Kirtan is the Chanting of the Holy Name of the Divine in the Company of Others
The sacred texts of India include many verses explaining the importance of chanting the name of the divine, especially when done in community. Some of these verses state that, in our current age, when humans are not able to perform continuous or strict spiritual practices and most of us live as "householders" (rather than renunciates), chanting the divine name of God in community is the fastest way to self-realization.
Kirtan generally involves listening to the singing of sacred verses and then chanting along with the chorus in a call and response format. The chorus usually involves the repetition of a sacred name of God or other sacred word or verse. The themes in kirtan chants often center around our longing for oneness with the divine.
Srimad Bhagavatam Verse 6.3.31 states in Sanskrit:
tasmat sankirtanam viṣṇor jagan-mangalam amhasam mahatam api kauravya viddhy alkantika-niṣkṛtam
Translation: The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore, this chanting is the most auspicious activity in this entire universe.
Rick leads kirtan as a sacred ceremony. He plays harmonium. Sessions usually involve a half-day or evening of chanting a mix of traditional Sanskrit chants, some contemporary western kirtan chants, but mostly original songs written by Rick with beautiful melodies that incorporate both Sanskrit and English words and Divine names. Rick feels that it is important to chant the names of the One Divine Being represented sometimes in masculine and sometimes in feminine presentation.
During kirtan, people are welcome to participate in the ways most comfortable for them. You can just sit and listen, you can meditate or you can sing along with the chorus. Some people like to lie down on a mat and may even fall asleep or into an altered state! Sometimes kirtan might be offered in conjunction with a talk or with a Gong/ Sound Healing Bath. Kirtan may be done in the yoga studio or in the peace chamber.
Rick's kirtan tends to be on the mellow, introspective and quiet side of the spectrum, rather than being fast and involving outer expression or dancing. One of the ways that we know that kirtan is working, is when our eyes and hearts well up in tears.
Kirtan events are always listed on the House of Mica's online calendar.
