SOME FAMOUS PAATTH BARIS

In some places Kirtan is practiced for many hours throughout the day. Some of those places are as follows:

MAYAPUR: It is a very holy and sacred place which is located on the banks of Ganges river.Mayapur dham is one of the nine islands of Nabadweep.Lord Krishna devotees considered this place as pious as Mathura and Vrindaban.In Mayapur temple Kirtan is practised throughout the day.The chants of "Hare Krishna, Hare Ram........" reverberates the air of this place with devotees dancing and singing in ecstasy. Being an important religious center Mayapur has many temples dedicated to different deities.However, the most important temple is ISKON temple which has the deity of Lord Krishna and Radha with eight gopis.

Picture Courtesy:Google Image

ISKON ( International Society for Krishna Consciousness) was established in Mayapur in 1970s.The temple is also known as Sri Chaitanya Chandrodaya Temple as Nabadweep was the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the place adjacent to Mayapur.The headquarters though situated in Mayapur but it has its branch in Kolkata also.

Picture Courtesy:Google Image

NABADWIP: It is another holy place situated on the western bank of the Bhagirathi river.The name Nabadwip derives from "Nine Islands" in Bengal.They are namely Antardwip, Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Koladwip.The great Vaishnav saint,social reformer and an important figure of the Bhakti movement, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born here.Though many temples are situated here but the important temple is the Chaitanya Math were Chaitanya Mahaprabhu along with Lord Krishna was worshipped.People of Gaudiya Vaishnav beliefs Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the human figure of Lord Krishna.Kirtan songs and paatths are practised here all day long but some special type of Kirtan is done on "Gaur Purnima."


                                               
Picture Courtesy:Google Image
     

Picture Courtesy:Google Image




Some other temples in various district of Bengal where Kirtan songs and Kirtan Paatth (stories related to Lord Krishna) is praticed throughout the day are as follows.

1) COOCHBEHAR PAATTH BARI: This temple is situated in Coochbehar, a district of Bengal. Coochbehar is situated on the south foothills of Himalaya.Sankar deb and Madhab deb established this temple. In this temple Lord Krishna is worshipped by singing Kirtan everyday.

2) MADANMOHAN PAATTH BARI:  This temple is situated in Bishnupur. Bishnupur is situated in Bankura district of Bengal.Sri Nibas Acharya and Bir Hambir established this temple of MadanMohan(the other name of Lord Krishna). Here Kirtan paatths and songs are practiced but a special Kirtan programme is held in the day of "Raas Purnima."

3) NABAGRAM PAATTH BARI: This temple is situated in Nabagram. Nabagram is a village of Jamalpur block situated in Bardhaman district of Bengal. Shyamdas Acharya established the temple of Nabagram. Lord Krishna is worshipped here with Kirtan songs and paatths.

4) SHYAM TEMPLE: This temple is situated in the Khardah area. Khardah is situated in the district of North 24 Parganas of Bengal. Nitiya Nanda Pandit, BirChandra Pandit and Jahanabi Debi established this temple.Shyam (the other name of Krishna) is worshipped here everyday by singing Kirtan.

5) BORANAGAR PAATTH BARI: This temple is situated in Boranagar. Boranagar is situated in outskirts of  Kolkata in Bengal district on the bank of Hoogly river. Sil Bhagawat Acharya established the temple of Boranagar. Krishna and Radha here worshipped everyday with Kirtan, but mainly the Kirtan paatths.
                          Apart from this places Kirtan is practised in East and West Medinipore also.

Interview of Mr. Nimai Das

References:
1) Banglar Kirtan o Kirtania - Dr. Hariprasad Mukherjee
2)www.Wikipedia.org
3)Interview of Kirtan practitioner and member of Gauriya Vaishnav, Mr. Nimai Das

KIRTAN OF VARIOUS COMMUNITIES

Kirtan was a way to sing praise to God through chanting slokhs and Mantras of different Gods and Goddess.Kirtan is a song of devotion. It sings to the divine. Kirtan is a merging of music, mantra and meditation that guides us to the "Kingdom of God within".Kirtan is the way to praise the gods and goddess and to spread their stories to all devotees. Various people of various communities pleased their Gods and Goddess through Kirtan. Chanting different Sanskrit sloks and sloks of Bhagavad Gita is also considered as Kirtan.Hari Kirtan which sang for Lord Krishna is the main form. But other communities now practice Kirtan. Below are some types of Kirtan which are individually sang by Kirtan Scholar Mr. Amal Kr. Paul.

