To awaken spiritual emotion rapidly, initially one needs to make constant efforts at the level of the mind and intellect. In the last Issue, 232, we examined a type of the nine-fold devotion, namely listening to praises of The Lord (shravan), and a related spiritual experience. Today we will discuss another type of the nine-fold devotion; namely, singing praises of The Lord. We will also read a spiritual experience that was the result of practicing this type of devotion.

Singing praises of The Lord (kirtan)

    Singing the praises of The Lord amounts to this kind of devotion. Seekers who do spiritual practice under the guidance of a spiritual guide or authority, like a Saint or Guru, gain knowledge about God and spiritual practice from the guide. Imparting this knowledge, based on the situation, and inspiring others to behave as seekers, according to The Lord’s will, is devotion of this kind.

     Recitation of devotional verses and hymns is a means of glorifying a Divine Principle or deity, and also falls under this kind of devotion. The Lord likes sincere praise and is compassionate. Hence, He is pleased with hymns and verses sung with spiritual emotion.

     Hymns and verses in praise of God compiled by Saints and evolved souls are rich with divine consciousness, as a result of the compiler’s spiritual level, or deep connection with God. Furthermore, when a Saint compiles hymns or verses, His resolve (sankalpa) and blessings that devotees should benefit by reciting them, accompanies it. Hence, the devotee derives both worldly and spiritual benefits from reciting hymns compiled by Saints.

    Now let us see a spiritual experience related to this type of the nine-fold devotion.

Spiritual emotion for His Holiness (H.H.) Dr. Jayant Athavale becoming predominant when singing hymns (aarti)

    On October 16, 2002, I experienced something quite unusual when singing hymns at the Sanatan organization’s hermitage (ashram) in our town. I actually saw the images of Lord Rama and Lord Maruti with the recitation of each line of the hymns in praise of Them. Finally, with all my heart I sang the hymn ‘Jyot se jyot jagao’ (implying, ‘O Lord/Guru, enlighten this soul with Your divine light’). At that time I spontaneously prayed, ‘We are helpless children seeking refuge at Your feet. You alone can make us evolve spiritually.’ At that moment, I felt like weeping* before the photograph of H. H. Dr. Athavale. Thereafter, I experienced a feeling of Serenity (Shanti).