GEOKC Kirtan Heritage

The Art of Singing the Holy Name of God as a Tradition
Devotional chanting using traditional musical instruments used in Kirtan

Meaning of Kirtan ♦ Significance of GEOKC Sankirtan ♦ GEOKC Kirtan Heritage Album ♦ Program Schedule

GEOKC Kirtan Heritage involves devotional chanting and musical singing in a group including all new devotees of GEOKC with the spiritual master of the Program of GEOKC Devotional Music. The group name is GEOKC Shri Krishna Bhakti Yoga Sankirtan Mandli (Mandli means group) and all designated lead singers of this group always keep the Kirtan Chant Book with them to help other devotees. Before the kirtan spiritual master gives all important instructions to all new devotees to follow all rules and regulations accordingly, they then perform kirtan. The whole process of performing kirtan makes a new impression upon all audiences to give a significant meaning (to discover something new as a symbol or related with GEOKC Logo Symbol) of bhakti to popularize the kirtan style or kirtan tradition of GEOKC. This tradition gives the correct meaning of Lilas of Lord Krishna (Lilas means divine play) to give a significant meaning of bhakti to our devotees and other audiences.

Devotional chanting and musical singing of mantras and hymns in the kirtan tradition expressing devotion to Lord Krishna as a Lila Avatar (Lila Avatar means divine play of Lord Krishna) and his consort Radharani is a great sign of bhakti. The GEOKC Shri Krishna Bhakti Yoga Sankirtan Mandali also takes part in devotional chanting and singing of many collective devotional Dhuns with their spiritual master of the program of GEOKC Devotional Music into their satsang programs or Services. All other devotees also take part in kirtan with the designated lead singers and perform kirtan.

GEOKC Shri Krishna Bhakti Yoga Sankirtan Mandali performs kirtan on various occasions and various places, depending on the needs of Programs of Shri Krishna Bhakti Yoga of GEOKC and the type of kirtan (most common are 13 including Naam Kirtan and Lila Kirtan) they performing. Other occasions to perform kirtan are related with GEOKC Vaishnava Events, we celebrate every year, and all other events of GEOKC, we also celebrate accordingly.

GEOKC Kirtan Heritage is a devotional program that greatly affects daily sadhana. Anyone can take part in GEOKC Kirtan Heritage, but without understanding the meaning of Kirtan or Sankirtan, no one can properly follow the process of Kirtan or Sankirtan. If you want to know more about Kirtan or Sankirtan, please read the following descriptions:

Meaning of Kirtan

Kirtan practice involves chanting of hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, the two-headed mridanga or pakawaj drum and kartal (hand cymbals). Kirtan is call-and-response chanting performed in India’s devotional traditions and whenever performed congregationally with instruments, and often dancing, it is called kirtan or sankirtan.

Kirtans are deeply rooted in Vedic tradition. Prayers or symbolic stories of God may also be sung in a kirtan.

Significance of GEOKC Sankirtan

GEOKC Kirtan Heritage signifies the practice of group singing (congregationally) of the holy names of Lord Krishna expressing Him, a Lila Avatar, especially in our Satsang Services, in public areas, as an expression of bhakti and also as an important part of the bhakti movement (GEOKC Vaishnava Bhakti Expansion and GEOKC Shri Krishna Murari Bhakti Moment). This kirtan practice involves chanting of Sacred Names or Naam Kirtan, Lila Kiratn, Mantras and Hymns to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments such as the harmonium, the two-headed mridanga or pakawaj drum and kartal (hand cymbals).

Bhajans and kirtans always help devotees to develop a bhava (expression of love) of singing for their god.

As a part of Kirtan, Akhand Kirtan is also very important for all participants to join. To learn more about Akhand Kirtan, please click here.