== TO DANCE AND SING: NA'M, PAD & PA'LA' ==
Namaskar,
As many know, kiirtan essentially means to chant the divine glories of
the Lord out loud, for all the world to hear, wherein all are benefited.
Baba says, "Whenever you find time, do kiirtana loudly and you will
never become degenerated because by chanting the Lord’s holy name the
mind remains elevated." (AMIWL-11)
Baba says, "At the place of kiirtana, not only the people who are
themselves doing kiirtana will be benefited, but also those who are not
participating – and even those who are not participating and who do not
even like it – they will also be benefited!" (AV-22)
By the above quotes Baba is highlighting the specialty of our AM
kiirtan, Baba Nam Kevalam.
In our A'nanda Ma'rga there are three recognised types of kiirtan: na'ma
kiirtan, pad kiirtan and pa'la' kiirtan.
Each have their own beauty and significance. We should be familiar with
all three - understanding their unique and distinct qualities.
BABA STORY:
NA'M KIIRTAN IS THE TOP MOST
One time when Baba graciously declared that "kiirtan must be sung", then
one margii began singing pad kiirtan.
At the next general darshan, Baba announced, "When I say sing kiirtan,
that means na'm kiirtan."
Baba went on to explain that our na'm kiirtan is a siddha mantra and can
lead one to the height of human glory - unto Him. So na'm kiirtan is the
top most.
As many may know, in AM our na'm kiirtan is: Ba'ba' Na'm Kevalam. This
is the main kiirtan sung in our Marga - per Baba's mandate - and it is
this kiirtan which can free us from so many trials and tribulations and
also allow us to express our great love for Him.
Baba says, " Here I want to tell you all very clearly that if under any
circumstances any such sinful thoughts every enter your mental sphere
and have not yet transformed themselves into physical action you should
immediately start singing kiirtana at the top of your voice. I have made
a rhyme:
Ba'ba' na'm kevalam yata pa'p hare
Pa'piider sa'dhya nei tata pa'p kare.
The repetition of Ba'ba' na'm kevalam even once kills so many sins that
the worst sinners could not accumulate them." (AV-6)
Baba says, "You should remember that if you always sing “Ba'ba' Nam
Kevalam,” you have a family relationship with Him. More than that, you
have a relationship of love with Him." (SS-20)
So our na'm kiirtan, Baba Nam Kevalam, is a deeply powerful and
devotional form of expression that is quite different from pad kiirtan
and pa'la' kiirtan.
WHAT IS PAD KIIRTAN?
Some may be wondering what is pad kiirtan. What is it that the above
margii sang to Baba that day.
Pad literally means poetry and pad kiirtan is a particular type of
poetic song where certain lines are sung in a specialised manner with a
specific type of chorus, or line of repetition or refrain.
Students of music history can tell more about its distinct qualities,
but suffice to say here that in the early days of AM, various margiis
were writing and singing devotional bhajans for Baba in this manner.
So many songs were lovingly sung to Baba using the specific verse types
known as pad kiirtan.
And not only that, but Baba Himself has composed various Prabhat
Samgiita that are in accordance with the rules and style of pad kiirtan.
For instance, many of the Prabhat Samgiita between #140 and #160 are
examples of pad kiirtan.
So pad kiirtan is very devotional and describes all the glories of the
Lord.
However, it is not in the same class as na'm kiirtan. Though quite
beautiful and moving and certainly a veritable avenue for spiritual
expression, pad kiirtan is of a lower grade than our na'm kiirtan, which
as mentioned above is a siddha mantra, or perfect mantra that can lead
one to liberation, savikalpa samadhi.
WHAT IS PA'LA' KIIRTAN
Pa'la' literally means turn. First one person sings then the audience
responds.
Thus pa'la' kiirtan is done in the style of call and response, where the
main singer sings a line and the general public responds. But even then
that is not all.
In between the audience's participation, the main singer(s) perform at
length, singing the glories of the Lord and recounting His tales and
stories in the form of a dialog or prose that is often sung. So it is a
devotional story or history about Parama Purusa that is led by trained
sadhakas, who invite the audience to join in and sing.
Because suddenly, on perfect cue, either by voice or by music, the
audience is again invited to sing a particular line or lines.
Pa'la' kiirtan can be a multi-hour engagement.
Like the above two kiirtans, pa'la' is a very devotional and jovial
scene. Everyone is involved in singing and dancing as well as listening
to the main performers - all the while ideating on Parama Purusa.
So it is quite, quite blissful.
One thing to add here is that today, there are many types of folk and
pseudo-culture music that are similar to pa'la' kiirtan. Rap music is
one such type. But they are similar only in structure and style, not in
meaning.
Because no matter what, kiirtan is always aimed at highlighting the
glories of the Lord whereas rap music is about all kinds of degenerating
and worldly topics like gangbanging, girlfriends, drugs, life on the
streets etc.
That is why none of today's contemporary pop music is up to the standard
of pa'la' kiirtan.
Baba says, “The world of music today is like a person without a proper
guru or proper training. People want to show they can play without
having paid their dues. They are selling themselves for gold without
realizing that the real value of music is being lost thereby. Gold is
becoming even cheaper than glass." (SC-3, Disc: 12)
ALL THREE KIIRTANS WERE DONE IN BABA'S PRESENCE
All three types of kiirtan - na'm, pad & pa'la' - were sung in Baba's
presence and proof is that all three have been mentioned in described in
places like our Seminar Notes etc. Plus in VSS camps and ERAWS camps
there were times when all the three various kiirtans were done. So in AM
we have long and well-documented history of kiirtan.
