🔊 Sound
Hindus believe that sacred sound is powerful. Chanting, singing, drums and bells all help the worshipper to leave everyday worries behind and concentrate on God.
Hinduism: Worship and Practice » Meditation, Mantras, Bhajan, Kirtan and Japa
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Hinduism (4RS1/2C), 3.2 (part 2)
- The nature and importance of meditation, bhajan, kirtan and japa
- The use and importance of mantras, sound and visual imagery
- Why Hindus have different forms of worship, and the benefits of each
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Unlock This CourseWorship that quietens the mind and lifts the heart
The last lesson looked at worship with offerings, such as puja and arti. This lesson looks at worship that uses the mind, the voice and the ear. Hindus can do these things in the mandir, at home or anywhere else.
Key terms:
- Meditation: stilling the mind so that it can focus on the atman or on a chosen deity.
- Yoga (recap from Hindu Nurture, the Vedas and the Four Yogas): a set of disciplines, including meditation, that aim to join the worshipper with the divine.
- Bhajan: a devotional song in praise of a deity.
- Kirtan (recap from Krishna: Avatar, Teacher and Beloved Deity): chanting the names of God with music, often in call-and-response.
- Japa: repeating a mantra or name of God again and again.
- Mala: a string of beads, usually 108, used to count japa.
- Yantra: a sacred diagram of shapes used as a focus for worship.
Remember, a mantra is a sacred word or phrase, and Aum is the sacred sound you have already met.
Meditation
In meditation, a Hindu sits still, often cross-legged with a straight back, and tries to calm the busy mind. Some Hindus meditate on the atman, the true self, in order to realise that it is not the same as the body. Others meditate on a chosen deity, picturing their form and qualities. Meditation is a part of yoga. Hindus believe a calm mind makes it easier to feel close to God.
Meditation is important because it needs no priest, no murti and no special place. It can be done in private every day, and it is seen as a way towards moksha, the release from the cycle of rebirth.
Bhajan, kirtan and japa
🎵 Bhajan
A bhajan is a devotional song, sung alone or in a group, often with musical instruments. The words praise a deity and ask for their love. Singing gives worshippers a way to show their feelings.
🗣 Kirtan
In kirtan, a leader sings the names of God and everyone sings them back, over and over. It is done with music and sometimes clapping. It is often a group activity in the mandir or at a festival.
📿 Japa
In japa, a worshipper repeats a mantra or a name of God quietly. Many use a mala of 108 beads, moving one bead for each repetition. It can be done anywhere, at any time.
These three are all ways of keeping God in the mind. Bhajan and kirtan are often shared and joyful, so they build community. Japa is usually private and calm. All three are linked to the path of devotion, bhakti, which you met in the lesson on moksha and the three margas.
Mantras
A mantra is a sacred sound, word or verse. Hindus believe that the sound itself has power, not just the meaning. Saying a mantra correctly is believed to purify the mind and to bring the worshipper closer to the divine. Two examples are:
- Aum. The sacred syllable, often said at the start and end of prayers and meditation.
- The Gayatri Mantra. An ancient verse from the Rig Veda, a sacred text, which asks the divine light of the sun to guide and inspire the mind. Many Hindus say it daily.
Mantras are important because they give worshippers something to focus on. They are used in puja, havan, meditation and japa, so they link all the forms of worship together.
Sound and visual imagery
🎨 Visual imagery
Pictures of deities, symbols such as the Aum sign, and yantras give the eyes something to rest on. A worshipper can look at the image while meditating or chanting, so that the mind does not wander.
A yantra is a diagram of patterns and triangles, often linked with a particular deity. Hindus use it as a focus, in the same way that a murti is a focus in puja.
Why are there different forms of worship?
Hindus believe there is more than one way to reach God, and people have different personalities. So there are different forms of worship, and each one brings its own benefits.
- Different temperaments. A thoughtful person may prefer silent meditation. An outgoing person may enjoy kirtan. This matches the teaching that the paths of knowledge, devotion and action suit different people.
- Public and private. Public worship, such as kirtan in the mandir, builds community and shares joy. Private worship, such as japa, lets a person focus without distraction and be flexible about time and place.
- Worship with and without images. Murtis and yantras help many Hindus to focus. Other Hindus, such as followers of Arya Samaj (a Hindu reform movement founded in 1875 that follows the Vedas), prefer worship without images and stress mantras and havan. Some stress knowledge and the formless Brahman, and see inner meditation as higher than ritual.
Many Hindus use several forms. Someone might do japa in the morning, a short puja at the home shrine, and kirtan at the mandir at the weekend. The different forms are seen as different routes to the same goal rather than rivals.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up bhajan (a devotional song) and kirtan (call-and-response chanting of God's names).
- Saying japa is just "saying a prayer". It is the repeating of a mantra or name, often counted on a mala.
- Describing a form of worship without saying why it matters. Always add a reason, such as "it focuses the mind" or "it builds community".
- Saying all Hindus worship in the same way. The different forms suit different people.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two ways in which Hindus use mantras and sound in worship. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why having different forms of worship is important for Hindus. [6 marks]
(c) "Meditation is the best way for a Hindu to worship." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include: reference to teachings; other (divergent) points of view, either within the religion or from other religions; your opinion or point of view using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) Hindus repeat a mantra, such as the Gayatri Mantra, in japa (1), using a mala of 108 beads to count each repetition (1). They sing the names of God in kirtan (1), with a leader and everyone answering, which helps them focus on God together (1).
(b) Different forms of worship are important because people have different temperaments (1). A quiet person may find meditation best, while an outgoing person may prefer singing bhajans or kirtan (1). This fits the teaching that there are different paths to God, such as knowledge and devotion (1). Public worship such as kirtan builds community, while private worship such as japa lets a person focus without distraction (1). Some Hindus, such as Arya Samaj, prefer worship without images, while others use a murti or yantra as a focus (1). Having choice means every Hindu can find a way that suits them and still reach the same goal of moksha (1).
(c) Plan. For: meditation needs no priest, murti or place, so anyone can do it daily. It calms the mind and helps the worshipper to realise the atman, a step towards moksha. Against: many Hindus find devotion easier through puja, bhajan and kirtan, and bhakti is a path as valid as knowledge. Meditation can be hard for a beginner, and shared worship builds community. Another view: Hindus believe in more than one path, so no single form is best for everyone. Conclusion: meditation is very valuable, but because people differ and Hindus accept several paths, it is the best way for some Hindus, not all.
Exam tip
In a 6-mark "Explain why" question, do not just list the forms of worship. Give three or four reasons and link each one to the effect on the worshipper or the community.