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What Is Raaga Maala?

Harry Haller

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Gurfateh

Oh well another heated debate with family. I am not listening to enough Shabads! Apparently I should stop listening to that heavy metal shetal, and play Shabads. My defence and argument is that I read Bani, research it, debate it and do my best to practice it. Whereas I find it hard to extract any message from listening to Shabads. Of course it can be a pleasant experience, it just is not for me, certainly from a learning point of view. Today however, a veritable strike has been made. Raga Mala was mentioned, but I cannot seem to get my head around it, is it that the musical notes are 'holy' that they compliment the Bani, that by listening one can enlighten oneself without understanding?

I would be grateful for clarification. thank you
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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Re: What is Raaga Maala

There is RaagMaala...and then theres raagmaala....

The First one is a HOTCH POTCH Cut and Paste job done by an unprofessional...he CUT out a few contiguous parts of a LONGER POEM penned by a Poet called madhav nal..who wrote along poem called Kaam Kandla Raagmaala..around the time of Akbar's reign.
IN the ORIGINAL POEM...the NUMBERS are all in Order..that is they begin with [1] followed by [2]......[199]. followed by [200]........[250] ..followed by [251] etc etc... BUT the CUT and Paste Con artist afraid of being found out/or just plain IGNORANT...pasted the Parts and numbered them ALL..[1]...[1]....[1]...[1]...[1]....
( The KabioBach benti Chaupaii " The POET'S SAID BENTI IN CHAUPAII FORM"....is another suhc Copy cate Cut and Paste con perpetrated on sikhs..this Cut and Paste is REMOVED from its ORIGINAL Place in the CHARITAR PAKHOYAN SERIES of DG..where it exists with proper sequences of NUMBERING....BUT when Cut and Pasted as Kabio bach benti Chaupaii for Nitnem..its NUMBERS are CHANGED to [1]...[2]....3 and so on..Here the Con Artist apperars a bit more smart...than the one who cut pasted Ragamala at the end of SGGS.

1. Apart form the Senseless numbering ( comaprd to the Ultra fine tuned numbering system applied by Guur Arjun ji to SGGS making it FOOL PROOF to tampering/additions/subtractions/alterraions etc...) the RAAGS listed in something supposedly a Raag Index of SGGS has Raags that re NOT used in SGGS due to their "context"...Raags used by Courtesans dancing in fornt of Kings where alcohol is drunk liberally etc are NOT used in SGGS (obvioulsy)....BUT those RAAGS are LISTED in this Raagmaala preciely becasue its STOLEN out of a Courtesan darbar Poem written by a court poet to his beautiful dancing gilr friend in front of him....and RAAGS that are used in SGGS are MISSING CONSCIPICOUSLY from this supposed Rag index of SGGS.
Thirdly when GURU Nanak ji declares Sri Raag as SHIROMANI Raag..the Raag Maala author declares BHAIRO to be Shiromani Raag...Sri Raag comes FIRST in SGGS..Bhairo raag comes FIRST in RM.

2. The Raag Maala author being a court poet..imagines Raags and Ragnnies and their children...as HUMANS/or DEVTAS...while this concept is not as per Gurmatt...a Raag is just a Raag..a musical composition a vehicle for the Shabad to ride on..This would be normal for a society where trees are worshipped..monkeys are gods..snakes and rats are worshipped as Avtaars...so Sri raag could marry and have a Raagni wife and raag sons and daughters..blah blah..ok thing...

