bhajan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Religious, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “bhajan” mean?
A Hindu devotional song, hymn, or chant, typically in praise of a deity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Hindu devotional song, hymn, or chant, typically in praise of a deity.
A spiritual or religious song in Indian traditions, often performed in a group setting as an act of worship, meditation, or community gathering. It can also refer to the practice of singing such hymns.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage correlates more with exposure to Indian culture than with national variety of English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of spirituality, Indian tradition, and communal worship.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to historical and demographic ties to the Indian subcontinent, but remains a low-frequency term in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “bhajan” in a Sentence
[Subject] sings/recites a bhajan.The [group] gathered for bhajan.A bhajan [about/to] [deity].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bhajan” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community will bhajan together every evening during the festival.
American English
- They love to bhajan as a form of family meditation.
adverb
British English
- They sang bhajan-style for hours.
American English
- The music played bhajan-softly in the background.
adjective
British English
- The bhajan tradition is central to their worship.
American English
- She attended a bhajan gathering at the cultural centre.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts related to cultural event planning or music publishing.
Academic
Used in religious studies, ethnomusicology, and South Asian studies.
Everyday
Used by individuals familiar with Indian spiritual practices or in multicultural discussions.
Technical
Used in musicology to describe a specific genre of Indian devotional music.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bhajan”
- Mispronouncing as /bəˈhɑːn/ or /ˈbeɪdʒən/.
- Using it as a general term for any Indian song.
- Capitalising it unnecessarily (unless starting a sentence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A bhajan is a specific musical form used as an act of prayer or devotion. All bhajans are used prayerfully, but not all prayers are bhajans.
While originating in Hindu tradition, bhajans are sung by followers of other Indian religions like Sikhism (where they are called Shabads) and Jainism. People of any faith may sing them in a spirit of cultural appreciation or interfaith dialogue.
Common instruments include the harmonium, tabla (drums), cymbals (manjira), and tambura (drone). Simpler bhajans may be sung with just handclaps.
Yes, though less commonly. To 'bhajan' means to sing devotional hymns, e.g., 'They bhajan every morning.' This usage is more frequent within communities familiar with the practice.
A Hindu devotional song, hymn, or chant, typically in praise of a deity.
Bhajan is usually formal, religious, cultural in register.
Bhajan: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʌdʒən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdʒən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term in English.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BAJAJ' (an Indian company) sings a 'bhajan' in the temple.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVOTION IS MUSIC / SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IS A SONG
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bhajan' most accurately used?