*Greatest gift of ‘self love’ i have ever had is becoming devotee of Lord Krishna and joining ISKCON.This post is about my spiritual journey and has lyrics of Hari Bol*
My parents were very God fearing people but being in Indian Army( both of them), they were very tolerant of all religions.As a child I have been to festivities of all religions.
We would visit lots of relgious places too but amongst this rich cultural backdrop somehow I did not learn too many devotional songs etc.
All i knew was ‘Om Jai Jagdeesh’ prayer and Gayatri Mantra.
Then due to my Poly Cystic Ovaries, I had to undergo infertility treatments.At the time I went through an atheist phase, which i am not very proud of.
Then i became devotee of Hanuman.Learnt Hanuman Chalisa by heart.
So that is one more prayer I know.
Since last year, I have had the pleasure to be part of ISKCON group in our town.
I would go there every friday( skip many times too).Do Bhajans.Basically repeat after the lead singers and never really cared to learn them.This is surely a double standard on my part as i was ready to spent entire evening doing bhajans, chanting and discussion of Geeta (Holy book) with out really doing anything at home except chanting and offering food to Lord Krishna.
My lack of interest was jarringly obvious to me as one of the members who is carnatic singer refused to take my girls in her singing class.She said that she needs to feel the interest in child and that the child should care to sit for a long time for the music lessons.
It hurt very much as another devotees’ daughter started her lessons when she was the same age as my girls( 3 and half).
This made me realize that I can not expect my girls to learn such things unless i as a parent am fully interested in it too.
Hence in came Mridangam
And my quest to do Bhajans on regular basis at home itself.
The song that I have mastered currently is ‘Hari Bol’
The tune I am showing here is a little different from how we sing but the song is same.
Also we sing the longer version.
Lyrics are below too.
Song is here to listen
Lyrics for ‘Hari Bol’
Hari bol Hari bol Hari Hari bol
Mukunda Madhava Govinda bol
Rama bol Rama bol Rama Rama bol
Sita Sameta Sri Ramachandra Bol
Krishna bol Krishna bol Krishna Krishna bol
Radha sameta Sri Radhakrishna bol
Shiva bol Shiva bol Shiva Shiva bol
Uma sameta Sri Sambashiva bol
Skandan bol Skandan bol Skandan Skandan bol
Valli sameta Sri Subramanya bol
Vithal bol Vithal bol Vithal Vithal bol
Rakumayi sameta Sri Panduranga bol
Music is wonderful source of Spiritual growth for me.I hope i would be able to make my daughters enjoy this beautiful form of self love.
Also check out the related post for devotees of Lord Krishna.
Musical Mondays at Dianes ‘
You are making me ponder over this thought
“This made me realize that I can not expect my girls to learn such things unless i as a parent am fully interested in it too.”. As I see myself lot of things doing that my mom or my sister never did. Of course I am not comparing my self with your small daughter. but I think she will learn if she really want to at the age when she can make her choices.
About the bhajans things; I was never interested in them until Art of living happened to me. and I found my self dancing on the Bhajan tune without the knowledge of anything else going around.
If you like bhajans you should buy some CDs from AOL. One of my favorite is “Durge Nandini ” and Hari sundar nand mukunda.
I always learn the most fascinating things here. What a wonderful world it would be if everyone was open to learning.
really interesting post! thanks!!!
That last statement is the kicker, wish to hear the mantra in tune. Thanks for sharing. I learned something new today.
I always like seeing how music influences people!
I think it would be good to observe your kids and see where their interests lies. I see many kids learning ballroom dancing with me, and they do well because they enjoy it. Nice to know you sing as well
Music works like a therapy
So, u play the Mridangam now 
Thatz so nice 
Hw bt the girls? R the njoying the bhajans?
they are pretty disoriented still..
they managed to learn a spanish song in their spanish class in preschool so i am thinking may be the bhajan teacher is kinda dumb…
I am lucky to live in a multi-cultural society and, I suppose, I am lucky enough to have had a varied religious childhood. It has left me in this stage of life as needing to trust my instincts and learn to listen to the flicker of adrenalin that kicks in when I find/hear/see something that makes my life better. Sometimes that takes a while… sometimes I don’t stick around to let it sink in, which might be the rights thing or the wrong thing for me, I don’t know. What I do know is that music is tapping into the primal instinct in all of us to come together as a community, to keep our individual spirits high and to release our emotions in an unbridled fashion. That is a lot of commitment to music if you are still learning so (sorry about rambling on… I’m getting to the point), I think that you will one day sit down and it will beat deep into your soul. If you sing, your children will sing and it is one of the greatest lessons you can give them. Lovely to learn this new thing about you Shaddra.