bhajana

1. activities performed with the consciousness of being a servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The word bhajana is derived from the verbal root “bhaj” which is defined in the Garuḍa Purāṇa (Pūrva-khaṇḍa 231.3):

bhaj ity eṣa vai dhātuḥ

sevāyāṁ parikīrtitaḥ |

tasmāt sevā budhaiḥ proktā

bhaktiḥ sādhana-bhūyasī ||

“The verbal root bhaj is used specifically in the sense of sevā, service. Therefore, when sādhana is performed with the consciousness of being a servant, it is called bhakti.” According to this śloka, kṛṣṇa-sevā, or loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is called bhakti. Such service is the intrinsic attribute of bhakti or bhajana. Therefore whatever services are performed in this consciousness may be referred to as bhajana

2. in a general sense bhajana refers to the performance of spiritual practices, especially hearing, chanting and meditating upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name, form, qualities and pastimes