The Bhakti movement was a great spiritual revolution that took place in India during the 12thand 13 centuries. Many great saints such as Namdev Maharaj, Kabir, Meera bai, Tulsidas, and Jnaneshwar Maharaj are considered to be part of this movement.

Their beautiful poetic writings expressed their immense love for God and the practice of naam-sankirtan, or singing the Lord’s name with great love, feeling and devotion was greatly emphasized.

In this video Gurumaa sings a beautiful abhang, or bhajan by Namdev Maharaj which describes the state of human mind. The great poet-saint says:

Oh Lord you are even sweeter than amrit- the nectar of immortality! If this is the case why doesn’t my mind dwell on that truth? My mind is engrossed in worldly desires and has no wish to meditate upon your name. Why doesn’t your name penetrate my heart!

In modern times many people are unable to practice austerities and naam sankirtan is a practice which anyone can follow in their daily routine.

While there are many practices that purify the mind, chanting the Lord’s name is one of the simplest ways of experiencing God. If chanting is done properly with proper music, rhythm, harmony and most importantly with great love, one can experience the Lord in a very short period of time.

Naam Sankirtan destroys many mental and physical illnesses and provides mental peace. The power of the Lord’s name cleanses impurities and many accumulated karmas we have created in all our lifetimes.

As the mind becomes purified it delves deeper into its real source and does not need outer material objects to fulfill its happiness. We experience our “true” Self and realize that the supreme bliss, this golden nectar of immortality is right within us!

The name Vitthala is a source of intoxication for the great saints of Maharashtra. He is the form of Vishnu, or Krishna. In this sankirtan video, experience the joy and blissfulness of chanting in deep devotion with the Revered master – Anandmurti Gurumaa.

Pandharpur, a holy city in the state of Maharashtra is the abode of Vitthala, more fondly known by his devotees as Vitthala mauli (Mother Vitthala). He is the form of Vishnu, or Krishna and is predominantly worshiped in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa.

The name Vitthala is a source of intoxication for the great saints of Maharashtra. Many devotional hymns or abhangas composed in the Marathi language are dedicated to this adored and beloved deity residing in the city of Pandharpur.

The abhangas composed by saints such as Jnaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram Maharaj expressed great affection for his beautiful dark form. All of their compositions depict their intense longing and pains of separation from the Supreme Lord.

The great saints of India say if the tongue must speak we should use it to sing praises of the Lord. Chanting allows our inner being to be purified from all kinds of negativities and one can experience the highest form of intoxicating bliss that exists within.

Your entire being is rejuvenated and all sorts of sins are destroyed. It also purifies the entire atmosphere of where the chanting is taken place. Hence chanting the Lord’s name is one of the simplest, yet exhilarating ways to remember the Almighty!

Sometimes in our imagination we come across the visual images of the deities and Gods that we believe in. What is the truth behind it? Is that meeting for real?

In a similar question in this video, a devotee asks Anandmurti Gurumaa whether he is in real bhakti and devotion towards God or his mind is just playing games with him!

Mind is a very powerful entity. The games that the mind plays are difficult to comprehend without the help of a true master. One cannot know the power of the mind without the help of a ‘Sad Guru’.

A Guru imparts knowledge and guides the seeker to gently, but firmly become the master of one’s own mind.

Mind can cause many delusions and confuse a person if one starts to discuss and try to analyze the thoughts occurring in the mind. A seeker thus asked the holy master; Anandmurti Gurumaa to clarify whether what he was experiencing were symptoms of true ‘Bhakti’ or was his mind playing games with him.

Being a devotee of Lord Krishna, this person says that he feels the ‘leela’ of the divine almighty all around in the people of this world. When he chants or hears names of God, he is overcome by ecstatic symptoms of tears and the voice gets chocked, body trembles and he begins to lose awareness.

All these are experiences that are generated in the mind and who can truly decipher it or understand it, because the understanding too needs to be done by the mind only.

At times the heart and the mind may not agree with one another. What the heart feels is borne out of love where as the mind thinks intellectually and has the power to manipulate thoughts as it desires.

Gurumaa tells the seeker not to pay attention to what others have to say. If he feels it is love then no need to ask others. Why does the mind need a certificate of approval from others?

There can be many attributes to such a situation. Sometimes it can be simply a disease or disorder of the mind. It may be infatuation. It may be simple conditioning of the mind that the mind wants to believe in.

There is a lot that can happen in the mind. Only the person experiencing those thoughts knows genuinely if they are true. So the need is to be honest to your own self and keep calm and be true.

Rejoice in the true love of divinity and real Bhakti.