3. RaagMaala supporters ( the Brahmgyanis and snats derawallahs obviously..who eose..) also have a tall tale attached...IT seems when the SGGS was COMPLETED and SEALED SHUT..by the Mundawnni mohr Slok Mh 5 Tera Kita Jatoh nahin...the Raags, their wives and kids all rushed down form "heaven swarag..." and fell at Guru Arjun Jis feet..begging for a Place of HONOUR in the Granth that would be GURU and worshipped...so in order to satisfy them..Guru ji wrote a Raag Maala and added it to the back of SGGS...what this story cnat explain is WHY Guru ji ADDED thsoe "raags" not used in SGGS..and even MORE IMPORTANTLY...LEFT OUT Raags USED in SGGS !! Were those RAAGS SLEEPING or what ?? Here we have raags not even used being added to a granth to be worshipped for ever..honoured....and those raags USED being LEFT OUT and not a whimper ?? Isnt it said Rightly that LIARS dont have FEET...JHOOTH de Pair nahin Hundeh..rings so true here...How to explain this anamoly ?? This TRAVESTY of JUSTICE and FAIR PLAY ?? Our Guur being so carelsess, unfair and unjust ?? we just accept this {censored} and bull story regardeless of what it means to the Honour of our Guru Ji...

Even Shakespaeare has said..IF MUSIC be the FOOD of LOVE...PLAY ON. MUSIC is VITAL IN GURMATT....our Guru Granth Ji is the worlds one and only granth all in POETRY set to SPECIFIC Raags, melodies, tunes and Time limited. Morning Raag is ASA..and so on...Deepak Raag cna light a lamp...megh raag can make clouds drop rain..IF sung expertly is an accepted traditional beleif..how far true...no idea..BUT what I DO KNOW is RAAG can BRING TEARS t my eyes...esp DHADEE VAARS sung properly always make my BLOOD boil...JOSH is so automatic...i wonder whay and how..ha ha
The Other day while climbing the stairs of a Gurdwara..I distinctly heard the LAAVAN being SUNG TWICE...on coming into the darbaar sahib i saw the Granthi reading the Laavans much more Musically in SUHI Raag than the Ragi jatha who did Kirtan of the Laavan in the ususal melody which is NOT the SUHI Rag but a hotch potch popualr way all ragis sing the laavan...The Granthi read BETTER...with just his VOICE !!
Firts the Ragis DROPPEd the use of the more difficult to learn Saajs..instruments like sarangee, and the stringed instruments..the VAJA was MUCH MUCH EASIER...now the even LAZIER Raagis have the modern Electronic Pianos..they feed in the melody and the lyrics..the keys light upa nd play automatically...no wonder the Takhat damdama Snagat compalined that the Ragi Jatha had been caught LISTENING TO HINDI FILM SONGS via EARPHONES...while they were DOING KIRTAN ON STAGE for the sangat !!! Their Automatic Pianos were playing the kirtan..while they enjoyed private sessions via earphones...attached to Ipods or tablets ...
 

Harry Haller

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Re: What is Raaga Maala

My knowledge of Shabad mechanics is rusty to say the least, so please bear with me.

The tunes that Shabads are sung to is also written down, where would this be?

For a Shabad to be as per Sikhi, does it have to be sung to a specific tune, called a Raag?

I have read somewhere that Shabads sung in the correct Raag have a resonance almost a hypnotic effect that allows the Bani to be almost absorbed, comments please

thank you :)
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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Re: What is Raaga Maala

My knowledge of Shabad mechanics is rusty to say the least, so please bear with me.

The tunes that Shabads are sung to is also written down, where would this be?

For a Shabad to be as per Sikhi, does it have to be sung to a specific tune, called a Raag?

I have read somewhere that Shabads sung in the correct Raag have a resonance almost a hypnotic effect that allows the Bani to be almost absorbed, comments please

thank you :)
Go to this link Ji..and click on ay Shabad..in its Original raag...then tell us how it feels.. btw Gurmat gian group is one of esteemed SPN members..

http://gurmatgiangroup.com/about/
 

Harry Haller

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Re: What is Raaga Maala

Go to this link Ji..and click on ay Shabad..in its Original raag...then tell us how it feels.. btw Gurmat gian group is one of esteemed SPN members..

http://gurmatgiangroup.com/about/

but that would be playing into their hands <looking at family photo>

lol lol lol

Im damned now Gyaniji thanks a lot, because you know what is coming next don't you, I know they read this forum, so I will now get a double barrel of
'ah we tell you to listen, and you don't, but that Gyaniji from SPN tells you, and suddenly its wonderful'

thanks again!
 

namjiwankaur

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Nov 14, 2010
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Re: What is Raaga Maala

Gurfateh

Ishna ji, thank you. I have always contemplated on how sound effects the heart and mind. One thing about Sikhism that matches me so completely is that I have used songs for a deeper prayerful experience. And...that is how come I have loved prayer times as Sikhs experience them.

