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Guru Shishya Parampara 2

INTRODUCTION

Importance of Education
Merit of the System
Olden Days
Present environment
Gharana system

OLDEN

Sincerity
Quality of Gurus
Quality of Shishyas
Physical facilities
Devotion loyalty
Need based
Restricted movements due to inability to travel – even the
knowledge of existence of Gurus

PRESENT SITUATION

Urbanisation
Instant music
Lack of humility
Media -Rs 40/- Guru in pocket (cassette)
Quality v/s quantity
Non-availability of adequate physical and mental environment to teach or to learn
Mushrooming of schools (Kansen v/s Tansen)
Short-sighted approach – material gain only aim – due to financial insecurity
Bane of negative qualities of Gharana system

SHORT COMINGS OF THE SYSTEM

Quality of Gurus (episode of two Ustads)

Inadequate knowledge
Nayak v/s Gayak
Matter V/s manner
Reservations to teach outsiders
Lack of time-busy with own concerts
Financial gains only aim -v/s Vidya Daan as basic motive- sole aim monetary gain
Good at theory not good in performing abilities – and vice versa
Financial gains Prompts teaching of vocal / instrumental and all forms and all instruments.
Become Pandits or Ustads – prematurely

2. SHISHYA

Lack of devotionDesire to learn instant music
Lack of patience wish to become performers in short time – fickle mindedness
Inability to serve and pay (Seva- “Khatir” and Dakshina) as desired
Inability to spare enough time either to learn or to practice
Too many distractions media /concertes
Lack of respect or loyalty
Disbelief in Gharana tradition
To treat pursuit of art more as social equipment rather than a tapasya

Positive qualities

Effect of formal education and wider exposure to the world – good as well as bad.
In spite of poor social recognition, attempt to work hard under the given circumstances.

SIX QUALITIES OF AN ACHARYA OR GURU AS DESCRIBED IN NATYA SASTRA

Natyasastra (XXXIII 11) describes the following six qualities of an Acharya or Guru:-

1) Jnana i.e. , the knowledge of sastra or descriptive and prescriptive discourse.

2) Vijnana i.e., proficiency in performance.

3) Karana which literally means instrument; here it stands for the excellence of the ‘musical instrument’ in the human body, the voice and the hand.

4) Vachana or discourse; it is explained as non-dependence on texts. The purport seems to be that the Acharya should not be dependent on texts for knowledge and discourse.

5) Prayoga-siddhi i.e. success or accomplishment in performance, which is explained as due deference for regional variations.

6) Sisya-nispadana or attracting disciples. This has been explained as the system, of teaching that takes due cognizance of the nature or predilections of students.

It will be seen that the qualities of Guru cover conceptualization, performance-skill, trimness of the instrument of performance (voice or hand), competence in discourse, acquaintance with regional varieties, and psychological treatment in dealing with students.

1. INTRODUCTION
Importance of Education
Merit of the System
Olden Days
Present environment
Gharana system

OLDEN
Sincerity
Quality of Gurus
Quality of Shishyas
Physical facilities
Devotion loyalty
Need based
Restricted movements due to inability to travel – even the
knowledge of existence of Gurus

PRESENT SITUATION
Urbanisation
Instant music
Lack of humility
Media -Rs 40/- Guru in pocket (cassette)
Quality v/s quantity
Non-availability of adequate physical and mental environment to teach or to learn
Mushrooming of schools (Kansen v/s Tansen)
Short-sighted approach – material gain only aim – due to financial insecurity
Bane of negative qualities of Gharana system

SHORT COMINGS OF THE SYSTEM
1. Quality of Gurus (episode of two Ustads)
Inadequate knowledge
Nayak v/s Gayak
Matter V/s manner
Reservations to teach outsiders
Lack of time-busy with own concerts
Financial gains only aim -v/s Vidya Daan as basic motive- sole aim monetary gain
Good at theory not good in performing abilities – and vice versa
Financial gains Prompts teaching of vocal / instrumental and all forms and all instruments.
Become Pandits or Ustads – prematurely

2. SHISHYA
Lack of devotion
Desire to learn instant music
Lack of patience wish to become performers in short time – fickle mindedness
Inability to serve and pay (Seva- “Khatir” and Dakshina) as desired
Inability to spare enough time either to learn or to practice
Too many distractions media /concertes
Lack of respect or loyalty
Disbelief in Gharana tradition
To treat pursuit of art more as social equipment rather than a tapasya

Positive qualities
Effect of formal education and wider exposure to the world – good as well as bad.
In spite of poor social recognition, attempt to work hard under the given circumstances.

SIX QUALITIES OF AN ACHARYA OR GURU AS DESCRIBED IN NATYA SASTRA
Natyasastra (XXXIII 11) describes the following six qualities of an Acharya or Guru:-

1) Jnana i.e. , the knowledge of sastra or descriptive and prescriptive discourse.
2) Vijnana i.e., proficiency in performance.

3) Karana which literally means instrument; here it stands for the excellence of the ‘musical instrument’ in the human body, the voice and the hand.

4) Vachana or discourse; it is explained as non-dependence on texts. The purport seems to be that the Acharya should not be dependent on texts for knowledge and discourse.

5) Prayoga-siddhi i.e. success or accomplishment in performance, which is explained as due deference for regional variations.

6) Sisya-nispadana or attracting disciples. This has been explained as the system, of teaching that takes due cognizance of the nature or predilections of students.