CHANDI KIRTAN: The first form of Kirtan is Chandi Kirtan, which sung for Goddess Chandi. Birendra Kishore Bhadra was popularly known for Chandi Kirtan which he sung on Mahalaya.Devotees of Maa Chandi practised this form of Kirtan.

                                           

                                      

KALI KIRTAN: The next form of Kirtan is Kali Kirtan. Kali Kirtan is mainly done by the devotees of Goddess Kali. Kali Kirtan nowadays known as Shyama Sangeet. Ramprasad Sen was popular for Shyama Kirtan or Shyama Sangeet.

                               

DURGA & SHIV KIRTAN: Kirtan which is done for Goddess Durga is known as Durga Stuti or Durga Kirtan.Durga Stuti is composed of powerful verses in praise of Durga Maa. Vidhi Narendra Chanchal is popular for Durga Kirtan. Devotees of Durga Community sung this type of Kirtan.

                               Shiv Kirtan is based on Shiva. Shiv Kirtan is sung by the Shaiva Community.Santanu Bhattacharya is known for Shiv Kirtan.

                                         

                                         

MUSLIM KIRTAN: Kirtan practised by Muslim Community to praise Allah and Rahim is known as Muslim Kirtan.Muslim Kirtan also known as Gazals.Content of Muslim Kirtan was based on Allah.

Mohammad Hossain is popular Muslim Kirtan Singer.

                                       

CHRISTIAN KIRTAN:Kirtan which is practised by Christian Commmunity is known as Christian Kirtan. Devotees of Jesus use to sung Christian Kirtan.The content of Christian Kirtan is based on  the life of Lord Jesus and his mother. Maharaj of Ramkrishna Mission being a Hindu composed Christian Kirtan. Krishna Das is popular for Christian Kirtan.

                                          

                                      

References:

1)Padabali Kirtaner Itihash - Swami Praganananda

2)Interview of Mr. Amal Kr. Paul

3)www. kirtan ebook.com

                                       

                                     

                                       

SRI CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Hindu monk and social reformer from 16th century India. He was born in a Bengali Brahmin family in Nabadwip, a town in the district of Nadia in Bengal. According to "Chaitanya Charitramrita" Mahaprabhu was born on 18th February, 1486 (English) and 23rd Phalgun, 1407 (Bengali) at the time of lunar eclipse. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna himself. Chaitanya Deb was the second son of Jagannath Misra, a poor brahmin of the Vedic order and his mother Saci Devi a housewife.Both of them were the decended of a Brahmin stock residing originally in Sreehatta , now known as Sylhet in Bangladesh.

Picture Courtesy: Own

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the name given by devotees of him. His maternal grandfather Pandit Nilambar Chakravorty, a renowned astrologer foretold that he will be a great personage and so give him the name 'Vishvambhar'. He is sometimes referred to as "Nimai" due to his born being under a Neem tree. As Chaitanya Deb was considered as the Supreme personality of Lord Krishna , he is referred to as "Gaura", meaning combination of Govinda (Gau) and Radha (Ra).

Interview of Kirtan Scholar Mr.Amal Kr. Paul

As Chaitanya Mahaprabhu born in a Brahmin family at a very small age he became Sanyasi. After became Sanyasi he left Nabadwip and started resides in Puri. There he met a great Pandit named Sarvabhauma Pandit. Initially Sarvabhauma Pandit ignored Chaitanya Deb but after an incident Sarvabhauma Pandit turned out to be the follower of Mahaprabhu and the best Vaishnavas of the time. The incident is described by Mr. Amal kr. Paul in the below video clip.

Interview of Mr. Amal Kr. Paul

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu united in himself two aspects, the ecstatic devotee of Krishna and Krishna himself in inseparable union with Radha. Gauriya Vaishnavas considers Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be Lord Krishna himself but in a covered form.Chaitanya journeyed throughout India for several years after became Sanyas and finally started resides in Puri. He stayed in Puri for 24 years. At that time he promotes Kirtan. Mahaprabhu throughout his life chants the Krishna mantra "Hare Krishna Hare Ram" which he transfered into a song for all, which today become popular as Kirtan song. 

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu brings a revolution in Kirtan. Mahaprabhu promoted the community- style devotional worship of Krishna with Kirtan. He makes the words of the song simple and spread Kirtan in his own way. This Kirtan now known as Chaitanya Kirtan. Earlier Kirtan song were composed in Brajabuli and Mathuri languages.But in Post era of Chaitanya Kirtan songs consist of simple Sanskrit and Bengali words. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also popularised Leela Kirtan which previously not so practised.Mahaprabhu composed the "Siksastakam" (eight devotional prayers) in Sanskrit. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the founder of Achintya Bheda Abheda , the sub school of Vedanta philosophy. He is also the founder of Gauriya Vaisnava and so venerated by followers of Gauriya Vaishnava.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu plays a significant role in bringing a revolution in Vaishnav community and in Kirtan songs.Thus, Mahaprabhu is attributed as "Renaissance in Bengal". Devotees of Chaitanya Deb considered him as the avatar of Lord Krishna and state the 16th century (Chaitanya Era) as the beginning of Modernism in Bengal.

