Bhajan

(“sharing”) General name for a religious
or devotional hymn, which is almost
always sung in a vernacular language. As
an expression of personal devotion, bhajans have no prescribed forms and in
contemporary times are often set to the
melodies of film songs. As a genre, bhajans can have any or all of the following
themes: detailing the deeds of a particular deity, praising the deity, addressing
the god in a tone of complaint or humble
supplication (vinaya), reminding the
deity of the speaker’s difficulties from
internal or external sources, or warning
the listeners to examine and reform their
lives. Singing and listening to such
hymns was, and remains, a major form
of religious activity in the bhakti (devotional) movement. During these
sessions, devotees (bhakta) “share”
their songs and experiences with one
another. Although one can find bhajans
dedicated to all the gods in the
pantheon, from a historical perspective
this singing tradition has been strongest
among the devotees of Vishnu.
Vaishnava devotional literature is full
of tales of Vishnu coming in disguise to
take part in bhajan sessions, since the
company of his devotees is said to be
heaven on earth.