The Music Behind the Ecstatic Chanting (part one)

By Mahanidhi Swami

In this series of articles we will describe all the traditional musical instruments, including hands, used by Sri ChaitanyaMahaprabhu and His followers in the GaudiyaVaisnava tradition to broadcast Sri Krishna’s Holy Names in Sri HarinamaSankirtanaki jai!

Most of the information here comes from authorized Sanskrit and Bengali works expertly translated by our GodbrotherŚrīmanDaśarathaSutaDāsa.

The primary instruments used in saṅkīrtana are the khol [mṛdaṅga] and karatāls [hand cymbals]. Sometimes a horn [shingāor viṣāna] is also played. Other essential items of kīrtana are hāta-tālī [clapping the hands], nṛtya [dancing], and lunthan[rolling on the ground].

Mṛdaṅga
Clay Drum

The khol [mṛdaṅga] is only made of clay, and if a drum is made of any substance other than clay, it cannot be called a khol. Kīrtana is not completely pure [viśuddha] without being accompanied by the khol. The mrdanga speaks the syllables “dhiktān, dhiktān, dhigetān.”Paṇḍitas of ancient times have indicated that when the mṛdaṅga makes this bol it is condemning the material world by saying:

“To those people who have no devotion for the lotus feet of the son of Yaśodā; To those whose tongues are not lovingly attached to speaking of the transcendental qualities of the beloved of the cowherd girls; To those whose ears are not fond of hearing the kathā of the charming qualities of ŚrīKṛṣṇa’s divine pastimes, ‘Fie unto them! Fie unto them!! Fie unto them!!!’ Thus speaks themṛdaṅga during kīrtana.”

It is understood that during kīrtana, when this bol is heard being spoken by the mṛdaṅga, such persons [as mentioned above] are being condemned, whereas others are being auspiciously engaged in hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana.

By the use of the mṛdaṅga, this benefit is acheived.

Traditionally, in kīrtana, only the khol and karatāls are used because they are easily available.
Playing these common instruments, all classes of people, even the most destitute, can enjoy the bliss of bhāgavat-saṅgīta. When music is made with the khol and karatāls combined, a mohinīśakti [potency of enchantment] is produced that is naturally able to intoxicate the mind.

The sound of the khol creates auspiciousness exactly like the sound of the conch shell. Inauspiciousness cannot remain wherever the khol and karatāls resound.

(An excerpt form Appreciating Navadvipa Dhama by Mahanidhi Swami)

Sri HarinamaSankirtanaki jai!
NitaiGauraPremanandeki jai!