The Mahishasuramardini stotra is a beautiful hymn that depicts the glory and greatness of the Supreme and Divine Mother. This stotra, composed in the Sanskrit language by Adi Sankaracharya is a condensed form of the great Hindu scripture Chandi Saptashati, which is also known as Devi Mahatmayam.

The great Adi Sankaracharya brought together all the important sound energies of the Chandi Saptashati into this beautiful hymn. These specific sound energies of the Sanskrit language have the ability to purify the spiritual centers located in our subtle bodies, and eradicate all our negativities and bondages.

While praising the Divine Mother we are not only extolling her greatness of killing the demons that existed many ages ago, but are asking her to eradicate the inner enemies such as anger, jealously, pride, excessive desires and ignorance that exist within us.

While we sing this beautiful hymn with Gurumaa we are praying to the Divine Mother to destroy these inner enemies so that we can experience our true, divine nature! Only then can we realize that the Divine Mother is nowhere else but within us!

The festival Holi celebrates the emergence of spring in India. The entire day is full of lively colors, dancing, singing and enjoyment. As nature is blossoming and starts anew, it gives an indication to put all past deeds behind and turn to the forthcoming year with new hope, joy and aspirations.

On this day many people throw wood sticks in fires and perform prayers in order to eradicate themselves from bad thoughts and wishes. Through faithful devotion, prayers and spiritual practices we ask the Lord to burn impurities such as egoism, lust, greed, and all the various desires which exist in our minds. We pray that pure, good qualities like selflessness, forgiveness and love arise in us.

Krishna, one of the most revered gods of Hinduism was also known to enjoy this festival. Krishna sprayed colors on all the gopis of Vrindavan and stole their minds and hearts. Similarly we pray to the Lord to look upon us and color us with His divine love and grace!

The great sages of India say Holi really signifies inner purification. Every year through the festival we receive an opportunity from the Lord to rise above our ignorance and realize the true purpose of our lives.

The real celebration of Holi occurs when the fire of love for the Almighty is kindled within our hearts and keeps shining within us eternally!

The festival of colors, more commonly known as Holi is a major festival that is celebrated every year in India. In fact when you think of Holi, you immediately associate this festival with Lord Krishna! During this time devotees chant and dance, and play Holi in remembrance to him.

Generally Lord Krishna is always remembered as a mischievous young cowherd boy holding a flute and performing many divine acts during his time on earth.

However, on a spiritual level Shri krishna represents the supreme, divine consciousness that exists in every particle of this universe which includes us as well!

In this beautiful bhajan sung by Anandmurti Gurumaa, we are remembering the supreme Lord by singing two of his countless divine names. These names not only describe his occupation as a cowherd, but provide a deep insight into what Shri krishna really was.

Govinda represents one who is the master of all senses, while Gopala is a great yogi whose sense organs are completely under his control.

The mere repetition of his pure, auspicious name purifies the body, mind and heart and destroys all kinds of negativities, pains and suffering. If done sincerely it can lead to higher states of meditation, allowing the seeker to experience the blissful, all pervasive, omnipresent form of Krishna who is always within us!

Lord Shiva is one of the most revered and worshiped gods in Hinduism. Followers of Shiva, who are known as Shaivites honor him as the Supreme Being. In fact the lineage of all self-realized masters originates from Shiva, the primordial guru.

Lord Shiva is personified as the destroyer or transformer in the Hindu trinity of gods known as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (also known as Shiva).

The abstract form of Shiva is depicted by a Shiva linga, while the statues which represent him depict him in the form of a beautiful yogi who is adorned with snakes, ashes and tiger skin, and always immersed in deep meditation.

The Sanskrit word Shiva means “the auspicious one” or one who is eternally pure and not affected by the three gunas (qualities) of nature. While there are many hymns and mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva, Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most well-known mantras in Shaivism.

Om Namah Shivaya is also known as the Panchakshara mantra (five syllable mantra excluding Om), or great redeeming mantra. The mantra means “I bow to Shiva, the supreme reality and pure consciousness that exists in all”.

These five sacred syllables correspond to the five elements from which the human body is formed. Na is associated with the earth element, ma to the water element, shi to fire, va to air and ya to the ether element.

As we repeat this powerful mantra each syllable purifies its specific element. Ultimately it allows the body and mind become pure, allowing one to obtain full benefits in their spiritual practices.

This mantra has no restrictions and can be chanted by anyone at any time in their life. It has the power to free one from any type of sins and break the bondages of the mind.

As the mind is purified and freed from its ignorance, one experiences the true wisdom: Shiva, the supreme bliss is nowhere but within us!

Aum is the primordial sound from which this entire world was created, and is considered to be the greatest mantra amongst all in Hinduism. Other names for Aum include pranava (humming sound) or udgita (elevating chant) meditation.