References:

1)www.kirtan-chaitanya.com

2)Banglar Kirtan o Kirtania - Dr. Hariprasad Mukherjee

3)Interview of Kirtan Scholar Mr. Amal Kr.Paul

KOBI JAYDEV & BORU CHANDIDAS

JAYDEV & HIS "GITA GOVINDA":-

Kirtan is incomplete with Kobi Jaydev, as he was the main person beyond the composition of "Gita Govinda". Jaydev was a poet, singer,lyricist,composer and as well as a great devotee of Lord Krishna. He has born in 12th century in Kendubillo village which situated in Birbhum district. 

 Jaydev wrote "Gita Govinda", a collection of epic poems which he composed in 15th century. Gita Govinda was written in the Kenduli language which is the local language of his birth place.

From Gita Govinda we came to know that Jaydev's father name is Bhojdeb and mother's name is Bamadebi. Though many controversies arise when Jaydev composed Gita Govinda but later Pandit Harekrishna Mukherjee proved that Jaydev was the actual writer of Gita Govinda.

Picture Courtesy : Google Image 

Gita Govinda is organized into twelve chapters. Each chapter is further sub-divided into twenty - four divisions called Prabandhas. The Prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eight called Ashtapadis. It is mentioned that Radha is greater than Lord Krishna.The text also elaborates the eight moods of heroine Radha, the Ashta Nayika, which has been an inspiration for many compositions and choreographic works in Indian classical dances.Gita Govinda till date is considered as an important text in the Bhakti movement of Hinduism.Kirtan is sung on the basis of the composition of Gita Govinda. Thus, Jaydev act as an important person to popular Kirtan.

The first English translation of Gita Govinda was published by Sir William Jones, in 1792.Later on Gita Govinda has been translated to many languages throughout the world and is considered to be the finest example of Sanskrit poetry and folk songs.

BORU CHANDIDAS & HIS "SREEKRISHNA KIRTAN":-

Boru Chandidas is refered to as the medieval poet of Bengal in 14th century.He was contemporary to Kobi Jaydev. Boru Chandidas also born in a village in Birbhum district. His father's name was Ashokpati but mother's name was not found. Boru Chandidas wrote the famous lyrical drama "SreeKrishna Kirtan". Sreekrishna Kirtan is a pastoral Vaishnav drama verse which composed in 16th century.

Picture Courtesy : Google Image

SreeKrishna Kirtan, as the name suggest narrates the story of Lord Krishna and Radha's love and friend relationship. Though the storyline based on the popular erotic folk songs known as the Dhamalis.However, Boru Chandidas managed to add substantial originality, making it a masterpiece of medieval Bengali Literature.He gives the yearning of Radha a distinctly Bengali rendition and in the process capturing much of the social conditions of the day.

SreeKrishna Kirtan consists of 417 Bengali Padas or verses and 133 Sanskrit shlokas.The extant works is divided into 13 Khandas or sections. Dialogues and counter-dialogues are written in Payar and Tripadi chanda which have added a dramatic quality of SreeKrishna Kirtan.Boru Chandidas and his composition of SreeKrishna Kirtan are still very much important for performing Kirtan songs and kathas.

References:

1) Banglar Kirtan o Kirtania - Dr. Hariprasad Mukherjee

2) Padabali Kirtaner Itihash - Swami Praganananda

VAISHNAB PADABALI

Researchers found that Indian Literature primarily expressed through Music.Folk Music is considered as the earliest form of Indian Literature.One of this literature is Vaishnab Padabali which expressed through Kirtan Songs. Vaishnab Padabali covers the period of 15th to 17th centuries of the Bengali medieval literature.The Padabali contains Vaishnab poetry focusing on the Radha Krishna legend.

The word "Pad" literally meaning 'a short songs of two paragraphs or short verse'.But in the Chaitanya Deb's era, a Vaishnab scholar Sukumar Sen  comes out with a different meaning of the word "Pad". According to him, the meaning of Pad is 'the set of words to express feelings'. And the term "Padabali" literally means 'gathering or collection of many songs in a book form'. The Vaishnab poems and short verses are also gathered in a book form which named as "Vaishnab Padabali".

