Topic: Sri Raga

[Nichi]

I have very few of these images.

Splendidly enthroned, of peerless beauty and lovely as the autumn moon, he sits hearing stories from Narada and Tumvara (Tumbaru)

By the great sages he is called Sri Raga King.

He sits in a beautiful mansion and a woman waves a flywhisk over him.

Contemplating the splendour of the Sri Raga, the groom is perfectly concentrated in mind.

WHILE the first verse quoted above describes the splendour of Sri Raga, the second captures the psychological effect of the raga on the hero in the Rajasthani (Jaipur) Ragamala painting in opaque watercolour and gold on paper.

The Sri Raga painting is a depiction of Krishna as he sits with his consort and listens to a bearded musician. This singer is identified as Narada, who is accompanied by a horse-headed musician known as the celestial kinnara (literally, "what [kind of] man"). He appears only in the imagery of Sri Raga Ragamalas. Raga Sri is also projected to represent the goddess Lakshmi and pastoral scenes associated with the fortunes of harvest. The musician who is under the sway of this variation will pour out from his heart the luscious bounty from the green fields.

~The Hindu



(It's not always Krishna.)

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

[Michael]

I see you are beginning to peer over the lip of India's impenetrable depths. No matter how much you discover, it just becomes more and more incredible and vast. The more you know about it, the less you know.

[Nichi]

I see you are beginning to peer over the lip of India's impenetrable depths. No matter how much you discover, it just becomes more and more incredible and vast. The more you know about it, the less you know.

It's incredibly complex! (I don't think I ever thought it was simple, heheh.)
There's the matter of the Ragas ... and there are different breakdowns of those. Then the wives and sons... Then, discussion all over about the almost-different schools of thought, between the paintings and the actual music. The musicians don't know what to make of the paintings... Differing interpretations as to the darkness and lightness in the images ... some who claim a magical dimension... it's all quite thick.   

[Nichi]

[Jahn]

I see you are beginning to peer over the lip of India's impenetrable depths. No matter how much you discover, it just becomes more and more incredible and vast. The more you know about it, the less you know.

As we have always said, the greater the frontside - the greater the backside.

[Nichi]

Narada

Wiki:
Narada (Sanskrit: नारद, nārada means Naara = Wisdom + Da = Giver) or Narada Muni is a divine sage from the Vaisnava tradition, who plays a prominent role in a number of the Puranic texts, especially in the Bhagavata Purana, and in the Ramayana. Narada is the author of the Pāñcarātra, a standard text for Vaisnava's priests which contains the technical and philosophical meanings of the temple Deity worship. Narada is portrayed as a travelling monk with the ability to visit distant worlds or planets (lokas in Sanskrit). He carries a veena as his musical instrument—and not a Tampura as is commonly assumed[1] [2]—which he uses to accompany his singing of hymns, prayers and mantras as an act of devotion to his Lord, Vishnu. In the Vedas, Narada is described as a saintly traveler who sometimes while remembering Vishnu by singing His Glories through his Brahminical holy thread breaks, because of bodily expansions through the emotions he feels of pure bhakti (love of God) in separation, which he derives from his unalloyed devotional service. In the Vaishnava tradition he is held in special reverence for his chanting and singing of the names Hari and Narayana and his promoting of the process of devotional service, known as bhakti yoga as explained within the text accredited to Narada himself, known as the Narada Bhakti Sutra. Narada is also said to have orated the maxims of the Nāradasmṛti (100BC-400CE), which has been called the “juridical text par excellence” and represents the only Dharmaśāstra text which deals solely with juridical matters and ignoring those of righteous conduct and penance.[3]

Enlightenment

The Bhagavata Purana describes the story of Narada's spiritual enlightenment: He was the primary source of information among Gods, and is believed to be the 1st journalist on earth. Though he never married but claimed he have 60 wives. In his previous birth Narada was a gandharva (angelic being) who had been cursed to be born on an earthly planet due to some offense. He was born as the son of a maid-servant of some particularly saintly priests (brahmins). The priests, being pleased with both his and his mother's service, blessed him by allowing him to eat some of their food (prasad) previously offered to their lord, Vishnu.

