Baba
Namaskar,
Here is a short excerpt from Wikipedia that bears significance for us as it is related with an upcoming program.
A death anniversary is a custom observed in several Asian cultures including India, China, Pakistan, Israel, Georgia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Russia, Hong Kong and Vietnam, as well as in other nations with significant overseas Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Jewish, and Vietnamese populations. Like a birthday, it is celebrated each year, but instead of on the date of birth of the individual being celebrated, it is celebrated on the day on which a family member or other significant individual died. There are also similar memorial services that are held at different intervals, such as every week.
Although primarily a manifestation of ancestor worship, the tradition has also been associated with Confucianism and Buddhism (in East Asian cultural civilizations) or Hinduism (South Asia but mainly in India).
Death anniversaries are also commemorated in Judaism (the majority religion of Israel) where it is called by various names. (From Wikipedia)
Now one such program hosted by Kolkata is nearing - here below is a critical point related with this program. Let us begin by considering this first query.
Has Parama Purusa Baba really composed theme songs for MPD?
In order to respond to this query we must consider the circumstances. Basically, when anyone is trying to impose their own special interest on others then they create logic and reasoning to justify their endeavour to reach their desired goal.
For instance, when those Hindu priests introduced Lord Ganesh - the elephant deity - then to legitimize Lord Ganesh they claimed he was the son of Lord Shiva. This was the way that those priests lured the people into embracing the elephant god, Ganesh. Without that the common folk would not have accepted Ganesh. If they thought Ganesh was just an elephant nobody would have worshiped him.
In a similar manner, a certain group nowadays has their agenda to highlight their particular geographical region and turn a particular day into a grand gathering. To legitimize their agenda and get people to rally around their MPD program, they took help from Baba's divine collection of Prabhat Samgiita by labeling some compositions as songs for mahaprayan. This was their tactic to bring legitimacy to their plan of hosting a big gathering each year in Tiljala. Without that, the people would be less inclined and less convinced about their program.
Thus a few in Tiljala adopted certain Prabhat Samgiita compositions for the purpose of their own limited agenda. So these are not really mahaprayan songs; they were not composed in that way. Rather some in Tiljala simply used those songs for their chosen occasion.
Hence, just as Ganesh is not the son of Lord Shiva, selected Prabhat Samgiita are not MPD songs. In both instances, certain opportunistic people used them to legitimise their own agenda.
Now I think it is clear how and why these songs were selected and that they are not so-called mahaprayan songs. This brings us to the next question. If they are not so-called mahaprayan theme songs then what kind of songs are they?
If Prabhat Samgiita compositions - like "Tumi esechile ka'uke na' bole" (PS #2085) and "A'ma're phele gele dhula'y avahele" (PS #4815) among others - were not specially given by Baba as annual obituary, death or anniversary songs, then what kind of songs are they?
To learn more about this read further.
Essentially, in the world of pop culture, the genre of songs known as melancholic songs denotes a time when one's lover is not coming as close as they desire or wish. Nowadays so many radio stations play and pop icons sing songs about how they wish to hold their lover. And now they are completely upset, languishing in so much heartache and pain. This is a very common theme in songs for teens and pop-culture. This is a melancholic song in the worldly sense.
There are also religious songs that are grounded in the idea of melancholic longing. Most of the major religions have a genre of compositions expressing that their Lord is not as close as they want. So the religious seeker is longing for their Lord to come within their vision or grasp.
This type of melancholic feeling is found in Sufi songs, Buddhist songs, Christian songs, Hindu songs, and in songs of so many faiths. And in each one, the message is the same: My Lord is not coming as close as I wish. Thus in these songs the idea is not that their God has left or died. These compositions were not written for an annual shraddha ceremony.
Rather the prevailing theme is that every devotee longs for God and wants greater proximity. That feeling of longing gave birth to this style of composition known as melancholic songs.
Indian devotional poets like Miirabai, Surdas, Vidyapati, Candidas and others including Ravindranath Tagore have written hundreds and even thousands of bhajans like this. In such songs, these devotional poets express the desire to have greater proximity with their Lord; and when that desire is not fulfilled then with deep longing they cry for more intimate closeness with their Ista.
Baba has graciously given 5018 songs. They come in all kinds of varieties. One of them is melancholic songs which express how the bhakta and Parama Purusa have a deeply loving and intimate relationship. The bhakta has great love for Him and Parama Purusa is showering His grace; even then the bhakta wants to have Him more close and is yearning and crying for Parama Purusa to come in a more intimate way. That is the overall theme of melancholic songs like "Tumi esechile ka'uke na' bale" (PS #2085) and "A'ma're phele gele dhula'ya abahele" (PS #4815).
