achalam
What is meant by Bhajan, how to perform Bhajan, contents of Bhajan, advantages, significance etc. explained in details by Achalabhakthan/
As Karmayoga As Bhakthiyoga As Gnanayoga As Hatayoga

BHAJAN 

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BHAJAN is derived from the word "BHAJANAM", meaning "concentrate on Naama or Roopa of God". Roopa Bhajanam requires one to sit and meditate for a long time on a figure of Ishtadaivam. This is little hard to practice, as some rules have to be followed for good results. Naama Bhajanam is repeating the name of Ishtadaivam. This is very simple and can be done throughout the day and night without any effort or rules. Added to it, if the Naama is uttered with Music (Sruti, Raaga and Thaala), it gives a soothing effect and takes the mind to "layam". It, therefore, makes it easy to get one pointed attention and at the same time, it is more pleasant to the ears of the audience, who are also attracted towards this process. It becomes a collective effort (group prayer) which is more effective. Moreover, the Gurus who have composed the songs have selected suitable raagaas for each song appropriate to the meaning of the song.  Say, Amruta Varshini, if sung following the rules theron, will bring rain.  Punnagavaraali will make the snake come and dance.(mind symbolised to snake and dancing to our tunes).  For Sorrowful scenes, Mukhari is prescribed.  For joyous situations, Aananda Bhairavi is prescribed. For Sayana Rasam, Neelaambhari and for waking up Bhoopaalam etc.  It is necessary that we sing the songs given by gurus in the same raagaas without changing them. In short,, singing in praise of God is the way of life one should adopt in Kaliyuga. It is simple to follow. This should be done with concentration, Bhakthi/Devotion and with one pointed attention.

 My own personal experience is that Bhajan offers you the platform for meditation.  If you are able to experience the "Silence" in the midst of full sound in a Bhajan programme, that is the real meditation.  Instead, if you try to go to a calm and quite place for meditation, you will get full sound within you.  To drive the darkness away you have to bring light,  This means being in Dark you have to light up.  To get one status, you have to go from the opposite status. To me, Bhajan is the means to the Ultimate.

Aadi Sankara Bhagawatpaadaal has shown us the best method to attain Mukthi through Bhajan:

BHAJA GOVINDAM BHAJA GOVINDAM

GOVINDAM BHAJA MOOTAMATHE    

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KARMANYEVA ADHIKAARASTHE

MAABHALESHU KATHAACHANA

 

In  Geethopadesam, Bhagawan Sri Krishna declares that "You have the rite to do Karma (action) but the Phala (result) is in my control"  "Act without expecting a given result, leave that to me."  This means results are natural and are directly proportional to the type of actions performed. Nishkamya Karma with an attitute of Service elevates us towards the goal.  This is the principle of Karma Yoga.

Bhajan as Karmayoga

Every religious or philosophical activity is aimed at human evolution. What is it? The origin of every human being is the BRAHMAN, the Lord, who has no name, no form, no bondage, no birth and death and He is beyond the Kaala (time) & Desa (space) principle. The human being called JEEVAATHMA, bound by Vaasanaas gets entangled in the MAAYA PRAPANCHAM (unreal world of matter) and in ignorance identifies himself with the material possessions and engages in aggrandisement of wealth and in enjoying the fleeting joys provided by such materialistic pleasures. He is thrown into the sea of Samsaara due to his materialistic pursuits which give him pleasure and sorrow alternately - pleasure when he enjoys the good results of his karma and pain when he suffers from the bad results. This is because he acts with expectation of certain results (pleasures) but when the act is imperfect, he gets pain. Our scriptures declare that "as you sow so you reap". Every action (Karma) has a reaction (Phala) and the reaction is directly in proportion to the quality of the actions performed.  In fact, every action is guided by the characteristic of each human being, formed by action & reaction theory of past karmaas.  By doing Bhajan, without expecting any benefit,.we purify our Mind & Intellect and get peace.  Bhajan, therefore, offers you a platform to perform Nishkamya Karma. It is thus Karma Yoga.

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Bhajan as Bhakthi Yoga 

 

Every Karma is guided by the Vaasanaas (desires in rudimentary stage) and if we expect good results, our Vaasanaas should be pure, i.e. if we are materialistic, we get material pleasures or pains. if our actions are guided by philosophical principles prescribed by our Srutis and Smritis we shape up our Gunaas (quality) to be Saathwic. Saathwic actions produce Saathwic results. To shape up our Vaasanaas into pure ones, we should always think about our origin, which is beyond vaasanaas. Therefore, to purify ourselves we should caste away our poorva vaasanaas by burning them in the fire of Knowledge, which is achieved through Bhakthi - through the Bhajan. The following sloka in our Bhajana Sampradaayam assures Mukthi  even in Kaliyuga, which will be governed by hatred, selfishness, aggrandisement, doing sings etc.

