Fundamental of Ancient Indian Music and Dance

Author(s): Sureshchandra Benarji
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Introduction
In many temples of India, we find Devadasis or girls dedicated to the worship of deities by dance and music. Even to-day countless devotees try to please God by Sanskrit hymns set to tunes. Jayadeva, the great Vaisnava devotee, has named his book Gitagovinda (the work in which Govinda is prayed to through songs). The Tantric Sahajiya cult has found passionate and profound expression in the songs of the Bengal Bauls. Caitanya not only unleashed a flood of emotion among the masses by means of Kirtana songs; but the Vaisnava devotees used to believe that Kirtana was a means of pleasing God. The saints of Dasanami sect, too, used to practise devotional songs. Ramaprasada, the noted devotee of Goddess Kāli, is known to have reached his spiritual goal through songs. In fact, the uncommon characteristics of his songs and their melody cause ecstatic delight to those who have even a grain of devotional fervour. Vivekananda's spiritual songs charmed even his master, Rāmakṛṣṇa. A large number of spiritual songs of Tagore testifies to the spiritual aspect of his multi-faceted personality. The 'cruel compassionate one' (nithura daradi) of Atulaprasāda, the immortal lawyer-singer of Bengal, seems to be felt by us in the ups and downs of our lives. It is interesting to note that, according to the Yajnavalkya-smṛti (Prāyaścitta—115), the knowledge of luteplaying, Śruti, Jāti and Tāla is easily conducive to salvation.
Love is one of the primal intincts of human beings. In many cases, music has not only engendered love, but also fostered it. Instances are not rare of uncouth girls having earned the love of young men simply by means of the gift of a pleasant voice. The full-throated song of the loving wife has, in many cases, enthralled her unruly husband addicted to alcoholic drink and even to other women.
Like Sanskrit Kavya, music has also superhuman rasa. We are naturally averse to such things as cause pain to our hearts. But, we love such literary compositions as depict a tragic picture; the tragic elements in literature, instead of rousing repugnance, add to its relish. Similarly, as the poet says, our