So in Prabhat Samgiita also there are melancholic songs. Verily in Prabhat Samgiita, Baba has graciously given an entirely new approach of melancholic songs for the devotee. Because He has uniquely written songs for one's longing for Parama Purusa. Such melancholic songs perfectly depict one's longing to have Him in a deeper more intimate manner. Such songs do not mean that God has left or died.
Or more precisely we can say that melancholic songs in the Prabhat Samgiita collection have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti leaving His physical body. Indeed, these melancholic songs - of which there are a few thousand - were highly useful and relevant when Mahasambhuti Baba was physically present on this earth. Just as they are highly relevant and helping today. The reason being that those melancholic songs reflect one's psycho-spiritual or devotional link with Him. That is the key point to remember and it is one's inner feeling that creates melancholic longing, by His grace. That melancholy is not related with anything physical. Melancholic longing is a purely a devotional concept. So such songs have nothing to do with the notion that God has left or died. And these songs were not written for an annual shraddha ceremony.
That is why such compositions have absolutely nothing to do with the so-called mahaprayan (MPD) program.
So again it should be reiterated that these melancholic songs have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti Baba keeping His physical body or leaving His physical body. These melancholic Prabhat Samgiita were useful when He was physically present wherein bhaktas would sing in longing for Him and this would bring about their spiritual growth. And now also people sing these melancholic songs for their spiritual growth and longing. These songs have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti being in physical form. These songs are of eternal value. Such songs do not mean that God has left or died and they are not for an annual death ceremony.
Those who are labeling and presenting these melancholic songs as "mahaprayan" songs are abusing and manipulating that song for their own narrow agenda. This is a clear case of misusing Prabhat Samgiita. It is just like the songs of many great poets and seers have been misused as mundane love songs. Here in this case of using melancholic Prabhat Samgiita compositions as "mahaprayan" songs, the so-called vanguard of Ananda Marga is abusing these songs in broad daylight. And this must stop.
In conclusion, these melancholic songs are wholly related with one's psycho-spiritual feeling and have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti leaving His physical body.
The thousands of melancholic songs Baba has graciously given are eternal gifts for one's spiritual growth and development. These devotional compositions do not mean that God has left or died. They are not for any type of annual shraddha ceremony.
Has Parama Purusa Baba really composed theme songs for MPD?
No, Parama Purusa Baba does not appreciate MPD and He has not composed a single song for this purpose.
If Prabhat Samgiita compositions - like "Tumi esechile ka'uke na' bole" (PS #2085) and "A'ma're phele gele dhula'y avahele" (PS #4815) among others - were not specially given by Baba as annual obituary, death or anniversary songs, then what kind of songs are they?
These types of songs are highly melancholic and devotional in nature where the bhakta has a deeply personal and close connection with Parama Purusa Baba. These songs have nothing to do with the Mahasambhuti leaving His physical body. Yet unfortunately, since 1990, some have labeled certain songs as "MPD" theme songs.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Malika Mukherjee
Baba has given songs for all kinds of festivals including shraddha and Ananda Purnima. And melancholic songs are a completely different genre.
REFERENCES
1. Caryacarya – 1, Shraddha Ceremony
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, Shraddha
REALLY THESE ARE ANNUAL DEATH CEREMONY THEME SONGS
Namaskar,
Here is a short excerpt from Wikipedia that bears significance for us as it is related with an upcoming program.
WIKIPEDIA:
DEATH ANNIVERSARY IN THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
DEATH ANNIVERSARY IN THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
A death anniversary is a custom observed in several Asian cultures including India, China, Pakistan, Israel, Georgia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Russia, Hong Kong and Vietnam, as well as in other nations with significant overseas Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Jewish, and Vietnamese populations. Like a birthday, it is celebrated each year, but instead of on the date of birth of the individual being celebrated, it is celebrated on the day on which a family member or other significant individual died. There are also similar memorial services that are held at different intervals, such as every week.
Although primarily a manifestation of ancestor worship, the tradition has also been associated with Confucianism and Buddhism (in East Asian cultural civilizations) or Hinduism (South Asia but mainly in India).
Death anniversaries are also commemorated in Judaism (the majority religion of Israel) where it is called by various names. (From Wikipedia)
Now one such program hosted by Kolkata is nearing - here below is a critical point related with this program. Let us begin by considering this first query.
