Namasmarana is the royal road to liberation in this age of Kali, says our beloved Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Time and again Swami has reinforced the immense benefits one gets, tangibly and intangibly, from the constant repetition of God’s name. When the Lord’s name is suffused with love, reverence and music, it takes the form of a Bhajan. Bhajans are known to be beneficial to both the singer as well as the listener. It is said that while all the nine forms of Bhakti are equal, listening to the Lord’s name being sung (Sarvanam) and singing His name (Kirthanam) are said to be the sweetest. Kirthanam is individual singing while Sankirthanam denotes ‘singing the Names continuously, aloud, without interruption and without hesitation’. It is said that while Kirthan can promote one’s own spiritual progress, Sankirtanam can help the process of liberation for those who listen and even to those beyond the circle of listeners through vibrations.

Our Swami has given His personal attention to Bhajans and its practice since the earliest days of His Avatarhood. Sri N Kasturi, in his biography of Swami ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’, states how much importance Swami gives to Bhajans. “Appearing to devotees in dreams, Baba has taught them new Bhajan songs, sitting in front of them as music teachers do, with instructions to sing them during the Dasara festival at Puttaparthi. Later, when they arrived at Puttaparthi they were prompted by him to sing them!”

The virtues of Bhajan singing are numerous. Here is what Bhagawan says about Bhajan singing…

“I do not need songs glorifying God which like gramophone records, reproduce songs and strings of Gods names without any feeling or yearning while singing. Hours of shouting do not count; a moment of concentrated prayer from the heart is enough, to melt and move God.”

“Bhajan is to the mind what bhojan is to the body.”

“The tongue is the post; Bhajan of the Name of God is the rope; with that rope, you can bring God Almighty near you and tie Him up, so that His Grace becomes yours. Yes. You can. God is so kind that He will yield to your prayers and get bound. You have only to call on Him, to be by your side, with you, leading you and guiding you.”

Swami extols the value of Bhajans in His numerous discourses – and to in a way to substantiate His words – He always ends discourses with a Bhajan or two. In fact, it is well known that Swami took personal interest in the arrangement and conduct of Bhajan sessions throughout His Avatarhood. Institute brothers and sisters have been guided in the conduct of Bhajan sessions at the Mandir and many have been fortunate to have been personally guided by Him. The Bhajan group in Parthi today personifies Swami’s Sarva Dharma principle. During numerous events and festivities, singers of the Bhajan group sing not only Bhajans, but also Carols, Qawali and Kirtans. Their renditions of such musical pieces are very popular amongst Sai devotees worldwide.

As a part of this feature story, a few Bhajan singers have share their thoughts.

Anshuman J Das

On a sweet note

“A note was born,
And it wandered through sharp and flats
in its quest for resonance.
In its journey it came across a Musician,
Who sang of love and the note dissolved in His song.”

I had always dreamed to sing or play a musical instrument in His presence. Even as a child in the Primary School, I imagined a day would come where He would listen to me as I strummed a guitar and sang. Fortunately, there were more like me in my class who shared the same dream and we used to get together to practice thinking we will achieve it someday. Time passed by, we moved on to high school, but kept practicing. We knew we had to get better to play before Him. He is a perfectionist and we wanted to be our best. Somewhere in this journey I began to realize that it is not talent alone that is needed to win Him, but something more. You could see that He would be very pleased when some performed. But sometimes He wouldn’t be pleased even if the performance was technically brilliant. Then what was the secret?

The secret of pleasing Him

It took me a long time to discover this secret. I eventually did get to play the guitar, keyboards, and harmonium and even sing in His presence. Many times actually. More than I deserved to. But there is a reason why we practice. It is not simply to get better at a task. I realized that practice makes sure that you play an instrument in the right manner. But to actually feel the music, the mood, the words I needed to be better. I will have to forget about the keys on the keyboard or the strings on the guitar. My hands and my voice are doing that task, but not me. My mind, my thoughts are trying to feel that music and enjoy it. It is like driving a car. When you first start driving you need to concentrate very hard on the road. The clutch, the gear, the mirrors, the steering, the brake; all these things need to work in unison. It is confusing in the beginning. But once you drive and practice, you realize that it gets easier. Now you can listen to music and not get distracted. You can also have a conversation and concentrate at the same time. The same holds true in music. Once the body interfaces with the instruments perfectly, our minds can feel the music.

