29.2.2008

Boom Boom!

Its 10pm, I just got home and the tune is still playing in my head. It's been a great evening, I notice that when I let go and just follow the flow it takes me to amazing places.

James, a boy from Yorkshire, who is studying Sanskrit in Mysore with Dr Jayashree has been leading kirtans every Friday at Sharon and Michael's house; and he just did his last session before heading to Hampi for the week. Kirtan is part of bhakti yoga, yoga of the heart, love and devotion. It exists in many Indian arts including music and chanting the names of the divine to create an energy that connects one with its higher self. For me it is a great release of tension in the throat and heart, freely singing out. I have never gone to the state of ecstasy as some may declare. In fact I may be the only one in the room with eyes open curiously observing people and objects in the room, getting the words wrong and smiling at myself.

It's been fascinating to do Kirtan with James though; he doesn't just leap into songs. He takes time to explain words and tell stories. It's been fascinating to hear about the roots of Sanskrit and with his knowledge of the classical text of Ramayana the language all of a sudden becomes more playful and fun than learning posture names in yoga. A lot of the yoga students have been studying Sanskrit in Mysore but a month's course isn't often enough to bring much depth other than a taster session. In fact some of them admitted that they are learning Sanskrit so they can design their own tattoos.

Sanskrit is one of the most ancient languages whereby its origin later influenced many other languages including Latin. And it is the only language where sound and the vibration has primary meaning than the word itself. For example Ma means mother in English. You could chant "mother" but that will not have the opening effect or the strong vibration of chanting "ma". A deep, long, meaningful "ma" from the bottom of your heart.

So this evening we did the usual sing-along; and James then invited us to go to another kirtan with "aunty" who is an Indian musician teaching in Mysore, and has many students taking tabla, harmonium and singing lessons. James had been inviting us for many weeks but tonight was the last night, so rather than going to a big party elsewhere I decided to follow his lead this evening.

We took a rickshaw to auntie's house around 8pm. She lives in a very posh part of Mysore, a bit like mansions in California. Only that it may look different in daylight and I guess there are no rickshaws in California. She had a small group of western students sitting on straw mats on the floor, playing tabla and harmonium, chanting various chants. Aunty was a 70 year old thin, sweet Indian lady who welcomed us with a warm smile and got us to join the group to chant with them. She would time to time join in with her beautiful voice, catch our eyes (well mine particularly as my eyes always wonder) and keep her gaze for a while as though she was saying something very soothing and comfortable. In between the chants two big trays of bananas and tangerines were passed around as she said that we must eat so we can sing more.

So we stayed for an hour, making a lot of noise. Even when the power cut came on, we continued in the light of a gas lamp. I wondered how far our voices travelled out of the open windows; on the rail tracks nearby and to the rest of mansions in California-Mysore.

I was very content to be in that crowd, a private gathering. There must be so many small gatherings like this in India, with the exchange of music, conversations and laughter just like we sunk into ours even though if felt like it was a one off opportunity for me.

Here is our favourite Boom Boom chant:

Jaya shiva shankara boom boom hare hare

Hare hare hare hare hare boom boom hare hare

Hmmmmm hmmmm hmmmmm hmmmmm