Gradually Narada received further blessings from these sages and heard them discussing many spiritual topics. After his mother died, he decided to roam the forest in search of enlightenment in understanding the 'Supreme Absolute Truth'.

Reaching a tranquil forest location, after quenching his thirst from a nearby stream, he sat under a tree in meditation (yoga), concentrating on the paramatma form of Vishnu within his heart as he had been taught by the priests he had served. After some time Narada experienced a vision wherein Narayan (Vishnu) appeared before him, smiling, and spoke "that despite having the blessing of seeing him at that very moment, Narada would not be able to see his (Vishnu's) divine form again until he died". Narayan further explained that the reason he had been given a chance to see his form was because his beauty and love would be a source of inspiration and would fuel his dormant desire to be with the lord again. After instructing Narada in this manner, Vishnu then disappeared from his sight. The boy awoke from his meditation both thrilled and disappointed.

For the rest of his life Narada focused on his devotion, meditation upon and worship to Vishnu. After his death Vishnu then blessed him with the spiritual form of "Narada" as he eventually became known. In many Hindu scriptures Narada is considered a saktyavesa-avatara or partial-manifestation (Avatar) of God, empowered to perform miraculous tasks on Vishnu's behalf.

[Nichi]

Tumburu

Wiki:

In Hindu mythology, Tumburu (Sanskrit: तुम्बुरु), also spelt Tumbaru (तुम्बरु) and Tumbara (तुम्बर) is the best among Gandharvas or celestial musician and is sometimes described as the best of singers. He is described to perform in the courts of gods Kubera and Indra as well as sing praises of god Vishnu. He leads the Gandharvas in their singing.

Birth and role

Tumburu is described the son of sage Kashyapa and his wife Pradha. Among the sons of Kashayapa, his four Gandharva sons Tumburu, Bahu, Haha and Huhu were renowned for their sweet and pleasant speech.[1]

Tumburu often described as the best among Gandharvas or celestial musicians.[1][2] A "mighty singer and musician", he sings in presence of gods.[3] Besides Narada and Gopa, he is regarded the king of songs.[2] Bhagavata Purana considers Narada to be the teacher of Tumburu.[4] The scripture mentions that Tumburu accompanied him on a visit to the court of Yudhishtira (See Mahabharata section). Narada and Tumburu are said to sing the glories of god Vishnu, the Unborn One.[4][5] Adbhuta Ramayana mentions that Tumburu was the best of all singers and was rewarded by god Vishnu. Narada, a devotee of Vishnu, became jealous of Tumburu. Vishnu tells Narada that Tumburu was dearer to him as he loved songs of praise, rather than austerities that were performed by Narada and sent Narada to an owl named Ganabandhu, to learn music. After learning from the owl, Narada sets to conquer Tumburu. When he reaches Tumburus's house, he sees Tumburu surrounded by wounded men and women, who he discovers are musical Ragas and Raginis, injured by his bad singing. Humiliated, Narada leaves and finally learns proper singing from god Krishna's wives.[6]
Tumburu (second from left, standing) with (from left) Lakshmana, Narada, Vibhishana watch as Rama and his wife Sita worship god Shiva at Rameshvaram.

