Loving Ganesha: Chapter 19 (section 1) - Singing to Ganesha--Ganesha Bhajanam

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font-family:Arial">Namaste all,

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font-family:Arial">From http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_ch-19.html

the first section of chapter 19.

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Jaya Jaya

Ganesha

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font-family:Arial">Neil

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font-weight:bold">Ganesha Bhajanam

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OMETIMES WE FEEL A GREAT LOVE OF GOD;

sometimes the grace of Ganesha fills us with such enthusiasm and joy that our

heart bursts in an overflowing expression of devotion. Our bhakti turns the word

into song, which in turn is offered

back to the Deity whence came this gift of divine love and

bliss. There may also be other times when our heart is dry, our mind

distracted; we feel forlorn and distant from Ganesha. At such times

devotional singing is a simple, sure way to raise our spirits up to a level

where we can commune with Ganesha once again. Or we may find ourself together

with other Hindus who want to join in

fellowship to joyfully affirm our religion and praise the Gods that guide us.

So we join together in song. In Hinduism this form of worship, called bhajana or kirtana, is an

age-old tradition, ranging from simple melodious repetition of the names of

the Lord to the singing of inspired song/poems of great devotees. Presented

here are a few songs in modern notation to aid international group

participation. But remember that Hindu music has never been rigid like Western

classical music, where a small deviation is viewed as error. In Hindu music

melodies often vary from one village to another, singer to singer, one satsanga

to another. Infinite diversity, tolerance and

flexibility is a central theme of Hinduism and its

sacred music as well. Deep devotion is the standard. Particular notes, in

time, in tune or not are hardly noticed. If you are singing with genuine

feelings and awareness, then even the song itself will be transcended. Before

presenting some of these hymns for us all to use together, let us first

consider the deeper meaning of bhajana as

elucidated in a talk I gave at Kauai Aadheenam in Hawaii on October 16,

1978.

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Singing to the Gods:

Hindu Hymns of Invocation

An Inspired Talk on the Power of Satsanga

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The Hindu approach to God is well-defined and

mystically oriented. It confidently proclaims that every soul is created by

God and is destined to return to God; and it provides through its vast

cultural and scriptural heritage both the intellectual insight and the

pragmatic means for following that path and attaining life's ultimate

objective, spiritual realization. One of the legacies inherited by all Hindus

is the rich and varied collection of sacred hymns, sung alone in the privacy

of early morning worship or in gatherings of like-minded devotees whose

combined invocations bring forth in each participant heightened communion

with the Divine. There are many ways that Hindus offer devotion through

chanting and song. Through the sadhana

of japa yoga, the holy names of

the Deities and sacred mantras are chanted both silently and aloud as a

constant remembering. Pilgrims to the temple will assemble in the outer

chambers to hear skilled musicians and singers well-versed in age-old

devotional arts, fully capable of turning the mind toward God and away from

the world through the subtlety and beauty of their lyrical offerings.

Religious epics and stories filled with history and with parable are related

to large congregations through dramatic choral presentation. Devotees gather

in small and large groups throughout the world to chant in unison, generally

led in turn by one among them and then another, singing their praises to the

Gods to the accompaniment of the harmonium, drums, tambura and cymbals. This is

called bhajana. It is certainly the most popular form

of Hindu devotional singing.

For

thousands of years Hindus have gathered in conclave to share hours of the

outpouring of their love of the Gods. Their chants have filled the temple

chambers, the village hall and the private courtyard; but mostly it has

filled and thrilled those who participated with a full heart. In the advanced

stages of bhakti it matters little whether we are

alone or with others when chanting the names of the Lord, for that mature

state is steadfast in the higher devotional sensibilities, unruffled by the

external world of name and form. Yet few have attained the serene heights of

perfect devotion, and fewer still are steady enough to maintain such states

once reached. The steadying support of others who also share spiritual goals

in life can enhance the individual aspirant's efforts, keeping him firmly on

the Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal Path. When these

sacred gatherings are regular, either daily or weekly, they generate a

spiritual dynamic in the lives of all who participate, a shared energy to

which all contribute and from which all can draw.

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font-family:Arial">Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

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font-family:Arial">Web sites: http://www.hindu.org/

& http://www.himalayanacademy.com/

email: contact (AT) hindu (DOT) org

Himalayan Academy

Kauai's Hindu Monastery

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Kapaa, HI 96746-9304

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