 |
|
Vaar Asa This project is humbly dedicated to the sacred healing power of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. I present this recording with sincerest gratitude to my Vidya Guru, the late Mahant Ajit Singh Ji, for teaching and sharing with me the traditional rendition Vaar Asa and the Tunday Asrajay Ki Dhunni (the melody of Tunda Asraja) Raag Asa. In present times this tradition is no longer practiced in the authentic manner, neither is it sung according to the prescribed instructions clearly stated by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the title. This means that mostly people do not sing Vaar of Raag Asa in the specified raag nor use the melody or dhunni by the Guru. |
|
Special Thanks to Mahant Ajit Singh And now a journey into my past as I recall a memory so clear, as if it happened just yesterday... When I was 12 years old, one evening after school had finished for the day, I had been to visit my Gurmukhi teacher, Kanwar Imtiaz. As usual, he had given me more texts to read and sent me on my way. As I was walking slowly through the small streets to my home, I was constantly thinking how it would be possible for me to learn Gurmukhi as quickly as possible. Before I knew it, I had reached the southern gate of the village. I was so engrossed in my thoughts and I had no idea how long I’d been walking. As I gazed in a daydream at the sun glaring through the arch of thin, crumbling nanakshahee bricks, I was drawn into the beauty of the light. All of a sudden my head turned, my ears were on edge and my eyes were frantically searching to understand from where this heavenly sound was emerging. I was almost hypnotised by this sound, my body froze, I could not take a step further, my entire being was captivated by what my ears were hearing. As my eyes continued to search for the source of this enchanting music, through the gate I caught sight of a group of people sitting, singing and swaying to the music that they played. My heart wanted to run towards these people but my body was frozen in shock at the impact that the music was having on me. As I continued to stare frantically at the group of people, one of the elderly musicians glanced over at me with a very welcoming smile and waved at me, gesturing to come and join them. I smiled back with a smile that stretched from ear to ear! The joy within me was so strong that before I realised what was happening, I was standing next to the man who had waved at me. He directed to me to sit while they continued to play and sing. As I looked around, most of the village was gathered there, grandparents were sitting with their grandchildren, everybody was singing and completely engrossed in the beautiful music. I recognized the lead singer as Mahant Ajit Singh and beside him was Giani Najar Singh. Giani Ji was playing the dholki and Mahant Ji was playing the chimta with one hand. I was mesmerised at what I was witnessing, feeling so blessed to be there, I could feel the joy dancing in my heart. I continued to stare uncontrollably at Mahant Ji, he was singing with closed eyes, his body was swaying, he was completely submerged in the music, oozing the divinity of the beautiful poetry he was reciting. It took me a while to come to my senses and then I realised that what they were singing was the Vaar of Raag Asa. I didn’t recognise it on first hearing as it sounded very different to what I was accustomed to hearing. I was listening very hard and realised that the whole Vaar was being sung in Raag Asa, with the saloks sung in alaap format, using no rhythm and all of the pauris had the same structure, with the same tune being used with the rhythm. This experience for me was so very powerful that even in this moment, I can back be in that same place, sitting there and witnessing all of this all over again. This memory is no doubt one of my dearest and most valuable, it’s only after 30 years that I’ve finally gathered the strength to dare to replicate and sing the Vaar of Raag Asa as I once heard it sung from the mouths of such great inspirational souls. The biggest lesson for me that day was about simplicity. When it comes to taking a step towards connecting with something deeper in your soul, as you seek a teacher or guide along that journey, simply follow the purity of the teachings. Mahant Ji showed me the text of the Vaar written in the Guru Granth Sahib and explained how clearly the instructions were written in the title. He said “All we sang was exactly what we are being told to sing in the title”. Following these clear instructions can have such a profound impact on the psyche and this became the inspiration for me to learn more and practice this beautiful music in the simplest and most powerful way. I have put my heart and soul into this project and it’s taken me more than three years of hard work, research and recording to produce it. I sincerely hope that it will bring you the same love and inspiration that it has brought to me. This is one of the 22 Vaars (ballads) written in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib on page 463-475. The title clearly instructs a prescribed raag which is Asa and a tune which is called ‘Tunday Asrajay Ki Dhunni”. |
|
