WHAT IS GROUP DEVOTIONAL SINGING OR BHAJANS?

Group devotional singing or bhajans are one of the most uplifting spiritual practices available to us. Whilst music on its own creates a level of joy, this joy is significantly elevated when a spiritual dimension is incorporated and many take part in the experience. Group devotional singing or bhajans are designed to connect with the divine and express the glory of God through voice and music as a collective group.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said:

“Realise that there is nothing greater than bhajan. What bliss is there in bhajans! What a demonstration of oneness is it when a myriad of throats join in uttering the name of God! The vibrations emanating from them make the heart vibrant.” (Sri Sathya Sai Baba 26th January 1995)

Sri Sathya Sai Baba has always maintained that when and wherever the glory of the divine is sung, the divine always listens!

To ensure everyone can follow, sessions and devotional songs are designed for easy pick up of music and lyrics. A variety of languages including Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English and Latin are covered.

Being inclusive at a faith level is also key. Deities and figures from all faiths are included from: Lord Ganesha, the Mother Goddesses and the many incarnations of Lord Vishnu to Allah, Buddha, Guru Nanak, Jesus, Mahavir, Zorastra and Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

What are the benefits of group devotional singing or bhajans?

The ongoing effect of group devotional singing – each devotional song or bhajan at a time – is to release the mind from worldly passions, purify it over time and crystallise faith in the divine.

“Share aloud the glory of God and charge the atmosphere with divine adoration. Think of it as a part of spiritual training to be taken seriously for reducing the attachments to fleeting objects, for purifying, and for liberating you from the circle of birth, death, and consequent misery.” – Sri Sathya Speaks VI, 239 .

When group devotional singing is meaningful, melodious and melts the heart with emotion, it:

• Elevates the divine consciousness in everyone through a ‘conversation’ with the divine
• Enlightens everyone to appreciate the beauty, grandeur and joy of the divine
• Raises awareness of the inner self and recognises the divinity in each other
• Highlights the emptiness and futility of materialism
• Motivates everyone to walk on the path of love and selfless service
• Inspires everyone to take steps on their spiritual journey towards self-realisation

These benefits are amplified when individuals come together and sing as a group or community. When singing alone, the benefits only stretch as far as the individual singer. However, group devotional singing (or sankirtan) amplifies the divine vibrations to reach all attendees.

“If you sing alone in your shrine, the vibrations return to you as a reaction. But in community singing, what you have is not a reaction but a wave of vibrations. They enter into the atmosphere and purify the polluted air.” Sri Sathya Sai Baba Jan 26th 1995, 26.

How should devotional songs or bhajans be sung?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba has placed great emphasis on the meaning, tune/melody (raag), beat (tala) and variety of the composition. But, above all the emotions (bhava) of the composition or bhajan have to be delivered because “a tune without feeling is an infliction.” (Sai Bhajana Mala, 30).

Familiarity is key. The tune and beat should be sufficiently familiar so that others can follow the devotional song to generate joy and harmony, otherwise it will be hard for the congregation to sing wholeheartedly and with full concentration. They will get distracted and lose enthusiasm.

Many Regions also organise workshops to inspire and support devotees to sing in line with the guidelines given by Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Guidelines on how to conduct a group devotional singing session aligned to Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s wisdom and teachings

