Birth of Kirtan

[Adi 17]

[17.21-17.34]

Although Nimai felt drawn towards visiting Vrindavana, He returned to Navadvip so He could share the priceless gift of the holy name with His community. The locals were shocked at the transformation; the scholarly and intellectual Nimai Pandita had now become an inspired saint infused with devotional sentiment! He was completely disinterested in philosophy, logic and debate, and instead dedicated Himself to incessant chanting, extolling the glories of nama-sankirtan at every opportunity. The locals realised that Nimai had become a Vaishnava, unbelievable as it seemed. It was something they had fervently prayed for, and they thus rejoiced in great happiness.

Nimai had induced people to chant throughout His life. At the time of His birth everyone had gathered to chant in a bid to counteract maleficent astrological influences. In His childhood the ladies would chant to stop Him from crying. In His youth He would induce His schoolmates to chant by teaching Sanskrit grammar through the holy name. Now that mission would manifest on another scale. This period would mark the birth of wide scale sankirtan, and Nimai was at the very heart of the spiritual revolution.

We often dream of an audience with God. It can, however, seem extremely distant and way beyond our present perception. As George Harrison sang, “I really want to see you, Lord, but it takes so long.” Thankfully, there is a way to perceive God’s presence here and now. How? Through sound.

Since God is absolute, there is no difference between Him and His name. When one chants the names of God with sincere intention, they actually come in direct contact with Him. This experience enlivens the soul, allowing one to taste the deep happiness that we often search for in the objects and relationships of this world. Nimai became the living example of the efficacy of this process. He inaugurated the sankirtan movement by opening a nocturnal school of kirtan at the home of Shrivas Thakur. Behind closed doors, in the company of His closest associates, Nimai chanted and danced to His hearts content, bringing waves of ecstasy that would often become uncontrollable.