NAMA - BHAJANA

Saint Jayadeva of Bengal was the pioneer of the Bhajan school. It is said that while Jayadeva sang his heart-melting songs in praise of the Lord, his wife, Padmavati, danced and Lord Krishna, appearing in the form of a child, directed the steps of dancing Padmavati-Hence, Jayadeva addressed Sri Krishna as "Padmavatee - charana - chaarana-chakravarihi".

The path blazed by Jayadeva was followed by Krishna-Chaitanya, Tukaram, Meera Bai, and others in North India. Correspondingly there lived in South India, Purandaradasa, Bhodendra, Ayyaval, Sadguru Swami and. Others. Purandaradasa proclaimed to the world, Ninna naama ondu iddare saaku, "Your name is enough for me'. Bhodendra has written a number of works stressing the efficacy of naama Japa. Even today, at the commencement of a bhajana or a kalakshepam, the blessing of Bhodendra, Ayyaval, and Sadguru Swami is invoked. Great Saivite saints, who have sung the praise of Siva naama, also graced South India.