Toward the end of the ceremony, Swamiji, smiling broadly, picked up a small bongo drum and said, “Now we will have kirtan.” His chanting started off slowly, and he appeared fully absorbed in it. His voice was vibrant and clear, the melody simple, the cadence strong and steady. I was relieved because this part seemed easy enough—quite unlike the Sanskrit recited throughout the wedding ceremony. After a couple of repetitions of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Swamiji nodded his head and other voices joined in. Over and over they repeated the three-worded mantra. When Swamiji closed his eyes, I noted that many others did so as well. I speculated that this fostered a trance-like state, but I still kept my eyes wide open so as not to miss anything. I did not chant, fearing that if I were to add my voice to the mix, it might disturb its cohesiveness, its balance.
In this way, I observed and listened to the chanting for a good five minutes or so. Chanting the mantra seemed different from any group singing I had ever experienced. The first thing that struck me was its simplicity: a simple melody, an easy rhythm, and only three words. When I too closed my eyes and joined the others, it was as though I had been chanting this simple song to God forever. I soon found myself soothed and relieved of all my anxieties though I could not understand how or why this was happening. I just surrendered to the sound and let it envelop my senses, allowing myself to trust, to call out—to open my heart to its promise.
Even as a beginner, I found myself leaving the world of the temporal senses. Swamiji varied the tempo of the chanting allowing us to experience different emotions. Sometimes he increased the tempo slowly, at other times quickly. He brought the chanting to an intense crescendo, then again slowed the pace and the kirtan manifested in an entirely different way. It was akin to the pure improvisation of an experienced classic or jazz master, but its purpose and intent were still inexplicable to me. What I did know was that the experience of first chanting with Swamiji created an impression in my heart. I didn’t know it yet, but this small beginning would grow to encompass my whole being and the chanting would become the fulcrum around which every other aspect of my devotional life would revolve.
Even though I was shy and reluctant to say anything, I later asked, “Swamiji, what is the effect of chanting?” He answered: “Chanting cleanses the heart of all dirty things and brings about love of God.” I thought it a mystical answer, for what could possibly be dirty in the heart?