Vaishnab Padabali is considered as the text for the Kirtan. The poets Vidyapati and Chandidas generated the initial tradition of Padabali literature in Bengali language.As the majority Vaishnab poetry are written in a highly musical language, known as Brajabuli language. Brajabali language is the product of the combination of Bengali and Maithili (the language of Mithila).This language contains variable vowel length,moraic meter,archaic vocabulary and a minimum of grammar, offered to the better equipped  writers a ready-made sonorous instrument.Later Chaitanya Deb nourished the Vaishnab Padabali.

Vaishnab songs composed predominantly by Vaishnab saints cum composers as an integral part of the Vaishnab religious movement.This Vaishnab movement preached Krishna bhakti ; devotion to Lord Krishna.The poems and songs became an important medium for propagating bhakti cult.As the mainstay for the themes of those songs Jaydev stood out to be the earliest principal source.He is regarded as the adipadkarta or the earliest composer of Vaisnab songs.Thus from Jaydev's period Krishna lore was accepted as the universal source material for composing Vaishnab songs.

Picture Courtesy: Google Image

Earlier the Vaishnab singers are majorly consisting of 'Mahajans' or 'Gurus'. So Vaishnab Padabali also known as "Mahajan Padabali".Vaishnab Padabali are divided into four categories:
1) Radha-Krishna Padabali
2) Gour Padabali
3) Bhajan Padabali
4) Ragatwik Padabali

As Shri Chaitanya Deb makes Vaishnab Padabali popular, many songs are composed on the life-story of Shri Chaitanya Deb also.Although thousands of  Vaishnab songs are based on Lord Krishna.Songs based on Chaitanya Deb are sung as the Vaishnab religious exercise.

The Vaishnab Padabali also commonly known as "Padabali Kirtan" because the musical style in which Vaishnab Padabali are sung is called Kirtan,continued to form the mainstream Bengali art music when the indigenous growth of music in Bengal was hampered by the onslaught of incoming Hindustani musical forces.Thus, Vaishnab music was extremely influential in the evolution of Indian musical tradition and Vaishnab Padabali left a lasting mark on Bengali literature for eight to ten hundred years which is perhaps no less than a miracle.






References:
Padabali Kirtaner Itihash - Swami Praganananda

TYPES OF KIRTAN

Kirtan is Call-and-response chanting performed in India's Bhakti devotional traditions.In the Bhagavad - Gita Lord Krishna states that great souls worship and glorify him single-mindedly, but the practice of Kirtan was popularized as a means in the Bhakti movement of the Moghul era. Kirtan is often suggested as the form of religious activity and best form of worships,suited to the present age. Kirtan are sung in chorus by many men and women who spread the message of love and dedication through their songs. Kirtan is categorised into different types.It is categorised under various schools.

Mainly there are five schools of Kirtan which are famous for their unique style and composition.

1)GARANHATI : This one was introduced by Narottamdas, a great Vaisnava Bhakta, resident of a place called Khetri in the pargana of Garerhat in Rajshahi.

2)MANOHARSHAHI: In the district of Burdwan from Manoharshahi pargana came this school which introduced by Acharya Srinivas and propagated by Jnandas and Balramdas.

3)MANDARINI: This school of Kirtan came from the Mandaran parganas in Midnapore district.

4)RENETI: This one came from Ranihati parganas in Burdwan district which introduced by Acharya Srinivas and subsequently popularised by Vaishnavadas and Uddhavadas.

5)JHARKHANDI: This school of Kirtan came from Jharkand situated in Midnapore district.

Though these five schools of Kirtan are famous but Mandarini, Reneti and Jharkhandi types of Kirtans are more or less out of practice now. Garanhati school is now revived by Brajamadhuri Sangha. Manoharshahi is mostly in vogue now. 

Picture Courtesy: Above website.

Kirtan is mainly categorised into four types. They are as follows.

1) NAM KIRTAN :- Singing the names of the Lord in melody is known as Nam Kirtan. In Nam Kirtan there is a repetition of the mere names of Lord Krishna.This is a special Sadhana by itself.The primary aim of Nam Kirtan is to attain Prema and the main aim of Vaisnava cult is to generate prema. Nam Kirtan is highly purifying form as the mind is easily elevated.

2)SAN KIRTAN:- Generally San Kirtan is conducted in temples and houses in the early morning hours.In San Kirtan one devotee first sings the names of Lord Krishna in melodious form and then the others follow him or her next.As this Kirtan is sung early in the morning it is also called "Prabhat Kirtan".This Kirtan is sung in Prabhat Pheri which means going round in the morning doing San kirtan of God's name in a batch.Generally San kirtan is done at the first in any spiritual congregations and assemblies.

