha, Sathyavaan and other noble characters. The child in the womb was

influenced by such stories.

Atmosphere is purified by chanting Divine Name

Experiments in Russia and other countries have demonstrated the relationship

between the food one consumes and one's mental attitudes. It was found, for

instance, that a child which had been fed on apple juice while it was growing in

the womb, exhibited a love for apples after birth.

The recitation of the names of the Lord will help to purify the atmosphere as a

result of the sacred sound waves getting absorbed in the atmosphere. The power

of sound waves is evident from the way radio waves are transmitted and received

over long distance. The atmosphere that has been polluted by impure sound waves

can be purified by the chanting of the Divine Name.

Likewise, sacred thoughts, pure speech and pure actions will purify other

polluted elements. There is no better purifying agent than this. Crores are

being spent to purify the Ganges water. Of what use is this exercise if the

Ganges continues to be polluted by the discharge of drainage water into the

river? First prevent the flow of filthy effluents into the Ganges.

In the same manner, the evil thoughts arising in the mind should be diverted and

it should be filled with pure Godly thoughts by reciting the Divine name.

Everyone participating in bhajans should sing the name of the Lord and thereby

serve to purify the atmosphere and promote the well being of the nation.