These are poems written by realised, liberated beings, set to music and sung with devotion. The poetry of bhajans is either devotional in nature, glorifying God in all aspects, or philosophical, reminding us that this life is the most valuable treasure and that every moment should be utilized to attain Self-Realisation, or Liberation. The Saints had a special ability to condense and summarize a complex and abstract philosophy into a few explicit verses.
Music plays a fundamental role in bhajans as it enhances the feelings of love and devotion expressed through the words. When rendered by a yogi, a saint, or a spiritual aspirant, they have the capacity to heal the body and to lift the mind out of depression. They help to absorb the deepest teachings in the most agreable and natural way. They leave a feeling of peace and joyfulness. This is why it is important to integrate the listening and chanting of bhajans into one's practice.
To help us in this way, Yogi Hari has beautifully set to music and recorded many bhajans and also combined them with chanting.