MRDANGA MANUAL:

BASICSA Quick Guide to Learn the Basics

of Mrdanga

2Mrdanga

Mrdanga

Mrdanga

Mrdanga

Mrdanga

Mrdanga

3Cont

ent How This Manual Came AboutKeyPranam Mantra

Anatomy

Service Attitude

Slow Beat

Congregational Chanting

Medium Beat

Give to Receive

Fast Beat

Maintenance Tips

Dedication

Please Chant Hare Krishna

Contact for Questions

Follow along with YouTube videos

Channel name: School of Kirtan

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4WHY THIS BOOKLET?Many devotees have the desire to learn Mrdanga but they do not know where to begin. In addition, sometimes it is not possible to learn from the leading Kirtaniyas due to their busy schedules. For this reason, we have decided to compile this small Mrdanga Manual to give an insight into the basics of playing Mrdanga in a simple and easy way. This is not the most ideal way to learn Mrdanga by any means! The best way is to learn from a teacher, starting from finger practice and then moving onto more complex mantras. But for those who dont have the money or the time and wish to pick up the basic strokes on the Mrdanga so they can play to a adequate level in Kirtan, we hope this helps you.

WHAT IS THE MRDANGA?In Kali-Yuga, the most important and effective means of attaining love of God is through Harinama Sankirtana. This was inaugurated by Krishna himself when he appeared 500 years ago as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the Mrdanga drum to be used in kirtan. We respect the Mrdanga as an expansion of Lord Balarama. The Mrdanga drum is essential in kirtan. It brings the sweetness and attracts the heart of the devotees to the Holy Name.

y.s. School of Kirtan Team

HOW THIS MANUAL CAME ABOUT

5KEY

Open Sound on Bass

1 Finger on Treble:

Open Sound

Closed Sound on Bass

Beat

Marks where the beat is in the

mantra.

4 Fingers on Treble:

Closed Sound

3 Fingers on Treble:

Closed Sound, used for alternating

between open and closed fast.

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6namo jagannatha sutaya namo mridangaya namahlavanya rasa madhury sahasra guna samyuktam

namo mridangaya namo namohnamo baladevaya namo namah

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the son of Sri Jagannatha misra (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). I offer obeisances unto the Mrdanga, from which

sweet and nectar sound emanates. I offer my obeisances again and again unto the Mrdanga which has thousands of good qualities. And I offer my obeisances unto

lord Baladeva who assumes the from of the Mrdanga to serve Lord Caitanya.

mridanga brahma rupaya lavannam rasa madhurisahasra gunam samyuktam mridangaya namo namah

Unto the Mrdanga, that supreme Brahman formed as a clay drum which is infused with the sweet mellows of graceful enchantment, and endowed with thousands of

transcendental qualities, I bow down again and again.

PRANAM MANTRA

Mrdanga Pranam Mantra

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7ANATOMY This page just gives a small insight into the anatomy of the Mrdanga. By using this diagram it can help you to choose a good Mrdanga.

Small Head:Known as the Bayan. Is represented by Nityananda Prabhu. The sound should be clear and resonate like when you hit glass.

Body:The clay centre of the drum is represented by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself. The Mrdanga is made out of clay so that the sound can resonate more.

Straps:In order for the Mrdanga to make the best possible sound, ideally it should come with 32 straps around the body. Each strap represents 32 syllables of the Maha Mantra.

Large Head:Known as the Dayan.

Is represented by Gadadhara Prabhu.

The sound should be clear, resonate and

deep. It should not be too high, or too low.

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THE MRDANGA PLAYER SHOULD ASSIST THE KIRTAN LEADER, NOT LEAD THE KIRTAN LEADER.

Madhava PrabhuService Attitude.It can be very easy to think of oneself as the best Mrdanga player or the one who made the kirtan amazing. Our eternal constitutional position is that we are the servants of the Lord and our only business to serve and please Krishna. In a kirtan, a Mrdanga player should be playing in the mood of glorifying and pleasing Krishna and his devotees, not raising his/her own ego. The key is to perform service in a selfless way to just please Krishna and if this is done then you will see how amazing kirtan really is.

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Where can it be used:

This mantra is used when a Kirtan

is just beginning. Its important at

this point not to speed up until the

Kirtan leader is ready to speed up.

This mantra has a slightly different

tempo to other mantras, so follow

the beat symbols carefully.

SLOWBEAT

DHEI TA TA TE

TE TE TE TA

KHI KHI NI DHA

GHE DHA GHE DHA