1. Everybody should be seated a few minutes prior to the start of the group devotional singing or bhajan session.
2. Men should sit on one side of the prayer hall and women on the other (this is standard practice in many faiths).
3. Lead singers and instrumentalists must be seated in the front few rows.
4. Devotees arriving late must not disturb those already seated. They must quietly seat themselves behind the already seated attendees.
5. Looking around, greeting one another and talking during the session are strongly discouraged.
6. Perfect silence should be maintained and movements should be at a minimum while sitting in the session to avoid distracting others.
7. Sweet, familiar and devotional songs and bhajans in any language should be sung: they need to be understood and sung by other devotees.
8. Musical instruments should not drown the voices of the singers and those who follow, thus maintaining a balance between the instruments and singing.
9. Clapping out of tune is distracting – do not do it!
10. Time should not be monopolised by singing one devotional song or bhajan for six or ten minutes repeating the same lines again and again.
11. Devotional songs or bhajans are call and response with the lead singer calling and the congregation responding.
12. They are usually sung in two speeds: slow and fast. In the slow speed, sing each line twice. In the fast speed, each line has to be sung once except the last line which should be sung twice to signal its conclusion. Then the opening line of the devotional song is sung slowly by the lead singer and congregation. Some devotional songs have three speeds: slow, fast and super fast!
13. If your voice is not sweet or pleasant, it is best to remain silent; that is the best service you can do.
14. Devotional songs should be as simple as possible, without competitive pomp or show. When singing devotional songs, everyone should dwell on the meaning, the message of each name and form of God with its sweetness rolling on the tongue.
15. Some persons attending group devotional singing or bhajans do not move their lips at all. They may say that they are singing the devotional songs mentally within themselves. This is not proper. You must sing the names aloud, full-throated, as far as the voice can reach. Only then can the divine respond in full measure and shower grace. No one will go to the rescue of a drowning man if his cries are feeble!
16. The group devotional singing or bhajan atmosphere should result in everyone feeling elevated, uplifted and in a sublime mood. Therefore, at the end, everyone should disperse quietly, maintaining silence, keeping the joy and peace in their hearts.

How to get involved?

Locally, Sai Centres and Groups across the UK often hold weekly group devotional singing or bhajan sessions on Sundays, Saturdays or Thursdays. For details of the Sai Centre or Group nearest to you, please click here.

There are many events throughout the year where group devotional singing or bhajans are high profile. These events commemorate key festivals and celebrations across the faiths. They often mirror the calendar of Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Ashram in Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi.

Often marked at Centre and Regional level, they include MahaShivratri where the glory of Lord Shiva is sung throughout the night during the full moon. Global Akhanda Bhajans are another calendar highlight where devotional songs or bhajans are sung continuously without pauses or gaps for 24 hours.

At a national level, in the UK, everyone enjoys the annual Sai Smaran event. Devotees from all backgrounds, singers and musicians from across the UK unite in one space and sing together for up to 6 hours. The whole experience is tremendously uplifting and joyous.

1008 House Bhajans Initiative

With the fast approaching 100th Birthday of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, there is a national initiative for devotees to host group devotional singing in their own homes or House Bhajans as they are known. The goal is to offer 1,008 House Bhajans as a special birthday gift to Sri Sathya Sai Baba for the Centenary Birthday and to spread spiritual teachings out into the community.

If you would like to find out more or indeed host your own House Bhajans, please click on the 1,008 House Bhajans link here

In The Words of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

“When all the participants in a bhajan sing in unison, what sacred vibrations are produced and what Divine energies are released! When these vibrations fill the world, what changes cannot they bring about! When one sings alone, the heart is merged in the song. But when many sing together, it acquires a Divine power.” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Sai Bhajana Mala, 30).

“Keep devotional songs as simple as you can, without competitive pomp or show. When you sing devotional songs, dwell on the meaning of the songs, and the message of each name and form of God, and roll on your tongue its sweetness.”

“Let those with a good voice and musical talent lead; the devotional singing must be pleasant and it should not jar on the ear. If your voice is grating or out of tune, repeat the words in your mind.”

“Bhajans are best held on Thursday evenings and Sunday evenings – but that is no unbreakable rule, for it is not the day that counts. It is the heart that must be ready and eager to sing the joy and share it.”

Useful Links

Sri Sathya Sai Organisation UK: Bhajan a Week, released every Thursday – Listen here

Prashanthi Mandir Bhajans Live

Sri Sathya Sai Bhajans

Bhajan Tutor