Formal prayer practices of various religions always made me stressed in the end. Doing my banis is so different. I can't recite them in Gurmukhi, but I like listening to them recited in various recordings.

:tablakudi:



To my knowledge, if the shabad is to be sung in a particular tune it is written at the beginning. Try searching on www.srigranth.org for English 'sung to the tune' and you'll find a list of them.
 
Sep 4, 2005
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Re: What is Raaga Maala

"For a Shabad to be as per Sikhi, does it have to be sung to a specific tune, called a Raag?"

Pardon me,
I just want to add here;

A Raag is Not a 'One Specific Tune'. There is always a possibility of Infinite number of Tunes in a Raag. And every tune may give a different feel and effect.

Example:
1. This Link takes you to a page describing the rules for the use for Raag Sarung:
http://gurmatgiangroup.com/raag-sarang/

In this page there are 5 different links to Shabads all sung in Raag Sarung!

2. This Link takes you to a page describing the rules for the use for Raag Gauri:
http://gurmatgiangroup.com/raag-gauri/
In this page there are 2 different links to Shabads sung in Raag Gauri!

3. This Link takes you to a page describing the rules for the use for Raag Gujri:
http://gurmatgiangroup.com/raag-gujri/
In this page there are 2 different links to Shabads sung in Raag Gujri!

Likewise there are many examples ....

The effect of singing a Shabad in a particular raag is highly dependent on how it is sung!
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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Todays Hukmanmah Explanation on ZTV Punjabi gave me a huge shock.....Guru ji uses the words GANDHEH...and VEAINN - gandeh means FILTHY and Veainn are Ladies wailing at a death...
And what are these Filthy Wailings...?? THOSE that lead one away from WAHEGURU and attach you to this world...and Wailings as everyone know are a group of old ladies screaming and beating their chests ( mostly for show only) surrounding a dead body...( SPECIFICALLY BANNED IN SRM and replaced by KIRTAN ONLY )..

So I got to Thinking...in GURU Nanak Jis time...what would be such "Filthy wailings"...and i guess that would be the popular love ballads Heer Ranjha sassee punnu mirza sahiban etc etc...AND IF those seem like FILTHY WAILS to Guru Ji...JUST IMAGINE what Words Guru Ji would use IF he heard one of Miss POOJA's SONGS..or watched Diljeet Video..or saw Honey Singh singing Lukk twenty eight kurree dadhh..punjabi kurrian second hand maal ah....i SHUDDERED...EVEN GURU JI would be LOST FOR WORDS !!! SIMPLY SPEECHLESS !!!..esp since in comparison to miss pooja diljeet or honey Mirza sahiban or Heer Waris Shah or damodars Heer.. is supposedly Cultural and Punjabi Heritage..blah blah and family story...see how TIMES have CHANGED.... TODAY even Eminent RAGIS whsoe sole Profession is RAAG and Original Vaars of Gurbani..are saying more and more frequently that Original raags of SGGS sound so "pathetic..slow..not catchy at all..and youngsters dont like them...thats is AKIRTGHANNTA of the Highest Order..Guru Ji made the PERFECT SUMEL of RAAG+SHABAD...one is the Body the other the SOUL...BOTH run like twin wheels of a vehicle...in harmony and tandem...one cannot separate one form the other...
SIKHS have to wake UP and feel the pulse of the new generation...we need to go back to our ROOTS...GURBANI in ORIGINAL RAAG..NO COMPROMISES.
 
Sep 4, 2005
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Very rightly said Gyani ji.
We Sikhs need to wake up from a Deep Slumber ! Its is not the fault of our youngsters. The fault lies squarely on the Raagis of today and yesteryears!

