India's is an amazing land of colors, cultures, arts, music, songs and knowledge. It is impossible to make an exhaustive and inclusive list of Her art forms.
The intricate classical music with its artistic & spiritual beauty has divine powers. On the other hand, the simplicity of the folk songs, independent of languages, has intense intoxication.
This blog is intended to introduce various classical and folk art-forms of India to evoke love and liking for this music.
Kakarla Tyagabrahmam (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Tyāgarājar, was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or Indian classical music. He was a prolific composer and highly influential in the development of the classical music tradition. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in praise of Lord Rama, many of which remain popular today. Tyāgarāja began his musical training under Sonti Venkata Ramanayya, a music scholar, at an early age. He regarded music as a way to experience God's love. His objective while practicing music was purely devotional, as opposed to focusing on the technicalities of classical music. He also showed a flair for composing music and, in his teens, composed his first song, "Namo Namo Raghavayya", in the Desika Todi ragam and inscribed it on the walls of the house. Sonti Venkataramanayya informed the king of Thanjavur of Tyagaraja's genius. The king sent an invitation, along with many rich gifts, inviting Tyagaraja to attend the royal court. Tyagaraja, however, was not inclined towards a career at the court, and rejected the invitation outright, composing another kriti, Nidhi Chala Sukhama (English: "Does wealth bring happiness?") on this occasion.
Angered at Tyagaraja's rejection of the royal offer, his brother threw the statues of Rama
Tyagaraja used in his prayers into the nearby Kaveri river. Tyagaraja, unable to bear the separation with his Lord, went on pilgrimages to all the major temples in South India and composed many songs in praise of the deities of those temples.
Tyagaraja, who was totally immersed in his devotion to Rama and led the most spartan way of life without bothering in the least for the comforts of the world, did not take any steps to systematically codify his vast musical output.
Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in praise of Lord Rama,
many of which remain popular today. Of special mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Kritis(English: "five gems"), which are often sung in programs in his honour.
Kriti (Sanskrit: कृति, krti) is a format of a musical composition typical to Carnatic music, an Indian classical music style. Kritis form the backbone of any typical Carnatic music concert and is the longer format of a Carnatic music song.
Of the five Pancharatna Kritis, four are in Telugu and one in Sanskrit. They are set to music
in five ragas: Nata, Gaula, Arabhi, Varali and Sri. They are set to Adi Tala and each raga represents the mood of the song and the meaning of its lyrics. All the kritis are composed in the style of a Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP) with the charanams (stanzas) substituting for the kalpana swaras (improvisatory passages) in the pallavi section of the RTP.
The Pancharatna Kritis are:
1) Jagadananda Karaka - Ragam Natai
2) Duduku gala - Ragam Goula
3) Sadhinchane - Ragam Arabhi
4) Kanakana Ruchira - Ragam Varali
5) Endaro Mahanubhavulu - Shree Ragam
The melodic forms of these compositions (Nata, Goula, Arabhi, Varali, Sri) are the five
Ghana ragas of Carnatic music also called the ghanapanchaka. These 5 ragas lend themselves to elaborate improvisations. They are so called because they are suited to playing tanam on the veena. Nata and Varali are the most ancient of the Carnatic ragas and date back to over a thousand years ago.
Dr. Kalam, while addressing the first joint session of Parliament after assuming as the President of India, began his address with:
endarO mahAnubhAvulu-andariki vandanamulu
Salutations to all those great men in this world
Here is a collection of Carnatic Music's 5 Gems, Pancharatna Krithis, rendered by great people, who have spent their life in this field. It begins with MSS rendering Jagadanadakara, then to DK Jayaraman's Dudukugala. This is followed by Santhanam rendering Sadinchene and Kanakanaruchira by Balamurali. It concludes with Endaro by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
Sikh music or Shabad kirtan is Kirtan-style singing of hymns or Shabad from the Guru Granth Sahib, the central text of Sikhism and compositions of some mystic gurus of Sufi and Bhakti movement.
It began in the 16th century as the musical expression of mystical poetry conceived by
the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. Following him, all the Sikh gurus sang in the then-prevalent classical and folk music styles, accompanied by stringed and percussion instruments.
The style was where the text was of prime significance and the music played a supporting, albeit important, role. The Gurus specified the raagin which they sang each hymn in the Sikh sacred scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Sixty raags were and sixty raag variants were named. Several raag variants are unique to the Sikh music tradition.
