There is no age like the Kali Age, none at all.
Where by mere meditation on the name of the Lord,
The Supreme Goal is realized. Oh Blessed One!
Even a multi-millionaire has to be content
With ordinary raiment and food.
He cannot live on a diet of gold.
When Time is unpropitious, a stick may turn into a snake
While, when it is favorable, dust may turn gold.

The wheel of Time can make a scholar a dumb animal,
And a dumb man can become a saint,
And a wealthy man may become a plaything of the
Goddess of Poverty at one time.
Whatever your prayers, you cannot get
What you are not destined to get.

Don't cherish, Oh young man, any desires.
Lead instead a noble life with intelligence.
What more can I tell you--
The good people assembled here?

Embodiments of Divine Love!

"Samyak-keerthanam Sankeerthanam" (Congregational singing of bhajans is the best of bhajans). There is a big difference between Keerthanam and Sankeerthanam. Keerthanam is an individual affair. It is singing by an individual for the fulfillment of his prayers. Sankeerthanam aims at the well being of the whole universe. This is also described as Saamaajika bhajans (community singing). This method of singing bhajans was first initiated by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Sankeerthana aims at demonstrating unity in diversity. When all the participants combine to sing in unison with one voice, it is described as Sankeerthana.

Sankeerthana is of four kinds: One is Guna sankeethana; two, Leela sankeerthana; three, Bhaava sankeerthana; four, Naama sankeerthana.

Guna sankeerthana applies to the kind of bhajan in which the devotee recites the auspicious qualities of the Divine, experiences oneness with the Divine, and acquires the Godly qualities. Thyaagaraaja had recourse to this type of singing. In one of his keerthanas, he exclaimed: "Oh Lord! You are beyond all words. Is it possible for even Brahma or other Gods to extol your glorious exploits? I am waiting for your grace. Hearken to my entreaties. You restored to the preceptor the son whom the Lord of Death had taken away. You conquered the God of Love. You liberated from prison Vasudheva and Dhevaki. You protected Draupadhi when she appealed to you in despair. You were the guardian of the Paandavas. You relieved Kuchela of his poverty. You saved 16,000 damsels from subjection." In this manner, Thyaagaraaja recounted the great qualities of God in his songs.

Leela sankeerthana refers to the enjoyment by the devotee of the sacred sport of the Divine in ecstatic dancing and singing and being totally absorbed in it. This is exemplified by the Geetha Govindam of Jayadheva.

Bhaava Sankeerthana: This is illustrated by Raadha alone, who expresses her different feelings towards God and identifies herself with the Divine in every mood of devotion. She expressed her devotion in the five forms of Shantha (Serenity), Saakhya (friendliness), Vaathsalya (eternal love), Anuraaga (affection) and Madhura (sweetness). Raadha and Meera were the exponents of Bhaava sankeerthana.

Naama sankeerthana: Chaithanya was the exponent of this form of keerthana. "All names are yours. There is nothing in this cosmos which does not bear the imprint of your name or form "Sarvaroopa Dharam Shaantham Sarvanaamadharam Shivam Satchidaananda Roopam Advaitham Sathyam Shivam Sundararn" (Svaami sang this sloka). Chaithanya reveled in singing the name of the Lord as signifying all that was beautiful and glorious in the universe.

While in each of the previous aeons the devotees adopted one or other methods of singing the glories, it is the supreme good fortune of the residents of Prashaanthi Nilayam to enjoy all the four forms of sankeerthana. The bhajans sung here are a combination of all the four forms of sankeerthana.

The significance of Naamalikhitam

There is yet another special form of glorifying the name of the Lord. This is Naamalikhitam (writing the Name of the Lord). Contemplating on the name of the Lord mentally, uttering the name by mouth and writing the name by hand serve to perform Trikarana Suddhi (purify the mind, the speech and the action).

The name of the Lord has been glorified in different ways all over the world. Jayadheva was one who enjoyed always the leelas (sport) of the Divine, experienced the presence of the Divine within him, devoted every one of his daily activities to enjoying the sport of the Divine, felt that he had no use for anything other than God's love, merged his love in Divine Love and thereby became the very embodiment of Divine Love. As people did not comprehend the spiritual significance of his keerthanas, they misunderstood and misinterpreted the meaning of Jayadheva's Ashtapadhis (octaves).

Hanumaan, after the completion of his mission in Lanka, went to Seetha to receive her blessings before returning to Raama. At that time, Mother Seetha blessed Hanumaan in this manner: "Hanumaan! You are full of prowess, intelligence and fortitude. May you never grow old." This did not give joy to Hanumaan. Noticing his sense of disappointment, Seetha blessed him again: "Live as an immortal." Even this did not please Hanumaan. Seetha then blessed him again: "Hanumaan! You are full of virtues! May the dwellers in the three worlds extol your qualities." Hanumaan felt embarrassed and bent his head as if he was ashamed to hear her praise him. Observing Hanumaan's reactions, Seetha finally blessed him thus: "May Shri Raama always love you!" The moment he heard these words, Hanumaan was in rapture. "This was all that I wanted," he declared. "I must be worthy of Raama's love. A life without Raama's love is an utter waste. It is a living death. The only thing I desire is Raama's love."

Hanumaan was proficient in music. There was none that could excel him in singing. Even Naaradha and Tumbura could not prevail against him. Such a great singer continued always to chant the name of Raama.

What then is the essence of Sankeerthana? Its essential purpose is to earn the love of God. Combining one's voice, tune, feeling and rhythm to the appropriate beat of the song, the devotee should immerse himself in the singing. Harmonizing the feeling with devotion and Love, the sacred words of the song should be an outpouring of love towards God. That alone is devotional singing.