If our Raagis say that people do not like Gurbani Keertan in Raags. The fault lies with the raagis. It is their capacity of singing in raags that is deficient !
 

Admin

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Jun 1, 2004
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Bani Sunnan Naal v bande da mann Saaf hunda hai...

Ate fer apo aap usch Bani Samjan di Surat Ho Jandi hai..

dat wat i thnk:mundaviolin:

Sukhmeet Singh Ji

To remove any language barriers while contemplating, the official language of SPN is spoken English. The members at SPN include many readers, who have virtually no background on reading/understanding Gurumukhi or Punjabi language. Being a responsible member, avoid posting only Gurumukhi/Punjabi text in your posts.

Next time we would have no option but to delete such posts.

Thank you for your understanding and consideration!

:)
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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First the Raagis picked up the Vaaja (harmonium) from the DUNG HEAP ( see this instrument is 100% present at ******khana dances..street beggars use it...its the worst instrument ever..Court Dance sessions, dancing girls sessions, etc etc...qwalis also use this vaaja 100%...

Then they DROPPED COMPLETELY the Original raags of SGGS and prefer to play ONLY simplified FILMY TUNES...Raagis even at PINNACLE of SIKHI darbar sahib Amritsar rely 99% on VAAJA ONLY and those who can play the stringed instruments or Original Raags are MINISCULE IN NUMBER.....and such KACHEY RAAGEES are being wholesale EXPORTED all over..and since they KNOW NOTHING exceptionally GOOD..they concentrate more on DRESS..tying matching pugghs cholas and rival each other trying to out do like ENTERTAINERS..not Gurmatt Raagis..

Then they turn around and tell us.."what" we need/want is what they have ( NOTHING).
Everyoen seesm to be telling us SIKHS what we need/want....

1. The kachah Derawallah Brahmgyani tells us..YOU DONT NEED to read Gurbani..we will do it for you..just PAY us..we will do the needful...

2 The kacha Ragi tells us..enjoy this Filmy Kirtan...true raag is boring...

3. The kacha Kathawachak tells us..Gurbani is too difficult to learn..just listen to my SUPERFICIAL meanings..simple and easy...be entertained by my sakhis, tall tales, waddeh abbaji miracles....

4. The Kacha pathi tells us..I will do the paath ardass..just pay and go home...everything will be OK...

5. The Dhaarna dhadriwallah types tell us..sing along with me MIRZA STYLE Asa di vaar...the regular one is boring and old hat... Gurbani is so difficult..two liner JINGLES are so easy to follow..and even if you make a mistake...Guru ji wont be "angry" because its NOT GURBANI....ha ha ha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tVrDUm_LXKI
 

Harry Haller

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Gyaniji

many thanks for your link, I did listen to it, it was serene and peaceful, it was not as hard as studying the written word, you have to use your brain for that, it was more pleasurable than studying, it left me feeling peaceful and calm, but I would be lying if I said I had learnt anything.
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

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Gyaniji

many thanks for your link, I did listen to it, it was serene and peaceful, it was not as hard as studying the written word, you have to use your brain for that, it was more pleasurable than studying, it left me feeling peaceful and calm, but I would be lying if I said I had learnt anything.

Harry Ji..
most welcome jios.
on the Internet also there are pearls and jewels to be found..if we only take the trouble to look...similar to the pearls in SGGS..we have to work at finding them..PIO DADDEH da KHOL dittah Khazanah...Enjoy Gurmatt Gian Kirtan Blog.Any further questions can be addressed to Manbir Singh ji our member as well.
 

Ishna

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May 9, 2006
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Gyaniji

many thanks for your link, I did listen to it, it was serene and peaceful, it was not as hard as studying the written word, you have to use your brain for that, it was more pleasurable than studying, it left me feeling peaceful and calm, but I would be lying if I said I had learnt anything.

The same thing happens to me at Gurdwara during kirten - they repeat the same line over and over but it's like 'keep reading other lines!!'.
 

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