Art of Bhajans

The word bhajan is far more than a musical category — it is a sacred doorway. The root bhaj means to share, to participate, to belong. In a bhajan, we share the presence of the Divine, we share our own inner longing, and in that sharing we discover a quiet completeness. One does not need mastery of music or understanding of every word. As Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar beautifully expresses, singing itself is an act of serenity — a way to melt into sound, to float upon a wave of devotion, and to rest effortlessly in the present moment. In satsang, the scattered mind gathers, the heart becomes light, and both hemispheres of the brain fall into harmony.

A bhajan is truly “direct communication with God.” It is a conversation of the soul that needs no introduction, no qualifications, no classical training, and no scholarly grasp of scriptures. It asks only for sincerity — the simple willingness to pour one’s love, longing, confusion, gratitude, and hope into the Divine lap. Through bhajans, we begin to experience the sacred not as something distant, but as a tender presence within and around us.

Indian saints understood this profoundly. A beautiful Marathi abhang tells us that when Sant Namdev began his kirtan soaked in love, Panduranga Himself rose and danced. Such is the power of devotion-filled words — they vibrate with the blessings of the saints who first uttered them. When we listen to these songs, the mind’s anxieties loosen their grip; when we sing them, the heart becomes purified, lighter, and more open to grace.

In our fast-paced, overwhelming modern life, bhajans are not just spiritual practices — they are lifelines. They remind us to breathe, to soften, to return to ourselves. Every bhajan is a gentle refuge, a moment where the divine becomes intimate, accessible, and deeply personal. To sing is to heal; to listen is to remember who we truly are.

In the same spirit, the image of Hanumanji immersed in devotion, as seen above, reminds us of what pure bhakti truly looks like. Hanuman is the embodiment of strength offered as surrender, power offered as service, and knowledge offered as humility. When he sings the Lord’s name, his entire being radiates courage and sweetness together — a rare combination only devotion can create. His bhajans are not mere songs; they are sparks that ignite unwavering faith, dissolve fear, and awaken a warrior-like stillness inside the heart.

Just as Hanuman’s lifted gaze and ringing cymbals reflect a soul lost in divine remembrance, our own singing becomes powerful when we approach it with the same childlike love and wholehearted surrender.