Why Only the Bhajans of Acharyas and Mahatmas Should Be Sung: Part 1

Question: It has often been said by mahatmas that film songs—even those with devotional themes—and songs composed by non-spiritual persons should not be sung during bhajans. Only songs written by acharyas and mahatmas ought to be sung in such contexts. What is the reason for this?

Answer: The view that only songs composed by acharyas (spiritual preceptors) and mahatmas (great realised souls) should be sung in bhajans (devotional gatherings), while cinema songs and even devotional songs composed by non-spiritual individuals should be avoided, stems from several deeply rooted spiritual, scriptural, and philosophical concerns. These are summarised below:

1. Purity of Bhava (Devotional Sentiment)

Songs composed by realised saints and acharyas arise from genuine spiritual realisation and an intense, pure devotion (shuddha-bhakti). Their words carry the bhava (spiritual mood) and the rasa (flavour) appropriate for bhajan and serve to uplift the devotee’s consciousness towards God.

In contrast, songs composed by non-spiritual persons—even if thematically devotional—may lack the depth of spiritual emotion or may be tinged with worldly sentiments, thus diluting the devotional atmosphere.

2. Sattvika vs Rajasika-Tamasika Vritti

Bhajans aim to cultivate a sattvika (pure, serene) temperament conducive to meditation and communion with the Divine. Movie songs—even if devotional—are often composed with commercial motives and are imbued with rajasika (passionate) or tamasika (ignorant) qualities. Their association with the world of entertainment, fame, and sensory pleasure can subtly invoke worldly vrittis (tendencies) in the mind.

3. Source of Composition

Songs by acharyas are often inspired by deep scriptural knowledge and personal God-realisation. They are not mere poetic expressions but are considered shabda-brahma—divine sound—and their recitation or singing can confer spiritual merit.

Conversely, cinema songs—even when devotional in content—are often written by lyricists who are not practising devotees and lack the same level of spiritual discipline or purity, thus making the bhajan mandali more about performance than genuine sadhana (spiritual practice).

4. Association and Sanga

Singing cinema songs—however devotional they may seem—may bring with them subconscious associations with actors, actresses, or scenes from the film, thereby introducing distraction and vishaya chintana (thoughts of worldly objects) into what should be an inward, God-focused gathering.

5. Scriptural Precedent

Traditional Hindu scriptures and manuals on bhakti (such as the Naradiya Bhakti Sutras, Bhagavata Purana, and Hari-bhakti-vilasa) extol the singing of the names, glories, and lilas of God as composed by saints and sages, and emphasise the importance of sat-sanga (holy association), which includes the choice of songs that uplift rather than entertain.

6. Subtle Transmission of Spiritual Power

It is believed that songs composed by God-realised souls carry not just poetic merit but shakti (spiritual potency). Singing them invokes divine grace. Movie songs, even if devotional, may lack that potency as they do not issue from a state of samadhi or realisation.

Conclusion

The objection is not merely about the external origin of the song (cinema or not), but rather about the inner bhava and the adhikara (spiritual authority) of the composer. In a bhajan setting, every word, melody, and sentiment is meant to elevate the soul toward God. Hence, many mahatmas advise strict discernment and fidelity to the compositions of saints, lest the sacred be compromised by the profane.