MRDANGA MANUAL A Quick Guide to Learn the Basics of Mrdanga
Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga Mrdanga 2
Content
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About
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Pranama Mantras
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Anatomy
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Service Attitude
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Slow Beat
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Congregational Chanting
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Medium Beat
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Give to Receive
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Fast Beat
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Maintenance Tips
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Dedication
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ABOUT Why This Booklet? Many devotees have the desire to learn Mrdanga but they do not know where to begin. In addition, sometimes it is not possible to learn from the leading Mrdanga players due to their busy schedules. For this reason, Kavi Chandra and Jay Krishna from Pandava Sena decided to compile this small “Mrdanga Manual� to give an insight into the basics of playing Mrdanga in a simple and easy way.
What is the Mrdanga? In Kali-Yuga, the most important and effective means of attaining love of God is through Harinama Sankirtana. This was inaugurated by Krishna himself when he appeared 500 years ago as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the Mrdanga drum to be used in kirtan. We respect the Mrdanga as an expansion of Lord Balarama. The Mrdanga drum is essential in a kirtan. It brings the sweetness and attracts the heart of the devotees to the Holy Name.
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PRANAM MANTRA Mrdanga Pranam Mantra namo jagannatha –sutaya namo mridangaya namah lavanya-rasa madhury- sahasra –guna –samyuktam namo mridangaya namo namoh namo namo namah I offer my respectful obeisances unto the son of Sri Jagannatha misra (sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu .) I offer obeisances unto the Mrdanga, from which sweet and nectar sound emanates. I offer my obeisances again and again unto the Mrdanga which has thousands of good qualities. And I offer my obeisances unto lord Baladeva who assumes the from of the Mrdanga to serve Lord Caitanya. mrdanga- brahma –rupaya lavanya –rasa-madhurisahasra-guna samyuktam mridangaya nama namah. Unto the Mrdanga, that supreme Brahman formed as a clay drum which is infused with the sweet mellows of graceful enchantment, and endowed with thousands of transcendental qualities,I bow down again and again.
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ANATOMY Large Head: Known as the Dhayan. Is represented by Gadadhara Prabhu. The sound should be clear, resonate and deep. It should not be too high, or too low.
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This page just gives you a small insight into the anatomy of the Mrdanga. By using this diagram it can help you to choose a good Mrdanga.
Body: The clay centre of the drum is represented by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself. The Mrdanga is made out of clay so that the sound can resonate more. Small Head: Known as the Bhayan. Is represented by Nityananda Prabhu. The sound should be clear and resonate like when you hit glass.
Straps: In order for the Mrdanga to make the best possible sound, ideally it should come with 32 straps.
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“ Madhava Prabhu
THE MRDANGA PLAYER SHOULD ASSIST THE KIRTAN LEADER, NOT LEAD THE KIRTAN HIMSELF. Service Attitude. It can be very easy to think of oneself as the best Mrdanga player or the one who made the kirtan amazing. Our eternal constitutional position is that we are the servants of the Lord and our only business to serve and please Krishna. In a kirtan, a Mrdanga player should be playing in the mood of glorifying and pleasing Krishna and his devotees, not raising his/her own ego. The key is to perform service in a selfless way to just please Krishna and if this is done then you will see how amazing kirtan really is.
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TE TA
DHEI
TE
SLOW BEAT TE
TA
This mantra is used when a kirtan is just beginning. It’s important at this point not to speed up until the kirtan leader is ready to speed up. This mantra has a slightly different tempo to other mantras.
Where can it be used:
TA
TA
Key:
Closed Sound Bass
Open Sound Bass
Closed Sound Treble
Open Sound Treble
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NE GHE
GHI
GHE DHA
KHI DHA
DHA
“ Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.36-37 and 12.3.51
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SIMPLE BY CONGREGATIONAL CHANTING OF KRISHNA’S HOLY NAMES, SPIRITUAL PERFECTION IS EASILY ATTAINED.
Congregational Chanting. Coming together as a group of devotees, chanting and dancing congregationally, has a much greater impact than doing it alone. It is the recommended process for this age. When this is done, you can really feel the spiritual energy uplift the entire atmosphere when devotees come together to glorify Krishna. If done properly, it allows devotees to come closer and go deeper in their relationship with Krishna and other devotees also. 15
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This mantra is used when a kirtan is at its mid point, so not too fast and not too slow. It increases the tempo from the slow beat. It is often used on Harinama.
Where can it be used:
MEDIUM BEAT Key:
Closed Sound Bass
Open Sound Bass
Closed Sound Treble
Open Sound Treble
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GHE GHE
DHA
NA
DHI
DHI NA
NA
“ Skanda Purana Caturmasya-Mahatmya
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IN THE AGE OF KALI, ONE CAN SATISFY THE SUPREME LORD VISHNU BY PERFORMING SANKIRTANA.
Give to Receive. Going out to the public is essential. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu freely went out on the streets and distributed the Holy Name to everyone. If instruments are played well, then it attracts the crowd because everybody loves music. Just by going outside and giving the Holy Name to others, infuses Krishna bhakti in to their hearts, even unknowingly. 19
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This mantra is used when a kirtan is at its peak. The important part of playing this mantra is keeping it steady and not going too quickly, unless the kirtan leader is ready.
Where can it be used:
FAST BEAT Key:
Closed Sound Bass
Open Sound Bass
Closed Sound Treble
Open Sound Treble
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TE DHI
DHIN
GHE
NA
TAK
TIPS Keep the Mrdanga off the ground, and at a constant, even temperature. If the Mrdanga bass is sounding too high then apply a little bit of water to the first ring of leather outside of the clay on the bass, and let it settle. This should bring the pitch down. If the Mrdanga bass is sounding too low then you can hit the tops of the straps with a kartal, near the bass head. This should bring the pitch up.
Get a cover for your Mrdanga. This keeps Balarama (the Mrdanga) warm, clean and well presented.
Make sure that you keep the Mrdanga off the floor when not in use. Keep it on a pillow or mat. 22
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FOR HIS DIVINE GRACE Dedication. This small booklet is simply a humble attempt to help spread the Harinama Sankirtana movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and is dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
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Please Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 27