All Topics  
Bhajan

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Bhajan
 
 
  Topics Bhajan Topic Home

A Bhajan is a type of Hindu devotional song
Song

A song is a musical musical composition which contains vocal parts that are performed, 'sung,' and feature words , commonly accompanied by musical instruments ....
, often simple, lyrical and expressing love for the Divine
Divinity

Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems ? and even by different individuals within a given faith ? to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power, or its attributes or manifestations in the world....
. The music is sometimes based on classical
Indian classical music

The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas.The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music at length....
 raga
Raga

Raga refers to musical mode used in Indian classical music. It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made. In the Indian musical tradition, ragas are associated with different times of the day, or with seasons....
s and tala
Tala (music)

In Indian classical music, Tala , literally a "clap," is a rhythmical pattern that determines the rhythmical structure of a composition. It plays a similar role to metre in Western music, but is structurally different from the concept of metre....
s. Traditions of bhajan such as Nirguni, Gorakhanathi, Vallabhapanthi, Ashtachhap, Madhura-bhakti and the traditional South Indian form Sampradya Bhajan each have their own repertoire and methods of singing.

Anecdotes and episodes from the lives of Gods, the teachings of saints and descriptions of gods' glories have been the subject of bhajans.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Bhajan'
Start a new discussion about 'Bhajan'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


A Bhajan is a type of Hindu devotional song
Song

A song is a musical musical composition which contains vocal parts that are performed, 'sung,' and feature words , commonly accompanied by musical instruments ....
, often simple, lyrical and expressing love for the Divine
Divinity

Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems ? and even by different individuals within a given faith ? to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power, or its attributes or manifestations in the world....
. The music is sometimes based on classical
Indian classical music

The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas.The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music at length....
 raga
Raga

Raga refers to musical mode used in Indian classical music. It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made. In the Indian musical tradition, ragas are associated with different times of the day, or with seasons....
s and tala
Tala (music)

In Indian classical music, Tala , literally a "clap," is a rhythmical pattern that determines the rhythmical structure of a composition. It plays a similar role to metre in Western music, but is structurally different from the concept of metre....
s. Traditions of bhajan such as Nirguni, Gorakhanathi, Vallabhapanthi, Ashtachhap, Madhura-bhakti and the traditional South Indian form Sampradya Bhajan each have their own repertoire and methods of singing.

Anecdotes and episodes from the lives of Gods, the teachings of saints and descriptions of gods' glories have been the subject of bhajans. The Dhrupad
Dhrupad

Dhrupad is the oldest surviving style of music in the Hindustani classical music musical tradition in India. Its name, from dhruva-pada, simply means "refrain", and today denotes both a form of poetry and a style of music in which the poetry is sung....
 style, Sufi qawwali
Qawwali

Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, particularly in areas with a historically strong Muslim presence, such as southern Pakistan, and parts of India....
 and the kirtan
Kirtan

Kirtan is call-and-response chanting performed in India's devotional traditions.. When this chanting is done as a private meditation it is called japa but performed congregationally with instruments, and often dancing, it is called kirtan or sankirtan ....
 or song in the Haridas
Haridas

Haridas or Haridasa may refer to:* Haridas * Haridasa, South Indian devotional bhakti movement...
 tradition are related to bhajan. Nanak, Kabir
Kabir

Kabir }}...
, Mirabai
Mirabai

Mirabai was a Hindu mystical poetess whose compositions are popular throughout India. Mirabai is held to have been a disciple of Ravidas. Mirabai composed between 200 to 1300 prayerful songs called bhajans....
, Narottama Dasa
Narottama Dasa

Narottama Dasa, also known as Narottama Dasa Thakura and Thakura Mahasaya is a Gaudiya Vaishnavism saint who was responsible for spreading Vaishnava bhakti throughout Orissa in and outside of Bengal in India....
, Surdas
Surdas

Surdas was a blind Hindu devotional poet, singer, and a saint , who followed the Shuddhadvaita school of Brahmavada. He was a disciple of Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya....
 and Tulsidas
Tulsidas

Gosvami Tulsidas was an Awadhi poet and philosopher, and the author Ramacharitamanasa , an epic devoted to Lord Rama.He was born in Rajapur, India in the present day Banda District, Uttar Pradesh, during the reign of Humayun to Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey....
 are notable composers.

Classic bhajans

Bhajan
Bhajan

A Bhajan is a type of Hindu devotional song, often simple, lyrical and expressing love for the divinity. The music is sometimes based on Indian classical music ragas and Tala s....
s by Kabir
Kabir

Kabir }}...
, Mirabai
Mirabai

Mirabai was a Hindu mystical poetess whose compositions are popular throughout India. Mirabai is held to have been a disciple of Ravidas. Mirabai composed between 200 to 1300 prayerful songs called bhajans....
, Surdas
Surdas

Surdas was a blind Hindu devotional poet, singer, and a saint , who followed the Shuddhadvaita school of Brahmavada. He was a disciple of Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya....
, Tulsidas
Tulsidas

Gosvami Tulsidas was an Awadhi poet and philosopher, and the author Ramacharitamanasa , an epic devoted to Lord Rama.He was born in Rajapur, India in the present day Banda District, Uttar Pradesh, during the reign of Humayun to Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey....
 and a few others are considered to be classic. The language of their works is influenced by several of the dialects of Hindi. They are widely enjoyed even among those who do not speak Hindi. Here is a representative selection of the best known bhajans by these poets.

Kabir
Kabir

Kabir }}...
: Chadaria Jhini Re Jhini


This bhajan has been recorded by several well known singers. Kabir refers to his body as a chadar, a sheet of cloth.