Recently, some claimed to have performed the first ever pa'la' kiirtan
in Ananda Marga, but this just is not so.
Before na'm kiirtan came into existence in 1969-70, then pad kiirtan and
pa'la' kiirtan were both performed in front of Baba, as a means of
chanting His glory.
MUST NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE RUT OF PSEUDO-CULTURE MUSIC
So we should always be eager to sing kiirtan, because by this way we
become purified and move towards Him, by His grace.
And we must always remember that music is for goading the mind toward
Parama Purus and not for encouraging animal propensities. The former is
the goal and the latter is deadly.
With music, one may go toward either heaven or hell - or get stuck as
negative microvita for ions and ions. It all depends.
Music is both devotional and dangerous - it is a double-edged sword and
can lead one to emancipation or destruction.
All pop music falls in the latter construct, i.e. destruction.
We must not entertain any type of crude music otherwise that will only
lead to one's crude annihilation.
Baba says, 'If music must descend to the ordinary level of life to
conform to the slogan of naturalness, then preeminence will be given to
doggerels, as the sweetness and charm of real music becomes extinct.
Indeed, the music that is in vogue in the world today in the name of
“popular music” is nothing but doggerels of this type." (AFPS-1)
Baba says, "If someone makes a sound like “ra, ra, ra – cha, cha, cha,”
or if someone sings, “Follow my song! Let us sing and dance our way to
hell,” these are sound inferences, but they carry a very crude idea." (MVNS)
Even then, we must not give up and think that from today onward all the
music created by people will be poor and degrading. Baba guides us
that the future of music is not totally doomed forever.
Baba says, "It is a matter of great regret that people have forgotten
this science of music, whose foundation was laid by the intense efforts
of Shiva. Nowadays, instead of considering music as a valuable asset to
spiritual practice, they take it as a hobby, a means of livelihood, or a
mere pastime. The arduous effort which Shiva invested in this science is
conspicuously absent today. Some people lament this... If the followers
of Shiva make even one percent of the progress Shiva made, then India
and indeed the world and the universe will surely regain that melodious
voice and those charming notes. There is no reason for disillusionment.
If people only develop their vigour, discipline and simplicity, and make
intense effort, then success will come automatically. The lost treasure
of the past will be fully restored to human society." (NSS, Disc: 2)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has blessed us with three types of kiirtan to goad
the mind towards Him. All three are devotional tools for all sadhakas.
Yet it is only na'm kiirtan - the chanting of Baba Nam Kevalam - that is
our main type of kiirtan. And is is this kiirtan which allows us to
quickly move in His proximity by calling Him closer and closer.
Baba says, 'Thus if you have even only one minute’s time, do kiirtan for
one minute. If even two or three people gather together, they can do
kiirtan collectively; if one thousand people assemble together, then
also they can do kiirtan. When you do kiirtan and move towards Parama
Purus'a, the Supreme Father, then in Parama Purus'a’s mind also there
will be a flow of bliss, because so many minds are coming towards Him
with love. He will feel very happy. Seeing the bliss of His devotees,
Parama Purus'a will also become overwhelmed with joy, because of His
enormous love for His devotees. “How good these devotees are!” – He
says. Parama Purus'a loves each and everyone, but He loves those who do
kiirtan still more. He will say to them, “Come, come, come, – come near
to Me.” This is the proper way to serve Parama Purus'a in the mental
sphere." ("The Bliss of Kiirtan)
Baba says, "Moreover, those people doing kiirtana are the devotees of
the Lord, and they have already placed a throne for Parama Purus'a in
their hearts. So when there is kiirtana Parama Purus'a immediately comes
to sit on the throne of their hearts. The divine seat, the universal hub
of Parama Purus'a is shifted there. That spot becomes the capital of
Parama Purus'a." (AV-22)
Namaskar,
Bhavanath
Note 1: JUST THE BRAGGING OF ONE GROUP
Recently the Tiljala team proclaimed that they were the first to perform
pa'la' kiirtan in AM. Not only is this not true, but it also reveals
their true motive in life - to brag about their group and not highlight
the beauty and love of Parama Purusa.
"The same story of Kalicarana becoming Kalikananda Avadhuta
was beautifully composed and presented in* Pa'la' Kiirtan* by Ac.
Nityasatyananda Avadhuta in a two hour presentation which vibrated the
gathering on Shravani Purnima evening at Baba's memorial in Tiljala camp
headquarters. This is the first Pala Kiirtan composed in Ananda Marga."
(B Group PRS on 08/08/2009)
So the above proclamation is just one sham as it is well known that
pa'la' kiirtan has certainly been performed in our Marga on multiple
occasions in those pre-Emergency days. But this certain people do not
like to admit, for fear it will diminish their own stature.
That is why it is clear that one faction is guided by their own group
interest. Sadly this leads them far, far from the Goal - away from Baba.
Baba says, 'In the great Cosmos, we are to be guided by the Cosmic
rhythm, but in the human world, what do people do? They are not guided
by the Cosmic rhythm, they are guided by group interest, individual
interest; that is, there is a clash between the rhythm of group interest
and the rhythm of Cosmic movement." (AFPS-5)
