Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi - Qatar, Swami on Bhajan

"...Those who sing bhajans get what can be called "Double Promotion", for they derive Joy and distribute joy! Life today is filled with sorrow, it is beset with fear and despair. The only time you can forget these thoughts & strengthen yourself to meet the hard times is when you contact the Source of all strength, God. You cannot get that peace and joy while you bend under the burden of daily life. You are carrying a huge load of worry all day; keeps that aside for an hour every evening and spend that time with God who can make your shoulders strong and your burden light. You will relish the bhajan as you make it a daily function, like eating and sleeping. You eat twice a day for the upkeep of the body; should you not do bhajan as least once for the upkeep of the mind?...... Bhajan has been part of our culture, part of the Sanathana Dharma (Eternal Universal Religion) tradition..." - Swamy’s discourse on 4-12-1976

“Embodiments of Love! Only when we realise the preciousness of the diamond will we take care to safeguard it. Likewise only when we are aware of the value of chanting the Lord's name will we make the effort to practice it and benefit from it… Devotees recite or sing the names of the Lord in two ways. One is "Keerthanam" and the other is "Sankeerthanam". Keerthanam is done individually and benefits only the devotee concerned.' Sankeerthanam is done collectively for the good of the world as a whole.” - Swami's discourse at the Prasanthi Mandir, on 8-11-1986.

“People say that when you go to Sai Baba, there is nothing but devotional singing (bhajan). Realize that there is nothing greater than bhajan. What bliss is there in bhajans! What a demonstration of oneness is it when a myriad throats join in uttering the name of God! The vibrations emanating from them make the heart vibrant. If you sing alone in your shrine, the vibrations return to you as a reaction. But in community singing, what you have is not a reaction but a wave of vibrations. They enter into the atmosphere and purify the polluted air. The atmosphere today is polluted by bad thoughts and feelings. When you sing the glory of God, the bad germs in the air are destroyed and the air gets purified by a treatment of anti-biotics, as it were.” - (Sathya Sai Speaks, Jan. 1995, 26)

“Bhajan must spread good-will, love, ecstasy; it must cleanse the polluted atmosphere; it must invite all to share in the joy and peace. The Nagarsankirtan (congregational singing of bhajans) must be radiating devotion and love. The "Ananda" (bliss) I derive from "Bhajan" I do not derive from anything else. That is the reason I am emphasizing these points. Fill every moment with energy, enthusiasm, and effort.” -(Sathya Sai Speaks VIII, 47-48)

“When all the participants in a bhajan sing in unison, what sacred vibrations are produced and what Divine energies are released! When these vibrations fill the world, what changes cannot they bring about! When one sings alone, the heart is merged in the song. But when many sing together, it acquires a Divine power.” - (Sai Bhajana Mala, 30)

“Some persons attending bhajans do not move their "LIPS AT ALL". They may say that they are singing the songs mentally within themselves. This is not proper.... You must sing the names aloud, full-throated, as far as the voice can reach. Only then the Divine will respond in full measure and shower His grace.No one will go to the rescue of a drowning man if his cries are feeble.” - (Sathya Sai Speaks, 35, April 1992, 70)

“People should return from bhajan carrying the elevated, uplifted and sublime mood created by the atmosphere at the bhajan. Therefore, after the bhajan people should disperse quietly, maintaining silence. Then the joy and peace derived at the bhajan will linger and abide in the heart.” - (Sai Bhajana Mala, 31)