Devotional Songs and Bhajans

Bhajan Kirtan

India is a land of people who have deep faith in Gods, Goddesses and spiritualism. One can find the followers of all the religions in India who are free to practice their own religion as it is secular nation. Devotional songs or bhajans are deeply related to the roots of Hindu religion. Bhajans are songs which are devoted to the God and show emotions and love of human being for God. It is a way of surrendering oneself completely in the love of God though the medium of singing.

History of Bhajans

According to the history of Hindu religion, the platform of Bhajans was laid in Sama Veda, which is the fourth Veda in Hindu religion. These hymns are different from the Sanskrit shlokas as in many ways like the way they are rendered and their easy flow which suits the method of singing. Bhajans appeal a larger mass than anything else because of its various qualities.

Bhajans and devotional songs are sung in a group of devotees with the repetition of various phrases and words. It consists of episodes and anecdotes from the lives of Gods and Goddesses, description of various acts and glories related to God and preachings of saints. There is an another version of Bhajan, which is known as Kirtan.

The famous personalities which are related to Bhajans and Hindu devotional songs include Tulsidas, Meera Bai, Surdas and Kabir.

Popularity of Bhajans and Devotional Songs Among Masses

It is one of the mediums of social bonding in India to sing Bhajans and devotional songs in a group. People, specially ladies, organise Bhajan sessions on regular intervals as per the convenient time that suit everyone. Sessions of singing devotional songs and Bhajans are carried out along with offering of prayers in temples or other locations like homes or pandals by sitting in front of the image or idol of a deity.

Famous Bhajan Singers in India

Some of the famous singers of Bhajans and devotional songs in India are Anup Jalota, Jagjit Singh, Anuradha Paudwal, Sonu Nigam, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Vani Jayaram, Bhimsen Joshi, Mahendra Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar.

Famous Bhajans and Devotional Songs

Hindi Bhajans :- Most of the famous Bhajans and devotional songs in India have been dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman. Sri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaju Man dedicated to Lord Rama by Tulsidas, Main Nahi Makhan Khayo dedicated to Lord Krishna by Surdas and Mane Chakar Rakho Ji dedicated to Lord Krishna by Meera.

Durga Puja Celebrations in India

Durga Puja 2011
3rd October 2011 - Saptami
4th October 2011 - Ashtami
5th October 2011 - Navami
6th October 2011 - Vijaya Dasami

Maa Durga, the patron deity is the Goddess of Power.Come September, preparations to celebrate Durga Puja, begin with great enthusiasm all over country. The six day festival begins with the installation of beautifully sculptured Durga idols in homes and pandals (large tents), fully decorated depicting religious themes or scenes portraying the life maa Durga. The goddess idols are worshiped with friends and families. Lot of cultural events are organized and people love to participate in them with keen interest.

Durga puja also known as Durgotsab is the biggest festival of Bengali's in India. Apart from Bengal, it is also widely celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. Duga Puja refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami and Bijoya Dashami.

Story of Durga Puja : According to the Hindu mythology, Maa Durga is personified as Maa Shakti – the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. According to the legends, see entered the earth to kill monster demon – Mahishasura, who wants to conquer the earth with his caesarism and unbeatable power. The Gods, got disheartened, and decided to combine their power to create a beautiful maiden, and so each one of them placed his or her most powerful weapon in one of her hands and made her seated on lion. After fighting hard, maa Durga killed Mahishasura and restored the heaven to the Gods, which was earlier acquired by him.

Since then, Goddess Durga is worshiped for protection from the power of evils. The victory of Goddess Durga over the demon symbolizes the victory of good over the evil.

Celebrations of Duga Puja : Preparations for Durga Puja starts well in advance. Employees in private and government organizations, get extra pay or bonus to celebrated this auspicious festival. Huge idols of ten armed Durga accompanied by her two sons, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya, and her two daughters – Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati, killing the buffal demon are created by professional artisans in Kumartuli area of north Kolkata and are placed in Durga pandals.

The celebrations of Durga festival start with ‘Bodhan’ on Sasthi (the ritual of setting up a giant banana tree adorned in a saree beside Lord Ganesha and worshipping her as his ‘wife’) on Saptami. After that there is the ‘Pushpanjali’ paying homage to Maa Duga followed by foral offering during the morning time and Maha Sandhya Aart.

Ashtami, is the biggest day of the festival. The third day called Nabami is the day of animal sacrifice. There is on more occasion called ‘Sindoor Khela’ (the tradition of putting vermilion on the forehead of the Maa Durga).

Finally, on the last day, the immersion of these huge idols of Goddess Durga in the ganges.

Durga Puja Aarti or Puja Bhajan or Song :

Jai Ambe Gauri maiya, jaa Shyama Gauri
Nishdin tumko dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivji,
Jai Ambe....
Mang sindur birajat, tiko mrigmadko,
ujjvalse dou naina, chandravadan niko,
Jai Ambe....
Kanak saman kalevar, raktambar raje,
Raktapushp galmala, kanthhar saje,
Jai Ambe.... Kehari vahan rajat, khadg khappar dhari
sur nar munijan sevat, tinke dukhahari,
Jai Ambe....
Kanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti
Kotik chandra divakar, samrajat jyoti,
Jai Ambe....
Shumbh- nishumbh vidare, MahishaSur ghatia
Dhumra-vilochan naina, nishdin madmati
Jai Ambe....
Brahmani, Rudrani tum Kamala Rani,
Agam-nigam bakhani. turn Shiv patrani,
Jai Ambe....
Chaunsath yogini gavat, nritya karat Bhairon,
Bajat tab mridanga, aur bajat damru,
Jai Ambe...
Tum ho jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta,
Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta,
Jai Ambe....
Bhuja char ati shobhit, var mudra dhari,
Manvanchhit phal pavat, sevat nar nari,
Jai Ambe....
kanchan thal virajat, agaru kapur bati
Malketu men rajat, kotiratan jyoti,
Jai Ambe....

Aparana Chauhan