Sunday, May 11, 2008

Sampradaya Bhajans

Sampradaya bhajans is a particular form of bhajans where devotional songs are sung in a systematic order covering almost all gurus and gods. This particular format is lengthy and as I repeat, this is extremely interesting, once you attend the session in full a few times and gradually you will become a fan of it. The tempo gradually created during the session is amazing. The instruments are played in tandom but in a very disciplined manner. There is lots of noise, with bhakti around, but these all may seem to be a disorganised commotion from an outsider (just like a Rock band performance for a country music fan) but for a devotee who has attended these sessions and enjoys the pattern, it will be a wonderful experience traveling through the sannidhi of devotion.

For your further information, I provide below little more detail about Sampradaya bhajans:

Sampradaya Bhajana or Dakhshina Bharatha Sampradaya Bhajana is the tradition of Bhajans in India and as the name suggests particularly in South India. It's the collection of Kirtanas and Namavalis in a specific order. Mainly the order has been evolved by Sri Marudhanallur Sadguru Swamigal, Sri Pudukottai Gopala Krishna Bhagavathar.

Sampradaya Bhajans Background

The trinity of gurus as far as Bhajans are considered as Bodhendra Swamigal, Sridhara Ayyaval and Marudhanallur Sadguru Swamigal.
The sampradaya bhajana paddhati has mainly evolved due to the tradition and efforts of Marudhanallur Sadguru Swamigal.

The bhajans are typically rendered in the following order:

1. Dhyana Slokam
2. Sangraha Thodaya Mangalam (Thotakam - Beginning with a praise, Mangalam - End)Thodaya Mangalam is different from Thotaka Ashtakam of ADI SANKARA
3. Guru Dhyanam
4. Guru Abhangs
5. Sadhu Keertanas (hymns on Sadhus and sants. It can be abhangs also)
6. Jayadeva Ashtapadi
7. Narayana Teertha Krishna leela Tharangini

Panchapati (Five songs in Telugu (Bhadrachala Ramadas), Kannada (Sri Purandara dasa), Sanskrit (Sri Sadasiva Brahmendral), Tamil (Sri Gopalakrishna Bharati) and compositions of Sri Tyagaraja

1. Badrachala Bhakta Ramdas
1. Purandara Dasa
1. Sadasiva Brahmendra
1. Thyagaraja Swamigal
1. Kabir Das
1. Meera Bai
1. Tulsi das or Surdas
1. Marathi Abhangs on Lord Panduranga

Now comes the turn of Dyana keertanais (hymns on Gods)

1. Vinayaka
2. Saraswati
3. Murugan
4. Shiva
5. Ambika
6. Nrusimha
7. Ram
8. Krishna
9. Vishnu or Dashavatara stuti
10. Venkatesha
11. Vittal or Pandurang (Abhangs)
12. Lakshmi
13. Sita or Radha
14. Anjaneya
15. Garuda
16. Aiyappan
17. Nandikeshwaran
18. Chandeeswaran
19. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
20. Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagavatar (or Guru Keertanai)

Then comes Pooja Sampradaya Kritis

1. Baro murare (welcom)
2. Sharanagata vatsala (request)
3. Kastoori gana.. (pooja)
4. Chita juni... (aarati)
5. Shobane
6. Jay Jay aarati...
7. kanjadalakshiki..
8. Prartana Abhang
9. Rajadi rajaya.. (pushpanjali)
10. Kattiya vachanam (verses from variety of books)
11. Chatur veda parayan
12. Kshetra mahatmiyam (verses on importance of tirta kshetras)
13. Upacharamu.. (upachara sankeertan)
14. Vinnappa gadyam (praying to God - shlokas)
15. Sri Krishna Govinda hare murare.. (naamaavali)

Pooja ends here and Divya namam starts.. (deepa pradakshinam - With lighted lamp in the middle considering the lamp as God, bhagavatas will do sankeertan by doing pradakshinas) This equals going around the earth.

Then comes dolotsavam (making God sleep)

1. Anjaneya Keertanai
2. Mangalam

The Thotaka Ashtakam was composed by Thotakachariyar. It is sung in praise of Sri Adi Sankara of Kaladi. Legend says that Thotakachariya( or Thotakar) was a devotee of Aadi Sankara. Do not combine this Thodaya Mangalam of Bhagavathas with the Thotaka Ashtakam of Thotakachariyar.

You may please listen to these links to get a feel of it and listen a few Sampradaya Bhajans

Anjaneya Keertanai

Ramalakshmana Janaki jai jai bholo re hanuman ki jai

http://www.esnips.com/doc/a1246043-f9fc-4204-ad33-2eac21a0f565/Dakshina-Bharatha-Sampradaya-Bhajans-Vol.4-Part-21

Mangalam

http://www.esnips.com/doc/5993c369-ce9f-40b5-92b2-12fd37311789/Dakshina-Bharatha-Sampradaya-Bhajans-Vol.4-Part-18

http://www.esnips.com/doc/93116b1b-2c95-4283-97e4-cadec63304fd/Dakshina-Bharatha-Sampradaya-Bhajans-Vol.4-Part-22

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