This is fine, this is fine cloth.
Dyed in the Ram Nam, the name of the lord,
A spinning wheel like an eight-petalled lotus spins it,
Five elements and three qualities are its pattern.
The Lord tailored it in ten moons,
Pressed the threads to get the weft tight.
It has been worn by gods, men and sages:
They soiled it with use.
Says Kabir; I have covered myself with this cloth most carefully,
And eventually will leave it as it was before.


Mirabai
Mirabai

Mirabai was a Hindu mystical poetess whose compositions are popular throughout India. Mirabai is held to have been a disciple of Ravidas. Mirabai composed between 200 to 1300 prayerful songs called bhajans....
: Mane Chakar Rakho Ji


A version of this famous hymn was used in the 1947 Hindi film Meerabai. Mirabai operated in Rajasthan
Rajasthan

Rajasthan is the largest States and territories of India of the Republic of India in terms of area. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan....
 and her dialect of Hindi is more properly called a variety of Rajasthani. Because of Rajasthan's proximity to Gujarat
Gujarat

Gujarat is a States and territories of India in western India. Gujarat borders Pakistan to the north west and the state of Rajasthan to the north and northeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, Maharashtra and the Union territory of Diu, Daman District, India, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the south....
, Rajasthani and Gujarati share many similar linguistic features, and Mirabai seemed equally at home in either language.

Lord Girdhari (Krishna
Krishna

Krishna is a deity worshiped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. While many Vaishnava groups recognize him as an avatar of Vishnu, other traditions within Krishnaism consider Krishna to be svayam bhagavan, or the supreme being....
), make me your servant.
As your servant, I will plant a garden, and see you every day.
In the groves and lanes of Vrindavan
Vrindavan

Vrindavan , or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on the site of an ancient forest which is believed to have been the region where Lord Krsna, from Hinduism#Scriptures and theology scriptures spent his childhood days....
, I will sing about you.


Tulsidas
Tulsidas

Gosvami Tulsidas was an Awadhi poet and philosopher, and the author Ramacharitamanasa , an epic devoted to Lord Rama.He was born in Rajapur, India in the present day Banda District, Uttar Pradesh, during the reign of Humayun to Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey....
: Shri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaju Man


O my mind! Revere the kind Sri Rama
RAMA

Rama is a first-person adventure game developed and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1996. The game is based on Arthur C. Clarke's books Rendezvous with Rama and Rama II and supports both DOS and Microsoft Windows 95....
, who can remove the fear of rebirths,
Who has lotus eyes, lotus face and lotus hands, lotus feet, red like the rising sun.


Surdas
Surdas

Surdas was a blind Hindu devotional poet, singer, and a saint , who followed the Shuddhadvaita school of Brahmavada. He was a disciple of Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya....
: Main Nahi Makhan Khayo


A very popular pad in Raga Ramkali
Ramkali

Ramkali is a raga from Indian classical music which originated from Bhairav Thaat. In the raga, as like bhairav, second tune and sixth tune are Flat . Flat nishad and sharp madhyama are used often....
. The naughty child Krishna
Krishna

Krishna is a deity worshiped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. While many Vaishnava groups recognize him as an avatar of Vishnu, other traditions within Krishnaism consider Krishna to be svayam bhagavan, or the supreme being....
 was caught with freshly churned butter by his mother Yashoda, with some still on his face. He claims:

I did not eat the butter, mother.
I think my friends have smeared some on my face!


Modern forms

In modern times composers like Pt. V. D. Paluskar
Vishnu Digambar Paluskar

Pundit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar was a Hindustani musician....
 and Pt. V. N. Bhatkhande
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande

Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande was an Indian classical musician who wrote the first modern treatise on Hindusthani Music, an art which had been propogated for a few centuries via oral tradition only, during which span it had undergone several changes which rendered the raag-grammar in ancient texts outdated....
 have mingled Indian classical music
Indian classical music

The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas.The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music at length....
 - which used to be an exclusive domain of the elite - with bhajans, thereby democratizing the Raga
Raga

Raga refers to musical mode used in Indian classical music. It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made. In the Indian musical tradition, ragas are associated with different times of the day, or with seasons....
 tradition.

Chanting of bhajans and kirtans continues to be a favorite mode of worship in the Bhakti tradition of Hinduism, a tradition often regarded as far more accessible to the average person. This popularity is also reflected in the emphasis of many different gurus on chanting. While most Hindus devoutly sing bhajan in its more traditional form, members of some movements have also experimented with the incorporation of non-Indian instruments like the guitar
Guitar

The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six Strings , but Tenor guitar, Seven-string guitar, Eight-string guitar, Ten-string guitar, Eleven-string guitar, Twelve-string guitar, Thirteen-string guitar and doubleneck guitar string guitars also exist....
 and interspersing Western themes like jazz
Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
.

In Surat Shabd Yoga
Surat Shabd Yoga

Surat Shabd Yoga or Surat Shabda Yoga is a form of Spirituality that is followed in the Sant Mat and many other related spiritual traditions....
, the spiritual exercises (sadhana
Sadhana

Sadhana is a Hindi term for "a means of accomplishing something" or more specifically "spiritual practice". It includes a variety of disciplines from Hinduism and Buddhism traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spirituality or ritual objectives....
s) include repetition, particularly silent repetition, of a mantra
Mantra

A mantra can be defined as a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of creating transformation. Their use and type varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra....
 given at initiation and bhajan ( here meaning listening to inner sounds).

See also

  • Filmi Devotional songs
    Filmi Devotional songs

    Filmi Devotional songs are devotional songs from Hindi movies, or Hindi songs composed to be sung using the melody in a popular filmi song.While most of these songs relate to Hinduism, often many of the devotional songs are general, and can prove acceptable to followers of other faiths as well....


External links