Pages

Monday, August 6, 2012

Gandharva on the Nepalese History

According Nepalese history, there were 4 castes & 18 creeds in Lichchhivi dynasty. Later on There were divided on 4 castes & 64 creeds by Malla King Jayasthiti Malla in Malla Dynasty. Gandharva is one of the creeds out of 64 creeds. They were treated as low-caste people like Damai, Kaami, Sarki, Pode Chame etc.
We are not able to say the actual date of gandharva’s appearance in Nepal. According to Jana Kabi Dharma Raj Thapa,they were brought to carry the things of King Kul Mandan Khan from Chitaud Gadh. Later on, the king suggested them to sing. Kul Mandan Khan was the king of Kaski. So we may say that the gandharva’s original inhabitant is kaski in Nepal. Batulechour is in Pokhara, It is said that this the first place of Gandharva’s inhabitant. Where there used to live Jhalak Man Gandharva who was the famous gandharva of Nepal, According to him their ancestor lived on Batulechour.
King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the various scattered kingdoms to form the Kingdom of Nepal, employed Gandharvas to sing the glory of the Shah Dynasty. They were used as a means of propaganda during the unification period and were sent to villages to sing in favour of a unified Nepal.
The Gandharvas learn to sing their unique songs and play the Sarangi in a traditional way – elders pass on their skills to younger generations. The Sarangi is a true Nepalese musical instrument. The name SARANGI is a combination of two words. ‘SA’ - the first note of music (parallel to DO as in DO, RE, ME ...) and RANGI meaning colorful. So the instrument that colors up notes of music is called the Sarangi. Similar musical instrument can be found in other parts of the world. For example, the western violin. Sarinda, the Indian musical instrument probably is the closest in resemblance to the Sarangi. The method of making the Sarangi is unique to itself.

No comments:

Post a Comment