Rabab
in Gurmat Sangeet
Gurmat Sangeet, the primary form of worship in the Sikh tradition represents an
unbroken five hundred year old link to the founder of the Sikh faith, Sri Guru
Nanak Dev Ji. While the tradition has endured, it has to be nurtured and
re-energized through the preservation and propagation of the seminal tunes that
have literally been handed down from the times of the Sikh Gurus.
The singing of Gurbani as a form
of worship is an unbroken tradition that was started by none other than Sri
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith. Bhai Mardana, Guru
Nanak Dev Ji’s beloved disciple, a fine singer and musician and an
accomplished player of the Rabab was instrumental in delivering Guru Nanak Dev
Ji’s message. Bhai Mardana accompanied Guru Nanak Dev Ji on all of his Udasis
or travels throughout the world. Janamsakhi accounts indicate that Gur Nank Dev
Ji actively used music as the primary means of disseminating his message during
his travels. Bhai Mardana would play his Rabab, people would gather around and
Guru Nanak Dev Ji would then share his Bani with them.
The
founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) established the 'Rebabi' tradition in
Sikhism. Bhai Mardana, the life long companion of the Guru belonged to a cline
of BARDS known in those days as MIRASIS.
For
Guru Nanak the divine singer with this divine instrument was Bhai Mardana. Bhai
Mardana was the first person from his childhood who started playing the divine
gurbani music with the Rebab, and accompanied Guru Nanak on all his travels with
earnest devotion. Guru Nanak Dev renovated the Arab/Iranian string instrument
REBAB and activated his friend Bhai Mardana to master it and sing the hymns of
divine grace,That is how the celebrated RABABI tradition into being Bhai Mardana.
Although
there is no documentary proof but I presume that Bhai Mardana was no other than
the incarnation of Sage Narad. Both these personalities have exceptional
similarities, which cannot be ignored. Their personal characteristics are that
of a light-hearted and impish nature, which is an essence of many parables with
Guru Nanak and Lord Vishnu. Furthermore let us inspect for example the initials
of their names:-
M R D
N (Mardana)
N R D Mn (Narad Muni)
As
can be seen from above that the names of both these personalities have the same
name letters (Co-incidence? May be, but can we shirk away from the fact that
both are accomplished divine musicians and both have been given instruments of
divine nature by two godly powers?)
Although
the characters of Bhai Mardana is not revered similar to the character of Guru
Nanak but never the less his importance in the life of Guru Nanak is extremely
significant and Guru Nanak without Mardana is something that cannot be
envisaged.
written
in the 'Janamsakhi', that after a considerable search for the 'right sounding'
Rebab, which could not be found anywhere, Guru Nanak sent Mardana to the house
of Bhai Firanda of Bhairowal (Kapurthala). Bhai Firanda was an
accomplished musician and was a carpenter by trade.Guru Nanak asked Mardana to
get the money from his sister Bebe
Nanki and buy a new Rabab suitable for the forthcoming sojourns (Udasis)
He
got seven rupees from Bebe Nanki and went to Kapurthala, which was the centre of
instrument making in those days. Where he met Rabab Maker 'Bhai Firanda'. He
offered him rupees seven and asked for the best Rabab. Bhai Firanda asked about
his whereabouts and credentials. He mentioned the name of Baba Nanak, which was
well known during those days. Bhai Firanda handed over the Rabab to Bhai Mardana
and by returning his seven rupees he requested to take him to Baba Nanak for His
blessings. Mardana agreed to do so. Back in Sultanpur Lodhi, Bhai Mardana
returned the seven rupees to Bebe Nanki Ji and introduced Bhai Firanda at the
Modi Khana to Guru Nanak. It was a great spiritual meeting when a keertan
session took place at the Modi Khana, the work place of the Guru. It is Bhai
Firanda's Rabab,
SRI
GURU GOBIND SINGH’S RABAB