KALOW  KALMASHA CHITTHAANAAM  PAAPA  DRAVYOPA JEEVINAAM
VIDHI  KRIYA VIHEENAANAAM  GATHI: GOVINDA KEERTHANAM

In Kaliyuga, all jeevaas will be sunk in Kalmasha Chittha - i.e. Kaama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Mathsaryaadi Shatgunaas and will be full of anger, Egoistic, self-centered, with envious feelings etc. etc. Every one will have to be after aggrandisement of wealth and will be fully engrossed in pleasures that can be bought by money (materialistic pursuits). They will be bereft of any systematic, religious or pious activities and will be unsystematic in their approach. This is the fate accompli. No one can escape this law. Even to such persons, there is Mukthi promised, provided people chant/sing the name of Govinda, i.e. sing in praise of God and always engage in Naama Smarana, which will help us to evolve. Our Vedaas declare thus:

      DHYAAYAN  KRUTE  YAJAN  YAJNAI:
              THRETHAAYAAM  DWAAPARARCHAYAN
  YADAAPNOTHI  THADHAAPNOTHI
    KALOW  SANKEERTHYA KESAVAM

In Krutha Yuga, Threthayuga and Dwapara Yuga, to reach God, Tapas, Yagna, and Archana (Pooja) were the methods followed respectively. In Kaliyuga Naama Sankeerthanam(Bhajan) is the way out. How simple a method compared to previous Yugaas! Our Rishis have foreseen that in Kaliyuga, there will be no time for people to engage (nor will they be interested) in religious activities due to pre-occupation.  However, while doign Bhajan, you must first surrender unto Him and crave for his blessings.  Your mind should pour unto Him in total surrender - without Ego - and aim only at BLISS.  This is called Bhakthi Bhaava, which is achieved through Bhajan. Bhajan thus leads you to Bhakthi.

Aadi Sankara Bhagawatpaadaal, in his "Bhaja Govindam" has assured that:

 

SATSABGATHWE NISSANGATHWAM

NISSANGATHWE NIRMOHATWAM

NIRMOHATHWE NISCHALA THATHWAM

NISCHALA THATHWE JEEVAN MUKTHI:

 

 

Bhajan gives us Satsangham, through which we have to reach the stage of Nissangham (i.e.Solitude), once we reach Nissangham, we attain the stage where there is no delusion, which takes us automatically to realise the OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNICIENT, which is said to be the Jeevan Mkhti state of BLISS.

 

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Bhajan as Gnanayoga (Saadhana)

Santh Gnaneswar has given us a method of concentrating on Lord's feet through his song "Runu Junu Runu Junu Re Bhramara". He compares the mind to the bee, which always makes Reenkaaram and flies with its wings till it gets the flower bed with Madhu in it. The moment it sits on the flower bed and starts licking the Madhu, it stops the wing motion and the Reenkaara sound. The mind with the two wings (characteristics of AHAMKAAR and MAMAAKAAR) flies around the world by making sounds (grieving, complaining, etc.). To appease this wandering and get settled down, it needs a place - Lord's Lotus Feet (FLOWER BED) - and enjoy peace (MADHU). When thus it enjoys the permanent joy & peace, it stops wandering with its two wings and with the Reenkaara Sound. To train the mind to meditate on the Lord's feet, we need to repeatedly sing the Naama of the Lord with devotion so that it gets one pointed attention on the Naama. Once it settles, the worldly thoughts get settled and the mind enjoys PURE BLISS - thoughtless and without the Ego feelings. 

Thus, through Bhajan we perform Tapas (Meditation).  For doing Tapas, one need not go to forest.  In fact being in Slence in the midst of full sound is a real Saadhana, which is possible in Bhajan.  The very sound of music, lyrics and the orchestra sound together take us deep into our inner regions whereby we lose our external contact and experience "Silence". No need to go through the hard way of concentrating on Roopa.  Bhajan will provide us with an easy way of entering the inner realms and experience BLISS. This is an established fact by me on many occasions.  Thus, Bhajan leads you to the Knowledge Supreme through Saadhana.

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Bhajan as Hatayoga

Hata yoga prescribes certain physical practices to go into concentration.  This is the most difficult practice one can undertake.  It gives pain while doing hard exercises and it may even end in physical disorders if not done under the direct guidancde of a guru.  Even then, the result is very delayed.  While doing Dhyana, the physique should be in a relaxed condition, to enable us to go out of the consciousness of the body.  Here, when we do hatayoga it gives pain to the body.  In Krita Yuga, Tapas was prescribed for evolution which used to adopt this Hata Yoga practice.  In is painful and time consuming for result and it is not feasible in Kaliyuga.  However, in Bhajan, particularly in Deepa Pradakshinam, Dolotsavam, Kalyanams and Vasanthotsavams, the bhakthas enact the scenes according to the meaning and dance to the tune of the music.  Many a times they prostrate (Saashtanga Namaskaaram) during these prac;tices. Thus, one moves one's body and at the same time brings bhava in Mind and plays the role according to the song. This gives a very good exercise to the Body and Mind which ultimately takes one to serenity through one pointed attention.  These stages are automatically attained when one engages in physical and mental activity through Bhajan.  Thus, doing abhinaya and dance in Bhajans amount to doing Hata Yoga but in a pleasant way as compared to the Hata Yoga of Kritayuga. 

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