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

FOLK MEDIA & FOLK MUSIC

Folk is defined as the people who representing the composite of social culture,customs,rituals and forms of behaviour in a society. The idea of using Folk as a medium of Mass Communication is to maximise perception and understanding especially in rural areas.In a country like India, Folk media plays an integral part of the local and cultural milieu.

The term "Traditional Folk Media" is a term used to denote 'people's performances'.It describes folk dance, rural drama, rural festivals and musical variety of the village people.During past few decades Folk media have been increasingly recognised as the viable tools to impart development messages and other forms of information.In a developing country like India Traditional Folk Media have been reckoned as successful mass-motivators because people understand the messages easily because folk media have a secular character and use familiar cultural forms which are appealing to local rural community.As Folk media stimulate community participation it gets instant feedback also.Thus,Traditional Folk media has enriched the content of the mass media channels.

Picture courtesy:Google Images

FOLK MUSIC:

    Music appeals to the physical,intellectual,emotional,moral and spiritual instincts of man.In all spheres of life music is absolutely essential.Music is remembered more faithfully because to the folk singer the whole meaning of the song is emotional rather than logical.In tribal societies or societies other than urbanities,Folk music plays a main role in daily life.Most of the activities of the members of these societies revolve round the rituals and festivities associated with their traditional music.

Folk musical styles supplement the speech communication with patterned vocal sounds,i.e., musical styles of modes.The folk music and folk songs go hand in hand which functions as a communication device when it is employed through the language and accepted melodic patterns of a community.Apart from entertainment, Folk songs are sung to teach the child to walk, eat, play, be industrious and good natured. The rural child receives home education through folk songs, which are unforgettable and everlasting.

Picture Courtesy: Google Images

FOLK SONGS OF BENGAL:

       The folk songs of the rural Bengal represent the rich cultural and historical legacy of the ancient times.The melodious yet simple compositions of the various kinds of the folk songs of the rural Bengal cast a magical spell on the audience.The Folk songs of Bengal have acquired a global character because of their enchanting melody and simple philosophy of life.The splendid compositions of the folk songs have captured the imagination of the poet and have helped to spread happiness around the world.

The enriched Folk songs of rural Bengal can be distinctly categorised into four categories.

BAUL: Baul is a traditional folk song which forms a group of singers who move from place to place to express their inner most feelings through songs.

BHATIALI: Bhatiali is another prominent folk song which are sung with a touch of sadness in the memory of one's beloved.

SARI: Sari is another prominent folk song of Bengal which is sung by the boatmen when they go for sea voyages.

KIRTAN: Finally the fourth category of Bengal folk song is Kirtan. It is a devotional folk song which is sung in praise of the Supreme Being. Kirtan will be further discussed widely in my future posts.

All this four different forms of folk songs are famous for their unique styles and compositions.The Folk songs reflect the inherent natural talent of the rural artists who composed the splendid music to refresh their mind and explore their hidden potentialities.





References:
1) Class notes
2) www. kirtan folk song/west bengal.com