What is the difference between mantra and kirtan?

Kirtan differs from mantra, in the way that mantras are often intended for personal use, whereas kirtan is all about community. A coming together of people, the sankirtana chants are usually sung in call-and-response style and derive from religious ceremonies or celebrations.

What happens during kirtan?

World-renowned mantra music artist Deva Premal puts it this way: “In kirtan, we sing our praises to the divine in the many forms in which it manifests.” Each chant revolves around a particular mantra—what Premal defines as “a sacred sound formula that has a specific focus and energy.” These mantras often feature the …

How many types of kirtan are there?

Kirtan is of two kinds: namkirtan or namsangkirtan and lilakirtan or rasakirtan. Namkirtan refers to devotional songs in which the name of Hari or vishnu is repeated: ”Hare Krishva Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”.

What is kirtan dance?

With roots in the Vedic anukirtana tradition, a kirtan is a call-and-response style song or chant, set to music, wherein multiple singers recite or describe a legend, or express loving devotion to a deity, or discuss spiritual ideas. It may include dancing or direct expression of bhavas (emotive states) by the singer.

What does kirtan mean in Sanskrit?

praise
Derived from a Sanskrit root meaning to call, recite, praise, or glorify, put simply, kirtan is the act of praising and glorifying some form of divinity. Kirtan is therefore viewed as exceptionally powerful when practiced through singing and music.

What is a kirtan circle?

A kirtan is a sort of singing circle or gathering where people get together to chant mantras and other songs and poetry in a call-and-response format. The word kirtan comes from Sanskrit and means either ‘narrating of an idea’ or ‘story or to praise the divine’.

What is kirtan Iskcon?

Kirtan is the call and response form of chanting that characterises the Srila Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement. Kirtan usually offers a journey deep within the very heart of our soul. Kirtan is also an essence to yoga that links one with God. That is where the kirtan comes in.

What does kirtan mean in India?

Derived from a Sanskrit root meaning to call, recite, praise, or glorify, put simply, kirtan is the act of praising and glorifying some form of divinity. Kirtan is therefore viewed as exceptionally powerful when practiced through singing and music.

What is Hindu chanting called?

mantra
mantra, in Hinduism and Buddhism, a sacred utterance (syllable, word, or verse) that is considered to possess mystical or spiritual efficacy. Various mantras are either spoken aloud or merely sounded internally in one’s thoughts, and they are either repeated continuously for some time or just sounded once.

What do I do at a kirtan?

Kirtan is a call-and-response singing practice that falls under bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion or love. The goal of a bhakti practice is to connect with divine, unconditional, universal love (or whatever highest expression of love resonates with you). Union with this pure love consciousness can be achieved through chanting and singing, a kirtan.

What does Kirtan mean in Sikhism?

‘Nagar Kirtan is a Punjabi terms which literally means “Neighbourhood Kirtan”. The word “Nagar” means “town or neighbourhood,” and “Kirtan” is a term describing the singing of Shabads (divine hymns). The term refers to the possession of Sikh Sangat (Congregation) through the town singing holy hymns.

What does Kirtan mean?

Kirtan. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankara (or kirtankar ). A Kirtan performance includes an accompaniment of regionally popular musical instruments, such as the harmonium, the veena or ektara (forms of string instruments), the tabla (one-sided drums), the mrdanga or pakhawaj (two-sided drum),…

What is kirtan chanting?

Kirtan is a Sanskrit word meaning “praise.” Similar to chanting, kirtan repeats mantras in a rhythmic manner and seeks to tie the physical world with the spiritual world. The difference between chanting and kirtan is music. Kirtan incorporates instruments and a call and response method between the vocalist and the attendees.