Bhajans

This is the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, a sacred chant from the Hindu Vaishnava tradition. It is a simple, repetitive invocation of the divine names meant to focus the mind and awaken love for God.

The popular Hindi Ganesh aarti: his parents, tusk and four arms, his mouse, laddu offerings, and boons for every seeker.

This is a powerful Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, celebrating his fierce and graceful cosmic dance. It is traditionally recited to invoke his blessings, remove obstacles, and deepen devotion.

A bhajan stringing together Ramcharitmanas verses of faith and patience, with the refrain 'Ram Sia Ram Sia Ram Jai Jai Ram'.

A popular Sanskrit bhajan stringing together sacred names of Vishnu, Rama and Krishna, sung from verse 1 of the Achyutashtakam.

This is a devotional hymn by the 16th-century poet Tulsidas, praising Lord Rama and calling the mind to worship him. It describes Rama's divine beauty, his role as a protector, and asks for his grace.

A Sanskrit salutation to Goddess Lakshmi followed by the beloved Hindi 'Om Jai Lakshmi Mata' aarti sung on Fridays and Diwali.

A short call-and-response kirtan chanting Krishna's names Govind, Gopal and Radha Raman for group singing and remembrance.

Eight verses praising Hanuman as Sankat Mochan, recalling his rescues in the Ramayana, each ending in the same refrain.

This is a devotional poem that joyfully declares every aspect of Lord Krishna and his surroundings to be sweet. It is meant to fill the reader with a sense of divine love and wonder.

A Hindi prayer from the 1986 film Ankush, written by Abhilash, asking God for strength, wisdom and a selfless heart; widely sung in schools.

A simple Ram bhajan whose refrain says God's name alone is true in this world, calling him both Ram and Shyam.

This is a devotional song that celebrates the two beloved names of God in Hinduism — Rama and Krishna (also called Shyam) — praising their equal power, love, and grace.

A joyful devotional song (bhajan) in Hindi that calls upon Lord Krishna by many of his beloved names, celebrating his beauty, playful childhood, and divine nature.

A bhajan celebrating the saint Meerabai's ecstatic love for Krishna — leaving royal life to sing his praises in the streets, facing persecution with acceptance.

A playful Braj bhajan picturing little Krishna (Madan Gopal) among small cows and cowherd boys of Vrindavan.

Jaya Radha-Madhava, a Gaudiya Vaishnava song attributed to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, praising Krishna's names and Vrindavan pastimes.

A joyful Janmashtami bhajan celebrating Nanda's household at Krishna's birth, with the refrain 'Jai Kanhaiya Lal ki'.

A Ram bhajan of surrender: chant 'Sita Ram' and stay content however Ram keeps you ('Jahi vidhi rakhe Ram').

A Hindi song from the film Gopi (1970), lyrics by Rajendra Krishan, on life's impermanence and Ram's name as the one true companion.

A devotional song by the poet-saint Mirabai, expressing her longing for Krishna to reside in her eyes, describing his dark beauty, flute, and ornaments.

Purandara Dasa's Kannada devaranama inviting Goddess Lakshmi into the home to bestow fortune and auspiciousness, sung on Fridays.

Annamacharya's Sanskrit kirtana on infant Krishna as Gopalabala, with jingling waist-bells and butter in hand, worshipped at Tirumala.

Kabir's bhajan on the body as a fine cloth, dyed in Ram's name and returned unstained, with a reminder that life is brief.

Narottama Dasa Thakura's song praising the two feet of Gauranga (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) as the treasure that leads to love for Radha and Krishna.

A Hindi song from the 1964 film Sant Gyaneshwar, lyrics by Bharat Vyas, urging us to spread love and light and see one spirit in all.

A joyful bhajan inviting the Lord to come as Ram, Shyam, Shiva, Vishnu or Ganesha, each with consort and emblem.

This poem by the 15th-century mystic Kabir reminds us that the divine is not found in holy buildings or rituals, but right here, within every breath we take.

A folk bhajan of Shiva as the wandering yogi who comes to Yashoda's door in Gokul, seeking a glimpse of baby Krishna.

A guided devotional chant that takes the listener on a mental pilgrimage through Braj, repeating the name of Radha.

A hymn of 108 names of Rama that retells the Ramayana kanda by kanda, with prayers to Rama, Sita and Hanuman.

A Hindi film bhajan celebrating that Krishna's flute and love belong equally to Radha and to the devotee-saint Meera.

A Ram bhajan of surrender, comparing divine refuge to shade from the sun, a boat finding shore and rain on parched land.

A Bengali Gaudiya Vaishnava song asking who is a true Vaishnava, ending in humble surrender at Krishna's feet.

Sant Tukaram's Marathi abhanga on the joy of solitude among trees and birds, with Hari-katha as the only feast.

Annamacharya's Telugu sankeertana hailing the Seven Hills of Tirumala as the abode of Sri Hari, Lord Venkateswara.

Salabega's 17th-century Odia janana to Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Blue Mountain, pleading that he trample the sorrows of his devotee's life.

An immortal 15th-century Telugu sankeertana by Tallapaka Annamacharya proclaiming universal human equality and the indwelling presence of Lord Hari in all living beings.

The immortal 15th-century Gujarati hymn composed by saint-poet Narsinh Mehta, revered globally as Mahatma Gandhi's favourite prayer and an anthem of compassionate humanity.

Pandit Jugal Kishore Mukhtar's 1916 Jain prayer in Hindi, asking for friendship to all, compassion, equanimity and steadfast virtue.