Thunder Bay Kirtan Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Kirtan? Basically, Kirtan is a group of people singing repetitive songs, or chants, with simple melodies and a few Sanskrit words. A lead singer will sing a phrase, and the rest of the group will repeat that phrase with the same words and melody. Why is Kirtan usually associated with yoga centers and ashrams? Many people presume that asanas, physical postures and pranayama, breathing, is all of yoga. The systems of yoga actually consist of many paths, one being that of bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is the yoga path of love and devotion to the Divine - the path of transcendent Love which sees the whole universe, both animate and inanimate, as being pervaded by Divinity. Kirtan is considered to be an important technique in the practice of bhakti yoga. Why do we sing in Sanskrit? The Sanskrit words that we sing in these Kirtans are mantras, or divine names. When touched by blessings of a pure heart, these mantras become fully alive and have the power to carry us back to the One, the universal heart. As such they may also be considered to be vessels for our prayers. I don't understand the language so the words don't feel very meaningful to me. The chants do not tell stories and are not actual sentences. It's quite okay if we do not fully understand the translations or pronunciations. Through these simple Kirtans, we can communicate emotionally and spiritually with our hearts and our souls. To that end, it is probably more effective for many people not to devote too much attention intellectually on the possible meanings of the words. Why do we sing the names of Indian deities? I don't feel confortable with this religion. Contrary to popular belief in the West, Hindu deities are not "individual gods", indicating a polytheistic faith. They are, rather, different representations of particular aspects of the one god, the source, known as Brahman. The "human" or physical representation of Brahman's aspects or attributes in the form of deities is a vehicle for the devotee to focus his or her attention, devotion or meditation on that particular aspect or attribute in a form more easily visualized and held in the mind. Ganesha for example, whom traditionally is one of the first names to be sung in a Kirtan, is considered to be the remover of all obstacles. Having said all that, Kirtan is in no way a religious practice or requires one to be of any particular faith. How can I learn more about the nature of these deities? Some general info on Hindu deities is available here. You may also want to check out this web site. What if I am too shy to sing? That's perfectly ok. Just listening and soaking up the sonic and psychic vibrations will help to lift the mind, heart and spirit. When you are ready you will find your voice. It is important to remember that the goal is not to create a purely musical event, but to connect with each other, open our hearts and raise our spirits. How do I find out about the next Kirtan? Just bookmark and keep checking the Kirtan page at www.drumjourney.com or at www.restingfrogyoga.com. Is there an admission fee? Typically there is no fee charged to participate in Kirtan. However a small donation is greatly appreciated and helps to cover the costs of refreshments and the studio space. Namaste

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