QUESTION #1:
Has Parama Purusa Baba really composed theme songs for MPD?
REPLY #1:
In order to respond to this query we must consider the circumstances. Basically, when anyone is trying to impose their own special interest on others then they create logic and reasoning to justify their endeavour to reach their desired goal.
For instance, when those Hindu priests introduced Lord Ganesh - the elephant deity - then to legitimize Lord Ganesh they claimed he was the son of Lord Shiva. This was the way that those priests lured the people into embracing the elephant god, Ganesh. Without that the common folk would not have accepted Ganesh. If they thought Ganesh was just an elephant nobody would have worshiped him.
In a similar manner, a certain group nowadays has their agenda to highlight their particular geographical region and turn a particular day into a grand gathering. To legitimize their agenda and get people to rally around their MPD program, they took help from Baba's divine collection of Prabhat Samgiita by labeling some compositions as songs for mahaprayan. This was their tactic to bring legitimacy to their plan of hosting a big gathering each year in Tiljala. Without that, the people would be less inclined and less convinced about their program.
Thus a few in Tiljala adopted certain Prabhat Samgiita compositions for the purpose of their own limited agenda. So these are not really mahaprayan songs; they were not composed in that way. Rather some in Tiljala simply used those songs for their chosen occasion.
Hence, just as Ganesh is not the son of Lord Shiva, selected Prabhat Samgiita are not MPD songs. In both instances, certain opportunistic people used them to legitimise their own agenda.
Now I think it is clear how and why these songs were selected and that they are not so-called mahaprayan songs. This brings us to the next question. If they are not so-called mahaprayan theme songs then what kind of songs are they?
QUESTION #2:
If Prabhat Samgiita compositions - like "Tumi esechile ka'uke na' bole" (PS #2085) and "A'ma're phele gele dhula'y avahele" (PS #4815) among others - were not specially given by Baba as annual obituary, death or anniversary songs, then what kind of songs are they?
To learn more about this read further.
MELANCHOLIC SONGS WITH POP SINGERS
Essentially, in the world of pop culture, the genre of songs known as melancholic songs denotes a time when one's lover is not coming as close as they desire or wish. Nowadays so many radio stations play and pop icons sing songs about how they wish to hold their lover. And now they are completely upset, languishing in so much heartache and pain. This is a very common theme in songs for teens and pop-culture. This is a melancholic song in the worldly sense.
MANY DEVOTIONAL POETS HAVE EXPRESSED MELANCHOLIC LONGING:
THE DESIRE TO A CLOSER RELATION WITH THEIR LORD
THE DESIRE TO A CLOSER RELATION WITH THEIR LORD
There are also religious songs that are grounded in the idea of melancholic longing. Most of the major religions have a genre of compositions expressing that their Lord is not as close as they want. So the religious seeker is longing for their Lord to come within their vision or grasp.
This type of melancholic feeling is found in Sufi songs, Buddhist songs, Christian songs, Hindu songs, and in songs of so many faiths. And in each one, the message is the same: My Lord is not coming as close as I wish. Thus in these songs the idea is not that their God has left or died. These compositions were not written for an annual shraddha ceremony.
Rather the prevailing theme is that every devotee longs for God and wants greater proximity. That feeling of longing gave birth to this style of composition known as melancholic songs.
Indian devotional poets like Miirabai, Surdas, Vidyapati, Candidas and others including Ravindranath Tagore have written hundreds and even thousands of bhajans like this. In such songs, these devotional poets express the desire to have greater proximity with their Lord; and when that desire is not fulfilled then with deep longing they cry for more intimate closeness with their Ista.
PRABHAT SAMGIITA MELANCHOLIC LONGING:
NOT RELATED WITH THE COMING AND GOING OF MAHASAMBHUTI
NOT RELATED WITH THE COMING AND GOING OF MAHASAMBHUTI
Baba has graciously given 5018 songs. They come in all kinds of varieties. One of them is melancholic songs which express how the bhakta and Parama Purusa have a deeply loving and intimate relationship. The bhakta has great love for Him and Parama Purusa is showering His grace; even then the bhakta wants to have Him more close and is yearning and crying for Parama Purusa to come in a more intimate way. That is the overall theme of melancholic songs like "Tumi esechile ka'uke na' bale" (PS #2085) and "A'ma're phele gele dhula'ya abahele" (PS #4815).
