https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Hindu_spiritual_musicHindu spiritual music - Revision history2026-08-29T05:44:33ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hindu_spiritual_music&diff=502803&oldid=prevJohnsmithabmm1 at 17:17, 23 January 20262026-01-23T17:17:26Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Hindu art form}}<br />
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[[File:V.M. Doroshevich-East and War-Hindu Musician-Vaishnavite enhaced.jpg|thumb|right|A Hindu musician, early 20th century.]]<br />
'''Hindu spiritual music''' is [[music]] created for or influenced by [[Hinduism]]. It includes [[Indian classical music]], [[Kirtan]], [[Bhajan]] and other [[musical genre]]s. [[Raga|Raagas]] are a common form of Hindu music in classical India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tagore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lgsWGbE77MIC&dq=hindu+music&pg=PA4 |title=Hindu Music |date=1874 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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The most common Hindu bhajan in North India is "[[Om Jai Jagdish Hare]]." <br />
The names of [[Hindu gods|Gods]] are religiously chanted, often including [[Vishnu]] and his incarnations, [[Shiva]] and the Goddess ([[Parvati]], [[Shakti]], [[Vaishnodevi]]).<br />
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A very common scale in Hindu music is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, which can be [[harmonization|harmonized]] into a chord progression.<br />
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==''Bhajan''==<br />
{{Main|Bhajan}}<br />
A '''bhajan''' is a [[Hindu]] [[devotional song]], often of ancient origin. Bhajans are often simple [[songs]] in lyrical language expressing emotions of love for the [[divinity|Divine]], whether for a single [[God]] and [[Devi|Goddess]], or any number of divinities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shivakumar |first=K. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgAUEAAAQBAJ&dq=bhajans&pg=PA49 |title=Shlokas and Bhajans: with general knowledge and subhashitams |date=2021-01-14 |publisher=Sangeet Bharati |language=en}}</ref> Many bhajans feature several names and aspects of the chosen deity, especially in the case of Hindu [[sahasranama]]s, which list a divinity's 1008 names. Great importance is attributed to the singing of bhajans with [[Bhakti]], i.e. loving devotion. "Rasanam Lakshanam Bhajanam" means the act by which we feel more closer to our inner self or God, is a bhajan. Acts which are done for the God is called bhajan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=samaj |first=Gayan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iuwHAQAAMAAJ&dq=hindu+music&pg=PA40 |title=Hindu Music and the Gayan Samaj: Published in Aid of the Funds of the Madras Jubilee Gayan Samaj, 1887 |date=1887 |publisher=Bombay gazette steam Press |language=en}}</ref><br />
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Traditionally, the music has been [[Indian classical music]], which is based on [[raga]]s and [[tala (music)|tala]] (rhythmic beat patterns) played on the [[Veena]] (or [[Rudra Veena|Been]]), [[Sarangi]] [[Venu]] (flute), [[Mridanga]](or [[Tabla]]) (traditional Indian instruments). The Sikh Scripture contains 31 [[raga]]s and 17 [[tala (music)|tala]]s which form the basis for kirtan music compositions.<br />
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Hindus are even said to have achieved [[Moksha]] through devoting music to God. For example, in the [[Rig Veda]] [[Gargi]], the wife of [[Yajnavalkya]], through her excellence in veena playing, an incident that caused Sage Yagnavalkya to write the famous verse:<br />
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::"Veena Vadama Tatvagnaha<br />
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::Sruthi Jathi Visharada<br />
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::Talagnanacha Aprayasena<br />
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::Mokshamargam Gachachathi"<br />
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("Yagnavalkya Siksha")<br />
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There have also been several music-saints (e.g. [[Tyagaraja|Sant Tyagaraja]]) and poet-saints (e.g. [[Ravidas|Sant Ravidas]]).<br />
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==Kirtan==<br />
{{Main|Kirtan}}<br />
This is the communal, call-and-response chanting of [[mantra]]s, often with instruments and dance.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Johnsen |first1=Linda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=foPda1W9Gd0C&q=kirtan+in+vedas |title=Kirtan!: Chanting as a Spiritual Path |last2=Jacobus |first2=Maggie |date=2007 |publisher=Yes International Publishers |isbn=978-0-936663-43-2 |language=en}}</ref> Kirtans are deeply rooted in Vedic tradition.<br />
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==Indian classical music==<br />
{{Main|Indian classical music}}<br />
The origins of '''Indian classical music''' can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the [[Hindu]] tradition, the [[Vedas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shivakumar |first=K. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgAUEAAAQBAJ&dq=bhajans&pg=PA49 |title=Shlokas and Bhajans: with general knowledge and subhashitams |date=2021-01-14 |publisher=Sangeet Bharati |language=en}}</ref> [[Samaveda]], one of the four Vedas, describes [[music]] at length.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beck |first=Guy L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgybmMnWpaUC&q=hindu+music+in+vedas |title=Sonic Theology: Hinduism and Sacred Sound |date=1995 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1261-1 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== See also ==<br />
{{Portal|Hinduism|Music<br />
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* [[Hindu art]]<br />
* [[Music of India]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}{{Hinduism (compact)}}{{religious music}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu music| ]]<br />
[[Category:Religion and the arts]]<br />
[[Category:Religious music]]<br />
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