Tumburu is mentioned as the courtier of Indra - the god-king of heaven - as well as of Kubera, the god of riches. He is described as a follower of Kubera; his songs usually heard when passing Kubera's abode on Gandhamandana mountain.[1] Tumburu is described as the special friend of Kubera and leads the Gandharavas in music and singing, which is performed by Gandharvas and Kinnaras. Tumburu is described as a "lord of Gandharvas", along with other lords like Haha-Huhu, Parvata, Citraratha. Tumburu is sometimes mentioned as a Muni (sage), rather than a Gandharva.[2] Tumburu is also described to lead Gandharvas to watch the battles of men and goes to Mount Meru to worship with the divine sage Narada and other Gandharvas.[2]

Tumburu is also described as the preceptor of the apsara - divine dancer - Rambha. He is sometimes described as wedded to her. He only suffers a curse due to Rambha (See Ramayana section). Though thought to be as "the martial hero" of the Gandharvas, "yet one of the few yielding to love".[1][2] In another reference, he is described to have two daughters Manovati and Sukesha, called Pancacudas collectively and who ride the Sun's chariot in the months of Chaitra and Madhu (Vaisakha). Tumburu is said to preside over months Madhu and Madhava (Magha).[5]

In South India, Tumburu is often portrayed horse-faced. He holds the instrument vina that he plays as he sings. In another hand, he holds wooden cymbals, that he beats to maintain the rhythm. A South Indian legend records that Tumburu performed severe austerities and pleased god Shiva. Tumburu asked Shiva to grant him a horse-face, immortality, liberty to travel the universe, skill in music and singing and ability to reside with and serve Shiva. Shiva blessed him and granted the boons that he sought.[3]
[edit] In the Mahabharata
Narada (left) and Tumburu bow to goddess Sarasvati, the goddess of music and learning.

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Tumburu appears in many instances related with the Pandava brothers - the heroes of the epic. Tumburu once gifted Yudhisthira a hundred horses and also attended his Ashvamedha yagna ("horse-sacrifice"). He also stayed in Yudhisthira's court for some days.[1][2]

Tumburu also attended the birth celebrations of the middle Pandava, Arjuna and welcomed him in Svarga (heaven) when he came to meet his father, Indra. "A friend of Arjuna", Tumburu also keenly watched Arjuna's battle fought against the Kauravas - the villains of the epic and cousins of the Pandavas - on the side of Virata. Tumburu also granted Arjuna his Gandharva weapon.[1][2]

Tumburu also granted Shikhandi-an ally of the Pandavas- his war-horses.[2]
[edit] In the Ramayana: Viradha

The Ramayana mentions that Rama - the Avatar of god Vishnu and his brother Lakshmana encountered a demon called Viradha, while in exile in the forest. This demon was the cursed Tumburu. Tumburu once offended Kubera by not bringing Rambha before Kubera at the stipulated time. Enraged, Kubera cursed him to be born as a demon (Rakshasa). Kubera also decreed that Tumburu would be freed from the curse when Rama would slay him. Accordingly, Tumburu was born as Viradha, the son of giant Jaya and his wife Shatahrada. Viradha had two long arms and a fierce appearance. He rushed at Sita, Rama's wife and caught hold of her and starting running again. Rama and Lakshamana followed him, compelling him to set Sita down. Then, they sat on the demon's shoulders and chopped off his arms. As Viradha was still alive, the brothers decided to bury him alive. Viradha then told his story to Rama and acquired the form of Tumburu, liberated from the curse and returned the home of the Gandharvas.[1]

Other legends

The Kathasaritsagara mentions that Tumburu's curse was responsible for the separation of the couple - king Pururavas and the apsara Urvashi. Pururavas was once visiting heaven, when Rambha was performing before her preceptor Tumburu. Pururavas insulted her by finding a fault in her dance. When Tumburu questioned Pururavas's knowledge of the divine dances of heaven, the king responded that his wife Uravashi had taught him more than what Tumburu knew about the subject. Agitated, Tumburu cursed the king that he would be separated from Urvashi till he performs penance to Vishnu. The Gandharvas then kidnapped Urvashi, resulting in the curse to come true.[1]




Narada and Tumburu honoring Saraswati

[Nichi]

[Nichi]

Raga Sri. Narayangarh, Alwar District, Rajasthan, India. Date: ca 1825 CE