A friend once heard some of the below songs and replied: “that’s not music.” I smilingly admitted, yes it is not music. It is kirtan and like church singing, it is somewhat acquired taste. These songs are usually sung in temples and the once below are live recordings from that.

Kirtana is based on the ancient raga music tradition and accompanied by rhythmical drumming on a mrdanga. It is also a call- and response group singing and literally means: “to praise what is exalted.” In Hinduism, sound plays a very important role, and is said to be vital in creation of this world. The relationship between the name and the named, the person, is very intimate as the sound of one’s name reminds one of the person. Kirtan consists of singing different Sanskrit mantras which are composed of different names of Krishna or God. Thus engaging in kirtan, the singers draw themselves closer by calling His names.

Meditation can be very difficult for the mind, since it is done in solitude. Kirtan is more approachable, but it is a form of meditation too. It stills the mind and helps you focus. It is not the quality that matters, but the spirit with which the mantras are sung. It is more about engaging your heart than singing perfectly. Although many famous kirtaneers are very good singers and there is benefit in pronouncing the words correctly.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabu advanced the idea of kirtan 500 years ago in the time of Indian Renaissance. He promoted kirtan as the most important path to Enlightenment for this age. Wherever he went he would sing the holy names and people would gather and sing with him. They would say things like:

“Upon seeing all these devotees, I am very much astonished, for I have never seen such an effulgence. Indeed, their effulgence is like the brilliance of a million suns. Nor have I ever heard the Lord’s names chanted so melodiously. I have never before seen such ecstatic love, nor heard the vibration of the holy name of the Lord chanted in such a way, nor seen such dancing during sankirtana.” (CC Madhya Lila 11.94-96)

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