Swami Harballabh was a
Hindustan
''Hindūstān'' ( English: /ˈhɪndustæn/ or /ˈhɪndustɑn/, ; ) was a historical region, polity, and a name for India, historically used simultaneously for northern Indian subcontinent and the entire subcontinent, used in the modern day ...
i classical vocalist and a saint.
In 1875, he established the first Hindustani classical music festival in the world, known as
Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan
Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan is the oldest festival of Hindustani Classical Music in the world, which is celebrated every year at the sacred seat of music, the samadhi of Baba Harballabh – a saint and an exponent of Hindustani Classical Music. ...
.
He was born to an affluent family at a village in
Bajwara
Bajwara is an old historic town situated in Hoshiarpur District. It is birthplace of Mata Sundri, second wife of Guru Gobind Singh. This is also the birthplace of Sher Shah Suri, Todar Mal from the Jerath family, and Mahatama Hansraj.
History
...
. He was a student of
Swami Tulja Gir, who encouraged him to practice art and music.
Although Baba Harballabh came from a long line of saints who sang
devotional songs
A devotional song is a hymn that accompanies religious observances and rituals. Traditionally devotional music has been a part of Hindu music, Jewish music, Buddhist music, Islamic music and Christian music.
Each major religion has its own trad ...
, he went on to formal training under Pandit Duni Chand of Ujahan (now in Sialkot district) and maintained the guru-shishya parampara at Devi Talab, where scores of disciples learned the art from him and other masters.
Swami Harballabh had many disciples, and he attempted to instill a love of music in them. The place where Swami Hariballabh used to sing became a Kashi for musicians and players of classical music.
Baba Harballabh also translated Raag Darpan and wrote Sangeet Dapran.
References
Bhajan singers
Hindustani singers
{{India-musician-stub