This course is a beginner course designed for students who are interested in getting a glimpse of the vast treasure inherent in our Vedas through the lived experience of Saints across India. This glimpse will be enabled through a study of the Mandukya Upanishad that comes at the end of the Atharva veda. The course will also enable an introduction to Dhrupad music (Dhrupad is the most ancient form of Hindustani Classical Music). The course is available as a instructor-led course.
Course Format
This series consisting of 4 courses (MU 101 to 104). This course will provide:
- An introduction to Mandukya Upanishad (MU 101).
- An in-depth understanding of the Shlokas in Sanskrit through the poetry of Saints (Sant Vani) across India, (MU 102 to MU 104).
- It will enable the learning of the rendition of these 12 Shlokas and the accompanying Sant Vani in Dhrupad music set to 16 different Ragas, composed by the Gundecha brothers.
Each course (MU 101 to MU 104) will be 12 weeks long. The entire series will be 48 weeks long.
Objectives
- To understand the concept of the Mandukya Upanishad at an introductory level.
- To appreciate the poetry of a few Saints and how they connect to the Mandukya Shlokas
- To understand what Dhrupad music is and how it is the source of other genres of Hindustani Classical music.
- To appreciate the rendition of Shlokas and Sant Vani in Dhrupad music
- Student should be at least 12 years of age.
- Prior knowledge of some form of music is recommended.
- No knowledge of Sanskrit is required.
Overview of the Mandukya Upanishad Shlokas and Sant Vani
- Introduction to Vedas, Upanishads and Sant Vani
- Story about 3 states of Consciousness in Lal Ded’s poetry
- Story of Lal Ded and her relevance to the contemporary women
- The importance of the Shanti Mantra
- Om as a primordial sound
- Reflection of Shloka 1 in a verse by Sant Raidas
- Bhakthi movement and the Sant Vani of Raidas
- Overview of Shlokas 2 to 5 which outline the 3 states of consciousness
- Reflection of Shloka 2 in verses by Akka Mahadevi and Ramana Maharishi
- Reflection of Shloka 3 in verses by Kabir and Lal Ded
- Reflection of Shloka 4,5 in a verse by Lal Ded
- Overview of Shlokas 6 to 8
- Reflection of Shlokas 6,7, 8 in verses by Bhadragiriyar, Ram Prasad, Ramana Maharishi and Tuka Ram
- Introduction to Shlokas 9,10, 11 which link A, U, M in verses by Bhadragiriyar, Ram Prasad, Ramana Maharishi
- Overview of Shloka 2, 3
- Overview of Shloka 4,5
- Overview of Shlokas 6,7
- Shloka 7 in detail
- Overview of Shlokas 8,9,10
- Overview of Shlokas 11,12
- The student will be able to illustrate the overall import of the Shlokas and Sant Vanis in this course through drawing/ movement/ discussion.
- The student will be able to understand the outline of the Raga in which these Shlokas and Sant Vanis are sung.
- The student will be able to recognize how Dhrupad music is similar/ different from other genres of Hindustani Classical music.
- The student will be able to write or narrate a more detailed understanding of each Shloka/Sant Vani after reading or listening to the recommended video clips/ commentaries.
