Music oft hath such a charm
To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.
(Measure for Measure, 4.1.14,William Shaspeare )
Soul’s hankering after grail often verbalised through poetry and music ; In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna said , ‘Brihat sama tatha samman (Gita 10.35)’, which means among the hymns of holy Vedas,he is the Brihatsama-gan , that is the Sama Veda’s exquisite melody ! It indicates the place of poetic melody in the affaires of spirituality . The Bhakti movement of India have enriched the subcontinent with a rich treasure of poetry and music .The Alvars,Annamacharya,Meera,Surdas and many other Bhakti saints have expressed their divine estacy through the medium of music . Here I’m going to discuss a brief study of Srimanta Sankardeva (1449-1568) and Sri Haridas Swami (1480-1575).
polymath Sankardeva’s Vaishnava movement somewhere started in the late fifteen century in North Eastern India influencing the kingdoms of Ahom and Kamrup . Based on the Bhagavata Puran & philosophical ideas of Sridhar Swami’s Bhagavata Commentary, Sri Sankardeva along with his chief disciple Sri Madhavdeva have preached the Vaishanava faith in Assam .Sankardeva not only translated ,but also trans-created many Kavyas (epic) ,theological poetry,dramas,dance forms,architectural heritage, etc . He composed about two hundred and forty Devotional Songs,known as Borgeet . But, due time,only thirty-four Borgeets are available . Sri Madhavdeva also composed more than two hundred Borgeet based on the Vaishnava Vatsalya Bhava .
Sri Haridas was born in the line of Nimbarka Sampraday,he’s believed to be a reincarnation of Lalita sakhi (one of the Gopis of Krishna’s Vrindavana pastime) by his followers .Later on his life, he migrated to Vrindavana and composed many devotional songs in Sahachari Bhava .He was one of the worshiper of Radha Bhava and fostered the tradition of devotional singing in Vrindavan. Among many pupils of Swami Haridas, was the famous medieval Musician Tansen, who was included in the nine jewels’ list in Akbar’s court .There are around one hundred and twenty-eight songs attributed to Haridas swami. These songs have the mellow of Vaishnava Madhurya Bhava . Baiju Bawra, the dhrupad musician of Man Singh Tomar’s court is also considered as a disciple of Haridas .
Somewhere around 1488,Srimata Sankardeva composed his first borgeet during his pilgrimage at Badrikashrama. The Language of Borgeet(S) is Brajabali , a combination of Maitheli and Assamese. ‘ man meri Ram charanahi lagu’ is considered as the first borgeet portraiting the dasya Bhakti,the impermanence of human life and the futile sense desires .The theme of Sankar’s borgeet(S) mainly consists of the dasya bhakti ; whereas a few songs which talks about Birah or separation , But this separation is not same as the sahachari bhava of Haridas or Sahajiya madhurya of Chandidas and Vidyapati . Krishna in all Sankarite literature is Swayam Bhagavan (God) and the Gopis are His devotees . There’s nothing like Ahladini or better-half concept in Sankaradeva’s literary works ; Just like Vyasa and Sukadeva ,He too described the Gopis as Devotees ! Sankara defined himself as a Kinkara or Servant of Lord Krishna.
Mystic Haridas through this poetry described the sporting of Radha and Krishna ; in some of his songs, Radha is explained as greater than Krishna .The conjugal love is the highest grail in the philoshophy of Haridasi sect ;these poetic melodies are also classed as Vishupadas .The Kelimal book consists of more than hundred such songs .This sect of Nimbark (Hamsa) sampraday is also known as Sakhi or Nikunjupasana .This is not regarded as Gopi Bhava ,but rather considered as the Sakhi bhava .Samaj gayan is also a part of this sect .It’s also worth mentioning that Tansen brought emperor Akbar to braja so that he could listen to Haridas, although this claim lacks historicity !
Kelimal book is considered as the holiest in the affairs of Sakhi Bhava Rasiks, portraiting the everlasting plays of Radha and Krishna . Latter on, Kelimal book is translated in different forms by the acharyas of the Haridasi sect (Doha-Padyavali) ; Aabhas Ultha by Pitambardeva (18th AD) ,Bhavartha Dipika by Nagridev (18th AD) are some of such trans-creations .Kelimal book also has the Yugal Namavali ,the names of the divine couple .
1. Sri Sankardeva described Vrindavana as follows-
Anande Govinde bai Vrindavane benu,Rupe Bhubana bhudule ,rahiya Kadamba mule ,kalindi tire rakhe dhenu ( Raag : Asuwari)
Meaning : with bliss, Sri Govinda (Krishna) plays his flute in Vrindavana , His apperance enchants the world ! In the banks of the river Kalindi (yamuna) , under the Kadamba tree,he’s keeping the calves .
Haridas’s Krishna darshan is something like this –
Maai ri sahaj jori prakat bhayi ju rang ki gaur shyam ghan damini jaise,
Pratham na huti abhu aage hun rahi hai na tari taise.
the Divine couple appeared as in the colours of golden white (Radha) and cloudish black (Syam)...(Raag: Kanharau).
2. In the Dhanshree Raag, Sankara said-
Tanu abhinaba ghanakala
Uru lule kadambaka mala
(His Blackish Body is handsome ,the garland of Kadamba is arround his neck and swinging around !)
Haridas Said –
Muruli dhare,pitambar urdhe, kahat Radha.. (Kalyan Raag)
( Holding the flute ,wearing the yellowish cloths and chanting Radha ..)
In different Bhavas , Both Sankardeva and Haridas swami experienced the Vaishnava mellow. Their divine poetry inspires many others to do Vaishnava Bhakti generation after generation .As it’s said – the mercy of Vaishnavas is higher than that of Sri Krishna ,so we offer our obeisance to the dust of their holy feet . As Sri Madhavdeva explained – Muktito Nrispiho jitu ,sehi Bhakataka Namo (the pure devotees, who even have no desire for liberation ;i offer my obeisance to them and beg them the gift of devotion ) .
Picture courtesy :http://hi.krishnakosh.org/Swami-Haridas.jpg
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