Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj: The Accomplished Musician
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's flair for music and musical phrasing was evident right from his childhood. Sitting in the trees in Mangarh his sweet voice thrilled his little friends, who joyfully tried to mimic the tonal quality in his voice as they sang radhe govinda, swaying in unison on the branches. By his late teens, he had already started to add his own unique brand of drum playing to the sankirtana he led, chanting for hours with his eyes closed in perfect timing to the rhythm of his hypnotic mridanga playing - hare rama hare krishna, radhe govinda bhajo, govinda jaya jaya gopala jaya jaya, etc.
His sublime playing was so natural and he appeared so comfortable that it seemed as though the instrument was an extension of his own self. To those with expertise, the assumption was that someone so gifted must have been playing for years under expert tutelage. But they were astonished to hear that no one had ever seen him practice, nor had anyone ever taught him. They bowed to his musicianship and authorship, attributing it to being possible only through some divine intervention. The intoxicating manner of his singing and playing was irresistible. It became the talk of the town wherever he was, acting as a catalyst for people wanting to see, hear, and feel the instinctive devotional singing and playing of this charming young man.
As the crowds grew, so did the fickleness in people's minds. Out of nowhere (or so it seemed), Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj began to compose different classical tunes and melodies, played in different rhythms at different speeds that captured wandering minds by absorbing them in his blissful sankirtan. His command of music was not just limited to the dholak and mridanga. A pair of taal or manjira seemed to dance in his hands as he played them, clashing them together in different rhythms and becoming amused as he watched people struggling to copy such complicated and intricate rhythms. He was also a nibble-fingered harmonium player, who wrote an assortment of tunes and melodies to be played while singing from his Prema Rasa Madira.
For many, the sight of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj in front of the harmonium, swaying in the intoxication of divine love and singing the sweetest devotional lines of poetry was almost too much to bear. The unique richness of his voice-deep and crisp yet intensely passionate - was spine-tingling. At times his voice would halt suddenly. Tears of love would trickle down his beautiful face, while his whole body trembled in the power of divine love that rumbled like thunder within his human frame. For the benefit of people, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj controlled these ecstatic outbursts, and wiping the tears from his eyes and brushing his hair off his face, he would again pump the harmonium and resume as if nothing had happened.
He sang so sonorously and melodiously that even people coming for the first time would experience themselves drowning in an unspeakable joy.
In his later years as his method of composition took place in front of his devotees, people watched in delight as he formulated a new verse to the sankirtan being sung. With no pen or paper in sight, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj would lean his head back and gaze upwards, as if watching the face of his beautiful Beloved for His gentle expression of approval as he recited to Him his proposed new verse. Moments later, gazing lovingly at those before him, he would sing the new verse.
To say it was very moving and powerful to observe the blissful countenance of this great poet during these times would be a gross understatement. Words simply give justice to what he gave to those fortunate souls who sat before him during these times.
What we have today is a virtual ocean of recordings, both audio and video, of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj singing, playing the harmonium or drum, and revealing new verses. In truth, they are but a shadow of the incredible sight and feeling one experienced when it physically happened. Nevertheless, these recordings are priceless and serve as proof to some and a reminder to others of yet another aspect of his multifarious personality as the great musician and saint poet. It will therefore be of no surprise to learn that Kurukshetra University, in the state of Haryana, India has recently awarded a student with a Ph.D. whose submitted thesis, The Music and Literature of Kripalu Ji Maharaj shed some light on these exceptional qualities.
In conclusion, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was not only a revered spiritual leader but also an accomplished musician of extraordinary talent. His musical abilities were awe-inspiring, captivating the hearts of all who had the privilege of hearing him play and sing.
Today, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's musical legacy lives on through a vast collection of sankirtan, and bhajans, serving as a testament to his multifaceted personality as a great musician and saint poet. It's no surprise that his exceptional qualities earned recognition and academic study, as evidenced by a Ph.D. thesis on the music and literature of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj.
In the realm of spirituality and music, his contributions continue to inspire and uplift the hearts of those who appreciate the profound beauty of his musical and devotional artistry.
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