I am in a Kirtan group. We play outside of temple (usually in yoga studios) to capture a wider audience of the community. I like to do quite contemporary arrangements with the Kirtans I lead to keep it fun and accessible to a broad audience.
At a recent rehearsal I was jamming on a blues riff and leading a simple chant of Haribol. At one point most of the group continued the Haribol whilst myself and another member sang nitai gauranga over the top.
A new member who has practiced yoga and kirtan for over a decade and used to a strict practice of Kirtan commented "that's not Kirtan".
My understanding is that if we are chanting authentic mantras as a group that is Kirtan and there doesn't have to be any specific format. The typical format is of call and response, but does stepping outside of that actually stop it being Kirtan? Or is this a rigid interpretation of what constitutes Kirtan?
Haré Krishna 🙏
Replies
Does Kirtana have to follow a specific formula?
The answer is ' No '
Kirtana is at its best when it is spontaneously done.
Hare Krsna
there doesn't have to be any specific format. The typical format is of call and response, but does stepping outside of that actually stop it being Kirtan?
This is one of the most important Purports in all of Bhaktivedanta Literature
https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/7/5/23-24/
Srila Prabhupada mentions the following when introducing the process of kirtanam -
After aurally receiving such messages, one should memorize these vibrations and repeat them (kīrtanam).
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
https://ebooks.iskcondesiretree.com/pdf/00_-_More/Kirtan_Standards_...
Hare Krsna
Thanks for your replies. I haven't had a chance to thoroughly read the texts you provided, but at a quick glance it looks like deviation from the standard practice of call and response would not be considered Kirtan. That said would I be right in thinking that it's still a beneficial practice as we are reciting and praising the holy names and spreading the holy names to individuals who otherwise wouldn't receive them?
Haré Krishna 🙏
Hare Krsna
it's still a beneficial practice
Yes, certainly so.
spreading the holy names to individuals who otherwise wouldn't receive them
Seems like a very strong assumption
I haven't had a chance to thoroughly read the texts you provided
Please do thoroughly read that purport by Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna,
I am not personally aware of music. But I just watched a video on blues riff
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oFev54Bue4k
oh cool
you can sing haribol and nitaai gaurang on any tune. It is a dhun form of kirtan
Types of Kirtan
Nama Kirtan: Focuses on chanting the divine names of deities, e.g., “Hare Krishna Hare Rama” mantra
Leela Kirtan: Narrates stories of gods and goddesses through music.
Dhun Kirtan: Repetitive chanting of short phrases or mantras for meditation. ( like haribol or nitaai gauranga, nitaai gaura premanande hari hari bol)
now it can be sung in any format any style.
God sees not the music. God listen to only you emotions that are involved during the singing.
Are you interested to glorify Lord?
Are you interested to gain publicity?
or Are you interested to make perfection in music?
the interest is what ? that is what matters more.
If you are interested to get Lord's attention even if you sing unrhythmically Lord will accept it as you are trying to please HIM.
If you are interested to show off your musical talents-- then you must sing perfectly in rhythm as your are exhibiting your talents... then the talents would be judged also.
Hare Krishna