Keep checking back on this page, it is slowly expanding into a resource for learning the chants we do together after Yoga in Chairs.

What is Kirtan?

Kirtan is a form of both meditation and devotional, Bhakti Yoga, practice. It is done through chanting mantra (Sanskrit: “mind tool”) to bring focus to the mind, both soothe our energetic system while giving a boost to energy, and can also be a practice of devotion to the Divine. A singer, or group of singers, will share a philosophical discourse, an act of communal praise, or even tell a legend together.

A person leads, a kirtankara (or kirtankar), and the community, the Sangha, sings the words back. These gatherings often will include one ore more musical instruments as well as the community of singers.

The Chants

Chanting is done call in response, the Leader chanting a line once, then the community chanting it back once. The Leader repeats the same line once, the community repeats it back. Then the Leader repeats that same set of lines over again. There may be a second “verse” or a new tune to accompany the words.

You’ll find a translation to each chant, the words, with the Leader’s lines in boldface type and the community’s lines in regular typeface. A guide to phonetic pronunciation is in Italic typeface.

Ganesh Mantra

Translation: *Ganesh, Essence of Consciousness, hail Ganesh, Essence of Consciousness.
Ganesh. Ganesh.

*Ganapati is a familiar, sweet way of saying Ganesh’s name.

Ganapati Om Jaya Ganapati Om (2x)
Ganapati Om Jaya Ganapati Om

gah-Nah-PAH-tee OHM Jai-YAH gah-Nah-PAH-tee OHM

Ganapati Ganapati (2x)
Ganapati Ganapati

Gah-Nah-PAH-TEE-EE gah-Nah-pah-tee

Shiva Mantra

Translation: Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, *Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva.
Great Deity, Shiva. Great Deity, Shiva.

*Shambo is another, sweet way of sayingShiva’s name.

Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambo Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambo (2x)
Shiva Shiva Shambo Shiva Shiva Shambo

She-vah She-vah She-vah Shahm-Boh-Oh She-vah She-vah She-vah Sham-BOH

Maha Deva Shambo (2x)
Maha Deva Shambo

Mah-Ha Day-vah Shahm-Boh-Oh Mah-ha day-vah Shahm-boh

Divine Mother Mantra

Translation: Oh *Mother, Protect Me/Us.
Oh Mother, Defend Me/Us.

*Mother indicating Divine Feminine Energy.

O Ma Pahimam, O Ma Rakshamam (2x)
O Ma Pahimam, O Ma Rakshamam

Oh Mah Pah-hee-Mahm Oh Mah-Ah Rak-shah-mahm
Oh Mah Pah-hee-Mahm Oh Mah-Ah Rak-shah-mahm

O Ma Pahimam, O Ma Rakshamam (2x)
O Ma Pahimam, O Ma Rakshamam

Oh Mah Pah-hee-Mahm Oh Mah-Ah Rak-shah-mahm
Oh Mah Pah-hee-Mahm Oh Mah-Ah Rak-shah-mahm