#nirgun

Beat of India Series: Volume 2- Nirgun Singers of Malwa

Prahlad Singh Tipanya This is probably my favourite CD in the Beat of India collection. And one I shared many years ago on my old blog, Washerman’s Dog. The western districts of the Indian state Madhya Pradesh are known as Malwa. One of the many ancient kingdoms of India, the Malwa region blends Gujarati, Rajasthani and Marathi culture, language and cuisine into a unique regional…

Kabir Mela: Nirgun Singers of Malwa

With this final instalment of Kabirdas music we return back to where we started: Malwa.  To a collection of bhajans and songs released under the Beats of India series whose many discs I would highly recommend.  The artists here are the group of singers and musicians and folk preacher/philosophers who have been performing these songs for generations.  Foremost among them Prahlad Singh Tipaniyaand

Kabir Mela: Rashid Khan

For non-Indian readers, or more accurately, those not familiar with the classical music scene in India, Rashid Khan is a giant.   His position in the current musical ecosphere is massive; there is probably no other khyal singer more readily known and more popular than the maestro from Moradabad.   Please check out his website and the internetfor information (there is tons of it available) for…

A gorgeous collection of nirgun bhajans sung by the eminent artiste Ustad Rashid Khan.  When I purchased this album I automatically thought these would be Kabir dohes so associated is he with the concept of nirgun (the formless ground of all being).  In actuality, these are contemporary compositions by Kavi Narayan Agarwal.

In Hindu/Sikh philosophy there are two two types of God: sargun, which takes form and nirgun that which remains eternal and formless and void. The word, nirgun,  is made from the two roots ‘nir‘ which means ‘without’ and ‘gun‘ which means ‘material or physical form’ or ‘attribute’ or ‘quality’ or ‘merit’. So these two combined means “without form” or “without quality” or “without merit”. When referring to God it means “un-manifest” or “without attributes”, “without physical form.

No more words are needed for this lovely music.  This is music is for absorption and reflection and peace, not for analysis and description.

Track Listing:

01 Prabhu Ki Preeti Jagi

02 Subah Shaam Tera Naam Japu Main

03 Tum Ho Aadi Tum Ho Anth

04 Yeh Andhiyara Mit Jaayega

Nirgun

Kaun Thagwa Nagariya Lutal Ho Chandan Kaath Ke Banal Khatola, Tapar Dulihan Sutal Ho Utho Sakhiri Maang Sawaro, Dulha Mosey Ruthal Ho Aye Jamraja Palang Chadi Baitha, Nainan Ansuwan Tutal Ho Char Jane Mil Khath Uthain, Chahun Disi Dhu Dhu Uthal Ho Kehat Kabira Suno Bhai Sadho, Jug Se Nata Chutal Ho