Kirtan
Kirtan is a practice of Bhakti yoga – the path of devotion. Kirtan is the traditional practice of chanting, call & response, the divine names along with devotional music. Most chants are sung in sanskrit – the sacred, vibrational language used in yogic and vedic practices. Each kirtan (or song) has its own melody and feeling – sometimes quiet and sweet, other times upbeat and fun. Regular practice of kirtan opens the heart, cultivates love & compassion, affects the subtle energy body, and raises consciousness – it is a beautiful, peaceful and energizing practice.
Kirtan is practiced in a group – everyone’s energy and participation contributes to the practice.
Anyone can practice kirtan – all faiths, experiences, & ages (most kids and babies really love kirtan too!). Bhakti yoga celebrates devotion to the divine in all of its forms or names, so it does not conflict with any other religion or belief.
Sanskrit Mantra
The sanksrit word “mantra” is derived from two words: “manas” meaning “mind” and “trai” meaning “to protect” or “to set free from”. Mantra can be literally translated as “to set free the mind” – meaning to help release conditioned mental patterns or habits. This allows the mind to quiet, karmic patterns to shift, prana (breath) to be energized, and other qualities such as love, compassion, and devotion to be cultivated.
Sanskrit is an energy-based language first, and a meaning-base language second. Each syllable carries an energetic frequency which affects the subtle body (chakras, nadis and energy centers of the body). So the effect of the mantra will be the same on your energy body, regardless of the literal translation of the mantra. It is not uncommon to find various translations of mantras from different teachers, because mantras have only an approximate language-based translation. Like the rays of the sun, it doesn’t matter what you call them, the energy of the sun will the same effect on you.
