Science behind loud kirtans and active dancing in devotion!
A devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Hare Krishna Prabhu. One of my friends was debating with me that if Krishna is present everywhere what is the need of shouting and dancing on Hare Krishna ‘hysterically’ ( according to him the devotees display artificial epileptic convulsions). It is as if God is not present among us but somewhere very far. There is no reason for such loud chanting if we can find Him everywhere and in everyone.
REPLY:
Bakthi Yoga is satisfying Krishna through devotion. (Hereafter, et me generally state as God as much as possible because the devotees of many deities follow kirtans and dancing.)
When will we have pure devotion?
Only when we surrender to Lord wholeheartedly.
When will we surrender wholeheartedly?
Only when we do not lose our heart to anything or anyone else.
How can we refrain our heart and senses from losing to something else?
By engaging the senses and heart and the whole body and soul in Krishna’s thoughts.
Here comes singing, dancing, etc.
When we sing in a chores, we forget everything. We skip our ego and open our voice loudly for Krishna. Even a billionaire starts to sing along with the financially poor devotees. Status vanishes there. An equality comes in front of God.
This equality is possible only during the loud kirtans. Not in solo kirtan or singing.
Of course, we may sing mildly. However, when we sing mildly, we our attention may get diverted with the still louder noice nearby.
When we sing in a group loudly, no other distractions can divert our attention. Am I right?
Why mangal vadhya arrangements (traditional Instrumental music like Nagasvaram, drums, etc) in marriages and auspicious functions?
Because, many will be speaking good or bad things in a marriage hall. These talks pass some good and bad vibrations. These bad vibrations may affect the couples who start their life. So, they arrange a mangal vadhya to be played loudly that will fill the entire hall with auspicious vibrations.
This loud playing of songs with traditional instruments makes inauspicious talks and negative vibrations ineffective.
Same happens in loud kirtans with musical instruments.
The entire hall or street is filled with the auspicious vibrations that will catch even those who do not have control of senses. They too will join and sing loudly. Thus, the devotional waves spreads from person to person and occupies entire crowd.
They forget their bodies, mind, relations, etc and other diversions. They fully engage themselves with the kirtans.
That is why, in all sampradhayas, they have bhajan parties and kirtans. Even in the devotees of Lord Ganesha, Karthikeya, Shiva, Durga, etc, such kirtan performances are done in temples.
We forget everything and become one with the thoughts of God during kirtans.
If we involve in kirtans sincerely, these vibrations will fill our heart and mind for a few days till we attend next kirtan.
More frequent involvement in kirtans, more thoughts of God. So, less thoughts of material things.
Therefore, our mind gets purified from materialistic thoughts and actions.
Stage by stage, he becomes a serious devotee focusing only on God.
Thus, kirtans help us to focus on God single mindedly without diversions.
It encourages new members and neighbours too to start involving in devotion thereby acting as an advertisement.
According to different persons with different nature, different performances are followed to enahance their attachment with Krishna. Kirtans are for those who like singing. Dance is for those who like dancing. All their natural characters can be applied in the service to Krishna to please Him.
Loud singing, violent dancing, etc. helps us to think of God more.
In dancing, all our organs are actively involved in the performance for God. Our blood is active and hence we do not feel sleepy. This takes the thoughts of God to the brain powerfully. So, our God Consciousness is actively registered in our brain and mind that makes thinking of God as our habit.
That is why, all intelligent persons are also active persons.
However, more violent dancng can be avoided. The singing should be as louder as possible but with the sweet and understandable rhythm, but, dancing should be mild particularly for women. Very aggressive dancing can be avoided that may freighten the viewers who has very conservative nature.
So, the following combination will help:
(1) LOUDER SINGING IN A GROUP (ANYONE CAN SING).
(2) MILD DANCING (IF YOU LIKE DANCING).
(3) CHANTING WITHIN HEART (OR) IN A VERY MILD VOICE.
CHANTING SHOULD BE MILDER; KIRTANS SHOULD BE LOUDER.
Mild chanting is japa. Louder chanting is kirtan. Japa should not be louder; Kirtans should not be milder. Simple.
This is the best formula to focus our attention towards Krishna.
Hope you are clear with this science behind louder kirtans and active dancing.