Hour 95 Meditation – Bhakti and Sankirtan as Meditation – ISKCON and Sant Traditions
Bhakti and Sankirtan as Meditation – ISKCON and Sant Traditions
Introduction to Bhakti Meditation
Bhakti Meditation is a devotional practice based on love and affection for the God. From the Sanskrit word “Bhakti” or devotion and love, Bhakti meditation is the act of developing an intimate, individual relationship with God through prayer, chanting, and service. While this meditation practice is not a matter of meditation or inner awareness, it’s also about completely surrendering yourself to the Divine with complete love and trust.
In Indian spirituality, Bhakti is at the heart of most traditions, such as the Sant traditions and ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). It is focused on individual devotion over strict rituals or intellectual comprehension, and is said to bring about a state of unadulterated love and union with the Divine.
The Role of Sankirtan in Bhakti Meditation
One of the core practices of Bhakti meditation is Sankirtan, or the group chanting or singing of sacred names, especially to praise the Divine. The term “Sankirtan” is derived from “sam” (unified) and “kirtan” (praise or chanting), pointing to the group nature of chanting together in order to call upon divine presence and blessing.
In Bhakti Yoga, Sankirtan is not a ritual but an approach that is meditative and serves to bring the practitioner into contact with the divine by repeating sacred names, prayers, or mantras. While chanting the divine names, an experience of the divine presence is felt, enabling the practitioner to shift into a state of meditative absorption.
Sankirtan has a direct emotional and spiritual impact, soothing the mind and unlocking the heart to divine energy. The chanting of mantras produces a sacred vibration, or Shakti, that cleanses the heart, mind, and soul. In Bhakti tradition, Sankirtan is said to overcome all boundaries of intellect and ego, enabling practitioners to establish a direct relationship with God.
Bhakti Meditation in ISKCON
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada started the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the 1960s, which is among the most visible movements spreading Bhakti as a practice of meditation. Central to ISKCON’s ideology is worshiping Lord Krishna, who is viewed as the Supreme Divine.
Important Features of Bhakti Meditation in ISKCON
Chanting Holy Names (Hare Krishna Mantra): In ISKCON, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is one of the primary practices:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
This chant is said to be the best way of cleansing the heart and gaining spiritual realization. While chanting in total devotion, it is possible to tune in with Krishna’s divine energy that has the potential to purify the mind and bring the consciousness to higher planes of spiritual consciousness.
Sankirtan as a Group Activity: ISKCON promotes congregational chanting or Sankirtan in temples, public places, and the streets, and it is called Harinam Sankirtan. They do this as groups, with the emphasis being on chanting, singing, and dancing together as a group to create a mass energy that enlivens everybody involved.
The Guru’s Role: Within the ISKCON tradition, the spiritual guide (Guru) has an important role to play in the practitioner’s path of Bhakti. The Guru assists disciple’s advancement in Bhakti such that the practice remains sincere, centered, and in harmony with the scriptures.
The Four Regulative Principles: ISKCON practitioners adhere to four fundamental principles to uphold spiritual discipline:
No eating meat
No intoxication
No illicit sex
No gambling
These guidelines assist practitioners in keeping a clean and concentrated mind, which is necessary to progress in Bhakti meditation.
The Function of Deity Worship: Meditation in ISKCON usually involves Deity worship, particularly Lord Krishna. The offering of food, flowers, and prayers to the Deity in the temple is perceived as an inherent part of the Bhakti practice, making the devotee experience the presence of God in his or her life.
Bhakti in Sant Traditions
The Indian Sant Traditions of saints such as Kabir, Mirabai, Guru Nanak, and Tulsidas all place much emphasis on loving devotion towards the Divine. All these traditions seek to foreground such simple and straight-forward statements of devotion against ornate rituals by speaking directly into the devotee’s heart.
In Sant tradition, Bhakti is a personal experience with God—a close bond marked by love, surrender, and devotion. The Sants asserted that formal education or social standing is not necessary to cultivate a personal experience with the Divine; one only needs true devotion.
Kabir stressed an immediate experience of the Divine, whereby the soul fuses with the beloved.
Mirabai, a princess from the Rajput dynasty who became a devotee of Lord Krishna, professed her devotion through poetry, song, and dance, usually symbolizing the soul’s deep love for God.
Guru Nanak, the Sikh faith founder, also advocated Bhakti as the path to conquer ego and separation from God, with devotional meditation being the method to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
The Bhakti found in the Sant traditions is frequently unencumbered by elaborate rituals or rigid caste systems and is therefore open to everyone. The unpretentiousness of these devotional practices, along with deep emotional surrender to the Divine, is viewed as a means to spiritual freedom.
The Power of Sankirtan in Bhakti Meditation
One of the strongest practices of Bhakti meditation is Sankirtan—group chanting of God’s name. It is particularly life-changing because it overcomes personal ego and unites students into a shared sacred objective.
Sankirtan can be done in several manners:
Kirtan (singing with instruments): In this style of Sankirtan, devotees sing the name of God and his divine qualities accompanied by musical instruments like mridanga (drum), kartals (cymbals), and harmonium. The music can be held in temples, homes, or public halls, and through this, devotees feel the presence of the divine.
Namasankirtan (name chanting): This is the more conventional method of Sankirtan where the chant is recited in a group or alone. The focus is solely on the repetition of spiritual mantras such as the Hare Krishna mantra or other divine names.
Advantages of Sankirtan and Bhakti Meditation:
Cleansing of the Mind: Recitation of holy names facilitates the cleansing of the mind by distracting the attention away from the disturbing thoughts and unnecessary things. The mind is at peace and calm with concentration in the proximity of the Divine.
Healing of Emotions: Bhakti meditation and Sankirtan stimulate profound feelings and assist in healing unwanted feelings like anger, jealousy, and fear. It results in release of feelings bringing joy and peacefulness of heart.
Sense of Unity: By shared chanting (Sankirtan), the participants attain a sense of unity and shared spiritual energy. The shared devotional practice brings the individuals together in a spiritual bond, allowing them to go beyond personal egos and unite with the Divine as one.
Going Deeper into Devotion: Sankirtan and Bhakti meditation enhance deeper devotion and love for God. With the passage of time, the practice of devotion takes the central stage in the practitioner’s life and leads to an experience of divine union.
Reflexive Questions
How do you feel the practice of Sankirtan impacts your mood? Do you feel more close to the Divine while chanting within a group or alone?
In what ways has Bhakti meditation impacted your individual spiritual path? How do you find devotion expressed in love and service as opposed to intellectual knowledge?
What is the role of surrender in Bhakti meditation for you? How does it feel to surrender the ego and relinquish control in your meditation practice?
In what way do you believe communal chanting (Sankirtan) benefits your spiritual practice? What sense of unity or energy do you feel when you chant with others?