Every time I played or sang, I would say a small prayer. The prayer would be for Him to sing or play through me. This calmed me. But wasn’t enough. I had the habit of singing or playing with my eyes closed and would never know if He enjoyed it. I would peek a little sometimes to see Him engrossed in His blissful state. That would be very encouraging. But sometimes He would not enjoy. In this journey I realized the more I detached myself from my voice or the instrument, the better I played. If I did think it was me playing or singing, if there was a moment of ego, it would almost immediately show up as a missed note or a mistake. This happened almost every single time I felt a moment of ego. I had to let the credit of my music go beyond me. There was a resonance if the feeling of owning the music was delocalized. In other words, I had to let go. Then there was joy in music. Not otherwise. He loves music, but loves the feeling and sincerity you offer even more. He loves the tune, but loves the word even more. He loves it when you mean what you sing or play. And that is the secret!

My musical life fulfilled

He used to ask me what I play. I would say harmonium and He would repeat it as ‘harmonia’. He would move His fingers in the air as though playing the instrument. He is a perfectionist and I have seen that when He directed music performances. Everything from costumes to what instruments we played would be important to Him. Once He wanted two keyboards in the performance said ‘Two Yamahas’ (Yamaha is the company that makes them).

My musical life was fulfilled when after a practice session, He looked at me, moved His fingers in the air like playing the keys and said-“He plays well”.

Balaramachandran Sitaraman

Insights from Swami on Devotional Singing

I recollect two incidents, which I experienced as a student, that have strongly embedded the importance of Bhavam while singing. Once Swami got us to learn a beautiful poem on the glory of our Mother land – a poem that was authored by a devotee. I was part of a group of 4-5 Bhajan boys who were invited into the Interview room. Swami asked us to sing the poem. It contained a line which goes ‘Yah Mathru Bhoomi Mere… Yah Pitru Bhoomi Mere’ (This is my mother land… This is my fatherland) . At this point Swami demonstrated the feeling with which this line must be sung. He held His hand against His heart and sang the line in His most melodious voice emphasising specially on the words “Mathru Bhoomi Mere”! The sight is still etched in my mind. He was patriotism personified!

Another incident that still strongly etched in my mind happened when Swami visited the institute hostel. In His discourse, He specifically emphasised to the Bhajan boys that if we were to focus our attention on ‘Bhavam’, ‘Ragam’ and ‘Talam’ would be automatically taken care of! The Experience of Singing for Him One of the most unforgettable moments of singing for Him occurred during a global Akhanda Bhajan. It was a phase of ‘cold storage’ that I was passing through – I was not getting a chance to lead Bhajans at Mandir. Apparently, Swami had made a remark on my singing. However, luckily for me, I got an opportunity to sing a few Bhajans during the morning session of the second day of the Akhanda Bhajan – a period when Swami was physically not in the Bhajan hall. Just as I started singing the Bhajan ‘Sankata Harana Sri Sai Ramana…’ Swami walked out of the Interview room and proceeded towards His car which was waiting to take Him to the Institute. Lo and Behold! Swami suddenly stopped… turned towards the Bhajan hall and to my sheer delight sat on His throne for the entire duration of the Bhajan.

Immediately after the Bhajan, He glanced at me most lovingly with a beautiful smile on His lips. He immediately got up from the throne and left the hall as though to indicate to me that He had specifically come to listen to me singing. The grandiose of the entire incident becomes even more impactful when we are completely cognizant of the fact that He is the Lord who was worshipped by the likes of Saints Thyagaraja and Meera Bai through their melodious sings. My singing was nothing in comparison. The only thing that I can say is that He is ‘Ahetuka DayaSindhu’ – the Ocean of Causeless Compassion!

I May Sing, but He is the Source

I am slowly, but surely, learning that while I am apparently the singer it is He who is the source. If He can sing through me, He can do the same through anybody. As an extension of such profound learning, I am clearly seeing that whatever I achieve in life is just what He chooses to accomplish through me as an instrument for my own evolution!

Continuing the Legacy

Today, I am blessed to be a part of the Sundaram Bhajan group – a group that was formed as per His specific instance. This group also had the opportunity to receive His invaluable guidance on many occasions – and His praise. He once referred to the boys in the group as ‘Mandir boys’. As I write these words my heart wells up in gratitude to Him who is the only One to whom we truly belong… as His boys!

