== STORY: SING FOR BABA NOT FOR YOURSELF ==
Namaskar,
I remember being in Jaipur DMC in 1984. Those days our Marga was growing
fast - there was excitement in the air and the whole atmosphere was
devotionally charged.
When Baba would magnificently come onto the dais then thousands and
thousands of Ananda Margiis - Wts and family people alike - were raising
the Jai slogan. The sound was thundering and echoed all around.
Those days our Marga was a true force. Everyone was linked with Baba.
Everyone was there because of Him. It was all so beautiful.
When I close my eyes then my mind easily floats in the blissful
direction and automatically I feel renewed. I can feel His sweet touch,
by His grace.
At that DMC, something else happened that I will never forget.
DADAJI SINGING KIIRTAN
During the Jaipur DMC program (1984), Dada Deva'tmananda was leading the
kiirtan. This was not unusual. Many times this Dada has had this duty.
He was also one of the small selection of Dadas who would rehearse and
sing new Prabhat Samgiita in Baba's room along with other Dadas like
Mantreshvarananda & Cetanananda etc. Baba would compose a song call them
to quickly record it so it would not get lost.
Anyway, at the DMC, Devatmanandaji was leading everyone in kiirtan, but
he was doing something different. Dadaji was using a famous Bollywood
tune for the kiirtan and just adding the words Baba Nam Kevalam. But the
whole melody and vibration of the tune was famous for being from the
Indian film industry.
Needless to say, Dada's singing did not last long that time.
BABA'S DIRECTIVE AT JAIPUR DMC
Those days, Baba would also graciously sit and remain on His dais during
the singing of kiirtan in DMC. Around 1990, Baba would leave the dais
during kiirtan due to His poor physical health, but being the Parama
Purusa His Cosmic Mind was hearing and orchestrating the whole scene.
Back to our Jaipur DMC story: It was 1984 and Baba was sitting on the
dais, when He heard Devatmananda singing kiirtan according to some
filmy, Bollywood tune.
Immediately Baba stopped the kiirtan.
Then, with His sentient anger we all saw Baba harshly rebuke and scold that
Dada for leading and singing kiirtan in the tune of a filmy song. Baba loudly
expressed His dissatisfaction in front of one and all. Everyone heard it.
The kiirtan stopped entirely and Baba was rebuking this Dada for his misdeed.
Of course this is all His liila - always Baba is loving, just He feigns anger in order
to demonstrate that this is a matter we should take seriously.
Then Baba changed His mood and gently guided us that kiirtan should be sung
according the tunes and melodies, i.e. raga & raganiis - used in Prabhat
Samgiita.
At that time, Prabhat Samgiita was still relatively new but already Baba
had composed hundreds of songs and there were plenty of charming
melodies to choose from.
DADAJI MENDS HIS WAYS
From that moment on, Devatmanandaji heeded Baba's call on this point of
kiirtan.
Throughout the rest of that 1984 DMC tour - in Daltonganj, Kota, &
Varanasi - Dadaji always sung kiirtan using Prabhat Samgiita melodies.
Actually, what he would do was begin the kiirtan with the same tune of
the Prabhat Samgiita that was just sung. So whatever Prabhat Samgiita
was performed in DMC, that same tune was used for the first kiirtan. And
then Dadaji would lead the kiirtan using other melodies of Prabhat
Samgiita.
By Baba's grace, everyone was enjoying this new system and we were all
dancing in His bliss.
And now, since Baba has given us countless ragas and raganiis - tunes
and melodies - in His vast Prabhat Samgiita collection, we can all sing
kiirtan according to those tunes which are most appealing and moving for
us. That is also the beauty. That will keep our kiirtan practice
sentient and vibrated.
WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
Singing kiirtan according to the tune of Prabhat Samgiita is not just a
rule for rule's sake. It is not just an empty order or senseless
command. We all know Baba's directions are filled with deeper meaning
and our welfare. So in this case also, there is a whole science of mind
involved. And many may already be aware about this.
For instance, suppose someone saw some crude pop-culture film last month
or even 20 years ago. Then if that person starts singing kiirtan
according to the main theme song of that movie, then that person's mind
will be totally involved in the movie itself, not Baba. Their lips will
be singing kiirtan but their entire mental plate will be submerged in
the crude vibration of that movie. That is the way it works.
We all know that it the nature of mind is to run hither and thither -
from this place to that place. And if during kiirtan the mind is given a
strong reminder about some famous movie, then it will easily run in that
direction. And the whole import of kiirtan will be lost.
In contrast, if during kiirtan one is singing use the melody of Prabhat
Samgiita, then even if the mind gets distracted from the kiirtan and
gets lured toward the meaning of the Prabhat Samgiita song, still the
mind will be Baba-centered. It will still be involved in a spiritual ideal.
Whereas if the mind runs in the direction of a filmy song during
kiirtan, then all kinds of crude image of females, guns, killing,
kissing, or money will flash on one's mental plate. As that is the
common theme of these Hollywood / Bollywood movies.
So we should be strict. The whole import of kiirtan is to sing for Baba
and keep the mind linked with Him. Our kiirtan is not for selfish
pleasures or thinking about worldly allurements. In that case, dragging
filmy songs into our kiirtan mandal is totally against the sanctity of
our kiirtan practice.
IT IS JUST LIKE....
Using a filmy song for kiirtan is just like replacing sandalwood incense
with marijuana smoke or the smell of alcohol. Instead of having the
fragrant smell of sandalwood all around, the crude smell of drugs and
alcohol will be spreading all over and the mind will get negatively
affected.
Similarly, when we pollute our sentient kiirtan environment with the
crudity of filmy songs, then the mind will be adversely affected.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has blessed us with all kinds of teachings and
practices to goad our mind towards eternal bliss. Thus we should all pay
heed to Baba's warning and not use filmy songs with kiirtan and instead
sing kiirtan using the sweet melodies and tunes of Prabhat Samgiita.
Baba says, "Memory should be of the actual experience of the mind in the
course of meditation (sa'dhana'), the bliss that you enjoyed during
kiirtan (spiritual chanting) memory should be like this. That is, never
should it be centred around yourself [or other crude ideations like pop
movies]. In that case there won't be any waste of time and energy."
(Thoughts of Shrii PR Sarkar)
Namaskar,
Priyanath
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