The Kirtan Ghosha (Assamese: ) is a collection of poetical works, primarily composed by the medieval saint
Srimanta Sankardev in the
Brajavali
Brajavali ( Assamese: ''Brôzawôli'') was a literary language used by Sankardev (1449–1568) for some of his compositions (Borgeets and Ankia Naats) in the context of his Vaishnavite religion, Ekasarana Dharma, in Assam. Though similar langua ...
language. It was meant for community singing in the
Ekasarana
Ekasarana Dharma (literally: ''Shelter-in-One religion'') is a neo-Vaishnavite monolithic religion propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th-16th century in the Indian state of Assam. It reduced focus on vedic ritualism and focuses on d ...
religion. Its importance in the religion is second only to the primary text, the
Bhagavat of Sankardeva
The Bhagavat of Sankardev is the Assamese adaptation of the Bhagavata Purana made by Srimanta Sankardev in 15th-16th century in the regions that form present-day Assam and Cooch Behar. Though the major portions of the work was transcreated by S ...
.
Texual history
The text of the ''kirtan ghoxa'' consists of twenty six sections and thirty one ''
kirtans
Kirtana ( sa, कीर्तन; ), also rendered as Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance art ...
'' (or narratives of
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
). Sankardev had instructed
Madhabdev
Madhavdev (1489–1596) (Pron: ˈʃrɪ ˈʃrɪ ˈmɑ:dəbˌdeɪv) is an important preceptor of the Ekasarana Dharma known for his loyalty to his guru, Srimanta Sankardev as well as his artistic brilliance. Initially a sakta worshipper, he wa ...
during his last visit to Patbausi to compile the kirtans that were scattered then at different places—and they were posthumously compiled into a single text by Ramcharan Thakur, the nephew of
Madhabdev
Madhavdev (1489–1596) (Pron: ˈʃrɪ ˈʃrɪ ˈmɑ:dəbˌdeɪv) is an important preceptor of the Ekasarana Dharma known for his loyalty to his guru, Srimanta Sankardev as well as his artistic brilliance. Initially a sakta worshipper, he wa ...
. All the ''kirtans'' were composed by
Srimanta Sankardeva, except for one by Ratnakar Kandali and another by Madhabdeva. Two of Sankardeva's kirtans were later additions to Ramcharan Thakur's compilation. In some versions, there is an additional ''kirtan'' composed by
Sridhar Kandali
Sridhara Kandali was medieval vaishnavite poet from Kamrup region of Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state i ...
.
Texual description
Each ''kirtan'' consists of a ''ghoxa'' or refrain followed by a number of verses, called ''pada''s, written in different meters. Some of the meters used, with examples
''namo goparupi meghasama syama tanu , ''
''gawe pitvastra hate singa veta venu , , ''
''Jhuna''
'' pitavastra sobhe syamala kaya , ''
''tadita jadita jalada praya , , ''
''Laghu payara''
''sundara hasikaka alpa hasa , ''
''caru syama tanu pitabasa , , ''
''Dulari''
''pache trinayana divya upavana''
'' dekhilanta vidyamana , ''
''phala phala dhari jakamaka kari''
'' ache yata vriksamana , , ''
''Chabi''
''hena maha divyavana dekhilanta trinayana''
'' divya kanya eka ache tate , ''
''koti lakshmi sama nohe katashe trailokya mohe''
'' bhanta kheri kheli duyo hate , , ''
The ''Kirtans history''
# ''Chaturvimsati avatara varnana''
# ''Pasanda mardana''
# ''Namaparadha''
# ''Dhyana Varnana''
# ''Ajamilopakhyana''
# ''Prahlada carita''
# ''Haramohana''
# ''Balichalana''
# ''Gajendropakhyana''
# ''Sisulila''
# ''Rasa krida''
# ''Kamsa vadha''
# ''Gopi udhava samvada''
# ''Kujir vancha purana''
# ''Akrurar vancha purana''
# ''Jarasandhar yuddha''
# ''Kaalyavana vadha''
# ''Mucukunda stuti''
# ''Syamanta harana''
# ''Naradar krishna darsana''
# ''Vipra putra anayana''
# ''Damodara upakhyana''
# ''Daivakir putra anayana''
# ''Veda stuti''
# ''Krishna lilamala''
# ''Srikrishnar vaikuntha prayana''
# ''Bhagavatar tatparya''
# ''Uresa varnana''
Notes
References
*
External links
Text of the Kirtan Ghosa, Naam Ghosa
Ekasarana Dharma
Kirtan
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