NAAMA SANKEERTHANAM  COACHING CLASS

               (By Achala Bhakthan)                 

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OBJECTIVE:

1. To teach young children the religious and spiritual values of Sanatana Dharma through Naamasankeerthanam

2. To help them evolve by performing Naamasankeerthanam in the form and style handed over to us by great Gurus

3. To educate them about the values of  Naamasankeerthanam  with a systematic and well-planned syllabus,

    explaining the origin, growth, propagation, process, effect, the padhathi etc.of Naamasankeerthanam.

4.  To prepare them to perform confidently and inependently Naamasankeerthanam - all the parts.

5.  Thus, to hand over to posterity our  cultural heritage by making them real Bhagavathas in due course..

The Need for Naamasankeerthanam Coaching Class for children :

In the present days, Naamasankeerthanam is popular only amongst grown ups.  The children are not in that movement.  This is because in earlier days elderly people used to take young children to temples, bhajans and pravachanams, just as a fun, and when the children even play there, the bhajan or pravachan went  into their mind unknowingly and registered some current within them, which gpt activated when they grew and made them attend such functions willingly in the period of their youth stage.  Thus, children were motivated automatically without compulsion.  This trend is totally absent in today’s way of life and elders leave the children with their play and studies, saying that they have a good lot of load to study.  Children engage themselves with Computer studies, Gymnasium, Swimming practice, play and other extra curricular activities and have no prompting from elders to attend to religious or spiritual activities. Also the practice of granpas and granmas telling stories from Ramaaynam, Bhagavatham, Mahabhratham etc. with morals at night has already given way to TV, cricket and other entertainments.  Also because both parents and other elders go for work, children are left alone at home and they get bored and engage themselves in many wasteful activities.  The spiritual and religious aspect of living has totally been neglected in their case.  A very great gap between the present generation and the posterity has already been created, as the character and behaviour of children are not molded with higher moral, spiritual and religious values and they are groomed into negative tendencies.  Thus, it is elders who are at fault in not leading them into the right path of life at the right age. 

It is not too late and we can mend the way by at least prompting them/persuading them to attend some spiritual and religious sessions also regularly so that their personality can be molded when they grow.  This will help them to lead a peaceful and contended life ahead.  Through Naamasankeerthanam, we can inculcate the values of Co-operation, Co-ordination, Forbearance, Forgiveness, Daya, Compassion, Bhakthi, Gnana and Concentration.  This will ultimately result in a total transformation of their character and personality. Let us examine this.

The Effect of Naama Sankeerthanam:

1. Naama Sankeerthanam consists of two important ingredients called Name and Form, which are the basic tools for our contact with others.  Without a name or form we cannot deal with others, nay God. The entire worldly activity thus springs around these phenomena. We keep a photo or idol of God and give the name and pray before it regularly for well being of all. The Naama (Name) selected should help to identify the object it refers to and create a good feeling in our mind, e.g. Sun should bring before us the image of the Sun God, Aananda should create a pleasure in ourselves.  Every word or sound uttered generates a specific vibrational effect into the inner & outer space.  The very purpose of naming our children at young age with God’s or nature’s names is to ensure that each time the name is called or uttered, positive effects do occur. Thus, uttering God’s name will help us identify ourselves with God and produce positive vibration in our mind..

2. A sloka or lyrics or a song contain many names or refers to qualities in a given God.  By uttering it or singing it in the prescribed manner we establish ourselves unknowingly into a state of absorption.  This makes our mind settle down to its origin of quietness by dissociating with worldly trials and tribulations and sharpens our intellect.  Chanting of a sloka or singing a Bhajan with correct syllables and meter produces positive currents in us.  However, it is essential to get initiated into singing\chanting by a learned Guru to make it effective.  Guru will guide us properly with its meter, chandas, pronunciation, the duration and tune in which it is to be uttered etc.  Guru krupa is most important for any pooja or chanting or singing. 

3. The Bhajan comes under the mass prayer category as it is sung by a group of people for the welfare of the entire mankind and without any selfish motive.  Thus, it leads us to practice Karma Yoga..  Bhajan done in a serene state of mind has the advantage of eliminating all thoughts and gain concentration on the tune, words, meaning, thaala, leading us to Bhava and thereby soothes the mind and culminates in total surrender to the Lord.  Thus, Bhajan leads us to Bhakthi Yoga.  After a long time of practice, we will gain control over our senses even when we are not meditating.  This will guide us to lead a pious, quite and dharmic way of living.   Performing Bhajan by knowing the meaning of the song will lead us to gain spiritual knowledge and sharpen our intellect, thereby it is equaled to Gnana Yoga.  In Divyanaamam etc. we dance or do abhinaya with body movements and do Sashtaanga Namaskaaram many times.  This is, therefore, equivalent to Hata Yoga.  Thus, Bhajan makes us practice all the four yogas without any effort and with ease, which rejuvenate our physique and mind...