Harish Mani

Inputs on music from Swami

Swami has always stressed that Bhajans should be sung after lot of practice. So much practice should be done that Ragam and Talam should come naturally without effort or concentration – focus should be on Bhava. Swami says that by such practice devotees listening to Bhajans would feel God’s presence. Being part of Bhajan group Being a part of the group has helped in getting into the Burra Katha group which performed in the Divine presence many times . I was fortunate to have had opportunities to travel with Him to Delhi, Shimla and to Hadshi as part of the Bhajan group. These are memories of a life time and it is sheer grace that we got such close proximity with Bhagawan due to music.

About Transformation…

Like many other brothers, my initial interest in music was more as a hobby – an extracurricular activity in school. However, it slowly transformed to a devotional offering with Swami as the goal. Whatever talent I developed was a gift from Swami, offered back to Him. We were taken by Swami to another level in around 2008 when He asked boys to sing in pairs in Mandir. Such singing needed special effort and practice as not just Shruti and lyrics had to be in sync, but also the subtleties of singing had to sync perfectly to sound good. Initially many singers used to co-ordinate through their eyes and other signals while singing in Mandir. However, worth emulating are those pairs who practice hard and then sing in Mandir without any communication at all – they sing in sync are totally lost in Bhava. Swami does not like any talking or signalling during Bhajans.

Absolute equanimity

One of the greatest lessons I learnt is that singing devotional music is not a talent show. It is possible that devotees may praise you for when a particular performance sounded good, but our perspective should not change. We sing to please Swami alone.

Also as a senior in the music group, we may be chided if found wanting in the high standards of decorum expected by Swami. One has to maintain equanimity before praise or blame.

Anand Ramaswamy

Reflections…

I have spent three years as part of the music group at Brindavan from 1991 to 1994. It was the greatest period of my life and I wish we actually had a time machine where I could rewind back to those days and relive it again and again and again.

I was not a singer, but an instrumentalist, playing the harmonium and violin during Bhajans and music programs at Brindavan.

Being at Brindavan, I was blessed to have those intimate Trayee sessions in which Swami would be completely at ease with the boys. As Bhajan boys, we had the opportunity to participate in all celebrations and for me the chance of playing instruments was more of a ‘medium’ to go closer to Swami. We clamoured for every opportunity to sing a Bhajan or offer a musical piece to Bhagawan. Swami used to play the Taal quite frequently during our times at Trayee.

Participating in Bhajans has also over time helped me become a much more satisfied and composed individual. I am always so happy and when I feel worked up or troubled about something, listen to Bhajans. They have this capability to transport you to a different level and three years of such kind of association with Swami, in Brindavan was life altering.

I can’t thank Swami enough for helping me learn this additional tool to be of Sai Service and of helping me so much in life in so many ways, Bhajans being one of them.

Shyam Sundar

Memories as part of the Bhajan group I have had the opportunity to sing Bhajans in Mandir in the presence of Swami. While I may not have had direct one-to-one interaction with Bhagawan, I have seen Swami being very particular about keeping Talam properly during Bhajan sessions. He was indicated whenever a singer sang loudly in higher octaves.

It was a truly blissful experience every time I sang in the Mandir and before Him. To me that’s the most cherished part of my stay at Parthi.

“No Competition, Only Cooperation”

In 2003, music competitions were held in the hostel in which solo singing was a category. The ‘competitors’ included members of the Bhajan team – including me.

Along with a few other Bhajan singers, I made it to the finals. Naturally, we were happy and wanted to share the news with Swami. We were hoping we will get an opportunity to receive prizes from Swami if we win the competition! The day before the finals, we sat in the Bhajan hall and before Bhajans started Swami walked in. One of the finalists told Swami about the competitions and the stage we were in. Swami asked the brother what song he sang. Then Swami made a profound statement – “ No competition, only cooperation” and left. And so we decided to not participate in the finals. Actually we cancelled the solo competition that year.

The impact of being in the music group

I learnt quite a bit being part of the music group though I studied in Parthi for just two years. When I joined the group, there were many seniors to whom I could look up to. Many of them have been there for many years and have had umpteen opportunities with Swami – they were all there to guide new students like me. They were kind and humble and ensured that we all got opportunities to sing for Bhagawan. In fact I owe a lot to all of them. That kind of love and comradeship I don’t find anywhere.

The legacy being carried forward

Today, I try to share what I imbibed at Parthi with Bal Vikas children and members of our Samithi. I participate in Bhajan workshops and contribute my bit to spread awareness of Bhajan singing. I am very happy to carry out this service activity in Swami’s name.

