Kirtan songs have been practiced in temples and communities in India for thousands of years and are increasingly popular among Yoga practitioners today. Yogadvisor gave it a try and unveils the secret to the power of these songs…
My first Kirtan
I attended my first Kirtan during a workshop in Spain. At first I thought it was going to be a long evening of singing and that it was a bit strange, all these people gathering to sing. After a few minutes of doubt (normal for an executive like myself arriving with a biased perspective!), the energy released in the room transported me… The evening want by in the blink of an eye and I experienced a reel moment of wholeness! 🙏
What is a Kirtan?
A Kirtan is a devotional and ritual song of Sikhism, accessible to all.
Traditionally, it is practiced in groups. Kirtan is usually a sung Sanskrit mantra. The group responds in chorus to a mantra (a sacred formula formed by a single syllable or a series of syllables, endowed with spiritual power) or a verse, on a melody. This song is, most of the time, the repetition of divine names and qualities (namavali).
The musical part is accompanied by instruments such as the harmonium, guitar and tablas (percussion).
It is a form of active meditation preceding a time of silence.
The benefits of Kirtan
Kirtan is a deeply inspiring practice that opens the heart and reveals our true nature. It calms the mind, helps to untie tensions and find inner freedom. There is a deep wisdom in the vibration of these songs and everyone lives their own inner experience through the power of the song.
Kirtan is not related to musical performance but to participation in the experience.
The purpose of Kirtan is above all to purify emotions, but any yoga practice begins at the physical level. Using the vocal cords, breathing and muscles at the same time, makes the practitioner more present with his body, which develops the capacity for consciousness and breathing, like any pranayama (breathing method for energy expansion).
To learn more about Kirtan, here is a collection of testimonies in English with the participation of many voices / singers from the yogic world: Miten, Deva Premal, Snatam Kaur, etc.
Written by Léa Cassagnavère
Sources:
https://www.yogadelavoix.com/
https://yoga-et-vedas.com/
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/
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