4. “As you think, so you do and as you do, so you become.”  All the reactions (karma phala) of our karmas are directly in proportion to the quality and direction of our karmas.  That means, we are shaping up our own destiny.  The Naama Sankeerthanam, therefore, guides us to shape up our karmas in the right way and slowly remove the Ego in us, instills Karuna, Daya, Soumya, Samabhava, Vinayam and Calmness (Positive tendencies) in place of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Matha, Matsarya (Negative tendencies).  This is the real Tapas, which is easy to pursue.  Moreover, giving alms is shreyas and imparting knowledge is supremely shreyas.  By singing in group, we make others also to concentrate along with us and transfer our knowledge to them through the songs or through explanations given.  Thus we learn to practice community living, co-operation, adjustment, forebearance and share collectively the effects.

In short, Naama Sankeerthanam is so powerful that it guides us to go into quietness and leads us to a satwik way of living.   This again changes our way of life and adds to our personality.   We really get a transformation – both externally and internally – as our character gets shuffled and becomes amenable to face any situation in life with calmness.  Our life gets disciplined and we start doing everything with a well-planned scheme of performance and get positive results always. We learn and practice the Management principles. This again results in contentment as we accept the results with a smile – irrespective of whether it is positive or negative.  Therefore, Naama Sankeerthanam culminates in character reformation and personality development. 

The Process:

Through this class we are not only teaching them Keerthans and Naamaavalis but explaining to them the Purpose, Effects, Origin, Growth, Propagation, Padhathikramam  etc. and give them notes and train them practically in singing various slokas, Keerthanams and Naamaavalis under various parts of Naamasankeerthanam padhathi The method of teaching and the topics to be taught are given in the form of notes to Budding Bhajanists on the topics given in the links below, which may be understood by teachers and explained in the class and then the notes distributed in each class appropriate to the topic covered in each class. The class should encourage students who are already attending Carnatic Music/Insrumental classes or other sessions like Bala Vihars, Tiruppugash, Naaraayaneeyam etc. sessions and select the leaders and make them lead the class in due course.  Finally they should be able to perform Naamasankeerthanam in the prescribed form independently in the public.  If all the classes follow a set Syllabus and if the classes are manned by real Bhagawathaas who have indepth knowledge of not only the Keerthans and Naamaavalis but the origin, growth, great gurus, propagation etc. of this movement and if the Bhagawathaas are strictly performing Nithyakarmanushtanam and attend Naamasankeerthanam regularly. Notes, explaining the enire method of teaching is given under the various links given above.

PADAM:  (an Instituition engaged in propagating Music, Dance, Purcushion instruments etc., Mumbai)

Padam, has taken up the task of organising Coaching Classes in Naamasankeerthanam to young children at various centers, manned by eminent Bhajanists, who are well versed in Dakshina Bhajana Sampradaayam, where we are following the given syllabus, to ensure uniformity in teaching as given in the links below.   Those who want to start classes in Mumbai may contact us through the email link below and we shall organise regular classes in their locality.  Those outside Mumbai may take the above notes and start such classes in their locality, so that this movement will be spread all over India and even abroad if HE WILLS. The links below contain notes (in downloadable PDF Formats) addressed to Budding Bhajanists, which may be well grasped by the teachers first and take classes accordingly. Each note can be distributed in each class, as the class progresses as per what is stated in these notes, instead of giving all notes at a time.  If any assistance in explanations or conducting the classes is needed, you may contact us through the email link with details and we shall try to help you.

THE REWARD:

As an immediate reward for the initiative of PADAM, they have been invited to present their students in Naamasankeerthanam for a one hour session during the Bhagawatha Sammelan and Felicitation function organised by NAAMASANKEERTHANA TRUST (Regd.). DOMBIVLI, MUMBAI on 2.11.2008.  We are preparing our children for such a memorable event and seek the grace of the Almighty and the blessings of our Gurus.

RADHE  KRISHNAtrod