भजन (bhajan)

noun A devotional song sung in praise of a deity; the word also carries the deeper sense of 'worship' or 'reverence' from which the song-genre meaning grows.

Sense 1 : devotional song

noun, masculine

Synonyms: कीर्तन (kiirtan, sung with call-and-response and instruments), स्तुति (stuti, literary/formal, more 'hymn of praise')

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: Picture an evening in a Delhi colony: elderly neighbors gathered on someone's veranda, a harmonium and a pair of tabla out, singing भजन (bhajan) to Krishna or Ram late into the night -- this is called a भजन संध्या (bhajan sandhyaa, 'an evening of devotional singing') and is a common sight in North Indian neighborhoods, especially around festivals or in old age.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often assume भजन (bhajan) means any religious song, but आरती (aartii) is a distinct short ritual song sung while waving a lit lamp before an idol -- भजन (bhajan) is usually longer and more like a devotional ballad. 2) भजन (bhajan) is grammatically masculine even though singing is often imagined as a soft, gentle act -- do not default to feminine agreement.

Sample Sentences:

मेरी दादी रोज़ सुबह भजन गाती हैं। My grandmother sings devotional songs every morning.

(merii daadii roz subah bhajan gaatii hain।)

आज शाम कॉलोनी में भजन संध्या है। This evening there's a devotional singing session in the colony.

(aaj shaam kolonii men bhajan sandhyaa hai।)

मंदिर में सब मिलकर भजन गा रहे थे। Everyone was singing devotional songs together in the temple.

(mandir men sab milkar bhajan gaa rahe the।)

उसने कृष्ण के भजन बहुत भाव से गाए। She sang the hymns of Krishna with great devotion.

(usne krishn ke bhajan bahut bhaav se gaae।)

भजन गाओ, इससे मन को शांति मिलती है। Sing hymns -- it brings peace to the mind.

(bhajan gaao, isse man ko shaanti miltii hai।)

अगर हारमोनियम होता, तो हम भी भजन में साथ देते। If there had been a harmonium, we too would have joined in the devotional singing.

(agar haarmoniyam hotaa, to ham bhii bhajan men saath dete।)

यह भजन राम मंदिर में हर शाम गाया जाता है। This hymn is sung every evening at the Ram temple.

(yah bhajan raam mandir men har shaam gaayaa jaataa hai।)

उम्मीद है कि इस साल की भजन संध्या पिछले साल से बड़ी हो। One hopes this year's devotional singing evening will be bigger than last year's.

(ummiid hai ki is saal kii bhajan sandhyaa pichhle saal se badii ho।)

बुज़ुर्ग रात भर भजन सुनते और झूमते रहे। The elderly folks kept listening to devotional songs and swaying all night.

(buzurg raat bhar bhajan sunte aur jhoomte rahe।)

मीराबाई के भजन आज भी घर-घर में गाए जाते हैं। Mirabai's hymns are still sung in homes across the land even today.

(miiraabaaii ke bhajan aaj bhii ghar-ghar men gaae jaate hain।)

अगले हफ्ते हम एक नया भजन सीखेंगे। Next week we will learn a new devotional song.

(agle haphte ham ek nayaa bhajan siikhenge।)

Sense 2 : worship, devotion (act of)

noun, masculine This sense appears mainly in set phrases like भजन करना (bhajan karnaa, 'to worship/adore') and in compound formations, rather than as freely chosen vocabulary in casual speech.

Synonyms: पूजा (poojaa, more ritual-specific, involves formal offerings), आराधना (aaraadhnaa, literary, more formal/reverential)

Frequency: literary

Cultural Note: This older, broader sense of भजन (bhajan) -- devotion or reverence itself, not just the song -- survives today mostly inside the compound verb भजन करना (bhajan karnaa) and in the etymological root shared with भक्ति (bhakti, 'devotion'), both from the same Sanskrit root meaning 'to share in, partake of, revere.'

Sample Sentences:

साधु जीवन भर ईश्वर का भजन करता रहा। The sage kept worshipping God his whole life.

(saadhu jiivan bhar iishvar kaa bhajan kartaa rahaa।)

सच्चे मन से भजन करो, तभी शांति मिलेगी। Worship with a true heart, only then will you find peace.

(sachche man se bhajan karo, tabhii shaanti milegii।)

भक्त प्रतिदिन प्रभु का भजन करता है। The devotee worships the Lord every day.

(bhakt pratidin prabhu kaa bhajan kartaa hai।)

यदि तुम सच्चा भजन करोगे, तो मुक्ति अवश्य मिलेगी। If you offer true worship, liberation will surely come.

(yadi tum sachchaa bhajan karoge, to mukti avashy milegii।)

ऋषि चाहते थे कि शिष्य निरंतर भजन करें। The sage wished that the disciples worship continuously.

(rishi chaahte the ki shishy nirantar bhajan karen।)

यदि उसने सच्चे मन से भजन किया होता, तो उसका उद्धार हो जाता। If he had worshipped with a true heart, his salvation would have come.

(yadi usne sachche man se bhajan kiyaa hotaa, to uskaa uddhaar ho jaataa।)

उस काल में ईश्वर का भजन जीवन का परम उद्देश्य माना जाता था। In that era, the worship of God was considered life's ultimate purpose.

(us kaal men iishvar kaa bhajan jiivan kaa param uddeshy maanaa jaataa thaa।)

भजन और भक्ति एक ही मूल भाव से उत्पन्न हुए हैं। Worship and devotion arise from the very same root sentiment.

(bhajan aur bhakti ek hii mool bhaav se utpann hue hain।)

क्या निरंतर भजन करने से मन को शांति मिल सकती है? Can the mind find peace through constant worship?

(kyaa nirantar bhajan karne se man ko shaanti mil saktii hai?)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): भजन (bhajan)

(sg.m.oblique): भजन (bhajan)

(pl.m.direct): भजन (bhajan)

(pl.m.oblique): भजनों (bhajnon)