True way of chanting devotional songs.
Chapter-22
On the fourth day of the first fortnight of the month of Paush of Samvant 1876, Shriji Maharaj was seated in the afternoon in the verandah facing east on a cot in the Durbar of Shri Dada Khachar at Gadhada. He was clad in white. On his turban was arranged a nosegay of flowers. His ears were decorated with the curls of flowers. He was garlanded with flower garlands. Munis and the devotees from the various places were seated before him. Paramhams were singing devotional songs.
Then Shriji Maharaj said, 'Listen to one thing.' Hearing this, Paramhams stopped singing and chanting to attend to the listening. Then Shriji Maharaj said, 'A man who sings in rythmic tunes to the accompaniment of musical instuments like Mridang, Sarang, Sarod etc. but does not mentally attach himself to God whose praises he so sings, is wasting his energy. Those who so sing or play instruments can not get peace of mind. Therefore, a devotee who either sings or chants the holy name of God or is engaged in unbroken chanting of ihe name of Narayan should do so with his mind always focused on God. Again, a devotee who while engaged in devotional chanting retains consciousness to focus his mind on God, but loses that consciousness in his other activities, would lose such consciousness of focusing his mind on God in his devotional activities also. Therefore, a devotee should try to establish his mind in God during all his daily activities so that the mind would remain so fixed on God when he is engaged in devotion. And one who has so attained concentration can retain such consciousness of attachment to God during all routine activities, whereas an apolaustic even when engaged in devotion can not retain such consciousness. Therefore a devotee should carefully cultivate such habit of being atteched to God always and for all time.' Saying so, Shriji Maharaj asked them to sing kirtans.
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Gadhada First - 22.
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