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DEVOTIONAL SINGING

Every Friday evenings at 7.30pm there are bhajans and devotional singing. These sessions allow devotees to gather
together and sing the glory of God, thus uplifting and enhancing the atmosphere. For detailed bhajan guidelines as
explained by Swami, see below.

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SATHYA SAI BABA'S GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING BHAJANS

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1.  Devotees must be seated a few minutes before Bhajans start. Always remember and BE CONVINCED that Lord Sai is present and presiding. He has said. "Wherever my glory is Sung, I install myself there.” Late arrivals should take a seat in the rear.
2. Do not look at others or smile or say hi or hello during bhajans, thereby disturbing other's concentration.
3. Seating arrangement should be men on one side and women on the other side. In proper lines, one behind the other. Bhajan leaders and musicians must be seated in the front rows.
4. Do not sway your body like a pendulum or clap out of tune with others. Maintain perfect silence and restrict your movements to minimum. While sitting exercise self control.
5. Musical instruments used during bhajans should not drown the voice of the singer and those who follow. If there is more than one instrument used, maintain balance among instruments used.
6. Sing familiar Bhajans, so that all can share Ananda (bliss)
7. Any devotional song in any language can be sung as long as all can follow.
8. Never be ashamed to sing the name of God or to do Bhajan. Be proud that you get the chance, be glad that your tongue is put to the best use.
9. The Bhajans must be sweet to the ear.
10. Bhajan has to be a thrilling experience, which must leave the participants full of pure energy and elevated enthusiasm.
11. Bhajans have to be sung and offered to God in an attitude of utter humility; they are not to be taken as exercises in an exhibition of talents and as a competition for mastery of musical skill. They have to please the Lord, not your fans.
12. Bhajans must be a felt experience. Do not sing with one eye on the effect the song makes on the listeners and the other on the effect it makes on God. Let your heart pant for God; then the Raga and that will automatically  be pleasant and correct.
13. With each Bhajan song the mind must be rendered purer, freer from passion and stronger in faith.

14. Pay attention to the tune, the meaning, the variety, the voice, the raga (rhythm), the Tall (beat) and the other five points of the bhajans.
15. Bhajan is the Sadhana for all who share in it.
16. When you sing bhajans, dwell also on the meaning of the song and the message of each Name and Form of God.
17. Unless you sing Bhajans for your own joy, you cannot bring joy to others. It is only when the feeling arises in the heart that the song will appeal to the heart of the others. I am pleased only when love is the keynote, when the feeling of unity prevails, when the melody comes form cleansed, God-loving hearts.
18. Bhajan is a good disciplinary process by which AMA and Krodh can be kept away. AMA is Lust for Physical pleasure, for power, for fame, for wealth and Scholarship. Krodh is anger, which is the result of foiled lust. In this busy age of fear and anxiety, the remembrance of God and repetition of His Name is the one means of Liberation that is accessible to all.
19. If your voice is not pleasant or sweet, keep quiet; that is the best service you can do.
20. Do not cause discontent, discord or disharmony, insisting on singing because you are an office bearer.
21. Do not monopolize the time in Bhajans by singing one song for six or ten minutes, repeating the same line often. Repeat each line only twice and no more. Have only two speeds; one slow and the other fast. In this way, you can have in one hour Bhajans more songs, and more forms, more tunes and more variety, giving more people the chance.
22. After Bhajans and before conducting Arathi, there Should be meditation for five to ten minutes. During Arathi devotees should stand up and stay at their own places. Use of camphor for Arathi is advisable.
23. There should not be any distribution of Prasad at the Public Bhajan Centres, recognized by Seva Samithi except The distribution of Vibuthi.
24. People should return from Bhajan carrying the elevated, uplifted and sublime mood created by the atmosphere at the Bhajan. Therefore, after Bhajan, people should disperse quietly, maintaining silence. Then the joy and peace derived at the Bhajan will linger and abide in the heart.

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