Authored by Mr Puneet Khurana – Devotional Singer, Songwriter and International Artist
In a diversified world, music has proven to be a universal connector that acts as a medium to link hearts beyond manmade borders, cultures, traditions, as well as faith. Among the various genres, the devotional songs known as bhajans which are rooted in Indian spiritual traditions, have stood out as a profound testament not only within India but across the globe. They embody a blend of devotion, melody along with spiritual awakening that unites people irrespective of their background or beliefs.
Bhajans are more than just musical expressions and creations as they have the power to change our hearts into vessels that attract as well as store divine and positive energy. The spiritual sounds produced by the bhajans have the capacity to awaken our souls beyond physical and mental reality. Every word and musical note of it is infused with causal cosmic force, which evokes an inner and external harmony that transcends the materialistic world. A bhajan’s mantras and spiritual invocations are classic elements that serve as landmarks that lead our soul to the direct realisation of its oneness with the Divine.
Devotion knows no boundaries, as the emotions conveyed through bhajans, like love and gratitude, along with inner peace, are universally relatable. Throughout history, conscious human beings have longed to express devotion through all the pores of their being through all possible human means. Whether it is a temple in Varanasi or a meditation retreat in Washington, DC, of the USA, the essence of bhajans strikes a chord with listeners everywhere. The global appeal of bhajans has been significantly amplified through adaptation and fusion, which makes it unique but still unified. Artists like Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, and Deva Premal have introduced bhajans to Western audiences by blending traditional melodies with contemporary sounds.
The appeal of bhajans is beyond music, as to be a real devotee means looking for the inner peace and ultimate truth. It makes a person feel free, spontaneous, and self-aware. The universal appeal of bhajans is found in their capacity to serve as a reminder of our shared humanity in a society where differences often separate people. Linguistic barriers become very irrelevant to the melodies that bhajan carried because the themes resonate with the core of human experience.
The worldwide recognition of yoga and meditation has immensely contributed to the spread of bhajans by fostering inner peace along with spiritual connection. Bhajans are used while performing these practices to make the surroundings calm and pleasant. Bhajans have become a means to experience Indian spirituality across the globe. It works as a tool for mindfulness and self-discovery with its shared reverence and the quest for internal and universal peace as well as harmony.
In a world where chaos often drowns out the melody of the soul, the devotional bhajans act as a medium to reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance memory. The joy and contentment derived from listening to Bhajan are unparalleled. Not only does listening to and singing bhajans impart serenity and peace of mind, but it is also able to transform our thoughts. Furthermore, the listening of Bhajan helps to promote immunity and increases the low prana energy level. Its positive vibrations relieve anxiety and act as an antidepressant. As per much research, it has been found that listening to bhajans increases the activity in the cells, which releases the feel-good hormone “dopamine.”. Listening to bhajans can be therapeutic for people with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It is also termed by different researches that listening to bhajans stimulates our brain, which makes us more analytical and attentive and therefore, most people like to listen it in the morning.
We can see many initiatives taken by various institutions and International Society by preforming and promoting bhajan across various part of the world so that these benefits could reach a wide number of people and could unite devotion across manmade borders. One such example is ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) which is a religious community with more than 800 centres outside India including USA, Japan, Ireland, Thailand Russia, Australia and Pakistan. Institutions and organisations like this is helping millions of people to get unified and resolve mental health problems.
As we continue embracing global interconnectedness, the journey of bhajans from ancient Indian culture, which rose in the Bhakti movement and reached international concert halls, signifies the eternal strength of music and devotion to join, heal, and inspire the world. Amidst a seemingly fractured world, bhajans remind us that the language of the heart and soul knows no borders.