Kirtan - Chanting and Dancing

Here is a short video of my son doing Kirtan of Hare Krishna Mantra, while playing Kartals. I have added the melodious back ground music of Hare Krishna mantra Kirtan by His Grace Agnidev Prabhu.

Kirtan or kirtana is call-and-response chanting performed in India's bhakti devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtaneer. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas,mrdanga and hand cymbals (karatalas). It is a major practice in Vaisnava devotionalism. Kirtan is a song or hymn sung in glorification of God.

As described by Prahlad Maharaj in Srimad Bhagavatham, there are nine processes or nava vidha Bhakti for pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord. They are, Sravanam - Hearing, Kirtanam - Chanting, Smaranam - remembering, Pada sevanam - serving the feet, arcanam - offering worship with suitable items, vandanam - offering prayers, dasyam - becoming the servant, sakhyam - becoming the best friend, atma Nivedanam - surrendering everything, whatever one has. Thus, one can achieve perfection or mercy of the Supreme Lord by practicing any one or all of these items of devotional service. Of these, Kirtan refers to chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishu or Krishna.Thus, a Kirtan typically involves chanting and dancing. 

Some benefits of Kirtan

·         Kirtan is the most powerful and enjoyable form of meditation. By meditating on these sacred sounds we reach a state far beyond the stress and worries of life.

·         The eternal wisdom contained in the yoga texts explain that these mantras are transcendental sounds endowed with unlimited spiritual potency. They purify one’s consciousness and bring deep spiritual insight and inner happiness.

·         Everyone is looking for something real, lasting and fully satisfying in their life. That “something” is reconnecting to our spiritual source, to experience spiritual love. Kirtan nourishes the soul’s deepest needs by reawakening this spiritual love within our hearts.