Kirtan: A Spiritual, Musical Yoga Practice
By Sannyasi Agnimudra
Through cultures and religions around the world, people have come together to sing sacred songs as an important part of their spiritual practice. Kirtan (“KEER-ton”) is a practice within the vast body of knowledge of yoga. Kirtan or kirtana uses the vehicle of song and the repetition of mantra (sacred sounds) as a spiritual practice. The word kirtan literally means 'the continuous repetition of mantra.' It is sacred music.
Most people familiar with yoga are acquainted with hatha yoga, which is the practice of physical yoga postures (asanas). Sometimes this practice is followed by a breathing practice (pranayama), meditation and relaxation. Hatha yoga is only one branch of yoga. Many branches of yoga exist, each using different practices, so it seems that there is a type of yoga to suit nearly every personality.
Kirtan is a yoga practice contained within three of these branches of yoga: specifically mantra yoga (chanting or repetition of sacred sounds), nada yoga (“naad,” awareness of subtle sound vibrations) and bhakti (“BHARK-tee,” devotional yoga). Some hatha yoga classes include chanting the mantra “om” and other simple mantras to begin and end each class, but for many people (if not most), chanting and singing kirtan is not the usual practice for even the more experienced hatha-yoga student.
Because it is a devotional practice – and due to its Indian origins – many kirtans include the names of Hindu deities. These deities represent the many different aspects or qualities of the divine. There are some kirtans written and sung in English, but most kirtans are written in the Sanskrit language, which is the ancient Indian language still used today in yoga and by spiritual aspirants. The akshara, the individual sounds of the Sanskrit alphabet, are considered to have powerful effects on an individual's mind, body and energy systems, as they create profound vibrational changes. So, although the meaning of some words in a song may be known, knowing is not important because kirtan does not operate at the level of intellect. Because of the powerful effects of the sounds of the words, the intellect is bypassed.
Kirtan is sung in a group of people. One person leads the singing and the audience participates in 'call and response.' When one sings kirtan, it is from the heart; it is not music for performance. Consequently, it does not matter whether the singer has a good singing voice or not. It is the intention with which the person sings that is important. Some people approach kirtan as an opportunity to perform in front of an audience, but this is not the attitude of a true kirtanist. True kirtanists are singing God's name, instead of attempting to elevate their own names or egos.
The effect that singing kirtans and mantras has on the individual is subtle. It is said that kirtan influences the cellular structure of the body, bringing it into balance or harmony. Individuals who experience kirtan certainly suggest that their bodies and minds have undergone some process because they report feelings of lightness, equanimity, a sense of peace or contentment. Whether this is because the cells in the body have been “tuned and harmonized” is difficult to ascertain.
There are objective ways to measure the health-related effects of mantra and kirtan. Positive health outcomes were published in the 2005 International Journal of Yoga Therapy from a pilot study conducted with individuals diagnosed with mild to severe depression who participated in an eight-week chanting program. Respiratory function and wellbeing were rated both before and after the eight-week program that involved all individuals singing kirtan for between 45-60 minutes once per week. At the end of the program, all 11 participants increased their breath control and expiratory output level. Ten of the 11 were noted to have improved their overall mood. Both non-invasive and inexpensive, kirtan is an attractive health-intervention option.
Regardless of the contribution kirtan makes to healthy living, many people are drawn to singing in general and to singing kirtan in particular for the sheer experience of it. Appealing to the heart instead of the intellect, people sing for no other reason than it makes them feel good. In the words of Swami Satyananda:
“Kirtan cannot be understood through intellect because kirtan is mainly concerned with the emotional personality of the individual. The emotions are a very powerful tool because with the intellect you cannot go very deep, you cannot realize consciousness. You can know about many things but you cannot experience them. It is the difference between knowledge and experience.”
Sannyasi Agnimudra (Coralie Properjohn) is a disciple of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. She is a visiting Satyananda Yoga teacher from Australia teaching at the Atma Center in Cleveland Heights. The Atma Center runs free kirtan and healing chants every Saturday evening and 30 hatha yoga classes every week. Please call the Atma Center at (216) 317-9760 for additional information.
Photos by Atmarupa (Beverly Singh) and the Atma Center.
