Glossary of Indian Music (Part -23) Manipuri Sankirtana

By: Gurumayum Shivachandra Sharma
Cultural Activist
1. Kirtana: In Sanskrit words, the term Kirtana refers to the act of narrating, reciting, telling or describing an idea or story regarding the Hindu religion. So, it can be said that, the Kirtana is a devotional singing performance practice by the Hindu communities by chanting the names of the Lord before worshiping at the temple or homes.There are four types of Kirtana, according to their natures, namely, a) Goona Kirtana, b) Leela Kirtana, c) Naam Kirtana, and d) Nogor Kirtana respectively. These singings of Kirtana are closely related to the Dhrupada Dhamar traditions of ancient Indian traditions.
2. Goon Kirtana: Goon Kirtana is a type of Kirtana describing the glories of the Lord by singing in a poetic form or narrating in a devotional moods. According to the Vaisnava Cult, in this Kirtana, the glories of Radha Krishna, Prabhu Ramchandra, Shree Gouranga Mahaprabhu or any else who are eminent in the religious prospects can be sung by the Kirtana singers. So, according to some Kirtana Gharanas, this Kirtana can be sub divided as, a) Goura Rup, b) Krishna Rup, c) Brindavana Varnan, d) Radha Avisar, e) Kali Rup, etc,.
3. Leela Kirtana: Leela Kirtana is also a type of Kirtana describing the whole stories of a Leela by singing in a poetic form or narrating in a devotional moods. In this Kirtana, the story of Radha Krishna, Prabhu Ramchandra, Shree Gouranga Mahaprabhu or any else who are eminent in the religious prospects can be sung by the Kirtana singers. So, this Kirtana is also known as the Rasa Kirtana by some Kirtana scholars. Some commonly known Leela Kirtana are, a) Nimai Sannyasa, b) Gostha Leela, c) Prabash Khanda, d) Nishanta, e) Bhakta Prahada, f)Jogi Besh, etc,.
4. Naam Kirtana: Naam Kirtana is also a type of Kirtana describing simply the name of the Lord in remembrance of Him by singing in a poetic form with a devotional moods. According to the Goudiya Vaisnava traditions, this Kirtana is mostly perform in the name of Lord Shree Krishna and Shree Gouranga Mahaprabhu only by the Kirtana singers. So, this Kirtana is considered as Sollo Naam or Harinaam Mahamantra or sometime as Prathana by some Kirtana scholars, according to their needs. There is no time to perform this Kirtana, it can be sung anytime anywhere.
5. Nogor Kirtana:The word Nogor means town or city in India. So, Nogor Kirtana is also a sub type of Kirtana describing or chanting in the name of the Lord in processionacross a town or city by a numbers of Vaisnava communities by singing in a poetic form with a devotional moods. In this Kirtana, mostly in the name of Lord Shree Krishna and Shree Gouranga Mahaprabhu are popularly sung by the Kirtana singers. In this Kirtana procession, mostly the Dasa Avatar of poet Jayadeva, Nama Kirtana, Norotomo Lalsa, etc, are widely sung by the singers.
6. Sankirtana:The word Sankirtana is a combined word of “San or Sam or Sampurna” which means collection or complete and Kirtana refers to the act of narrating, riciting, telling or describing an idea or story regarding the Hindu religion. So, the Sankirtana is a Kirtana singing style of performance practice by a limited performers in agroup mode within a limitation of time and compositions according to the situations. It is also a devotional practice perform by chanting as a full sacrifice (Yadgya). According to Hindu Shastra, it is also strongly believe that, Sankirtana can only achieve the Salvation (Moksha) in this era of Kali Yuga. Therefore, it is regarded as the Maha Yadgya. During this performance, the sounds of Vocal, Khol Mridanga, Ramtal, Sankh Dvani and Ghanta are mandatory to be synchronised to complete a Sankirtana performance.
7. Manipuri Sankirtana: Manipuri Sankirtana is also a kind of Sankirtana mainly practice by the Manipuri Goudiya Vaisnava communities as a ritual chanting perform. In a temple or home courtyards. Manipuri Sankirtana has also different kinds, namely, a) Manipuri Manoharshai Sankirtana, b) Ariba Pala, c) Nata Sankirtana, d) Dhop Pala, e) Raseshwori Pala, etc,. These Sankirtana are widely perform in the valley area of Imphal, Jiribam, Moreh of Manipur; Guwahati, Silchar, Cachar, Hojai of Assam; Nabadweep of West Bengal; Tripura; Sylhet of Bangladesh; Mandalay of Myanmar; where the Manipuri peoples settled in a large numbers. These rare comlexart form of Manipuri Sankirtana was in scripted in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanities in the year 2013.
8. Manipuri Manoharshai Sankirtana: Manipuri Manoharshai Sankirtana is the oldest part of Manipuri Sankirtana having a historical records ofmore than 550 years in Manipur. It is completely a Manipuri form of Sankirtana different from that of Bengali Kirtana. But, the only similar is the name “Manoharshai”. According to records, this Sankirtana was introduced during the time of Meidingu Kiyamba (1467-1508) from the incidence of Vishnu Aarti. In this Sankirtana tradition, Ramtal and Manipuri Khol Pung remarks it’s beauty and signature.
9. Ariba Pala: In Manipuri dialects, the word Ariba means old and Pala are those who performs in a Sankirtana. So, the Ariba Pala is also a part of Manipuri Sankirtana who was mainly performed in the Ramandi Cult. This Sankirtana is also known as the Bangdesh Pala or Leibak Chaba Pala. From some records, this Sankirtana tradition was introduced during the reign of Meidingu Charairongba (1697-1709). Meitei Pung Achouba or Meetei Pung Achouba and Kartal Achouba remarks it’s speciality. Nowadays this Sankirtana became dieng art form in the State.
10. Nata Sankirtana: Nata Sankirtana is also a part of Manipuri Sankirtana perform in various occassions in vast numbers. Nowadays, this Sankirtana dominates all other forms of Sankirtana in Manipur. According to records, this Sankirtana was also introduced during the reign of Meidingu Chingthangkhomba (1748-1799), popularly known as the Rajashree Bhagyachandra, from the inaugural event of Jagoi Rasa (Manipuri Classical Dance) before the Shree Shree Govindajee, Mainipureshwar Maharaja. In this Sankirtana tradition, Meitei Pung or Meetei Pung, Kartal, Kokyet with Petruk, Pung Cholom, etc,. remarks it’s speciality.