Bhajans & Events
Every Friday evening our centre fills with the sound of devotional singing. Come and join us as we gather to sing the glory of God and leave with hearts uplifted.
Every Week
Friday Bhajans
Bhajans are the heartbeat of our centre. Every Friday at 7:30 PM, devotees of all ages gather at 80 Nashdene Road to sing the names and glories of God. Whether you have sung bhajans all your life or have never heard one, you are warmly welcome to sit with us.
The evening opens with devotional singing led from the front and carried by everyone in the hall, and closes with Mangala Aarthi. Swami asked that bhajans be sweet to the ear, humble in spirit, and a felt experience, so that all who share in them go home full of pure energy and quiet joy.
“Wherever My glory is sung, I install Myself there.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Weekly Bhajans
Fridays
7:30 PM
- Bhajans, followed by Mangala Aarthi
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Middlefield
80 Nashdene Road, Scarborough - Open to everyone.
The Purpose of Bhajan
Why We Sing
In this busy age of fear and anxiety, Swami taught that the remembrance of God and the repetition of His Name is the one path to liberation that is open to all. Bhajan is that remembrance, set to melody and shared. No training or talent is needed, only a willing heart and a voice raised in love.
With each bhajan the mind is rendered purer, freer from restlessness, and stronger in faith. Dwelling on the meaning of each Name and Form of God turns singing into remembrance, and singing together, in one voice, dissolves the differences between us. Devotees leave carrying the uplifted mood of the bhajan hall, so that its joy and peace abide in the heart through the week.
“Bhajan should not be gone through, as a painful necessity; it has to be a thrilling experience, which must leave the participants full of pure energy and elevated enthusiasm.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, “Bhajan as sadhana”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 11, Ch. 37, January 1972
First Time Here?
What to Expect
A bhajan evening follows a simple, time-honoured form that Swami Himself laid out. Here is what you will find when you walk in, so that you can settle in and sing along with ease.
Please arrive a few minutes before 7:30 PM and take your seat quietly. Late arrivals are welcome and are asked to sit towards the rear.
Men and women sit on separate sides of the hall, in rows one behind the other. Bhajan leaders and musicians sit at the front.
Bhajans are sung in call and response: a lead singer offers each line and everyone follows. Familiar bhajans are chosen so that all can join in.
Any devotional song, in any language, may be offered as long as everyone can follow along.
Bhajans close with Mangala Aarthi and the distribution of vibhuti.
Once Aarthi ends, we leave in silence so the peace of the evening stays with us.
Special Occasions
Through the Year
Alongside our weekly bhajans, the centre comes together for the festivals and observances of the Sai calendar. Programme details for each are announced at the centre and posted on the centre calendar below in the weeks before.
Aradhana Mahotsavam
24 April
Easwaramma Day
6 May
Guru Purnima
July, on the full moon
Global Akhanda Bhajan
Second weekend of November
Ladies Day
19 November
Bhagawan's Birthday
23 November
Upcoming
Centre Calendar
Every bhajan evening, festival and special programme is listed here as soon as it is confirmed. Check back for the latest times and any changes.