According to the sages of India this entire universe is vibrating with the universal cosmic sound Aum. Watch this video by Gurumaa to discover the significance and hidden meanings of the mantra Aum!

Aum is always seen in the beginning of every prayer or mantra, and is also known as a bija (seed) or moola (root) mantra. In fact as Gurumaa says if Aum is not used in the start of an incantation, it is not considered to be a mantra and has no value!

The mantra Aum represents the Hindu trinity, or three principles of existence: A represents Brahma, U is Vishnu, and M is Shiva. The silence felt after chanting Aum signifies the ultimate reality that is present at every moment. This reality is beyond creation (Brahma), sustenance (Vishnu) and destruction (Shiva).

According to Indian scriptures this entire world, along with the human body and mind is made up of three gunas (qualities). A represents the tamas guna (ignorance, darkness), U is rajas guna (passion and dynamism) and M symbolizes the satwwa guna (harmony, clarity). The silence experienced after chanting Aum transcends the three gunas, and represents pure consciousness.

Each letter is connected to a specific area in the body. When chanting Aum, the vibration of A can be felt in the abdomen (navel area), U in the throat and the resonance of M can be experienced in the head. The silence experienced after the chanting of Aum represents the supreme consciousness that is beyond our thinking and comprehension.

These three syllables also represent the three states or bodies that constitute the human system. A represents the waking state (jagrat avastha), U symbolizes the dream state (swapna avastha), while M is related to the dreamless state (susupta avastha). The fourth state is beyond the three levels of consciousness and is known as transcendental state (turiya avastha).

This state is not represented by any letter and occurs when one has finished chanting Aum. In this state of silence only consciousness is present and nothing else exists. This consciousness is the Brahman, or atman that exists within us.

The great sages of India constantly reiterate that Aum is the essence of the four Vedas. Everything has arisen, rests and dissolves in Aum. Anyone can chant this beautiful mantra, and regular chanting eventually leads one to experience God: the pure supreme consciousness, or bliss that exists right within us!

What is the purpose of mantra jaap and how should naam sumiran (remembrance) be practiced? Watch part two of these videos as Gurumaa elucidates the mysteries of this ancient science!

Mantra is sound, and according to the Vedas this entire universe has been created from sound, or the cosmic sound Aum. The great seers of India discovered the power of sound vibrations in a mantra, and realized that the mantra can help one eradicate the confusions, fantasies and constant fluctuations of the mind.

The word mantra is derived from Sanskrit, and literally is translated as “mind tool”. If done properly, mantra jaap is a tool that frees one from the various bondages and illusions of the mind.

The sound of the mantra permeates the entire body and frees the mind from negative emotions and impressions. It gives rise to pure happiness and allows one to become absorbed in God. Ultimately the spiritual centers in a seeker are awakened, which allows one to enter deep states of meditation.

It is extremely necessary for the body to be balanced and still while practicing mantra jaap. As Gurumaa says if the body is unbalanced how can the mind be stable? The mind becomes restless as the body moves, and therefore it is important to sit in a proper, comfortable posture during this time.

Regular practice of yoga asanas and breathing techniques not only help keep the mind and body strong but allow the body to become prepared for sitting in meditation. After all, a strong, healthy body not only remains disease free, but allows one to perform spiritual practices with ease!

One of the greatest techniques to still and focus the mind is mantra jaap, a method that the sages of India have used for ages. Since the nature of the mind is to think and be engrossed in thoughts, the ancient rishis of India devised a method that uses one thought: the mantra.

A mantra is composed of letters which form words that create positive vibrations within us. If one abusive word can make us upset, or angry it is not surprising that the mantra has the ability to and completely transform a person.

There are four different ways mantra jaap can be practiced. It can be spoken (vaikhari), whispered or hummed (upamsu), repeated in the mind (manasic) and written (likhita).

As Gurumaa says repeating the mantra with the breath is greater than speaking, while manasic repetition is considered to be the highest way to contemplate a mantra.

There are 84 million mantras that can be found in the scriptures or obtained through teachers. It is said the most effective way to receive a mantra is through a self-realized master.

A mantra obtained from a self-realized master is conscious and contains the full force of the master’s realization. It immediately starts to work within a seeker and transform their inner being.

Mantra jaap should be done with great love and devotion and should completely engage the mind. Gurumaa says the mind and heart should be so engrossed in the mantra that no other thoughts are able to appear!

If one wants to fully attain the power of the mantra, they should realize that that there is no difference between the mantra and one’s own Self. The goal of mantra jaap is to become aware of the absolute bliss that exists within us!