So in Prabhat Samgiita also there are melancholic songs. Verily in Prabhat Samgiita, Baba has graciously given an entirely new approach of melancholic songs for the devotee. Because He has uniquely written songs for one's longing for Parama Purusa. Such melancholic songs perfectly depict one's longing to have Him in a deeper more intimate manner. Such songs do not mean that God has left or died.
Or more precisely we can say that melancholic songs in the Prabhat Samgiita collection have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti leaving His physical body. Indeed, these melancholic songs - of which there are a few thousand - were highly useful and relevant when Mahasambhuti Baba was physically present on this earth. Just as they are highly relevant and helping today. The reason being that those melancholic songs reflect one's psycho-spiritual or devotional link with Him. That is the key point to remember and it is one's inner feeling that creates melancholic longing, by His grace. That melancholy is not related with anything physical. Melancholic longing is a purely a devotional concept. So such songs have nothing to do with the notion that God has left or died. And these songs were not written for an annual shraddha ceremony.
That is why such compositions have absolutely nothing to do with the so-called mahaprayan (MPD) program.
MELANCHOLIC SONGS HAVE ETERNAL VALUE
So again it should be reiterated that these melancholic songs have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti Baba keeping His physical body or leaving His physical body. These melancholic Prabhat Samgiita were useful when He was physically present wherein bhaktas would sing in longing for Him and this would bring about their spiritual growth. And now also people sing these melancholic songs for their spiritual growth and longing. These songs have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti being in physical form. These songs are of eternal value. Such songs do not mean that God has left or died and they are not for an annual death ceremony.
Those who are labeling and presenting these melancholic songs as "mahaprayan" songs are abusing and manipulating that song for their own narrow agenda. This is a clear case of misusing Prabhat Samgiita. It is just like the songs of many great poets and seers have been misused as mundane love songs. Here in this case of using melancholic Prabhat Samgiita compositions as "mahaprayan" songs, the so-called vanguard of Ananda Marga is abusing these songs in broad daylight. And this must stop.
In conclusion, these melancholic songs are wholly related with one's psycho-spiritual feeling and have nothing to do with Mahasambhuti leaving His physical body.
The thousands of melancholic songs Baba has graciously given are eternal gifts for one's spiritual growth and development. These devotional compositions do not mean that God has left or died. They are not for any type of annual shraddha ceremony.
REVIEW OF QUESTIONS
QUESTION #1:
QUESTION #1:
Has Parama Purusa Baba really composed theme songs for MPD?
ANSWER #1:
No, Parama Purusa Baba does not appreciate MPD and He has not composed a single song for this purpose.
QUESTION #2:
If Prabhat Samgiita compositions - like "Tumi esechile ka'uke na' bole" (PS #2085) and "A'ma're phele gele dhula'y avahele" (PS #4815) among others - were not specially given by Baba as annual obituary, death or anniversary songs, then what kind of songs are they?
ANSWER #2
These types of songs are highly melancholic and devotional in nature where the bhakta has a deeply personal and close connection with Parama Purusa Baba. These songs have nothing to do with the Mahasambhuti leaving His physical body. Yet unfortunately, since 1990, some have labeled certain songs as "MPD" theme songs.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Malika Mukherjee
Note 1: IMPORTANT DISTINCTION:
MELANCHOLIC SONGS ARE NOT FOR PARTICULAR SOCIAL OCCASIONS
MELANCHOLIC SONGS ARE NOT FOR PARTICULAR SOCIAL OCCASIONS
Baba has given songs for all kinds of festivals including shraddha and Ananda Purnima. And melancholic songs are a completely different genre.
Note 2: LINKS TO PRIOR LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC
#1: http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/08/god-is-no-more-gone-far-away.html
#2: http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/09/baba-story-celebrate-occasion-or-not.html
#3: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/09/islamic-dogma-came-into-ananda-marga.html
#4: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/09/history-how-margiis-brought-to-mpd.html
#5: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/10/annual-shraddha-ceremony.html
#6: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/10/question-answer-on-upcoming-program.html
#2: http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/09/baba-story-celebrate-occasion-or-not.html
#3: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/09/islamic-dogma-came-into-ananda-marga.html
#4: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/09/history-how-margiis-brought-to-mpd.html
#5: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/10/annual-shraddha-ceremony.html
#6: http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/10/question-answer-on-upcoming-program.html
REFERENCES
1. Caryacarya – 1, Shraddha Ceremony
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, Shraddha
