Kirtan & Mantra
In Bhakti Yoga, the path taught by Durgamayi Ma, singing Kirtan is an essential part of spiritual practice. Kirtan consists of simple mantras accompanied by Indian instruments such as the harmonium, drum, and cymbals. A lead singer sings the mantra and everyone else responds. In this way, following the lead singer, we can allow ourselves to be carried by the singing, turn inward, and encounter what is already within us.
Ma speaks from her own experience when she says:
Kirtan is singing God's many names — the inner call of longing for unity, for peace, for freedom, for a love that never fades.
I know of few spiritual practices that bring us into contact with our hearts as directly as singing.
The Kirtan we sing in these two ashrams follows the tradition of Sri Neem Karoli Baba. Ma herself wrote down many of the Kirtan collected here during her time with Baba in 1973. There are also many beautiful recordings in which Ma herself leads the Kirtan, for example:
Many people are familiar with Kirtan through Krishna Das, a well-known devotee of Maharajji and a renowned Kirtan singer.
When we sing to the particular deities, we are singing to that divine aspect within ourselves. The names of the deities represent a certain divine quality that is not outside of us, but within the heart of every human being.
Every Friday, there is a Kirtan evening at Sri Neem Karoli Baba Mandir, the Ashram in Neu-Ulm. The singing is also always broadcast via livestream, which you can watch here on the website, on YouTube, or on Facebook. If you would like to visit the ashram, we also sing Kirtan on the Bhakti weekends and celebrations when Ma gives Darshan.
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Aarti
Every day an Aarti is celebrated in the ashram to honor the Divine - in all its different forms and as the light that … -
Ganesha Kirtan
Ganesha, in his elephant form, embodies the pioneering power within us humans to overcome all the obstacles we face in … -
Hanuman Kirtan
Hanuman embodies the divine power of unconditional love that resides in every human being. Out of love for God, he … -
Kirtan in honor of the Guru
Kirtan to Baba, to Ma - to all masters and Guru. -
Kirtan to the Divine Mother
Goddess Durga represents a primordial feminine power inherent in every human being. She comes in the form of humility - … -
Krishna Kirtan
Krishna represents the ability in us humans to follow the voice of our heart - seemingly against better judgment. -
Mantra in honor of Buddha
In the midst of abundance you must remain hungry — then you will live like the Buddha. Only enlightenment could satisfy … -
Sita Ram Kirtan
Sita symbolises every individual soul and Lord Ram represents the true self, the universal soul. The great Indian epic … -
Shiva Kirtan
Shiva represents the divine power that destroys all ignorance - the level of consciousness beyond all differences. The … -
Songs in honor of Jesus Christ
He lost himself in love — this is how he meditated. He was one with all beings, he loved everyone, even the people who … -
Vedic Mantra
The Vedas are the oldest spiritual scriptures known in India. They are regarded as ancient truth and have been passed …