While Hindustani music underwent significant changes in the setting of Mughal courts, and a separate stream of Carnatic music developed in southern India, Sikh music retained its original form and styles, a unique musical tradition encompassing a variety of melodic forms and a well-developed percussive system.
In the 20th century, the classical style was largely replaced by contemporary popular genres often based on Indian film music. Within the remaining classical tradition, the devotional Gurmat Sangeet style was overtaken by the darbaari khayal style. The harmonium took the place of stringed instruments and the tabla replaced the pakhaavaj and jori. Significant efforts have been under way since the 1970s to revive the rich Sikh music tradition initiated and developed by the Sikh Gurus. Various terms used to refer to this tradition include Shabad keertan parampara, Gurbani sangeet parampara and Gurmat sangeet.
Sikhs follow the teaching of Nanak, Kabir, as in Gurmat, Kabir, Ravidas, Bhatts all are same and all are treated as Guru and Sikhs bow before Guru Granth Sahib which include the teaching of many who had similar thoughts about God.
Bani in Guru Granth Sahib: 974 Shabads in 19 Ragas, Gurbani Includes:Japji, Sidh Gohst, Sohilaa,
Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539), the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs, was born in the village of Talwandi.
The four feet of Dharma, the four castes were converted into one. Equality of the King and beggar, he spread the custom of being humble. Reversed is the game of the beloved; the egotist high heads bowed to the feet.
Full Name : Ravidas, Raidas Birth :30 January 1399, Benaras, Uttar Pradesh, India Death : Benaras, Uttar Pardesh Other Info: 500 verses in Guru Granth Sahib.
Ravidas (also Raidas) was a North Indian Guru mystic of the bhakti movement from Ramanandi Sampradaya and one of the direct disciples of Ramananda. He was active in the 15th century CE. Venerated in the region of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh as well as Maharashtra, his devotional songs and verses made a lasting impact upon the bhakti movement.One of the most touching, written and sung, composition of Sant Ravidas as kirtan:
Madho Sat Sang Tumare Hum Auguan Tum Pukare
O Madho, along with taking refuge in holy company, I take refuge in you. I have many shortcomings and hence I call upon you.
Tum Chandan, Hum Irand bapare, Sang Sumare Vaasa Neech Rupe Te Ucch Payain Hain, Gandh Sugandh Nivasa
You are the sandalwood tree, we are simple insects living in your fragrance. Though born in lower birth, I am rising up! Like the lowly smell rising above.
. . . . . Sat Sangat Meel Raheye Sadhu, Jaise Madhup Makhira
I want to live as honey bees live around the honeycomb, in holy company always.
Jati Ocha, Pati Ocha Janam Hamara Raja Ram Ki Sev Na Kini Kah Ravidas Chamara
Lower is my birth, lower is my caste, Nor Have I Done Service to the Lord Ram That is the sweeper called Ravidas says
Bahut Janam Bichare Madho Eho Janam Tumare Lekhe Keh Ravidas Aas Laga Ne O Chir Payeo Darshan Dekhe
O Madho, I have been separate from you for so many births; this birth is written for you—offered to you Ravidas says now I have deep desire to see you; a long time has gone by without seeing you, O Lord, O Madhoji.
Full Name :Kabirdas Birth :1440, Uttar Pradesh, India Death : 1518, Maghar, Uttar Pardesh Other Info: 500 verses in Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhagat Kabir or Saint Kabirdas (1441-1518) was a Devotee, Saint and Gurmukh born in Uttar Pardesh, India. He was a monotheist and follower, probably founder, of Gurmat. There are 227 Padas in 17 ragas and 237 slokas of Kabir in Guru Granth Sahib. He is revered by Hindus,Muslims and Sikhs, some Sikhs even use the word Guru in reference to Kabir. Like other Devotees, Kabir did not believe in Ritualism, the worshiping of Dieties, the Caste System. Kabir played the role of a teacher and social reformer by the medium of his writings. Bhagat Kabir guided Gurmat to Ramanand, whom he adopted as worldly guru. The Kabirpanthi sect which follow the teachings of Kabir, referring to him as their guru.
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Ghana ragas of Carnatic music also called the ghanapanchaka. These 5 ragas lend themselves to elaborate improvisations. They are so called because they are suited to playing tanam on the veena. Nata and Varali are the most ancient of the Carnatic ragas and date back to over a thousand years ago.
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