Saikrishna S

Being bestowed with a Divine opportunity will always be remembered as the best part of any student’s life. When I had joined the higher secondary school, I came with many dreams of opportunities with Swami. One such was to sing before Swami. While high quality is definitely a criterion, I feel one must also yearn and sincerely make efforts. I would like to share two experiences that have had deep impact on my personality.

“Bhajan and Seva are the only Sadhana for you”

The first incident was in 2007. I was part of the Bhajan groups and thus had the opportunity to sing every day. I was also working in Radio Sai. One day a sister and I were having a discussion about Sadhana when she asked me about the Sadhana I do for spiritual progress, especially being in the proximity of Swami. I replied that I do not do any Sadhana such as meditation. However, she stressed that I must be doing something. This made me think. I felt dejected as I thought I had wasted a lot of time. I wrote a letter to Swami explaining my predicament. Swami graciously called me in for an interview and read the letter. He said, “For you Bhajan and Seva are the only Sadhana. You do these two with sincerity and Swami will take care of your spiritual progress”. God has made Sadhana such a simple thing. Namasmarana is the spiritual Sadhana of this age. Sai Nama Keertana Kaliyuga Sadhana.

It is all about Bhava

The second incident I would like to share is about the importance of Bhava or feeling when we sing. It was in 2005 – Swami was making us rehearse Rama Katha. The part in which Lord Rama goes to Vana Vasam for 14 years reads thus: Vedalinaadu Raghavudu adavikegaga, padathi Seetha Soumitri todu needaga. Godugoduna Ayodhya gollumannadi, veedaku ma manalenani vedukonnadi. The meaning is that Lord Rama is leaving from Ayodhya to the forest with Mother Seetha and Lakshmana (Soumitri). The whole of Ayodhya fell into a pal of gloom and burst out in anguish and prayed to the Lord to stay.

One day, as we were singing these lines, Swami stopped us midway and asked us the meaning of the sentence we were singing and we explained. Then Swami said, “Rama is leaving Ayodhya and the entire kingdom is bursting out in anguish. But you both are looking at me with a smile and singing. Get into the song. Feel their pain and then sing”. To this day my hair stands whenever I sing these lines. When you soak yourself in the song, it is no more a song, but a conversation with the Lord. That conversation is the purpose of Bhajan. Not only the one who is singing, but the entire hall of devotees must be taken through that feeling.

A Great Responsibility

Singing Bhajans is a great responsibility for it not only affects the singer (the individual), but also makes a great impact on the community that is following the Bhajans and even the neighbouring society that is affect by the vibrations created by Namasankeertana.

Brother Ajnish Rai, in his book ‘The Song of the Soul’, of which we’ll read a few excerpts in this issue of ‘From My Diary’, quotes a popular saying – “Let not one person’s desire to sing be a torture to hundred ears!” He goes on to say, “Leading a Bhajan is like a driver’s job. One has the duty of safely transporting a handful of people. The driver should ensure the comfort, safety and finally fulfill the purpose of the trip. Hence, since we would not like an inexperienced hand at the wheel, we certainly cannot be guaranteed a benefitting trip by an inexperienced Bhajan singer.”

The stories shared by the brothers in this section drive home one point very powerfully – Bhajan singing is not just Sadhana for the individual, but a great Seva for the society. The skill and the ability to use one’s voice to sing the glory of the Lord is a blessing and a responsibility given by God to direct the faithful towards Him.

Bhajans – Transforming Lives

Consequently, a Bhajan session becomes a transformative one, were all are attuned to singing the glories of God forgetting ‘individual conscience’. Our Lord says, “Bhajan is one of the processes by which you can train the mind to expand into eternal values. Teach the mind to revel in the glory and majesty of God; wean it away from petty horizons of pleasure. Bhajan induces in you a desire for experiencing the Truth, to glimpse the Beauty that is God, to taste the Bliss that is the Self. It encourages man to dive into himself and be genuinely his Real Self. Once that search is desired, the path is easy. One has only to be reminded that he is divine. The malady is: it is being thrust out of recognition.

Man has come for a great destiny, on a sacred mission, endowed with special skills and tendencies to help him on; but, he fritters these precious gifts and crawls on earth from birth to death, worse than any animal. Exercises like Bhajan elevate the mind and exhort the individual to seek and find the source of eternal joy that lies within him.”