Reflections on Punya Shravana Keertana series

8th Dec 2013.

Reflections on Punya Shravana Keertana,
 Margarish 2013.
8th Dec 2013- I  write this  from the sheer joy and happiness, but  have no training in  musicology  and only listen as a Rasika. Music has given me so much Peace that with time on hand, did a study of the lyrics in the songs especially, the bhajans and linked it to our shastra for  my  swadhyaya. Now, I share this in all humility  and am open to suggestions and corrections. .

MUSIC--VERSES

Whilst many traditional bhajan are purely bhakti rasa, many have an amazing inner meaning in lyrics, with usage of a lot of metaphors and similies and nature especially.They are some times a bit abstract and often needs some study. It  can some times call for much reflection to understand the inner meaning fully. Even an explanation from a scholar in the given language with vedantic knowledge too. 

A few examples are taken:

Krishna bhajans in hindi may be in Bhojpuri, Vraj (Braj basha) or even in Mithila or Avadhi which are dialects.

• Many Shree Krishna bhajans are of UP & Bihar area origin a very  popular bhajan like the  "Baje Muraliya Baaje" has many words of local origin,not the hindi we may have studied in school or college. The Shree Hanuman Chalisa is in Avadhi dialect.

• In the South, Shree Chakra Rajeshwari , one of the very popular bhakti kritis is in 'mani pravala' a  relatively old style and combination of tamil and sanskrit.

Bhakti sangeet sung or Stotra chanted  i.e.Pattan of verses is given special importance in shastra.:

a) Stotra  is a 6 part  composition on a deity, often covering a specific aspect of our shastra.

b) Bhajan is simpler, most popular and most enjoyable in listening joy. 

    Bhajan has Rasatha + Madhuriya +Laya and with Bhakti & Bhaava ( often a few verses  only)

   An example is taken:

My late Mothers favourite bhajan "Sunale mana, amrita bhara-tu, ---Ramachandra ka naam --has 3 verses & chorus -

Verse1.

Sunale mana, amrita bhara-tu,

Ramachandraka naama, manavaa,

Ramachandra-ka nama manavaa

Ramachandra, ka nam.

Verse2. 

Janama Janama bhara

Janama Janama bhara,

Rama Bhajana kara , Bhajale Hari ka Naam

CHORUS: Sitaaa- Ram, Sitaaa- Ram Sitaa- Ram.

Bolo Bolo Sita Rama manava,

Bola Bola Sita Rama manava

Bola Bola Sita Ram.

Verse 3 

Narayana nara vesha banaave,

Raja putra bana jagata mey aave,

Apaara leela, Jag ko dikhaye, Purata mana ka kaam

CHORUS: Sita Ram, Sita Ram Sita Ram.

Bola Bola Sita Rama manava,

Bola Bola Sita Rama manava

Thus the essence of Ramayana, a major purana on Shree Rama avatara is sung with absolute simplicity and utmost bhakti. 

What can be better than this ?

Bhakti & Bhava are two aspects of worship & prayer-

English language may not easily translate  these words- It does not alway convey all dimensions as Bhava it self has so many aspects -

Bhava as Bhava-sagara: In the Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary on Bhava is explained as

QUOTE

Bhava: Subjective state of being (existence); attitude of mind; mental attitude or feeling; state of realization in the heart or mind.

Sattvika-bhava - one of the five essential ingredients of rasa; eight symptoms of spiritual ecstasy arising exclusively from visuddhasattva, or in other words, when the heart is overwhelmed by emotions in connection with the five primary moods of affection for Krsna or the seven secondary emotions.
The eight symptoms that constitute sattvika-bhava are:
(1) stambha (becoming stunned) ,
(2) sveda (perspiration) ,
(3) romancha (standing of the hairs on end) ,
(4) svara-bhanga (faltering of the voice) ,
(5) kampa (trembling) , vaivarna (pallor or change of color) ,
(7) asru (tears) , and
(8) pralaya (loss of consciousness or fainting).
(See also: Sattvika-bhava, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Then we  have 9 forms of Worship and Shravana is the first -i.e Listening --to Keertans Pravachana Bhajans etc.

Rgds 

TR

Contd Part 2 on Abhangs