Kali is dark. So she is called Shyama.
An entire genre of Bengali devotional songs dedicated to Kali and is called Shyama Sangeet.
So many poets have to please the Goddess with their music.
Shyama Sangeet has a history, older than Kali Puja in Bengal. Kali has been revered for long in Bengal. There are some instances of devotional music written in praise of Kali, which were written sometime in the 12th or 13th century.In the 16th century there is one example of Chandi Mangal Kabya (also called Kavikangal Chandi) by Mukundaram Chakraborty. Written in Panchali style, it is an ode to the holy Mother.
Ramprasad Sen, the poet tried to free the devotion to Kali from the Tantra form and tried giving it a simpler touch. That resulted in the loving form of Kali come across. He wanted to rid the society of the cult in the name of worshipping Kali and to establish in its place a musical representation of the relationship of eternal and sublime love and care between the mother and her child.
Recognized as one of the greatest poets in India, he shared the spirit of devotional surrender, expressing a yearning so powerful, and at times so heart-wrenching, that listeners were inspired to renounce all selfish concerns and worldly attachments.
Many of Ramprasad's songs have been lost. Some famous notes by him are: Man Re Krishi Kaaj Jaano Na (O mind, do you not know cultivation?), Dub Dere Mon Kali Bole (dive deep, o mind, in the name of Kali), Ebaar Kali Tomaye Khabo (Now I will eat you Kali) . These songs have been always popular in Bengal.
In the late 18th century Bengal came Kamalakanta Bhattacharya who wrote many songs in priase of Kali.
In early 19th century Bengali came Dasharathi Ray who began singing in the kabiyal style but did not like the debates that took place. He then took to writing in the panchali style and became famous. One very popular song of his is Dosh Karo Noye Go Maa, sung by Panna Lal Bhattacharya
Trailokyanath Sanyal, Dvijendralal Ray, Nabai Moyra, Bireshvar Chakravarti, and Kalidas Bhattacharya are among a large number of mid-nineteenth century literary types (not necessarily practicing devotees) who adopted the Kali-song genre as one poetic form among the many that they experimented with. While some refined the style to conform to elite urban tastes, others among them appropriated the image of the mother goddess as a nationalist symbol of India. Poetry sung to different kinds of highly developed musical forms was a chief source of entertainment for urban Bengalis in the nineteenth century, and Kali songs entered the general repertoire.
(Aamaye De Ma Pagol Kore - Trailokyanath Sanyal)
Nabai Moyra, who was Vaishnav wrote beautiful poems between the similarities of Shyam (Krishna) and Kali. He is telling the mother goddess to discard the sword and take up a flute, dance like Krishna.
Nazrul composed some songs which are part of Shyama Sangeet. Unlike other poets referring to Kali as the mother, Nazrul referred to Kali as the daughter.
Tagore has also composed songs in praise of Kali. In Balmiki Pratibha, Valmiki sings songs in praise of Kali.
There have been many poets who have written songs in praise of Kali but I want to mention Pannalal Bhattacharya. Brother of Dhananjay Bhattacharya, the singer, Pannalal made Shyama Sangeet famous in the 20th century.
Pannalal developed a special style of singing with devotion. His distinct singing voice and his devotional spirit have melted the hearts of countless devotees of Kali across Bengal. He became a great devotee of Kali and always remained engrossed in her thoughts. At the young age of 36, he committed suicide as he did not get the vision of Kali.
An entire genre of Bengali devotional songs dedicated to Kali and is called Shyama Sangeet.
So many poets have to please the Goddess with their music.
Shyama Sangeet has a history, older than Kali Puja in Bengal. Kali has been revered for long in Bengal. There are some instances of devotional music written in praise of Kali, which were written sometime in the 12th or 13th century.In the 16th century there is one example of Chandi Mangal Kabya (also called Kavikangal Chandi) by Mukundaram Chakraborty. Written in Panchali style, it is an ode to the holy Mother.
Ramprasad Sen, the poet tried to free the devotion to Kali from the Tantra form and tried giving it a simpler touch. That resulted in the loving form of Kali come across. He wanted to rid the society of the cult in the name of worshipping Kali and to establish in its place a musical representation of the relationship of eternal and sublime love and care between the mother and her child.
Recognized as one of the greatest poets in India, he shared the spirit of devotional surrender, expressing a yearning so powerful, and at times so heart-wrenching, that listeners were inspired to renounce all selfish concerns and worldly attachments.
Many of Ramprasad's songs have been lost. Some famous notes by him are: Man Re Krishi Kaaj Jaano Na (O mind, do you not know cultivation?), Dub Dere Mon Kali Bole (dive deep, o mind, in the name of Kali), Ebaar Kali Tomaye Khabo (Now I will eat you Kali) . These songs have been always popular in Bengal.
In the late 18th century Bengal came Kamalakanta Bhattacharya who wrote many songs in priase of Kali.
In early 19th century Bengali came Dasharathi Ray who began singing in the kabiyal style but did not like the debates that took place. He then took to writing in the panchali style and became famous. One very popular song of his is Dosh Karo Noye Go Maa, sung by Panna Lal Bhattacharya
Trailokyanath Sanyal, Dvijendralal Ray, Nabai Moyra, Bireshvar Chakravarti, and Kalidas Bhattacharya are among a large number of mid-nineteenth century literary types (not necessarily practicing devotees) who adopted the Kali-song genre as one poetic form among the many that they experimented with. While some refined the style to conform to elite urban tastes, others among them appropriated the image of the mother goddess as a nationalist symbol of India. Poetry sung to different kinds of highly developed musical forms was a chief source of entertainment for urban Bengalis in the nineteenth century, and Kali songs entered the general repertoire.
(Aamaye De Ma Pagol Kore - Trailokyanath Sanyal)
Nabai Moyra, who was Vaishnav wrote beautiful poems between the similarities of Shyam (Krishna) and Kali. He is telling the mother goddess to discard the sword and take up a flute, dance like Krishna.
Nazrul composed some songs which are part of Shyama Sangeet. Unlike other poets referring to Kali as the mother, Nazrul referred to Kali as the daughter.
Tagore has also composed songs in praise of Kali. In Balmiki Pratibha, Valmiki sings songs in praise of Kali.
There have been many poets who have written songs in praise of Kali but I want to mention Pannalal Bhattacharya. Brother of Dhananjay Bhattacharya, the singer, Pannalal made Shyama Sangeet famous in the 20th century.
Pannalal developed a special style of singing with devotion. His distinct singing voice and his devotional spirit have melted the hearts of countless devotees of Kali across Bengal. He became a great devotee of Kali and always remained engrossed in her thoughts. At the young age of 36, he committed suicide as he did not get the vision of Kali.
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