When the song is rendered without understanding the meaning of the words and without any inner feeling or genuine love for God, it is a mechanical performance. Bhaava (feeling), Raaga (melody) and Thaala (rhythm) are the essentials for proper singing.

Even the name Bhaarath signifies the combination of these three elements. (Bha-Ra-Tha). In every action in daily life, the combination of these three elements should be observed. This rule can be applied even to one's studies. Bhaava, in relation to study of a subject, means understanding the subject thoroughly. Raaga implies cultivating a love for the subject and Thaala means expressing one's knowledge coherently and clearly.

In the rendering of Thyaagaraaja's songs, the failure to observe the meaning of the words of the song has produced bizarre results. Thyaagaraaja's songs are in Thelugu. Thamil musicians, who are experts in music, rendering Thyaagaraaja's songs have often mangled the words of the songs and made them meaningless. In one of his songs, Thyaagaraaja sang: "Ne pogadakunte neekemi kodhavu Raama?" (If I do not praise you, what do you lose Oh Raama?). A Thamil musician sang the song in such a manner that it meant: "If I eat pakodas, what do you lose?" It is essential to ensure that the meaning of the words, the emotional feeling of the composer and the melody of the song are all brought out in rendering the songs during Nagarsankeerthan and in bhajans. Where one does not understand the meanings of the words, he should get the meaning from those who know.

Embodiments of Divine Love!

Regard community singing as sacred devotional exercise. Even if you have no musical ability, utter the names of the Lord with feeling and love.

There is no greater means of God-realization in the Kali Yuga than chanting the names of the Lord. Dhyaana (meditation) in Krita Yuga, Yajna (sacrifice) in Tretha Yuga, Archana (worship of idols) in Dhvaapara Yuga and Naama sankeerthana (Reciting the name of the Lord) in Kali Yuga are the methods prescribed for realizing the Divine.

Remembering the Name is the panacea. When the name is chanted as a song set to music, it delights the heart immensely. Many pandiths recite the names as slokas (verse). They do not experience the intense yearning expressed in the stanzas. Some actors are able to pronounce the words loud and clear, but without any depth of feeling. But when the names are sung melodiously they appeal to the hearts of the singers and the listeners. Even non-believers and agnostics nod their heads in appreciation when they listen to devotional music.

The word of a song can be expressed in prosaic manner which has no appeal to the listener. But when they are sung melodiously as in the song: "Raama! Nannu Kaapaadu"--"Raama! save me," they tug at the heart-strings. (Svaami sang the song to demonstrate its appeal). Such sweetness is contained in the song when it is rendered melodiously.

Everyone, whether he is well versed in music or not, should listen attentively to the singer and try to repeat the words of the song with feeling.

Some persons attending bhajans do not move their lips at all. They may say that they are singing the songs mentally within themselves. This is not proper. If you have devotional feeling, it should be expressed by the tongue joining in the bhajan. Only then it can be called Sankeerthana--singing in unison with others. You must sing the names aloud, full-throated, as far as the voice can reach. Only then the Divine will respond in full measure and shower His grace. No one will go to the rescue of a drowning man if his cries are feeble. Only when he cries aloud at the top of his voice will the cries be heard and people will rush to save him. Sankeerthana means singing with abandon and fervor.

Everyone should realize that every limb and organ in the body has been given to man to be used for a sacred purpose: The tongue to utter the Lord's name, the hands to offer worship, the feet to go the temple and so on. These organs should not be used for frivolous and unholy purposes. Sanctifying everyone of the sense organs, man should purify the mind and contemplate on God.

Embodiments of Divine Love!

It is impossible to describe the sweetness and sacredness of the name of the Lord. The intensity of the devotion with which you chant the name of the Lord will yield commensurate benefits and confer joy on you. All should strive to chant the names in unison. Today, all the five elements in the world--space, air, fire, water and the earth--are polluted. You cannot get pure water or pure air. The sounds you hear are impure. The earth is polluted. The Kali Yuga has become Kalmasha Yuga (the age of impurity). To purify all this the only means is chanting the names of the Lord.

Today people spend most of their time watching the TV and Video screens. Is it any surprise if children born in these circumstances are TV products? They behave as actors from childhood. They indulge in stunts. Only the parents are to blame. In olden times, when a woman was enceinte, she used to hear stories about Prahlaadha, Sathyavaan and other noble characters. The child in the womb was influenced by such stories.

Experiments in Russia and other countries have demonstrated the relationship between the food one consumes and one's mental attitudes. It was found, for instance, that a child which had been fed on apple juice while it was growing in the womb, exhibited a love for apples after birth.

The recitation of the names of the Lord will help to purify the atmosphere as a result of the sacred sound waves getting absorbed in the atmosphere. The power of sound waves is evident from the way radio waves are transmitted and received over long distance. The atmosphere that has been polluted by impure sound waves can be purified by the chanting of the Divine Name.

Likewise, sacred thoughts, pure speech and pure actions will purify other polluted elements. There is no better purifying agent than this. Crores are being spent to purify the Ganges water. Of what use is this exercise if the Ganges continues to be polluted by the discharge of drainage water into the river? First prevent the flow of filthy effluents into the Ganges.

In the same manner, the evil thoughts arising in the mind should be diverted and it should be filled with pure Godly thoughts by reciting the Divine name.

Everyone participating in bhajans should sing the name of the Lord and thereby serve to purify the atmosphere and promote the well being of the nation.