Sairam friends,
At times, I get irritated when they arrange events like Bhajan inviting some singer from far off places, raising a stage infront of Saibaba temple or inside the temple and at times devotees will also dance. Look. I am not against music. Devotional music in any form be it Aarti, Mantra and Bhajan is one way to express our love on God and Saints.
I myself listen to Mantra and Bhajan at times. My concern is in a public place like temple when such events are organized in a big way and the devotees sing and dance, what will be the thought running in a devotee who is really worried and depressed in his/her life. Won’t the devotee think people are happy in this temple and look how my life is?
Further, Everyone likes Music but not total excitement. When such devotional music events are organized in temples, we must make sure all devotees are in peace and our behavior must not hurt others.
Every Wednesday, I used to climb on terrace of Saibaba temple in my hometown to offer garland to big Saibaba statues. This Wednesday, I found there was a Bhajan going on and some devotees were dancing. I really din’t felt so comfortable about it. If I climb also my friends will say that I am climbing on terrace infront of crowd and it will be become an issue. So I silently went back home. When ever I don’t offer the garland, other guys in temple used to offer it as next day is thursday.
Thursday, as usual since it was crowded.I stepped in Dwarakamai, bowed to Sai and din’t even moved ahead to main hall. I simply came back home. On Friday, I went to Sai temple and the priest told me “Since you din’t offer the garland on Wednesday, its still here drying”
I felt really bad because no one cared to offer these beautiful garlands to Sai. It was already late and the garland surely deserved to be offered on Sai. So I climbed on terrace quickly and offered it to all the big Saibaba statues.
The night Aarti was about to be over. So I was in hurry to come down. I held my palm in a little pillar like structure. To my shock, the concrete in it got broken and I was about to fall down the temple. My head would have got broken if I had fallen from there. Thanks to Sai, somehow I managed to balance.
Then I slowly came down and was breathing heavily. I told the shop keeper who makes garland that I would have fallen and somehow Sai helped me stay safe. I also told him that here after, I am not going to bother what people might think when I climb on terrace. Am simply going to do my work.
The reason I wanted to write this incident is that, Just because of Bhajan was going on and it was crowded, I left the temple on Wednesday without offering garland and none of these guys also cared to offer it to Saibaba.
I wanted to write an article about how Music in any form be it devotional song, Mantra or Bhajan etc and doing it with excitement like dancing is not good.
My Experience in Annapurna temple
Today, I went to Annapurna temple and felt blissful. Few days back, I had seen saint Adi Sankara in dream. It was like I see people carrying palki of Adi Sankara. I am getting down a bus and offering dakshina. Then a man gets a Coin over which there was Shirdi Saibaba’s art work and he says “Bhajan..Bhajan…” and goes away.
I was surprised because exactly the way, I saw in the dream, I saw devotees carrying Statue of Adi Sankara in a palki in road. Then the musicians from Kerala played drums aloud. When I listened to it, I felt may be Gods and Saints are using music in any form to make the devotee forget their past, present and future and come close to divinity.
I loved the high pitch sound of these drums especially because it makes me internally strong. I felt there’s some energy in this sound especially since this music is offered to the Goddess Annapurna and Saint Adi Sankara.
So my conclusion is Music really is a way of showing our devotion on Saints and Gods. Sometimes, when people are too exited, it upsets devotees who are really sad in life but apart from this, Music really has a part to play in enhancing one’s devotion.
Saints love music and one way to feel the saint’s presence in our life is by praising their holy name through a devotional song or mantra.
Some of my articles doesn’t make sense. I simply write what comes to my mind.
Aum sri sainthaya namaha
Venkat
dear venkat
you are doing fine spiritually.allways keep your spirits up.paramahansa yogananda words- a sad saint is ,well,a sad saint.much is achieved with enthusiasm.why worry?there is no death,only Life.