3)LILA KIRTAN:- The love and friendship relation of Lord Krishna with Radha and other Sakhis(friends) in different circumstances and in different ways are termed as Lila.Any song composed and sung on such Lila is known as Lila Kirtan. Lila Kirtan is started by Lord Chaitanya Deb or Gauranga Deb.He described that this Kirtan  should be sung in the company of very inmates.All people are not fond of Lila Kirtan. As Lord Krishna believes whatever over floods the heart with bliss is termed as Ras,the songs based on this Ras are known as "Ras Kirtan". Kirtan. Lila Kirtan need to be sung by trained singers, otherwise unwittingly corruption of the inappropriate Ras Lila will be presented before the audiences.

4)DHAAP KIRTAN:- In the recent times a type of Kirtan usually sung by the women are termed as Dhaap  Kirtan. During Shraddha ceremonies when Brahmins and learned Pundits are performed the ceremonies Dhaap Kirtan are singed.Primarily Dhaap Kirtan are sung by women but in course of time women singers are replaced by men.

5)NAGAR KIRTAN:- Nagar Kirtan generally performed in the evening though it can also sometimes performed in the morning.In this form of Kirtan a group of devotees start from a particular place with Mridanga,Harmonium, Kartals, and other musical instruments needed in Kirtan. The devotees go round the town and return to the place where they started and do Arati to the Lord Krishna with great zeal. Nagar Kirtan is conducted on Purnima, Ekadashi, and other days sacred to the devotees like Ramnavami, Janmashtumi,etc.Many temples do Nagar Kirtan daily in the month of December, as this month is considered as very sacred according to Srimad Bhagavad Gita.

      This are mainly the famous categories though there are other forms of Kirtan which lost its existence in present days.

References:
1) Banglar Kirtan o Kirtania by Dr. Hariprasad Mukherjee
2) www.Kirtan variety.com

KIRTAN- What Is It???

KIRTAN -Definition & Origin:

Kirtan is a Hindu devotional song, typically about the life of Krishna and Radha, in which a group repeats the lines sung by the Leader.The origin of the word "KIRTAN" is from the two Sanskrit word 'Kirta' meaning "Famous" and 'Trin' meaning "Praise". 

 In Bengali the word "Kirtan" means দেবতাদের উদ্দেশে গীত ভজনগান। In English the word Kirtan means adoration or praising of the Divine. Kirtan is call and response chanting performed in India's Bhakti devotional traditions.Kirtan is the congregational chanting of God Holy's name. 

Traditionally, Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the Mridanga ( the two headed drum),Manjira (small hand cymbals) and Kartal (big hand cymbals).But with the changing time Kirtan songs are experimenting with modern instruments like Harmonium and Tablas. Kirtan is majorly practiced by the Vaisnavas, though later other religious group like Sikh,Buddhist and the Sant traditions also practiced Kirtan.

 Picture Courtesy: Google Image                                              Mridanga

                                                          

Picture Courtesy : Google Image                                            Manjira

Picture Courtesy: Google Image                                                Kartal

Kirtan is sometimes accompanied by story-telling and acting along with songs.Text typically covers religious, mythological or social subjects. Katha Kirtan is a one man theatre. The narrator gesticulates and dramatises the emotions of the various characters as he unfolds the story of Krishna through solo recital. Katha Kirtan has been a traditional medium of mass education.

People of all faiths are welcome to take part in Kirtan as Lord Krishna said to Arjuna (According to Bhagavad Gita) :- "Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become my devotee, offer songs to me and worship me.Surely you will come to me. "

In 15th century famous Vaisnavi monk Sri Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Deb promotes Vaisnaism through Kirtan songs. Before Chaitanya Deb Kirtan was practiced by Boru Chandidas, Dijon Chandidas,Din Chandidas, Bidyapati, Kobi Joydev and its Geet Gobinda.

Picture Courtesy: Google Image

Earlier Kirtan are limited to the boundary of Bengal. Kirtan were sung in houses and temples in different religious occasions. Sometimes Kirtan are sung in obituary occasion also. But ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) makes Kirtan popular worldwide. Branches  all over the world like in New York, England, Melbourne makes Kirtan popular. From 1967 on wards Kirtan is practices both Nationally and Internationally.
The famous lines in Kirtan which are sung by the devotees of Krishna are:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Ram Hare Ram

Ram Ram Hare Hare

References:
Padabalir Kirtaner Itihash by Swami Praggananda