Sacred Chanting
As yoga teachers, we often focus on asana and pranayama in our classes. But there’s another powerful aspect of yoga that can deeply enrich our practice and teaching: kirtan, the devotional chanting of divine names and mantras.
Kirtan is a lively and uplifting form of bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion. It’s a practice that’s been integral to Indian spiritual traditions for centuries and continues to thrive today. As you travel through India, you’ll hear the melodious sounds of kirtan emanating from temples, ashrams, and even street corners.
At its core, kirtan harnesses the transformative power of sound. As we explore in our yoga studies, the ancient yogis understood that the universe itself is composed of vibration. The Sanskrit language, with its 52 letters known as Matrikas, is said to reflect the primal sounds through which the universe is created, sustained, and dissolved.
The Power of Sacred Sound
When we engage in kirtan, we’re tapping into this cosmic symphony. Each Sanskrit mantra or divine name carries a unique vibration and essence. As David Frawley, a renowned Vedic scholar, beautifully puts it:
“Mantra connects our outer speech with the inner speech of the gods, bringing divinity into our words and consequent actions.”
Benefits for Mind and Spirit
Incorporating kirtan into your yoga classes or personal practice can offer numerous benefits:
- Calming the mind: Like asanas for the body, mantras can be thought of as “asanas for the mind.” The repetitive nature of chanting helps quiet mental chatter and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
- Elevating consciousness: Kirtan can help shift our awareness from mundane concerns to higher states of consciousness, fostering a sense of connection with the divine.
- Purifying energy: The vibrations of sacred mantras are believed to cleanse our subtle energy body, removing obstacles and negative thought patterns.
- Building community: Kirtan is often practiced in groups, creating a powerful sense of unity and shared devotion among participants.
- Deepening meditation: Chanting can serve as a gateway to deeper meditative states, making it an excellent precursor to silent meditation.
Bringing Kirtan to Your Classes
As yoga teachers, we can introduce elements of kirtan to enrich our students’ experience:
- Opening or closing chants: Begin or end your class with a simple OM chant or a short mantra like “Om Shanti” (peace).
- Mantra with movement: Incorporate simple mantras into flowing sequences, synchronizing breath, movement, and sound.
- Kirtan workshops: Offer special kirtan sessions to introduce students to this beautiful practice more deeply.
- Use of instruments: Experiment with adding simple instruments like harmonium or hand cymbals to create a more immersive experience.
Remember, the key to effective kirtan is sincerity and devotion. As the Kula Arnava Tantra reminds us, “Mantras without consciousness are said to be mere letters. They yield no result, even after a trillion recitations.” Encourage your students to approach kirtan with an open heart and a spirit of reverence.
Kirtan in India Today
If you have the opportunity to visit India, you’ll find that kirtan is very much alive in contemporary spiritual practice. From the ghats of Varanasi to the ashrams of Rishikesh, the air is often filled with the joyful sounds of devotional chanting. These experiences can deeply inspire your own practice and teaching.
By embracing kirtan, we connect with a rich spiritual tradition that spans millennia. We offer our students a powerful tool for transformation, one that goes beyond the physical to touch the very essence of yoga—union with the divine.
So let your voice rise in song, and invite your students to join in the sacred sounds of kirtan.
