What is Kirtan?

Kirtan is an Indian form of collective devotional chanting music, part of an ancient form of Yoga known as Bhakti – Yoga of Devotion. This form of devotional chanting has roots that go back over 5000+ years & have the power to open the heart and quiet the mind pointing us toward the ultimate truth of being so honoured and treasured in many eastern countries and increasingly in the West.

Kirtan Mantras are chanted in Sanskrit, Gurbani, Hindi and many other languages and were created by the Rishi’s (wise ones) or Saddhus as paths to higher awareness.

The word mantra derives from Sanskrit, which is divided into “man” meaning mind and “tra” meaning to free from.

Mantras are quite literally tools to free the mind.

Kirtan digs into the heart’s deepest well to touch and be touched by the Divine Presence.

Singing these powerful healing mantras, we have the opportunity to merge with the sound and true essence of oneness & love that these rhythmic ancient songs open within us.

Other Chant Traditions

Kirtan is what we call this as it is the oldest tradition and we have numerous songs from them, although we also Sing Native American Indian Chants, Polynesian, Western and even one or two written by Shyama. Perhaps you know of one you can share with us?

What to expect at Kirtan

“Often I see a fear of being heard come up for people but its quite the opposite… It's not about sounding good it’s about letting go and through that, you can uncover the true Self” - explains Shyāmā.

The mantras usually go for 15 minutes and we cover 3 mantras in the 1 hour-long session.

our next Live ONEDER event

Some Kirtan Videos

Your Kirtan Facilitators

Shyama Paris

Shyama has spent years writing and playing music as both a hobby and profession and has always felt a powerful element to music and sound that is beyond what is simply heard. After being introduced to Kirtan by ROhan, Shyama had her doubts but soon fell in love with the practice as she experienced, again and again, its powerful, heart-opening effect.

“So much of mainstream music is rooted in victim/self-pity stories and heart-ache - as was my own. It wasn’t until I started getting into kirtan that I began to understand the power these Matras have at connecting us with a much wider, higher frequency, that of the Divine, of life itself and our own deeper self. These days, I mainly listen to Kirtan or simply prefer silence as it always seems to quieten the mind and that is the most beautiful sound of all.”