Many high-souled men and great rulers practised these different ways of devotion in the past and held themselves forth as examples to the world. Devotion, the sages felt, should not be solely for achieving individual salvation. It should find expression in some kind of collective action. Offering worship or prayer in seclusion and for one’s own sake savours of some kind of selfishness. The ancients felt that the Divine cannot be attained by one who is self-centred. Even among Christians and Muslims, there is the practice of - someone reading passages from the scriptures which are repeated by the congregation that is present. The Indian sages valued community prayers for the welfare of the world as good for the individual and the world. In the year 1459 A.D., Guru Nanak, the first SikhGuru, started the practice of Bhajans(community singing). This practice gathered momentum over the years and in 1798, the great South Indian saint-composer Tyagaraja invested Bhajanswith raga and tala (musical form and rhythm). Since then Bhajanshave acquired national vogue in all parts of the country. (SSS Vol.19, pp. 179-180)