Our moods are always lifted by music. According to Indian philosophy, sound and Akasha are related to space, which is both inside and outside of us. Thus, sound waves infiltrate our bodies and elevate our moods more than any other sense could. They do this by travelling through space. Therefore, listening to divine music at least once a day is the finest approach to strengthening confidence in the divine.

Religions use choirs, also known as satsang in Hinduism, which are groups of people singing hymns to God. The atmosphere becomes charged with blissful energy when a large group of believers join together to sing. As a result, Aarti is done fervently in front of a sizable assembly at Hindu temples, with everyone singing hymns and cymbals. In Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states that his devotees sing and narrate stories about him. These are all methods for boosting faith.

Ten years ago, I began listening to various Bhajans. This was the period when I felt His presence all around me. Listening to songs about him brought me to tears. I created playlists of all bhajans organised by artists or God and listened to them while driving. I would remain quiet on the roadways and allow the world to rush to its destination. I would also feel safer on the road while listening to bhajans. These playlists were playing even at work.

My father listened to bhajans and mantras and had a large collection of casettes with him. Every morning, he would listen to bhajans, often waking us up by playing them aloud on purpose. When we took a road trip to Karjat or Mahabaleshwar, he would always play the Gayatri Mantra and Sundarkand. If our car stalled on a steep road while ascending the Mumbai-Pune route or the Mahabaleshwar hills, my father would play Hanuman Chalisa on the car stereo. As a child, I would marvel at the car’s incredible energy as it climbed the slopes with ease. I was astounded by Hanuman Chalisa’s abilities to defend us and our family on hazardous routes. Also, at the start of the hills and the end of them, there was always a small shrine on the roadside dedicated to Hanuman, and we would join hands in front of him as the car passed it. Listening to Ratan Mohan Sharma’s Gayatri mantra released by Times Music, early in the morning on a level highway would improve my spirits. Sudesh Wadekar’s SundarKand was very wonderful, and I later converted it from cassette to mp3 for historical purposes.

Bhagwaan’s name brings joy to our hearts. And if we can not say it, we can hear His name chanted by others. Many vocalists have sang His praises with complete devotion. In 2013, I was introduced to Pt. Jasraj (Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya), Bhimsen Joshi (Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada), and many other singers who have dedicated their songs to Ram, Krishna, and Devi. Maharashtra’s saints have authored several bhajans, also known as abhangs in the local vernacular. Many stalwarts of Shastriya sang these Abhangs. Bless the committed singers who worked hard to perform a song worthy of Him.

Listening to bhajans frequently brings tears to your eyes. The words penned by some saints centuries ago (such as Surdas and Kabir) and sung fervently by modern singers bring you closer to Bhagwaan, giving you a brief glimpse of His grace, vitality, and splendour at that time. Bhajans bring me closer to Him, and I believe He is closer to me. When I hear His praises, I know He is present.

Bhajans, mantras, and stotras are all part of Hinduism. Mantras are divine shlokas or hymns written in Shastras in Sanskrit; stotras are praises for the divine, frequently in Sanskrit; and bhajans are similar to local folklore or melodies, but many of these bhajans gain national popularity. Mantras and stotras are spoken in a specific manner and location. But I have usually listened to these when driving my car. I have memorised some of them, such as Aditya Hridayama Stotram, simply by listening to them repeatedly while driving to work. This stotram for Lord Surya boosts confidence and elevates your emotions.

The sensation of listening to music stays with you forever. I wrote about The Child in Us, a song I used to listen to when I was into Trance and New Age music in high school. Despite this, the song resurfaced for me exactly when I needed it. You never know when a song or bhajan will come to your rescue when you least expect it to.